Stud walls, Fir and fog.

There’s been some really sweet photos on my memory card this week I wanted to share. Firstly and lastly Magnus wandering precariously around the stud walls of what will be his bedroom and the family bathroom. I’m so pleased to be documenting these moments of him exploring what will likely be his only childhood home to look back on some day.

Today was a terribly rainy day, so true to form we found ourselves at Cliffe Castle, a free local museum we often frequent when the weather turns. He’s now engaging in so much more of the world around him and finding fascination in nature, long may that continue.

Yesterday I spent the day in the walled garden, digging path routes and at last, planting the first of the hardy annuals which were sown in July and begging for their roots to meet the earth. I also planted the first of the roses, ‘Julia’s Rose’ a variety i’ve grown in the past and still find myself smitten with. Infact the rose obsession proceeds and there are 36 more bare root roses which will be planted in the coming weeks. A feast of David Austin, Harkness and more.

In the afternoon Lesley from The Store in Haworth also joined me with her beloved dog Bruno. She was visiting to help cut the fir and other foliages for the festive Church steps install in the village which i’ll be assisting her with on Thursday (fingers crossed the rain holds off). We cut in abundance and filled the van full of fresh scented greens.

The past week has filled me with excitement and motivation for the months ahead, as renovations and progress is gradually being made through out the property. I can now almost envisage spring and it’s going to be truly wonderful.

Hattie x

Press Feature: Love My Dress 'A Folklore Inspired Wedding at Crayke Manor'

It was so rewarding to see that yesterday morning Sophie & James wedding from June was published on Love My Dress, our second wedding this year to be published with this prestigious industry website.

You can read the whole article here.

Thanks again to Sophie & James for their generous words, it was an absolute pleasure to create some folklore magic for your special day. x

A Spring Wedding For A & J.

This wedding felt really special to me, sometimes they just do. You aline with a couple and things come together effortlessly and authentically. Alice & Joe, you’re great.

Photographer Naomi Goggin really captures the energy of the day in her images here. Some of the most beautiful wedding photography i’ve seen this year. x

Tablescape Trough Meadow.

This morning I had the pleasure of cutting the last of the seasons flowers (I say this every week at the moment, but they just keep on pumping out more blooms!). Rachel at Little Beacon contacted me to make a bespoke tablescape design for a seasonal brand photoshoot, the perfect opportunity for our cement trough meadow scenes.

Our cement troughs are often used for trestle dining set ups at events and weddings, as well as perfect aisle meadows for ceremony flowers. They’re compact, versatile, but mostly impactful. And it goes without saying by now, 100% sustainable and floral foam free.

If you’d like to enquire about flowers for your wedding and event, our 2023 diary is still open. Email hello@honourfarmflowers.co.uk for a free quotation and find more about our offerings & costs.

I think this is perhaps one of my favourite designs of the year, I just love autumnal colours! Possibly as much as I love spring flowers. x

A late summer wedding for N & C.

Just a few glimpses at last weekends playful wedding install at Holesfoot Cumbria for N & C. I’ll share more soon. x

Buttonholes.

There’s nothing more satisfying than boxing a buttonhole. x

Starting the month at The Whitworth for E & W.

Wow - what a month it’s been so far and it’s only the 12th! September is so far proving to be the month of weddings for many of you couples and i’ve been absolutely thriving off the adrenaline and thrill of it all. To kick off the month E & W married at The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester and I was asked to bespoke design a variety of elements ranging from tablescapes to floor meadows, to broken arches and aisle designs.

Bride Erica had a really clear vision in terms of tones and I used this and combined my signature naturalistic style and modern composition to pull something truly bespoke off for this design-led couple.

These are just a few BTS images we managed to take between the long hours installing, i’ll share more in the future of all the finer details. x

A Whimsical Arch Nest.

I rediscovered a load of unworthy dried cornflower stems i’d thrown in a corner earlier in the season and now here we are, with some sort of whimsy, nest floral scene - straight out of a folklore fairytale. That sounds about right. x

An Afternoon Urn.

As the days have been slowly counting down to a very hectic September of event floral design and during a particularly busy week nailing details and doing all the admin gubbins that goes into curating a wedding, I took an hour to myself to take a breather. But don’t be fooled, my shadow is never very far away, i’ve also been juggling motherhood as always. Perhaps it’s time to re-address the childcare situation as this first year back at work whilst being a full time mama is definitely proving to be, a challenge? I’m not sure we’ll have any flowers on the farm next year at this rate, so time to get that life admin in order too! x

Harvesting Foxtail Millet.

We grow foxtail millet for ornamental use in designs as oppose to as an edible. It’s tall sturdy stems and characterful floppy grain heads make for a beautiful additional in installation work and are great dried and stored. x

Flower highlights - mid August.

I find it really therapeutic, one morning a week just to stop and take stock of what exactly is coming into flower or already thriving. This week of course we’re seeing the Dahlia’s really kicking out a great show as expected, but also the Coreopsis are dancing and to my pleasure, the Didiscus is here. x

A few moments from the past week.

Magnus and I at Ripley country show, Ruby sat with Magnus at Honour Farm and a few from what we have in flower this week. x

Real Food & Drink Market, Ilkley, August.

Thanks everyone who stopped by for another sell out market on The Grove in Ikley! I honestly enjoy markets more than any other aspect of my job: a child free Sunday, eating street food from the market and chatting about flowers. Ideal way to end the week. x

An August bowl.

Some flowers I find some strange emotional attachment to, like an in instant desire of wanting to covet them somewhere in the home so I can admire them for as long as possible. This bowl of August delights is full of cultivated treasures that I will be sad to part with on the compost heap. From dahlias to annual and perenial phlox, nigella, mallow & corn cockle. All of my favourite things, in one harmonious place. Sigh. This is what growing is all about. x

A Bridal Bouquet For Pip.

Pip approached me a year ago to design the florals for her summer wedding, unfortunately I didn’t have availability for the big event, but when Pip got back in-touch again recently to design a sweet bouquet for their legal ceremony I was so pleased. A joyful way start the first week of August,
celebrating the arrival of the dahlias.

Kiftsgate Court Garden.

Yesterday we took a drive out to Kiftsgate Court Gardens in Chipping Campden, a garden that was high on the priority list during our visit and of course it didn’t disappoint. Certainly one of the highlights of our trip. Created by three generations of women, Heather Muir, Diany Binny and Anne Chambers - any incredibly inspiring place, which bends and surprises at every turn. I don’t think I have the words to describe Kiftsgate in any way as eloquently as just being there to experience it’s beauty and detail in the person.

http://www.kiftsgate.co.uk/

Rousham House & Gardens.

The gardens at Rousham are as you can imagine, quite incredible. Our close friend Ruby has joined us on the second half of our month away and so has come on board visiting all these great British gardens with me. Stunning herbaceous boarders and an incredible walled productive garden, plenty of inspiration around every corner.

A note however I must add, no children under 15 are allowed at Rousham, which is in itself a rather peculiar demand. We had driven an hour and only realised upon driving through the gates, however as we were carrying Magnus he was allowed access. It’s probably worth giving them a call before visiting if you are coming with child.

A Meadow & Folklore Inspired Dreamscape for Sophie & James.

When Sophie approached me for her wedding I instantly knew we’d be able to create something truly special for her around the open folklore brief & Sophie’s unique style combined. With that in mind I designed & created a sort of folklore inspired fairytale dreamscape at their venue Crayke Manor Hall. Producing suspended foliage above the dining area, bud vase bottles, bridal & bridesmaid bouquets, aisle meadows and a ceremony meadow, buttonholes, hair flowers & cake flowers (Those huge oriental red poppies weren’t part of the design, they were flowering at the time on the property.) Photos by the wonderful PJ Phillips - https://www.pjphillipsphoto.com/

Sulgrave Manor.

I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Sulgrave Manor, a warm welcome from the staff & great service at the cafe. We were even offered a free talk about the property as we strolled the majestic grounds of this historic Grade I listed Tudor building. There was a couple of well thought out areas for children to explore and play, even a mud kitchen within a bed between some of the herbaceous boarders. Some interesting planting and of course the manor to walk around too - well worth a visit.

Evenley Wood Gardens.

Yesterday morning Magnus & I took ourselves on a woodland adventure to Evenley Wood Gardens, Northamptonshire - a RHS partner garden. However, this is definitely a case of more woodland than garden, so if you’re looking for lush summer planting (as I was), this probably isn’t the right place for you. But if you’re looking for a spot to let the kids blow off some steam or to enjoy the quiet serenity of the many idylic sitting points then make sure to plan a visit. It is a bit of a maze or i’m useless at reading maps, either way give yourself plenty of time to explore incase you take a wrong turn. It looks like they hold plenty of events and have great dining facilities too if you’re near by to make the most of everything going on. The explorative play areas are particularly well curated and we’ll look forward to bringing Magnus back in a couple of years to make the most of it (& perhaps my husband so I don’t get lost).