Articles

Some of Us Just Fall

Some of Us Just Fall: On Nature and Not Getting Better. Polly Atkin's very personal book, Some of Us Just Fall, is an intricate memoir of a person with a chronic illness. It is a testimony of how...

The grey of the slate and of the mountains in the haze

The grey of the slate and of the mountains in the haze and of the stratocumulus filled sky is a far cry from the grey of the roads and of the walls and dusty windows of abandoned buildings. Three...

Handfuls of sweet peas for Great Uncle Bill

July brought handful after handful of sweet peas. A handful is the number of times I ever met my Great Uncle Bill. A handful is the number of garden tools of his that I now own. Even though in...

Gardening and the 5 ways to wellbeing

How five actions recommended by the NHS can be used in the garden to promote mental good health and wellbeing.

Providing support with growing kits

A couple of weeks ago I put together some growing kits for the Wellbeing Support Team and their clients at Emmanuel House Support Centre. Can you help me to make more?

My journey to Social and Therapeutic Horticulture

From the first time I noticed the positive effects of gardening to learning how to deliver it as a therapeutic process to others.

Rose infused hand salve…and plant nostalgia

Making a rose infused hand salve takes me back many years through the strong connections plants create.

That thing you’re feeling… It’s biophilia

If like me you find reassurance, calm and restoration among plants and trees then you’ll know how real that connection is. That thing you’re feeling is biophilia.

Windowsill herb pesto

I once heard a chef on Radio 4 say that to make pesto you can use any green herb, any nuts and any cheese. With windowsill herbs and cupboard ingredients, here goes!

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I don't think it's any accident that when we make connections with plants, we make connections with each other. I discovered how true this is when I was selling edible flowers. My customers would tell me how excited they were about the flowers, how they were going to...

Petal printed top

Of anything I've ever created using flowers and plants, this is one of my all time favourites. It has the perfect combination of simplicity, satisfaction and a beautiful outcome. Two of the most appealing things about flower pounding are that you don't need any...

For a happier winter

First of all, let me say I think it's quite common for gardeners in the northern hemisphere not to love winter. The days are short, the evenings are long and spring cannot come soon enough. But last summer brought a lot of sadness for me and whilst traditionally...

Edible flower culinary creations

During my time growing and selling edible flowers it was a real dream come true for me to to work with extremely talented food and drink professionals and and to see my flowers being used for occasions of celebration and love. Here are a few photos of some of their...

Changes in 2020

Establishing The Flower Deli back in 2016 has been a little dream come true for me. Seeing the edible blooms that I worked really hard to grow, maintain, harvest and send on their way be a part of a beautiful piece of culinary art for occasions of celebration and love...

Creating an edible flowers feast

Back in the summer I took a morning out to create a little edible flowers feast for two. I wanted it to be beautiful as well as taste good, so here are some lovely flower and food combinations whose flavours work well together and look pretty too. One of my favourite...

Winter hasn’t been hibernation time

Anyone who knows me knows I am not a fan of winter. I am not one of those people who prefers chilly walks wrapped up in woolly layers over a dreamy summer stroll and I definitely do not like the dark 'cosy' evenings. I can be charmed by the sparkle of the first good...

Worm farmers of the world unite!

A couple of weeks ago I went along to a worm composting workshop provided by Anna de la Vega at The Urban Worm farm here in Nottingham. That's me on the right hand side of the photo with my fellow trainee worm farmers. I went because I wanted to learn how to compost...

So, so easy rose gin

The rain set in early at the weekend despite the forecast saying it would stay dry until late afternoon. I could have predicted the morning downpour though, just by looking at the roses. Let me explain... The rose plants are full of buds right now, some closed tight,...

Oh You Pretty Things!

Last month I was delighted to be invited to bring my edible flowers to 'Oh You Pretty Things!' A retro kitsch styled wedding photo shoot lead by photographer Becky Ryan and with a wonderful team of local wedding suppliers. It was the lovely, talented wedding cake...