My balcony has never looked prettier because during the “lockdown” I’ve been sent daisies, lilies and lavender plants, all thriving in this sunshine and they are a daily joy. My family know that my favourite colours are white, blue and mauve,
My friends who married in the fifties all carried red roses. Not me. I designed a crescent spray of white roses, carnations and stephanotis. We had twin page boys, so I designed my bridesmaid dresses, and made them in blues and mauves to match the page’s kilts. Their bouquets were like stars in those colours.
A friend’s daughter worked for the florist in London who made Princess Diana’s bouquet. When Royal orders are made there is always a duplicate. After the wedding, all the team shared the flowers from the spare bouquet.
We had two flower calamities. When we bought Hotwells Post Office the front door to the property was alongside the shop window and up three steps. Soon after moving in we bought six pots of geraniums, two for each step. Not a good idea. The next morning they had all been taken!
In France, we planted lavender all along the inside of our front wall. On returning from holiday there was just a row of holes!
I wonder which flowers are your favourites? My father loved wallflowers. I could never understand that choice. Madi, my granddaughter, now expecting my first great-grandchild adores daffodils. In York, my granddaughters favour sunflowers. I do like the way that when turning to the sun they seem to dance (the sunflowers, not the granddaughters!) In France you should never give anyone chrysanthemums. They call them funeral flowers. Likewise never offer red and yellow flowers together. That combination is thought to bring bad luck.
Just a daisy from your lawn would please me. Yes, I love white flowers!
Happy July,
Esmé