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Blog

Our Flowers

9/7/2017

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It is high summer and I have noticed to my horror that I haven't written a post since March! That is how things have gone here at The Garden Gate. We have been cutting and cutting from the cutting garden Tulips and Narcissus have given way to Alliums, Iris, Sweet Peas, Scabious, Phlox, Fennel, Cornflowers, Ammi and more. The Dahlias are just starting to flower but it will be a couple of weeks before they really get going. Last year we cut in the region of 15,000 stems but I have to admit to losing count. This year there will be more. We also buy in from other British growers. We do this to increase the varieties available but also to keep up with the quantities we need. Due to our sandy soil I source Roses from The Real Flower Company as they don't grow well here. Then I source flowers from other East Anglian growers...mostly in Norfolk. Sarah grows Peonies and Julie any number of things, currently including some gorgeous Mallow. Then we go further a field to growers in Lincolnshire and the West Country where the larger growers tend to be. Currently we are sourcing Cornish Agapanthus and Scabious from Lincolnshire amongst other things. luckily we are able to access these flowers via some small scale British flower wholesalers who help us source different varieties from the growers they buy from. Finally we buy Freesias from a family farm on Guernsey. When I send out bouquets I add details of where the flowers have been sourced from but I have started to add a little posting on the website each month so if you buy bunches you can see what we are using. With weddings I also try to share with the couple where their flowers are sourced from and what we have used. Often we have used so many different types of flowers the list isn't exhaustive but I think it is nice to know some information about your flowers...varieties and where they have been grown etc. 
It is very important to me that our flowers are ethically sourced. I like to support other small scale artisan style growers, located as locally as possible. It is important to us to know where the flowers we use are grown and where possible by whom. We also use small scale British Flower Wholesalers that we trust to do like wise.

What we are cutting now...

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    My Story

    My story in flowers started as a child growing a tiny patch of London Pride Saxifraga...also known as Whimsey or Look Up and Kiss Me!  Fast forward to 8 years ago when I started a  City and Guilds training in floristry. I qualified as a  florist and then to deepen my growing knowledge and skills I trained in horticulture as well.  I trained under a WRAGS scheme at Darsham Nurseries and at Somerleyton Hall.  Developing a passion for both growing and designing/arranging British garden flowers, I planted a cutting garden. Having become increasingly concerned about where and how flowers are grown, coupled with a love of British grown flowers. and natural styling, I now specialise in growing and using beautiful British grown flowers to make romantic natural designs. for weddings, events, gifts and much more.
    I keep up to date and expand my skills by attending courses each year ...including Jay Archer Flower School, Catkin at Doddington Hall and Sarah Raven at Perch Hill, 

    Denise

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  • Home
  • Contact
  • Weddings
    • Country House Weddings
    • Naturally Styled Weddings
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  • Gorgeous Bouquets
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    • The Garden in Winter/Spring
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