Flourish Sussex: Our Floral Community

My Core Belief

Ever since I was little I have learnt the importance of celebrating others. As a child growing up with two older sisters, there were many things they could do which I could not. Instead of seeing their achievements as a threat, I was taught to celebrate them, grow from them.

The importance of seeing others and celebrating other peoples successes is an important tool to take into our professional lives. By championing one another and bringing support, we can build a community, a supportive network which enables us all to reach our full potential.

The School

At Flourish I wanted to develop courses that incorporated floristry design that embraced art, design and nature. A school which celebrated the seasons and was lead by sustainable methods. For me it was imperative that the career courses taught at Flourish Sussex Flower School covered all the vital and fundamental designs used in the floristry industry, which had a strong emphasis on students style development.

Creativity

At the Flourish we want all our students to see themselves as individual artists. No two students are the same, therefore as their teachers myself and my team will guide each student to find their own individual style of floristry, which encompasses their creative flare and imagination.

Unlike more traditional courses, we celebrate that everyone is unique, therefore no two designs will ever be the same.

From Passion to Prefessional

Before embarking on one of our career courses you will fill out a questionnaire so we can get a sense of the journey that you wish to embark on. By finding out what has bought you to floristry, your passions (besides flowers) we will gentle guide you onto a path which will meet both your creative and business goals.

The Flourish Community

One of the aspects that I am most proud of at the school, is the community of florists and growers that have graduated. So many flower friendships have been formed and many of our students go onto freelance for each other and support one another in their professional lives.

We also have many of our students who have established businesses return to the school to talk to our trainees and demonstrate.

It is a beautiful and supportive community, a vital tool when as florists you often work on your own.

Get Ready to Launch!

Embarking on a new journey is always nerve wracking, but one of the most important parts of the process is to find an educational setting which provides a creative, fun, relaxed, informative, safe environment for you to learn in.

Once you have completed courses at Flourish Sussex, help and support is always on hand to guide you to build confidence and self belief.

The floristry industry holds so many opportunities for aspiring florists and growers, let us guide you into this beloved industry of colour, nature and design.

What flowers are available for a winter wedding?

For a winter wedding, there are several beautiful flowers that are in season and perfect for creating a magical atmosphere. Some popular choices include elegant white roses, delicate stephanotis, classic ranunculus, sophisticated orchids, and charming anemones. These flowers can add a touch of elegance and romance to your winter wedding décor. Consider incorporating seasonal greenery like pine branches, eucalyptus, or holly to complement your floral arrangements and create a cozy and festive feel. With the right combination of flowers and greenery, you can create a stunning winter wonderland for your special day.

If you want to learn more about how to arrange with winter flowers why not join us for one of our seasonal workshops. Just click on the link here.

Alicia xx

Winter Flowers

Winter Flowers

How to care for Hellebores in the garden.

Hellebores are one of the joys of winter. They are a fantastic flower to arrange in vases in your home. So why not start by growing some in your garden. Here are 5 tips to help you get growing these gorgeous flowers.

Hellebores, also known as Lenten roses, are beautiful perennial plants that can brighten up any garden in the late winter and early spring.

1. Light and Soil: Hellebores prefer partial shade to full shade and thrive in rich, well- draining soil. Make sure to plant them in a spot with dappled sunlight to keep them happy

and healthy.
2. Watering: These plants like to be kept consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water

your Hellebores regularly, especially during dry spells, to help them flourish.
3. Fertilising: Feed your Hellebores with a balanced fertiliser in early spring before they

start to bloom. This will give them the nutrients they need to produce beautiful flowers.

4. Pruning: Remove any damaged or yellowing leaves throughout the year to keep your

Hellebores looking their best. After the blooming season, you can cut back the old foliage to make way for new growth.

5. Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of your Hellebores to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. This will also protect the roots during extreme

temperatures.

By following these care tips, you can enjoy a stunning display of Hellebores in your garden year after year. Happy gardening!

June At The Flower School

June seems to be flying by and what a wonderful month it has been so far. The flower fields at Pitfield Barn have got an abundance of summer blooms. Daily walks are a pure joy as I look for inspiration for our next workshops and pick fresh ingredients to create with. 

Workshops & Courses

We have welcomed so many students to the flower school this month. Our Peony Masterclass was yet again the most beautiful workshop, filled with Gardenia, Sarah Bernhardt, Bridal Grace varieties of peonies, this class was an absolute joy to teach. We also welcomed a student all the way from Hong Kong. Did you know we have some wonderful accommodation in Hurstpierpoint that we can recommend to you if you are travelling from far away.

Our summer Introduction to Floristry sold out very quickly and students enjoyed creating two displays including; a ceramic vase and a foam free table runner display. Our next Introduction to Floristry is coming this autumn. It is the perfect class if you want to find out more about how to arrange flowers or if floristry is something you would like to explore more of. 

British Flower Week

British Flower Week is almost upon us, 26th-30th June. This is the week where we celebrate all the hard working British growers out there. This year has been particularly challenging for growers. The lack of sunshine at the start of year made many flowers come out very late and now with very little rain, growers are facing new challenges of making sure their crops don't dry out.

The sun has bought so many wonderful blooms to the cutting gardens near the flower school. I picked up these wonderful irises grown at Pitfields the other day. Their ruffles and subtle tone of cream are such a treat for the eyes. Next week I will be sharing reels, photographs and interviews from some of my favourite flower farms including Pitfield Barn, Tangle and Wild, Sidnye Flowers and Big Field Flowers.

Summer Demonstration at Pitfield Barn

In July we are excited to be doing a joint open morning event with Pitfield Barn. I will be demonstrating two different displays including ; a bridal bouquet and a table centre suitable for a wedding. 

Guests can enjoy a stroll around the wonderful gardens at Pitfield Barn, while Emma Martin gives talk about what it is like to be a British grower. There will be lots of opportunity to ask some questions while enjoying some lovely homemade cake. Tickets cost £15.00 per person. To reserve your place click on the link here.

Pressed Flowers

As we move into the summer months we will be taking our summer break from teaching, but I will be working on a collection of new artwork which will be launching in the autumn. All of our artwork will be created using beautiful pressed flowers and we will selling cards, canvas prints and framed artwork in the later part of the year. Theses pieces take a  long time to create, the picture above shows stage one of this piece, but I am absolutely loving it and I am so excited about this next branch of the business.

Until July I wish you all well and as ever a big thank you for your continue support of the flower school. As a thank you please use the discount code below to get  15% off any half day or whole day workshops. (Please note this does not include career courses or Christmas wreaths classes).

Summerflowers23

Love Alicia xx


Peony Care, Tips & Tricks

Peony Love

Throughout the many years of running my wedding business there was one flower that everyone loved and yes that was the peony. With its beautiful shades and ruffles it certainly defines femininity and beauty.

But these cut flowers can sometimes be a little tricky to care for and work with. So in this blog I have created some information that will hopefully give you lots of tips and tricks so you can feel confident when you are designing with them.

Information about peonies

Peonies are beautiful flowers, which come in a variety of colours from whites, to dark reds and an array of pinks.

The growing season for them in Britain is relatively short, June is the peak month. Although peonies start showing up on the flower auctions in Holland as early as February, I always advise students who attend Flourish Sussex Flower School to never buy them this early. The cost is high and the condition is low.

Types of Peonies

There are three different types of peonies: herbaceous peonies, tree peonies and intersectional peonies. The main differences are that herbaceous peonies die back to the ground in winter and then regrow in the spring, while tree peonies have woody stems that remain throughout the year. Intersectional peonies are a hybrid between herbaceous and tree peonies.

Peony Types

There are lots of different types of peonies. Some have single heads, while others have double. Some of the most popular varieties come in shades of pink. One of the most popular varieties is Sarah Bernhardt, while a personal favourite of mine is Gardenia which is a very soft pink mixed with white.

The flowers can be very large and when in season you can manipulate them to suit your design.

Designing with peonies

Working out when to get your peonies is the first step when designing with these flowers. If you are creating a large archway you will probably want your peonies to be very open. Depending on the weather, if it is a cool week you may want to get them in as early as Tuesday before a Saturday wedding so they can be open and full. However if it is hot, the later the better.

If you are using them for a smaller arrangement or the couple want them to not be too open it is important to get them in as close to the wedding as possible, especially if you are working with them at peak season.

Monitor the weather. If it is going to be warm and you don’t want them to open too much get them in on the Thursday or even better on the Friday, condition them and then keep them somewhere dark and cool.

If you want them to open up more you can gently push back the petals, this will bring the petals out and will transform your peony into a large open flower.

Care Tips for Peonies

  • Once you have got your peonies in ensure that your buckets or vases are clean and add cold water to them.

  • If you are buying them directly from a florist or a supermarket go for the ones that are bud, not the ones that are in full flower, these will last longer.

  • Use clean, sharp floristry scissors or pruning shears to cut the stem at a 45 degree angle. This helps to prevent damage to the stem and allows the flower to drink more easily.

  • Remove lower leaves, so that the water can go directly to the flower.

  • If you are using a vase make sure it is a heavy duty one. Peonies are heavy flowers and you don’t want your display to tip over with their weight.

  • Ensure that you change the water every two to three days, this will help the peonies to live longer and some can survive up to two weeks.

  • Make sure you keep your display someone cool and away from direct sunlight.

Questions about peonies

I hope you have found this blog useful. If you have any questions or have any other tips that you have found useful when arranging with peonies please do comment below.

Peonies are a firm favourite here at Flourish Sussex Flower School, so during the summer months you will find them in our flower school a lot! If you are keen to find out more about how to flower arrange with us visit our workshop page by clicking here.

Alicia xx

Ever fancied a career in floristry?