'Tra-la-la, 'tis nearly the day itself ...
Ways to deck your halls, fireside floral chats, a Ukrainian flower film & our Christmas diary dates so no bloom gets forgotten
Yep, ‘tis 12 days until we are all full from our favourite festive dinners. This week we give tips on how to terrifically tastefully make your home & table stresslessly great, we chat to talented artist Petria Lenehan about all things floral & inspirational, we were blessed to see Erin from Floret Flower’s film ‘Gardening in a War Zone’ too. This film features Alla Olkhovska, a gardener, writer, photographer, and clematis seed grower in Kharkiv, Ukraine and we feel that we need to share this special story by Erin. We also have our Siopa Stories, our Bláthanna Grás for this week & a lovely quote to live these too busy festive days by.
And a big hello really from us, sometime we feel like flower elves at Christmas as we scurry through the day making so many pieces but we feel blessed that so many of you have already pre-ordered, and we are throwing out the gratefulness to you lovely friends who still need to order, get them in so that we can make sure you really have the most magical Christmas ahead. X
FLOWERS WE LOVED TO MAKE :
DECK YOUR HALL & DRESS YOUR TABLE
This is the week when everyone suddenly remembers that they need to organise table dressing in whichever way they prefer. Here's a few Appassionata Flowers tips from our team to help you frame your ideas about table & home floral dressing. We have broken it down into various rooms to help breakthrough any tidal wave stresses :
THE PORCH
It's all about thinking about what you would like to see at home once you arrive on your doorstep whether it’s on a street or out on a road. I love to plant up pots in the porch filled with festive cyclamen in deep hues of red and pink, baby Christmas trees covered in snow, larger pines I can then use in the garden pots in our back garden.
Then there's nothing like creating your own door wreath filled with fragrant foliage and herbs and all things you love yourself which could be anything from dried fruit to lavender and rosemary, foraged berried foliage, gorgeous cinnamon and nutmeg and I love a bit of skimmia too - Here's a link to our previous Substack with our 'How to Make a Wreath' video demonstration.
THE HALL
I think its great to have a long lasting but dramatic vase display in your hall as a way to welcome your festive guests, amaryllis and twigs work a treat here.
THE KITCHEN
Taking inspiration from the Nordic interior style, its great to create a contemporary style tree using magnolia or willow twigs or some you might foraged. Place them in a vase in the kitchen and hang all those gorgeous decorations that you love and cherish especially if your own Christmas tree design has been somewhat adapted by the smaller people in the house.
THE FESTIVE TABLE
When thinking about table centres, I love to create smaller vases in series to place along the table with candles and strewn cones and fruit. Mixes of seasonal foliage look gorgeous in white porcelain, mixed posies of reds and pinks mixed with skimmia and herbs adds that touch of bright. By using smaller vases, this means that you can adapt the table centres for other occasions during the Christmas period. For a more formal setting, a teardrop display with candles inset filled with garden foliage, berries and more looks great and once kept in a cool place during nights, it should last until little Christmas.
It's all about the small touches too ranging from hyacinth bulbs placed in stylish vessels or ceramics to sprigs of eucalyptus in your favourite glass vessel to succulents accessorised with moss in your favourite pot.
The most important thing is that you have flowers, foliage and plants that you love for your home but that don't require lots of constant love during such a busy festive time. I alway try to ensure there is lots of texture and colour with a sense of fun and ease.
I think Sophie Bille Brahe gets it right when she said :
‘The holiday season is a time where the house is more alive than usual, there are so many gatherings, children and dogs running everywhere, and flowers take a big part in the celebration. They participate in the festive spirit.”
I would always advise ordering your flowers in early December so you will definitely have the flowers you have planned for the festive time. For fresh flowers, place them in your house by the 23rd. If your home is especially warm, it's a good idea to move your table centres or fresh flowers to a cooler room overnight. For the amaryllis lovers, buy them at least 4 days before Christmas Eve so that they have fully burst into bloom by the time the main day arrives. The worst day to try and buy flowers is Christmas Eve as the selection will be very limited and then you won't have the flowers you really wanted to have to dress your home. If you are making your own displays, it's a good idea to have everything done by the 23rd so you can really enjoy the 24th with your family and friends. Christmas is meant to be fun so just enjoy dressing your home whichever which way you love, kick back and smile.
& OUR SIOPA CHRISTMAS STORIES
Here's our ordering and delivery dates pre Christmas Day - and we would so love you to order as soon as possible so that we can make sure we have you on our list and schedule.
LAST PREORDER DATE :
ORDER YOUR CHRISTMAS FLOWERS & FANCIES BY FRIDAY 15TH OF DECEMBER PRETTY PLEASE - (YES, THAT IS THIS FRIDAY!)
LAST DELIVERY DATE :
THURSDAY 21ST OF DECEMBER IS OUR LAST DELIVERY DATE - FRIDAY 22ND OF DECEMBER SLOTS ARE FULL. THANKS A MILLION.
LAST DAY TO COLLECT A PRE-ORDER : SATURDAY 23RD OF DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS EVE :
WE ARE OPEN UNTIL LUNCHTIME FOR ANY LAST MINUTE ITEMS.
CHRISTMAS DAY - SATURDAY 30TH OF DECEMBER :
WE FLOWER ELVES ARE SLEEPING AND EATING!
SATURDAY 30TH & SUNDAY 31ST OF DECEMBER :
WE ARE OPEN WITH FRESH FLOWERS & PLANTS FOR YOUR NEW YEARS EVE CELEBRATIONS.
TUESDAY 2ND OF JANUARY :
WE ARE BACK OPEN WITH EYES FULL OF JOY FOR 2024.
FRIDAY 5TH OF JANUARY :
DELIVERIES ARE BACK IN ACTION. YAY!
NATURE STUDIES : Petria Lenehan
Petria Lenehan paints abstract landscapes from her studio in rural Co. Wicklow, as a way to express her deep connection to place and the natural world. She paints viscerally and each work is the result of a continuous cycle of intuitive unfolding – a repeated process of building up and softening. The works have an elusive feeling, revealing layers of past images, memories and tones that drop in and out of themselves. Her expansive gestures, sweeping movements and subtle mark making are translated through large and smaller works into an emotive visual language for the viewer to decipher.
What is your favourite flower & what does it evoke for you?
Hydrangeas - I’ve always been fascinated by the hydrangeas that grow in Kerry , the colours are incredible - deep purples and blues that contrast so beautifully with the landscape. I also love how they bloom late in the season, offering an array of colour from late July into October. My wedding bouquet was made up of hydrangeas so they hold a special place in my heart.
How do you like to display flowers at home and what is your favourite vessel?
I have a simple teal ceramic vase from Newburgh pottery, NY that was a present from my husband when we lived in the Hudson Valley. I love collecting handmade ceramics and living with these pieces reminds me of different times and places I’ve experienced over the years.
What is the most important element to you in having flowers at home?
There is a sense of intentionality that comes with bringing flowers into your home. Having plants and fresh flowers feels like a form of self care bringing a sense of vitality, creativity and well being.
When setting a winter/Christmas table, what would best describe your style?
I love working with very natural elements, lots of greenery and a soft colour palette. And using lots of foliage creates a natural, organic aesthetic that's an excellent antidote to all the Christmas tinsel and glitter. I love evergreen arrangements alongside seasonal winter flowers, and dried flowers and fruits work beautifully at this time of year.
What elements of nature would make up a perfect dining table for you?
A mixture of what’s in season and also growing wild outside. I love to just head out into the garden, have a wander and see what I find. I’m very lucky to live in rural Wicklow where there is an abundance of natural beauty on my doorstep. In the Spring and summer months that could be wildflowers, blossom and cow parsley and in the Winter, berries and pine cones.
Which florists & garden designers do you love most around the world?
I love Saipua in Red Hook, Brooklyn. One part floral and soap shop, one part organic farm in Upstate New York, this small shop not only sells cut stems but embodies an entire philosophy of farm to table flowers.
I’m also fascinated by the work of Mary Reynolds in Ireland. Mary is an Irish gardener and landscape designer known for being the youngest contestant to win a gold medal at the Chelsea flower show. She now spends her time advocating for wild gardens or “arks” as she calls them - a movement that shifts the environmental game in nature’s favour.
Do you have any favourite flower/garden design books?
I love this book by Wolves Lane Flower company in London - How to Grow the Flowers: A Sustainable Approach to Enjoying Flowers Through the Seasons . They talk about their experience of running a micro flower farm in north London into a beautiful but practical book. They are part of a new wave of farmer florists passionate about sustainability and the photos by Aloha Shaw are beautiful and inspiring.
What would be in your ultimate favourite bouquet?
Definitely a big bunch of Hydrangeas. I love their sense of scale and impact while still being soft , timeless and romantic. They are also beautiful as they fade and decay.
How does the landscape around inspire you & what details do you think are most noticeable this time of year?
I am always inspired by the landscape around me no matter what the season. I have a large dogwood bush in my garden which is the most beautiful shade of deep red at this time of year. On my walks I love to collect Holly, fir branches, leaves and berries for the house.
Petria’s beautiful work is available to view & shop online HERE & on Instagram HERE
BLÁTHANNA GRÁ - a gathering of all we loved this week :
IN LOVE
‘Watch the very first Floret Original documentary film, Gardening in a War Zone. This film features Alla Olkhovska, a gardener, writer, photographer, and clematis seed grower in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Unable to leave the country, Alla supports her family by selling the rare seeds she collects from her small garden. This story is rooted in beauty, inspiration, and hope.‘ - Erin Benzakein
This beautiful piece, Gardening in a War Zone, tells the story of Alla Olkhovska, a specialty seed grower living in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Erin Benzakein of Floret first learned of Alla from a mutual flower friend, purchased her seeds, and started following her journey from afar. Erin realized just how special her story was, and knew it needed to be shared with the world.
There are three main parts to this story. The first, and most important, is a beautiful 33-minute short documentary film about Alla. This is a special watch & it will give your respite from the festive world around us.
The second part is a lovely written interview with Alla on the blog all about her passion for clematis, the rare seeds she offers, and her new e-book all about this unique group of plants. On their website, Floret have listed all the ways you can help support Alla to keep working as she is working in such difficult circumstances.
The third part is a short video that Erin shared last week giving the backstory on how she came to know Alla, more about her magical plants, her passion for sharing beauty, and why this project matters so much. If you haven’t watched it yet, I’d recommend starting there first before watching the full film.
And here’s an insightful inspirational interview with Alla too HERE
VISIT FLORET FLOWER HERE and on Instagram too HERE
IN LIFE
Gaia - A new installation in Trinity College’s Old Library
Photo Luke Jerram
In Greek mythology, Gaia is the personification of Earth. An illuminated sculpture of Earth by artist Luke Jerram has just been installed in the Long Room of the Old Library. It is well worth a visit - I managed to sneak in during my last free weekend before our festive tunnel began.
This sculpture created by Jerram spins slowly under the Long Room's beautifully barrel-vaulted ceiling & features 120dpi NASA imagery of the Earth's surface in three dimensions as viewed from space. The artist wanted to highlight the beauty & fragility of our planet and to emphasis our responsibility to protect it which is so apt this week of COP28!
Suspended majestically beneath the vaulted ceiling, Gaïa slowly rotates, offering a unique and striking perspective of the Earth. Every detail, captured thanks to NASA images, is an ode to the beauty of our world.
A stroll through the Long Room, Ireland’s most popular tourist attraction, will give you the chance to discover Gaia from every angle, and to enjoy an unforgettable visual experience.
https://www.visittrinity.ie/book-of-kells/gaia/
IN WORDS
The Mess We’re In - Annie MacManus
Whilst everyone else is out partying, we floristas tend to hit the hay so that we can last the pace of December flowering, burning the candle at both ends has become the ultimate no (oh how the violins play…)
So, I am thoroughly enjoying my enforced chill evenings with this second novel by Annie MacManus. It’s no secret I have always loved dance music & then to listen to Annie both in terms of music and podcast, I always feel inspired.
Annie is an author, broadcaster and DJ. Over her 20 year career in the arts, she has created a far reaching cultural presence, rooted in quality, integrity, and authenticity.
The protagonist, twenty one year old Dubliner Orla Quinn moves to Kilburn, north London at the millenium start to pursue a career producing music whilst partying all night long with her new tribe.
'By gifting Orla her own appreciation and critical understanding of music, Macmanus has offered her protagonist a salve with which to navigate the cacophony of a strange city. From the song titles that serve as chapter headings to the soundtrack that plays throughout the narrative, music pulses throughout. This rhythm in the prose adds a texture to the story that harmonises with its main theme – the power of music to save a life.' - Helen Cullen, The Irish Times
I am nearly finished but can't wait to sneak early to bed this week to find out how Orla resolves her London journey through music. It is a well-informed novel inspired authentically by Annie's life as an emigrant in London who has found her voice in music, culture & in hosting a wonderful podcast full of honesty, enthusiasm and wit.
LISTEN TO ANNIES’ PODCAST CHANGES HERE
IN MUSIC
Apart from us all singing our favourite Christmas songs in our heads as we make like the festive flower elves we are, here’s a stalwart Snoopy inspired jazz album played daily in all our various shops through our many Ho Ho Ho years .
WALKS WITH ELLA
(Our beagle Ella loves a walk and noses herself around anywhere we bring her. I love the space and time as she trundles along attempting to chase squirrels to take in podcasts by brilliant folk.)
‘Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange - Sarah Raven & Friends - #147
‘Supporting the Plight of Pollinators, At Home and Around the World with Martha Kearney & Nicola Bradbear’
As a florist who strives daily to improve our sustainability as a business, we firmly believe that the pollinators role in our gardens is a vital one. The work being done by Bees for Development in the UK is making a global impact for these essential species, and the countries in which they work.
Martha Kearney and Nicola Bradbear play a huge role in Bees for Development’s work, and join Sarah on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to share the extent of their involvement, and how we can all aid the plight of pollinators in our own gardens.
Soundtracking with Edith Bowman - Episode 404
Paul King, Neil Hannon & Joby Talbot On The Music Of Wonka
Always a Divine Comedy fan, we were overjoyed to hear that Neil Hannon’s brilliance would lend itself to a wonderful soundtrack to the new Wonka movie. This episode is an entertaining conversation with the three charming composers and now here’s to seeing the film over the festive break.
UNTIL NEXT WEEK FRIENDS - A THOUGHT :
'When you have a garden,
You will never be alone,
And I believe we all deserve
A garden of our own.’
- Benjamin Zephaniah (1958-2023 : May he rest in peace)