THE SEASONAL HOME: Spring Add joyful colour to the home with displays of spring flowers, from daffodils and tulips to wildflowers and cherry blossom
ABOVE Pretty shades of pastel pink and soft white blossom fill the the branches of apple and cherry trees in spring, a harbinger of the delicious fruit to come. RIGHT Tulips come in all manner of styles and colours, including these decadent ‘Dream Touch’ and ‘Pink Parrot’ varieties, here arranged with another spring favourite, cream hyacinth.
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pring bursts forth with long-awaited blooms full of bright, cheerful colour, and whilst traditional spring flowers, such as sunny daffodils, are increasingly making earlier appearances, florist Rowan Blossom says, “For me, March is synonymous with narcissi. Perhaps because my father is a proud Welshman and we always wear a daffodil to celebrate St David’s Day.” A kitchen in spring is almost incomplete without a pitcher full of daffodils and there is a huge range of colours and varieties to choose from. “Of course, the first type to spring to mind is the cheerful yolky yellow one, which cannot fail to raise a smile,” says Blossom. “But there are so many others which are a joy to create arrangements with, from the pure white ‘Thalia’ to the lemony ‘Toto’, and even an incredible peachy-pink variety called ‘Mary Gay Lirette’.” Another flower that is closely associated with spring is the ever-popular tulip. Again, this comes in an incredible array of colours and shapes – from cleanlined simple cups to double-flowered peony-like blooms, and extravagant parrot tulips with curled and fringed petals to beautiful striped hybrids. Placing a small number of tulips on their own in a vase will delight, particularly if they are of the frillier variety. “This season offers a bounty of luscious British beauties to play with, including tulips, ranunculus and
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anemone,” says Blossom. Ranunculus, with its dense clusters of petals, offers an aesthetic akin to layered roses, and comes in a palette of colours, from bright and light, to deep and dramatic. Consider freesias, too, whether in pastel or stronger shades, to offer delicate beauty as well as incredible scent, and hyacinths, with their incredible heady aroma. Lily of the valley are another beautifully scented choice. Wildflowers are a visual delight come spring. Fritillaries, bluebells, crocuses, grape hyacinths and even daisies can all be used to create charming arrangements in dainty bud vases. As can the clouds of pink and white blossom bursting forth on fruit trees at this time of year. These are a joy to behold and can be used to create a wonderfully simple yet impactful display on a console table in a hallway. Lilac blossoms, with their heavenly scent, provide beautiful sprays of tiny flowers, and can be used for culinary purposes too (see p99). Peonies are a herald of summer, though can start to appear sooner should the weather be warmer than usual, and “are a showstopper in any arrangement,” Blossom enthuses. Spring flowers allow for richly diverse arrangements, full of bright colours, shapes and textures, as we will explore over the coming pages, and are perfect for lifting the spirits when placed to catch the eye as we go about our daily lives at home.
