Tags
floral workshop, Hebden Bridge, pelargonium cuttings, propagation workshop, salvia cuttings, Simply by Arrangement
I can’t believe how quickly this year has whizzed past. As this is only my third post of the year, *looks sheepishly at screen*, it probably goes without saying I’ve found it hard to keep up with work, gardening and other commitments. Something had to give and unfortunately that turned out to be this blog.
It’s been a year of trying to focus on what’s important. Lots of seizing the day, grasping the nettle and all manner of other cheesy clichés. There’s nothing like turning forty and having an operation to make you look at life with renewed vigour. There have been garden visits a plenty, which will provide lots of blog post potential if I can ever get back into the blogging groove, a ‘100km in a year’ swimming challenge (I’m at 63km), and my allotment flowers appeared on the front cover of the RHS The Garden magazine.
Next up is a project that I’m really excited about. I’ve been invited to give a class on propagation by the fantastic flower grower-florist Sarah Statham of Simply by Arrangement at her gorgeous garden and workshop in Yorkshire. Forget about the post-holiday blues and the darker nights because Sarah and I have planned a day that will celebrate all that the early autumn garden has to offer. In the morning I’ll show workshop guests how to propagate pelargoniums and salvias. You’ll get to take cuttings from a selection of great varieties, which you’ll take home in vintage clay pots and a handmade seed tray.
Lunch will be a delicious affair created by Christie, Sarah’s business partner who’s otherwise known as Mrs B. Mrs B’s food has become legendary among workshop attendees, so guests are in for a treat. Then, in the afternoon, you’ll be able to pick from a selection of flowers and foliage from Sarah’s garden, my cutting patch and local flower growers to make a stunning table arrangement to take home. There’ll be dahlias galore! Sarah will be on hand to offer advice on how to arrange – have a look at her Instagram feed to see her gorgeous floral creations.
The course starts at 10.30am at Sarah’s workshop near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire and will finish about 4.30pm. The cost is £180 and this includes lunch and refreshments throughout the day. And … there’s only one place left!
If you fancy extending your stay in the area you won’t be disappointed. The nearby town of Hebden Bridge is a mecca for lovers of independent shops. It’s nestled in the glorious Pennines, which should still be clad in purple heather, and the Rochdale Canal meanders through the valley. I can highly recommend a walk at the nearby Hardcastle Crags too, and if you’re a lover of the Brontes, Haworth is only a short drive away.
For more details go to simplybyarrangement.co.uk and to book a place contact Sarah at simplybyarrangement@sky.com.
Hope to see you there!
wellywoman 
I’m signed up and simply cannot wait! It sounds like a fabulous workshop. Really looking forward to meeting you 😊
Can’t wait to meet you too. 🙂
Are the flowers in the first image yours?
Such an unusual and effective pairing of colours!
They are Diana. all grown on the cut flower patch. Thank you. It’s my favourite colour combination at the moment.
I do so wish I could sign up to this but sadly I have a prior commitment that day. Are you going to do another one like this in the future? Looking forward to the Instagram photos.
Oh, that’s a pity. Sarah’s does a whole range of workshops throughout the year – check on her website. Hopefully there might be some other growing/arranging workshops next year. I have a few ideas up my sleeve. 😉
Sounds like a great day, you must be thrilled. We’ve garden visitors that day but will be thinking of you. Congrats on RHS The Garden front cover, too.
Thanks Kate. Yes, really looking forward to it. Enjoy having your garden visitors. They’re in for a treat. 🙂
Sounds fantastic, congratulations! I’m sure it will be a fab day. Beautiful arrangement again by the way 🙂
Thank you! Glad you like the flowers. 🙂
I recently stumbled on your instagram page which is lovely, although I have missed your well-written blog posts, but hey, as you write, something has to give. Hope you’re well after the operation. The workshop sounds fab, but unfortunately it’s a bit too far for me.
Hi Helle, It’s very kind of to say you’ve missed my blogs. I’ve missed writing them, but I’ve been putting most of my time into writing full-time for magazines and newspapers. Then I get to the weekend and I’ve run out of writing steam. Spring is always a crazy time too with all that seed sowing – it’s easy to get out of the habit of doing something. I’m really looking forward to the workshop. It is a bit far for you to come. 😉 Hope you’ve had a good growing season? The weather has been strange here. A long cold spring and cool nights and very dry weather. It’s taken ages for some plants to get going.
I should love to join your workshop but the distance is too great for a day and I have no more holiday days left. Well done on the cover shot. Have been enjoying your Instagram feed
Hi Dorris, Yes, it is a long way for a day. 😉 Maybe next time. Glad you enjoy my Instagram feed. 🙂
Hello Wellywoman! Gorgeous photos and congrats on the magazine cover! That’s fantastic! 40 and an operation? Snap! I turn 40 on Monday and had a small op earlier this year too. We only have so much capacity and it sounds like you’re doing some really cool stuff. I would have taken your last place on the workshop but we will be coming home from our holiday that day. Hebden Bridge is fab and not too far from me. Hopefully next time!! So lovely to reconnect with you and I really enjoyed your post 🙂 xx
Hello Anna! Aw, thank you. Happy birthday!! Hope you’ve got something lovely planned. Oh, that’s a pity but hope you have a fab time on holiday. I love Hebden Bridge. My husband grew up in the area and I love going back there. We’d move there if jobs would allow. Hopefully there might be some more courses next year, so maybe we’ll get a chance to meet at some point. 🙂 xx
I like your choice of voluptuous stylish plants all with a rich and extravagant feel to them yet all home grown-very inspiring.
Hi Sue, Thank you! I have started getting a bit carried away with some arrangements. I haven’t really got the space to display some of them, but they’re fun to create. 🙂
So glad you took the time to write this blog post. I love your arrangements and the pictures you have taken of them. I’ll try to copy one of them with my dahlias. I have plenty of dahlias but would love to add twigs and branches and other flowers. Congrats on the front cover, that’s marvelous!
Thank you Pauline. 😊 That’s so kind of you. Dahlias are fabulous. Have fun with your arrangements.