From seed to vase in one little volume!
I didn’t know what I’d make of the Cut Flowers book, as floristry is an unknown art to me. Blooms get bunged in vases with no artistic merit. However, Celestina Robertson guides even complete novices and buffoons like me into planning, planting and growing blooms for the vase.
Part of the Bloom series of gardening books from Frances Lincoln, this little book is packed with information and full of wonderful photos. Like its great sister book Shade (see my review here), it focuses on the plants in great detail. Even if you weren’t growing for cutting, it’s a handy volume to have to make sure your garden has blooms 365 days a year.
Growing skills are covered, especially techniques like the Chelsea Chop and pinch pruning. There are plants to grow for drying (and the techniques required to do it successfully).
What makes good cut flowers?
Celestina shares her wisdom and passion. For example, did you know not everything makes good cut flowers? Pear (Pyrus) blossom drops quickly and has an unpleasant smell and elder (Sambucus) fruits stain. Along with willow, all three are difficult to hydrate (although you can use willow branches with catkins in winter). Who knew?
The final quarter of the book is all about how to condition and arrange your flowers for the best possible vase life. After all, that’s what you’re after.
Celestina is against the use of traditional floral foam (oasis) and gives very good reasons why. It’s single-use plastic, neither recyclable nor biodegradable. It produces toxic chemicals including phenol and formaldehyde. When you cut it, it’s possible to inhale tiny particles. these can also end up in marine environments.
No need to use harmful foam
Newer bio-foam seems to be just as harmful. Luckily, she says there is no need to use any foams in floristry. Instead, she demonstrates with Japanese Kenzan (pin frog), flower frogs, chicken wire, copper mesh, moss, tape and pliable branches instead.
All in all, another winner in the Bloom series. Celestina has marvellous ideas and good growing skills – it may even get me to try and arrange flowers properly.
Cut Flowers is available now online and at good bookshops, RRP £12.99. For more information, visit Frances-Lincoln.
Read my review on Rachel McCartain’s I Want To Like My Garden here.
Read more horticultural book reviews you might like – The Thoughtful Gardener and Good Soil; Urban Flowers; The Salad Garden; The Jam Maker’s Garden and Charles Dowding’s latest No-Dig volume.
