Much as we love our flower plot, we always like to get out and about, speak to other flower growers and get inspiration from other interesting businesses. So, at the latter end of the wedding season, Bek and I have managed to clear a few days in the diary and do just that.
Last week I went to the West Country to see my friend Claire who has been working as a gardener down there, having worked at Sissinghurst for 19 years. She’s been living near Wincanton, so it seemed mad not to look up Georgie Newbery at Common Farm Flowers.
We have known of one another’s flower businesses for some time and we managed to persuade Georgie to let us visit by taking coffee and doughnuts. It was great to see her cutting garden, how they cultivate, and to share tales of setting up a cut-flower business and making it work. Georgie works a little differently to us, sending out beautiful seasonal bouquets nationwide as well as offering wedding flowers and an array of inspiring workshops.
She’s a fan of direct sewing, whereas we tend to sew indoors, then plant out plug plants. It’s all about creating a lovely, fine tilth apparently – and being a careful weeder! Georgie grows her flowers over several different plots, fenced to keep out the deer – not a problem we have – and surrounding by hedges to keep out the wind.
To find out what courses Georgie has coming up and about her seasonal flower delivery service visit: www.commonfarmflowers.com
Thank you so much for this – it was great to meet and have a good old chin wag – your business was such an inspiration to us when we started out after seeing you with Monty Don on the telly box. Onwards and upwards to all we flower growers! xxxxx