About me

Hello, I'm Helen, a Leamington Spa based florist, specialising in beautiful flowers for weddings and events throughout Warwickshire and the Midlands.  This is where you'll find all my latest work and design inspirations. 

The furry sidekick is our whippet, Albert.  He has nothing to do with flowers really - he's just here for the "awhhh" factor.

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Tuesday
Jul272010

Hypnose...

DateTuesday, July 27, 2010 at 8:05AM

Long before I became a florist I was already well and truly addicted to collecting vintage vases.  I probably have a collection of a hundred or so different ones at home... don't ask where I keep them all!  Some of them are ebay purchases, others like these were picked up for virtually nothing during treasure hunts around car boot sales and charity shops.  I think the two on the right in the top picture cost 50p each while the larger two on the left were no more than a couple of pounds.  The one on the far right is one of my favourite finds as it's actually quite a collectable Hornsea piece called 'Aphrodite' designed by John Clappison.

The lovely antique pink roses are 'Hypnose' and were left over from the bridal bouquet in my last post.

What are your favourite junk shop finds?

Photos: Lilac & Lily

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Monday
Jul262010

Rose teardrop bouquet

DateMonday, July 26, 2010 at 4:40PM

Teardrop bridal bouquet of 'Hypnose' and 'Cool Water' roses with soft ruscus and an ivy trail.

Bouquet and photo by Lilac & Lily.

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Thursday
Jul222010

Something blue...

DateThursday, July 22, 2010 at 9:32PM

For much of the year there aren't too many true blue flowers in season, but lucky summer brides are spoilt for choice when it comes to blue wedding flowers.  Hydrangeas, Delphiniums or Agapanthus.... take your pick.

Photos by Lilac & Lily

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Friday
Jul022010

Summer bridal bouquet

DateFriday, July 2, 2010 at 7:30PM

Today's trailing wedding bouquet contains lots of summer lovelies including Peonies, Hydrangeas, Astilbe, Astrantia and Freesia.

Photo: Lilac & Lily

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Wednesday
Jun162010

The Chelsea Flower Show.... part 3: the show gardens

DateWednesday, June 16, 2010 at 7:27PM

To round off my Chelsea series, today I'm posting my favourite pictures of the show gardens.  Feast your eyes on some serious horticultural eye candy.

Have you ever seen the humble Heuchera look so fabulous?  Doesn't this just make you want to go and fill your garden with them in every colour of the rainbow?

I love this rich colour combination.   We have the same indigo blue irises in our garden but they look so striking here combined with the rust variety and dark red foliage.

It breaks my heart that they create these amazing spaces and then at the end of the show they are just dismantled and ripped out.  How much would I love to have a garden like this? (*sigh*)

Astrantia was very popular at Chelsea this year and it's one of my favourite flowers at the moment.  I planted some in our garden recently and hope to use it for one of my brides next month.  It's perfect for a soft, natural, vintage style wedding bouquet.

Aquilegia and Himalayan poppy.

And finally, my own personal favourite, the Cancer Research UK garden by Robert Myers.  I felt a real emotional response to this garden that you just don't get a sense of in the pictures.  Here it looks very architectural but it actually had a real softness and delicacy that I found quite moving.

Do you have a favourite?

All Photos by Lilac & Lily

AuthorHelen | Comment2 Comments |
Tuesday
Jun012010

The Chelsea Flower Show......part 2: wedding and event flower inspiration

DateTuesday, June 1, 2010 at 4:39PM

I simply don't know where to start with writing about Chelsea.  There was just so much amazing stuff to be inspired by.

Simon Lycett's demonstration pieces (above) were sheer unabashed decadence.  Recession.... what recession?  Opulence and extravagance were the order of the day.

Purple was the big colour at Chelsea this year (it was everywhere in the show gardens) but many of the floral designers used it in quite unconventional ways, throwing away the rule book when it came to colour combinations.  Bold striking colour schemes were everywhere in the floral design marquee.

The parasol and tea party themes set for the floral design competitions inspired lots of romantic and nostalgic arrangments.  Although I'm not a huge fan of wired work (I prefer more natural designs), this parasol by Joe Massie, who deservedly won Chelsea Young Florist of the Year for the second year running, absolutely blew me away.

The NAFAS display oozed soft, romantic and slightly faded vintage glamour, reminding me of a neglected and overgrown country house secret garden

The soft, romantic vintage theme was also in evidence at The Real Flower Company.  Simple ceramic jugs were filled with informal posies of roses with jasmine and seneccio foliage alongside a stunning rose urn arrangement and one of my favourite features - a beautiful garland of roses and rosemary.

Lots more Chelsea inspiration to come. In part 3 I'll be featuring my photos of some of the show gardens.

All photos by Lilac & Lily

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Monday
May312010

The Chelsea Flower Show.... part 1: what to wear

DateMonday, May 31, 2010 at 7:05AM

So I went to the Chelsea Flower Show on Friday.  I had a fabulous day, came away with tonnes of inspiration and took a zillion photos.  I'll be sharing the best of them here at Lilac and Lily all this week. 

Going to Chelsea is a rather special occasion so don't listen to anyone who tells you not to bother to dress up.  Do wear a pretty floral print dress.  And if you don't own one, well then use going to Chelsea as an excuse to go out and buy one.  The look you are aiming for is understated and effortless English Rose fabulousness.  Add flat sandals (you'll be doing a lot of walking), casually fix a flower or two in your hair and grab a glass of Pimms on your way in.

Pink floral dress by Malene Birger as featured at Vogue.  Available from net a porter. Accessory inspiration here.

Roses by David Austin.  Photo by Helen at Lilac & Lily.

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Friday
May212010

Covet: grass vase

DateFriday, May 21, 2010 at 5:20PM


I'm always on the look out for quirky and unusual vases and today I am coveting these sweet little handmade 'Grass' vases.  Designed by Karen Kjaeldgard-Larsen and Tine Brokso, they are available from Normann Copenhagen.

Fill with poppies and daisies and create your very own window ledge wildflower meadow.

Images via Normann Copenhagen

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