Creative, sustainable Floristry within Didcot & Faringdon areas for Fresh, Dried & Artificial Flowers.

SUSTAINABLE ECO FRIENDLY FUNERAL SYMPATHY FLOWERS AND FUNERAL TRIBUTES

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:43:19 -0700

We all know that plastic is harmful to the environment however it's use is unavoidable in modern day living, however wherever we can and whenever we can, we should consider alternatives, especially when it comes to our choice of flowers for funerals. Although a sensetive topic, the funeral of our dear Queen Elizabeth lead the way and opened the conversation. Her funeral was watched by over 4 billion viewers and it was estimated that it was the single most watched televised event ever. Much was made of her circular wreath placed on top of her coffin which included flowers and foliage cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace and Highgrove House. These included rosemary for rememberance, myrtle, English oak, garden roses, pelargoniums, hydrangea, dahlias, scabious and sedum in shades of gold, pink, deep burgundy with touches of white to reflect the Royal Standard.

Now, not everyone has access to an estate however much of the funeral flowers used themselves are unsustainable due to most of the flowers being purchased from abroad. It has being calculated that the carbon footprint of imported flowers can be 10 times that of a homegrown bouquet. Notwithstanding this, the way the flowers are arranged are more of a problem and that is because of what they are arranged in ie the trays and holders and how they are arranged using floral foam or oasis.

Trays and holders used in funeral work are single use and are made with a hard plastic base which is in its entirity is unsustainable.

Floral Foam/Oasis is made up of plastic similar to foam insulation and 1 block of oasisis found to contain the same amount as 1o plastic bags. Most alternatives are no better. Bio Floral Foam has been found to produce more toxil phenols than regular foam and the Bio Foam has been designed for landfill disposal only. Both should never be placed in green waste or composting facilities.

The...Read More

Dried Flower Wedding Bouquets and Flowers

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 14:07:54 -0700

1. They are environmentally friendly:
Vase life is not an issue as the entire crop can be dried and the standards are less stringent in terms of perfection. Think wonky vegetables. Alternatively a grower can keep the best blooms to sell fresh and the rest can be dried -
cutting down wastage.
2. They are long lasting:
Kept in the right environment, they will last years and years in your home as a lovely memorial.
3. They are sustainable:
Dried and Preserved flowers are 100% natural and have been through a preservation process to maintain their beautiful original state with no need for sunlight or water.
4. They can be made in advance:
Not being a fresh product they can be made weeks or months before the wedding taking all the pressure off of yet arranging more deliveries on your wedding day!
5. Lightweight and adaptable
Fresh can get heavy especially for the younger members of the bridal party. eg. flower girls. They can be made into hoops, baskets and dainty coronets which are very beautiful and can be kept as keepsakes.
6. Allergy Free
If your groom or member of your bridal parties suffer from allergies, consider dried flower buttonholes. The preserved examples here are unique and beautiful.
7. Mixing it Up Dried Flowers can be mixed with both fresh and faux. flowers. 8. Styles of Weddings
Boho, Bohemian, Barn, Country or Classic dried flowers fit the esthetic beautifully. 8. Installations
They make fab installations and being lightweight can be made off-site and are easy to...Read More

Wreath Making

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 15:26:58 -0700

Traditionally Wreaths have been popular over the Christmas Period.    Being a Christian Festival the circular shape together with the evergreen material represents eternal life. Advent wreaths are also popular with the addition of candles which symbolizes the passage over the four weeks of Advent .   However, it goes back further than to the Persian Empire, who wore them on their heads as a symbol of importance.   The ancient Romans wore them like crowns and the Greeks awarded laurel wreaths to their triumphant athletes.    Up until 5 or 6 years ago they used to be hung around the necks of victorious Grand Prix Drivers, sadly no longer, due to their 'old fashioned nature'.
Tradition aside, happily wreaths can be hung on doors and walls inside the home to announce and celebrate the changing of the seasons. With crafts enjoying a huge revival why not come and join me and learn how to create a wreath from scratch? Whether it is an in person workshop; a workshop in a box with an online tutorial or simply a kit box with a precorded tutorial and additonal written instructions, there is something for everyone, not matter your skill level.
There are many ways how to create a wreath.   At our workshops, we at Jenniwren floristry arts and crafts prefer to create a wreath from scratch using either willow, ivy or grape vines. There is a certain satisfaction of being able to create something from foraged vegetation and even better evironmentally friendly as the wreath based can be reused numerous times.    Here is a youtube tutorial on how to craft a...Read More