Floranina

19/09/2025

Wow... what an utterly glorious summer's day today... 🌞🌞👌👌🌞🌞

We made the most of plus 26 degrees 😎🥵😎 strolling around this gorgeous Sussex garden (in fact, it was so lovely we went round twice; before and after lunch!!).

So... is this the last of the summer wine...? Well, if it is, we mustn't grumble, really, eh; the summer of 2025 has broken all records, and we've enjoyed every sunny second.

We're now looking forward to autumn colours during future garden visits. Bring it on!

#

16/09/2025

Did you know that it is just 100 days until Christmas Day today...!?

So I thought I'd better let you have a couple of dates for festive floral fun for you to pop in your diary:

Tuesday 11 November 2025; 6.45pm till 8.45pm Aldridge Adult Learning; five week festive course (call the college on 01273 422632 to book your place but do hurry as the Thursday course is already full!)

Wednesday 19 November 2025; Plumpton Flower Club, Plumpton Village Hall, BN7 3BQ; 7.30pm; Winter Wonderland Demonstration

Tuesday 25 November 2025; 10am till 12 noon
The Garden Bar & Cafe @ Allwoods Garden Centre; festive wreath making (bookings open soon)

Saturday 29 November 2025; 2pm Pagham Village Hall, PO21 4NJ; Winter Wonderland Demonstration in aid of Chestnut Tree House (tickets via Jenni 07790 375229)

Saturday 06 December 2025; 3pm till 5pm
Bishop Hannington Youth and Community Centre; festive wreath making (DM me for details on how to book)

Tuesday 09 December 2025; 1.45pm; Alverstoke Floral Decoration Society, Gosport, PO12 2ET; My Scandinavian Yule Demonstration

It won't be long now... 😁🎄😁 and there will be a few more events yet to be added so keep your eyes peeled!

13/09/2025

The workshop this afternoon with my Floranina Belles was truly extra special.

Following such a long, slow and at times very painful convalescence, I cannot believe that it actually took place!

But my Belles are so fabulous and having longed for a floral fix after such a long hiatus, they all helped with the loading and unloading, as well as the setting up of everything, so I didn't have to lift a finger... How special is that!?

To celebrate the start of autumn, they created glorious topiary trees using a whole host of dried materials, and don't their designs look absolutely awesome... 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Well done Maggie, Sam, Jan H, Susan, Nicola, Pauline and Jan C. You're amazing.

My thanks go to John too for helping prep everything.

It's good to be back!

09/09/2025

It has been six weeks since my major op today, and I still cannot believe that we managed a trip to London for our annual Globe outing.

Having booked the tickets back in February, I assumed they'd go to waste, but with pain levels having become bearable these last six days or so, I felt I'd be able to pull it off... Blackfriars station is so near to the Globe and taking our time in the warm sunshine, it was no strain strolling along at all. In fact, we crossed Millennium Bridge and even went close to St Paul's Cathedral as I was so enjoying myself so much!

The Merry Wives of Windsor were full of riotous mischief and although we didn't linger but came straight back home again as I needed to rest, I'm so glad I dared believe in myself and that we made the trip.

I came, I saw, I conquered!

Halfway there what with no lifting and generally taking it easy, but there's such a bright light at the end of the tunnel now. Yay!

09/09/2025

Not long now for some autumnal floral fun.

Have you booked your ticket yet...?? If not then just click on the link below!

See you on Tuesday 30 September 2025 at 10am.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1529125598829?aff=oddtdtcreator

With The Garden Bar & Cafe

Come along and create a glorious centrepiece using a host of autumnal goodies

08/09/2025

I was just a tad excited to finally get to see the "Galeón Andalucía" this morning!!

This galleon is a faithful replica of the galleons that departed from the Andalusian coast between the 16th and 18th centuries.

An impressive 55-metre-long vessel with six decks, the Galeón is built from iroko and pine wood and carries nearly 1,000 square metres of sail across seven sails. It was constructed in Punta Umbría (Huelva) between 2009 and 2010 with meticulous historical accuracy.

Shoreham Port is one of the stops on the Galeón’s 2025 European tour, and due to popular demand, its visit had been extended, which gave me the chance to see it too. Later this year, the ship will cross the Atlantic to begin an American tour.

It was such fantastic weather too to really bring out all the details.

Thank you, John xx 💚😊 💚

08/09/2025

If you didn't get to see this in the cinema earlier this year, then now is your chance!

MONDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2025
BBC TWO 21.00hrs

Our boy Lucas is the Director of Photography and filmed all the interviews that are featured.

We are so, so proud!

❤️

07/09/2025

There is just one Hanneke... 💛

05/09/2025

Today was a really special day.

After more than five weeks of pain, discomfort and inactivity, I am relieved to tell you that things had improved sufficiently for me to be able to go up to National Trust Nymans to take part in their 'Celebration of Flowers' festival which starts tomorrow.

This year's theme coincides with an exhibition entitled 'The Art of Illusion' celebrating the theatrical world of Oliver Messel.

My design pays homage to his stage-work @ Glyndebourne, and I chose the opera called 'Der Rosenkavalier'.

The design is near the fabulously bedecked dining room, which is a replica of Oliver's London abode in 1963 when Vogue asked him to make it festively glorious. Oliver, being Oliver, duly obliged with a feast for the eyes using lots of paper flowers in an array of colours.

Hopefully, once lighting is placed by my floral frame, the red spray roses will really stand out as they looked too dark when I took my photo earlier!!

It was my first time using preserved roses in a design.

I am super proud of my take on Oliver's silver and gilt rose, and I really hope he, too, would have liked it.

Hopefully, you can pop along to see all the glorious designs celebrating this amazingly talented man. The flower festival is on until Sunday, 14 September, while the main exhibition continues until Sunday, 26 October.

When you do pop along, you'll find that the gardens look fabulous still, and the lunches are always delicious too, so you'll be so glad you went... 🤗

Finally a HUGE thank you to John for his amazing carpentry skills and for his love and support. None of this is possible without him!

01/09/2025

Not long now... 🤗🤗🤗🌺🌺🌺

31/08/2025

As promised here are a few more designs by the new World Cup of Floral Art 2025 winner.

I have already shared Task 1 which was the Dutch inspired tulip vase. Task 2 was a surprise task where each competitor was given a large wooden frame (approx 2m tall), some plants and a tool box. They then had to assemble the structure as they saw fit (some made a little house, others completely broke it apart). They were given 90 minutes to complete everything.

Task 3; a design inspired by the Dutch coastline (shown below); the base structure was provided by the organisers but the competitors were allowed to bring a further structure to attach. The flowers were the surprise element, bio foam could be used and they had 90 minutes to complete the task

Task 4; a hand-tied bouquet with a rose gold theme (shown below) to be placed in a clear glass vase. They were allowed to bring along a pre-made armature

Task 5; they had to design a headpiece (shown below) to accompany a gown by the Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen (they were allowed to choose which of her gowns became their inspiration). The headpiece had to be durable for at least one day and they brought along their own pre-made support structures

Congratulations Tomasz "Max" Kuczynski - stunning work.

And congrats to Gabor Nagy and Frederic Dupre too... such an incredible achievement. In fact, all 23 taking part are heroes in my eyes!

My thanks go to Attila Nemeth and The Floristry Trade Club for the images I share here.

30/08/2025

The new world champion 🏆 🥇 👏

I'll share more of his amazing work tomorrow...

2nd was Gabor Nagy of Hungary
3rd was Frederic Dupre of France