IVOM: Another book for bouquets

"The Land Gardeners Cut Flowers" by Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld is the polar opposite of "Ikebana Unbound." It is a big, extravagant, pricey book that is drop dead gorgeous ($60.00, Thames & Hudson). I am a sucker for British gardens and gardeners, so I was thrilled to be able to borrow this from my local library.

It is an elegant and beautifully designed volume with red and white striped endpapers, calligraphic title pages and recurring chapter motifs that are taken from the interior of Elworthy's 15th C. house. That's where the two women headquarter their business; specializing in cut flowers grown on the site for London florist shops and private clients. They also design walled gardens. 

The book is endlessly inspiring and at the same time overwhelmingly frustrating for most of us home gardeners. Even those who have enough space to allocate for cut flowers will be speechless at the sight of the multiplicity of gardens devoted to various kinds of flowers grown for cutting by the two women at Elworty's evocative Arts and Crafts estate, Wardington Manor (below).

I have a big brown and white pitcher that belonged to my grandmother that's reminiscent of the one on the book's cover. That was enough to convince me I had something in common with Elworthy and Courtauld. As I went deeper into their book I discovered that, despite the age of their house and the size of the gardens, these two women are serious gardeners. Serious about soil, compost and green manure. Their motto is "it all begins in the soil." Despite the gorgeousness of their surroundings, the two are not dilettantes. 

The book has a good map of the property and gardens to help you understand just where they are growing different groups of flowers. They talk about "your cut flower garden" and offer advice on subjects ranging from tools, seed collecting, creating the garden beds, paths, potting sheds and staking. They offer a "year of flowers" based on the four seasons and information on a wide array of plants from annuals to trees and shrubs. 

I don't have a dedicated cut flower garden and I am not going to create one. So I was most interested to see what kind of things they put in vases. For starters, Elworthy and Courtauld devote a section of the book to their "flower room." They cover gathering and preparing flowers for arrangements and potting up bulbs for seasonal displays.

I have as many vases and containers as they do, with a sink as big — though not as antique — as theirs. What was most encouraging is that their containers were filled with things most of us can grow: Lilacs, Peonies, Daffodils, Dahlias, Winter Berries and even, Rhubarb. 

The flowers shown are usually identified, so you could potentially grow something you like in the book. But I've learned over the years that many lovely varieties of plants are not available in the U.S.; or take a lot of effort to find. But some flowers the two showcased — like Peonies — included many varieties that are easily found here, like 'Coral Charm' and 'Pillow Talk.'

I'm growing one of the three daffodils in the vase above and I've already found sources for the other two varieties they mentioned. I'm looking forward to doing my version of that display and using my assorted blue and white containers to exhibit spring bulbs with white flowers as Elworthy and Courtauld do. 

I can't quite picture myself buying this book. But I know that I will be checking it out from my library again. And probably, again.

Comments

[Kris P]

I'm sure I'd drool over the photos but as I can't grow many of the flowers they use (peonies!), I wouldn't be able to bring myself to purchase it - I already have a supply of books like that!

[Linda Brazill]

KRIS - Same here. I love those UK books and gardens but mostly for dreaming.

[danger garden]

Sadly it looks like it's not available thru our library. I remember in the days of in-person library visits I often requested inter-library loans. Perhaps there is a way to figure out how to do that online, homework!

[Beth@PlantPostings]

Looks like a great book. Suggestions for cut flowers and arrangement elements are always welcome. Happy holidays!

[Linda Brazill]

BETH — ​Our family Christmas gathering got canceled and our coffeeshop group decided to take an Omicron break as well. ​So we loaded up on library books and groceries. A quiet holiday again. but we're healthy which is the important thing.