How to Grow the Flowers: A sustainable approach to enjoying flowers through the seasons
Growing flowers to cut and enjoy at home can sharpen our awareness of the world around us and make us more attuned to nature. We find it impossible to walk anywhere without spotting a prized rose in a front garden, a brassica gone to seed on a neighbouring allotment plot or a weedy verge in a carpark and considering its potential for cutting.
‘Tuning into the flowering seasons, observing and being compassionate to nature and seeking beauty in the unexpected not only makes us better gardeners but custodians of the planet.’ – Camila and Marianne
Like the food revolution that focuses on provenance, locality, climate and sustainability, Camila and Marianne use these principles to address the flower market. With not much space, it is possible to use the flowers from your garden to decorate your home as well as giving bunches to friends and family instead of buying cellophane wrapped flowers from the shops that may have been covered in pesticides and travelled many miles to get to you.
Flowers are something we are irresistibly drawn to and turn to at the milestone moments of our lives, at births, marriages and deaths, to connect with an estranged friend, to send love or say we’re sorry. They colour our most formative experiences and are our gateway to finding our own personal relationship with the planet we inhabit. No matter the size of your garden, this practical, but approachable guide will instill the confidence in you to grow flowers to bring into your home and enjoy all year round.
”'My word it is gorgeous! A book that is both beautiful and informative.The photos are stunning, and the text is highly informative” - Charles Dowding
”'A joy of a book in every way. I long to fill my garden with flowers with this book as my guide.” - Anna Jones
”'Vital, generous and game-changing: How to Grow The Flowers is a beautiful and inspiring book that will make the impossible - such as farming organic flowers in North London - accessible, no matter your ambitions or plot.” - Alice Vincent
”'It's been amazing to watch Marianne and Camila passionately work to champion change in the U.K. floral industry, highlighting the power and beauty of growing and using local, seasonal flowers. They share the many lessons they've learned along the way in their thoughtful first book How to Grow the Flowers.” - Erin Benzakein