You are recommended to go early to get the best of the flowers, but as I couldn't drag myself out of the bed and with the never ending upheaval of the London transport system during the weekends these days, it was about 12 before I finally got there. It was almost impossible to navigate through the crowds but I wasn't deterred and still managed to buy more flowers than I could reasonably carry. It's all too easy to get caught up in the atmosphere of this lovely street and I now remember why I always want my other half to go with me - another pair of hands is useful when you are loaded down with sunflowers, peonies, stock, irises and eucalyptus!
I finally managed to get home with all my purchases and set about putting them into some vases and 'arranging' them (if you can even call my efforts that.....). The peonies are just beautiful, even as tight buds before they open up into big blowsy blooms. My irises were also all closed up when I bought them but within a day of sitting on the windowsill in the sun, they looked like a flock of birds when their delicate petals burst open into a mass of blue and yellow.
Using gorgeous avalanche roses, snapdragon, oriental lilies and astrantia 'million star' along with some pencil eucalyptus and aspidistra, I created my first hand tied bouquet, where I had to master the technique of creating a spiral design. That was fine until the bouquet got so heavy I thought my arm was going to start shaking trying to hold it all together!
After some yummy cake and tea, the afternoon was spent creating an arrangement using oasis in a very cute basket. The dahlias had the tiniest hint of a pale salmony pink colour on their outer tips, which complimented the double lisianthus and spray rose perfectly. The tips of the stock and the unopened lisianthus buds look like they dance above the rest of the flowers.
Don't think I'll be leaving the day job just yet... but at least it's a step in the right direction! For now, I planted my sunflowers and can see them every morning from my bedroom window - a great start to any day.
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