Hello, come on in... 

Welcome to the online home of my Cutflower Nursery. Here I hope you will find inspiration and information on the beauty of growing flowers.

I have written a downloadable eBook

containing over 100 pages of flower growing knowhow. from germination to harvesting and all the bits in between.

More info On the eBook

 Plug Plants coming in early February


Antirrhinum Madam butterfly white & Pink

Buplurum grifitthii

Larkspur misty lavender, limelight dark blue, light blue, lilac, carmine, light pink

Lupin chataline, my castle, chandelier, gallery blue

Omphelodes linifolia

Nigella miss jeykll white & light blue

Ranunculus porcaline, Pastel, salmon, Purple Jean

Scabious Fata Morgana, Oxford blue, Salmon queen, Black Knight, Beaujolais bonnets

 

Plug Plants coming in late February early march


Ammi visnaga

Antirrhinum Appleblossom & Ruffled Giants

Buplurum grifitthii

Cerinthe

Delphinium magic fountains white, light blue, cherry blossom

Larkspur misty lavender, limelight dark blue, light blue, lilac, carmine, light pink

Orlaya Grandiflora

Papaver amazing grey & Icelandic pastel

Sweet pea Rosie frills, memorial flight, jimmy shand, Juliett



Plug Plants coming in March

Achillea Summer pastel & pearl

Ammi visnaga & Majus

Antirrhinum protomac pink, ivory, lavender

Antirrhinum madam butterfly Ivory & Pink

Buplurum grifitthii

Calendula Snow princess & sunset buff

Centurea classic fantastic, classic romantic,

Black ball, & snowman

Cerinthe

Daucus purple kisses

Delphinium magic fountains white, light blue, cherry blossom

Eryngium supurbum

Larkspur misty lavender, limelight dark blue, light blue, lilac, carmine, light pink

Lisianthus EUSTOMA RUSSELIANUM F1 MINILISI ROSE & White

Orlaya Grandiflora

Papaver amazing grey & Icelandic pastel

Nigella miss Jekyll white  & Blue

Scabious Fata Morgana, Oxford blue, Salmon queen, Black Knight, Beaujolais bonnets

Sweet pea Rosie frills, memorial flight, jimmy shand, Juliett



Flowers are our passion and we want as many people to enjoy them as possible.

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3 easy to gather, and grow seeds. As the summer nights shortern and the flowers become a bit tired, now is the time to start gathering seeds from these seasons' flowers. These are 3 flowers that are very easy to grow from seed. All of the seeds look different, and they hold them in slightly different ways. I find this kind of thing fascinating, but maybe that's just me being a plant geek. I would also recommend gathering cornflower seeds too, but it's probably already sown it's self under your feet 😂 I recommend trying to collect these 3 seeds for flowers next year #helichrysum (strawflower) #Ammi majus #calendula #seedhead #seedcollecting #growingflowers #garden jobs #greenfingers #mymomentswithflowers
We've had another busy week packing up little plants and sending them off to their new homes to grow flowers for you next summer. I was a bit too tired to make myself a weekend bouquet to enjoy tonight so have just picked myself a bunch of Cosmos ....'cos it looks gorgeous just by itself. Oh, I should add a side note here.... before you panic, I've not finished sending plug plants yet, so if you have not had your shipping notification, your plants will be packed next Tuesday. And if you thought you'd missed out, you haven't the webshop is still stocked 🌱 Happy weekend, folkes Flowers in photo🩷 Classic white from Purity The zappy lemon one is Xanthos Apricot tones from Apricotta And The yummy plumy red one is Rubenz.
We are gearing up for the Autumn planting season. Here is some of the selection ready for your cutflower patches. More foxgloves and Hespiris incase you missed them last month, we also have a few varieties of Hardy Annuals and Perennials. The little plants in this line up will all be listed on the website tomorrow at 6pm, and more varieties are rooting ready for you on 20th September. Oh and a gentle reminder for those who are wanting to preoder larger quantities of plants for deliveries in October and March. You have 2 days left to place your order. Many thanks to those who have already sent me your list🙏🌱 #plugplants #growyourown #cutflowergarden #pickedatdawn
Picked myself a bunch of stems before it got too hot this morning, a little excuse for a wander round with a morning cuppa, no great theme for the flowers just what I was drawn too, seemingly it included everything but the kitchen sink, ironically now all in a vase next to the kitchen sink. This was before a day of many and varied tasks from admin to grass cutting and a bit of seed sowing in-between for good measure🤪. Talking of admin, don't forget you have until the end of the month to send us an order for plug plant pre-orders delivered in October, and the webshop reopens with new plants on August 30th. So get your thinking caps on about which flowers you want to be picking next summer. #pickedatdawn #cutflowergrower #igrewthese #mymomentwithflowers #growyourownflowers
Getting in before the rain comes later this week Ive been picking one of my favourite seed heads produced by a cut flower. This is Scabiousa ping pong a very giving plant if youve never grown it here is a little profile of why I think its great. This plant firstly produces soft creamy flowers, the flowers don't last well in a vase so don't be tempted to pick them leave them for the bees because they absolutely love them. Once pollinated, the magical seed ball begins to form, Each plant produces masses of stems great for adding texture to arrangements and drying for wreathmaking season, added to that it also has a very pleasing ruffly noise when you pick it (but maybe thats just a thing i enjoy 😜). Also don't forget to save the seed and re-sow in spring so you can enjoy it all over again. #seedhead #scabiosapingpong #pickedatdawn
Calendula or old English marigold is a much over looked flower in my opinion. Great for beginners growers this giving plant will grow reliably for me every year. Here are a few hints and tips on getting good stem length. Plant them up against taller flowers to get them to stretch for light but don't pack them so close they get mildew! And always take the center stem out when it begins to bush to produce longer sideshoots. In this reel you see them grown against cornflower pink ball another eaisy to grow cutflower. This variety is pygmy buff but don't bee fooled by its name I'm still able to cut stems at nearly 50cm. #calendula #plugplants ##gardeninghacks
One for those who grow alot of cutflowers.... Good news for those who have been asking to preorder our plug plants in advance in larger quantities. In addition to our webshop from the 1st of August, you will be able to download a preorder form from our website, or request to be sent one via dm or email. And we will Sow and Grow your selectiin especially for you in the quantities you require. As there is with everything, there will be T&C's and all that kind of boring stuff, that we will send you along with the exciting plug plant lists. Have a happy weekend everyone 🌱
I hope you have all managed to get some time between the showers this summer to enjoy the flowers. Whilst we may have been a little quieter on here the last few weeks in the background, we have been sowing and growing the first batch of our plug plants for flowering in 2025. Ready this Friday at 6pm for your planting pleasure, we will have biennials... Lunaria (honersty) Foxglove Excelsior & Apricot Sweet William alba & nigreta Erysium sugar rush Campanula White & Pink Hespiris White & Purple Coming in August, we will have the following additions Foxglove Alba Erysium ivory & vulcan Sweet William Mixed Feverfew Echinops Ritro Apple mint Lots of Lupins
None stop, sweet pea picking at the moment. If you're new to growing sweet peas, it may take you by suprise how many flowers they produce. The more you pick, the more flowers you get, but that isn't the only reason to stay onto picking them. Here are a few tips on sweet peas. If you leave your flowers unpicked, they will turn to seeds, and your plants will begin to stop flowering. Flowers are best picked when they have 1 or 2 buds, which remain unopened this will give you longer vase life. Sweet pease can also be picked on single stems or on longer tendrils, which add extra interest to bouquets. Feed your plants once a week with a liquid fertiliser And finally sniff... dont forget to take a moment to enjoy that scent.
When I wandered off to the other end of the country to art collage 24 😲 years ago! I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what I really wanted to do as a career. All I knew is I wanted to "make pretty things". There has been lots of twists and turns in the road, but I'd say the pretty flower things I've been creating for the past, 8 years have definatly fulfilled my career ambition for a job "making pretty things". This boquete contains all the best bits of our field from the end of June. I call this pallet colourful pastel, and it is definitely my most requested floral vibe from couples. If you're getting married in 2025 and would like me to make pretty floral things for your wedding, drop me an email. Our wedding diary for next year is now open. #pickedatdawn #naturalflowers #yorkshireflorist
Ive just realised it is about halfway through the year, and I haven't shared a photo of a wedding bouquet yet. Honestly, I have no idea where this year has gone !. So here for your mid week floral meanderings is the bouquet I made for lovely Sophie who married Frazer this Sunday. Everyone at the wedding commented on the scent of the flowers. This was provided by the use of lots of Sweet peas, Roses, stocks and Philadephus which is definatly one of my favorite flower scents🤍. #pickedatdawn #junewedding #weddingbouquet
Well, as they say, that's a wrap. The last of our summer flowering Plug plants now all wrapped up and sent off to grow in your gardens, allotments, flower farms, and balcony boxes. Thank you , you have kept our fingers very busy , sowing, growing and wrapping plants for the first 6 months of the year. Massive thanks from me. Also, go to my precious team of extra hands, Rosie, Brenda, and Richard, your fingers all deserve a well-earned rest for a few weeks ✌️ We will take a short pause now whilst we wait for our biennials to bulk up, they will be ready at rhe end of July, we will give you a shout when they are ready but for now happy growing and enjoy the flowers 💐 Ps because I know youl be wondering they are Celosia plants 😉
If you've never met this little beauty before, please let me introduce you to Gillia tricolour. We introduced this to our range of plug plants for the first time this year, and as with all our plants, we held onto a few for us to grow here. This lovely little flower has been blooming its little socks off for a couple of weeks now and I'm loving working with it in boquetes and bud vases. Commonly known as birds eye flower it has dainty stems, a good vase life, and is from the phlox family of plants, as you can posably tell from its flower shape. Let us know if you have grown anything new this year and enjoyed it we'd love to hear about what your enjoying at the moment.🌱
The first week of June signals the first sowing of flowers for 2025!. Yes the bienials hit the benches today🫣 where is this year going!. Biennials take one full year of growth before they flower and many of them flower during May and June so if your admiring foxgloves from a far or have been enjoying the scent of your neighbours Hespiris drifting over the fence then this is the month you need to get sowing for next year. Some seeds like foxgloves are tiny and we trickle sow a few per cell and just press onto the compost surface. Some are quite large like lunaria (most folkes call it honesty) are quite large and some like Hespiris are somewhere in between and just get a light sprinkle of compost. We always plant our bienials under shade netting in the tunnel to protect from scorching rays and enviro mesh to stop cabbage whites laying eggs on the hespiris leaves. Oh BTW 🌱 If you are needing a top up for this summers flowers this week is your last chance to buy summer flowering Plug plants via the website.
There will be alot of footage of gardens on TV this week as its Chelsea flower show. I expect as usual I will miss most of it as it's such a busy time if you grow flowers, the planting mission is currently full on. As a slight moment of calm, here is a spring ceromony garden, in a garden from Charlie and Inga's wedding @middletonlodge a few weeks ago, by now the garden in the backdrop will be in full lush leaf. It always amazes me how fast things move at this time of year.
When you buy our plug plants you are making a decision not only on adding a plant variety to your garden. But you've also decided to buy a small plant from a small business and for that we are greatful to you all. Watch here and see how much effort we put into making sure your plants arrive happy and healthy in thier eco packaging. Also including footage of my new popper board, which looks so simple but has been a bit of a gamechanger on dispatch days! Our latest batch of plug plants is now on the webshop and will be dispatched next week. This list includes lots of sunshine loving zinnia so 🤞for a warm summer.
A look at a little flower I couldn't be without at this time of year. Geum they are a reliable plant, growing happily in most soils soils they require no special treatment. There are lots of different varieties with flowers from white, through all the buffie tones to bright yellows oranges and reds. Some I use in little bud vases some like Totally Tangerine, have great stem length and vase life. If you are limited for growing space I'd highly recommend you grow a Geum..... Oh and alot are named after cocktails what more could you want from a flower on a Fiday night 🍸! This also provided me a great excuse to back this Reel with a song from my youth 🥳.
Our latest batch of plug plants is online now. Including lots of summer favourites...Cosmos, Calendula, and Malope, to name just a few. These plants will be dispatched over the next 2 weeks. Before we release our next batch, which will include more summer showstoppers of Sunflowers and lots of Zinnia varieties. There is plenty of planting time left to fill your gardens, and we have lots more varieties to bring you. Thank you all we have received some lovely feedback on our plug plants, and love the thought of all the flowery spaces they are creating.
This weeks wedding contained a spring ceremony hoop. We thought you might like to see the naked hoop transformed into a lush apple blossom inspired centre piece from the begining. For Mel & Lee Hope you had the best day. #pickedatdawn #floralhoop
Its peak season for sowing seeds now. If your new to growing you will hear alot of gardening terms, used in books and magazines. But what do they actually mean "Pricking Out" is a term used alot. It is a process very similar to potting on but with tiny tiny seedlings. If you sow your seeds into an open top tray and sprinkle seeds on the surface, once they have germinated, your little plants need "pricking out" into separate cells or pots to grow on. This can be a fiddly task, and you need to be very delicate, I rub the roots to untangle them before prising them apart using the leaves. Once potted on, it usually takes a couple of weeks for your plants to develop a good strong root system, and then they can be planted out. Happy growing 🌱
Our Next batch of plug plants are on our website now. As the season progresses, we will begin to introduce more tender plants that will require protection from any pesky frosts. Those plants will be clearly labled as tender. It's not an issue if you decide to go for these Aquilegia over wintered cold and a tough Hardy Perennial. There are loads more varieties coming, and you can read what's in the next batch on 3rd of May at the bottom of the Plug plants page. Happy gardening if you've just received your plants, we always enjoy seeing where our little uns' end up so please feel free to share and tag your growing with us🌱.
Its Tulip season. This is how we harvest our Tulips, to get good long strong stems, how we condition them, no use of coin in the vase or the wierd pin through the stem technique I hear about alot ! 😱. A folk goes in alongside the bed, the ground needs to be loosened around the bulbs here on our heavy clay soil. The stem is pulled from low down and lifted along with the bulb. Therefore, providing all the extra stemlenght that was hidden in the soil. Basal leaves removed, stems washed of any residual soil, wrapped in paper and left to condition in a cool dark space for 8+ hours before arranging. Hey presto, No floppy stems.
You've certainly kept us busy this week. Thank you for all of your orders for our plug plants. We have re gently gained a lot of new customers, so I thought you'd like to have a little look at this weeks dispatch. I'm not saying we are totally slick and perfect yet, but we now have a rhythm and a regular supply and dispatch schedual. Released for sale every 2 weeks on Fridays at 6pm. (The next batch was listed last night). Based on years of growing cut flowers and a love of germination, we know how to grow great quality plants, in varieties, which go on to produce beautiful flowers for you. All importantly wrapped in 100% compostable or recyclable packaging buy hand. This is Reel is a little glimps at what we sent out this week. Can you guess the plants at the begining? Enjoy your weekend and if you've received our plants happy planting 🌱 #pickedatdawn #pickedatdawnplugplants
I hope you all had a lovely extended weekend (if you're in the UK) . This week, we will be packing up loads of plug plants to send out to keen flower growers. So you can enjoy the beauty of picking handfuls of flowers this summer. It's going to be busy...expect a video of our eco packing process later in the week, for now I leave you with the beautiful sight of the Narcissus beds 💛
Today, I hosted another germination and propergation workshop. One of the hot topics of the morning was producing more plants through cuttings. Rather handily, I had also been filming the process of taking Chrysanthemum cuttings for the last few weeks. These cuttings were taken on 10th of March no fancy heat bench, no rooting hormone just strike them right do a little trick with a couple of pots to aid rooting, create a little extra humidity by covering with a storage box and put them somewhere light but not to bright and hey presto. Potted on today and nipped at the tips to encourage more basal shoots. Give it a go it's really quite easy 🌱
I'm so pleased that this lovely creative couple got a spring sunshiny backdrop for their wedding at the weekend. Thank you for a lovely brief of all the colours and flowers of Spring, a lovely way to start our wedding season. Cake - @theflamingobakery Styling- @secondfromtheright.co Venue- @middletonlodge
Today was a lovely, relaxed Sunday morning speaking to like-minded, dirty fingered individuals. Shareing knowledge, experiences, and tips on our 1st workshop of the year, Sow it and Grow it. We touched upon the subject of pricking out and potting on. It's not something I'd do regularly as I prefer to sow directly into individual cells. However for those limited on propergation space the process can sometimes be the best approach, though remember when potting on be careful not to handle the delicate stems of newly germinated seeds instead handel them by thier seed leaves. Happy growing folks 🌱
Some of the next batch of plug plants in all their glory. Here, we have Daucus, Agrostemma, Saponoria, Nigella, and cornflower. Available via the website at 6 pm. All the plig plants I will be releasing for sale over the coming weeks are Hardy Annuals, or perennial varieties. They have been grown in a cold polytunnel in North Yorkshire, so should be fine wherever they end up. I won't be sending out any half Hardy varieties until May. There are lost more varieties growing on, and they will be released for sale as they become rooted and ready. I will keep you updated on here. Sorry I can't respond to every person individually. I'm in a seed sowing frenzy at this time of year.
2 flowers of March that some people find tricky to condition... Helebours and Daffodills. Here's how to treat them right. Helebours need to be fully out and producing a seed pod before you pick them, then you need to dip the tips in boiled water to release the air locked in the stems. Leave to condition in a bucket of deep cold water for 8 hrs before use. Daffodils weep a sap when cut, which can prevent other flowers from drinking. Cut the stems to various lengths, give yourself different lengths to work with, and then condition in a bucket of cool water not containing other flower stems. When they are all conditioned, work with the flowers as you wish but never recut the Daffodil stems.
Are you getting into growing? Inspired to grow your own cut flower patch this year? If you would like to join me to learn about seed sowing scheduals, germination tips, a practical session sowing your own tray of seeds to take home to grow on, and a whole lot more info on planning to grow flowers. This might interest you I am running a workshop called Sow it, and Grow it on the morning of 17th March. There are only a few places remaining, if you fancy joining in. Booking via the website 🌱 1st photo credit @tessabunney
3 plants you can sow in early March which like to germinate in the dark... Cynoglossum Phlox drumondii Larkspur These 3 seeds all germinate besst without light, seems a bit odd I know but, sow them water them, cover seed tray with old cardboard water as requires and within 3 weeks you should see signs of life. Then remove the cover and grow on until ready to plant out. There are other seeds that enjoy being covered, but these varieties are the ones I sow first.
Hurah, the first handful of Daffodils bursting into flower for the last week of February.
The Roses got pruned. These 2 beds have been planted 3 years now, so they needed bringing down in height to keep them prolific. This months substack will be with you now if you are a subscriber where I cover why I prune these roses, what I look for when pruning, and why it keeps them healthy, along with a behind the scenes in the new Propagation tunnel. Happy weekend folks x
Definitely a day to be inside seed sowing and sheltering from the rain today. There are lots of different methods for seed sowing. It can depend on space and type of seed as to which method works best. Here are 2 different methods for sowing Antirrhinum. I tend to sow most of my seeds individually into cell trays, but you can also sow into open trays, then prick them out and pot them on. Either way, there is no denying tiny seeds like these are quite faffy. Video includes a little trick for a homemade Vermiculite sprinkler if you don't have a sive.
Today, I made a floral tribute from a family to say goodbye to a gardener who loved Spring. Im sure the dirty hands and the Iris Reticulata I used would both have been approved of. I left the bulb on so the family can replant them in their gardens. #gardenersofinstagram
The story of the little plug plants continues.... This box arrived over in Cumbria at the garden of a keen grower this week. Here, we see the unboxing, planting, and aftercare of the Ranunculus. Cumbria in the North West UK is notoriously cold and wet in early spring, so Becky decided to plant her Ranunculus in pots to grow on for a few weeks, and the other Hardy annuals went into some raised beds in the garden. #pickedatdawn #pickedatdawnplugplants
One of my all-time floral loves Hellebore. #valentine #hellebore
Monday is the start of an exciting journey for our plug plants, They start off the week with me, hand wrapinging and packaging them. I will be following this particular box myself and we will catch up with them later in the week at a garden where you will see the next stage of their adventure. I'd really love you all to join in making little films or taking photos of the plants as they continue their growing story, when they arrive with you later this week. Enjoy your plants🌱 #pickedatdawn #pickedatdawnplugplants
Thank you all soooo much for your orders 🙏. I have completely sold out of my 1st batch of plug plants. I'm sorry if you were disappointed not to have got your hands on some plugs. Reassured I have worked hard to double our growing capacity over winter too a much larger polytunnel and Iam in the process of sowing thousands more plants for you. The next batches will be available in March. One again thank you all so much. Orders will be dispatched mid week. Happy growing Suzie 🌱 x
Hurahh 1st batch of plug plants for 2024 are now on the webshop. Includes Ranunculus and Anemone along with a selection of over wintered annuals and Perennials. There are thousands of plug plants growing on, and I will keep you updated on here regularly with what's nearly ready. We are going big on our range of varieties this year and and quantity will increase into Spring. During 1st week of April I expect to have 40 varieties listed to choose from. Let's just hope Spring is kind 🤞 If you want me to grow sow anything in particular this year please comment below ⤵️
It seems quite a few new people have found their way here recently, so I thought I'd do a little refresher on me and what goes on here Picked at Dawn was established in 2016 after I spent 10 previous years in Horticultural retail and plant nurseries. Run day to day by me, Hi my name is Suzie, not Dawn, a conclusion a lot of people jump to (which baffles me 🤪). A few interesting notes on Me I have a degree in Art and design, I once managed a nightclub, I'm learning portugese, I love cheese and red wine, Ive become a mad chicken lady, and slightly more relevent my favorite season is Spring as it boasts all my favorite flowers ... Helebour, tulip, and all varieties of blossom. What we do? We have 3 specialisms 🌱Producing cutflower plug plants shipped nationwide....1st batch of Anemones and Ranunculus will be on sale this Friday. 💍We love creating wild and wonderful weddings, especially creating large floral installations using our flowers. 💐Hoasting workshops for people who like us love getting their hands dirty and growing flowers and for those who like to create with flowers freshly picked from our field. Nowadays, also including sharing our growing journey virtually with our substak community. It's lovely to meet you all, I hope you enjoy following along Suzie x
Natural Cordage In a special workshop this year Alice Fox, an artist based in West Yorkshire, UK, harnesses the natural processes of working with found, gathered and grown materials. Alice will be running a 1-day workshop in the field surrounded by flowers and lots of natural wild-grown materials. Alice will introduce the art of gathering and processing plant-based fibres. You can wander the wild side of the field exploring these plants. Then use nettles, bramble and dandelions from the field to gather, extract and process fibre from the different plants. Continuing the process of twisting the fibres into cordage (string). Alice will also be bringing along samples of other wild fibres and we will talk about times to gather, process, and store a range of plants. This is a full-day workshop set in the flower field exploring all aspects of using plant-based materials to create. With expert guidance and knowledge of Alice's creative processes. Booking via picked at dawn website 📸 credit 1,4& 5 @tessabunney 📸 credit 2 @carolynmensdesohn_ 📸 credit 3@sarahmasonfilmmakeruk
One of the jobs on the list this week... Pruning the Roses, mulching with manure and dreaming of picking buckets of these summer beauty's again.
The forecast looks good for next week's weather and no doubt the sun will be causing you to feel like all those seed packets are shouting to be sown. But don't rush to the greenhouse and start sowing everything with a sevear case of FOMO....you are not missing anything. If you are new to growing or are developing your knowledge of cut flowers this months substack article has just been published titled CROP PLANNING and sowing schedules Find out what I'm sowing and when I'm doing it for sucsessional flowers this summer. Happy weekend planning to you all, I hope you enjoy Suzie x Link in bio
The simplicity of a single snopdrop, the first flower of the season in all her unassuming beauty.
Are you thinking about growing flowers this year? Looking for hints, tips, ideas on what to grow and how. Did you know Picked at Dawn has a substack subscription of monthly articles and videos, covering all that and behind the scenes from the field videos. The first article of 2024 will he dropping into inboxes next Friday. I will be sharing with you how and when I plan to sow all these seeds, my seed sowing schedule for successional flowering through early to mid summer. Along with exactly what hardy annuals I've chosen to grow and why. I hope like me you are spending your winter weekends getting excited and making plans for a flowery year ahead💐. Link in bio linktree
The ground is frozen solid, the ice on the polytunnel resisted thawing all day even in the sunshine. But over winter, the plants have still been developing roots. Soon, it will be time to release these Anemones to new homes when we open up for plug plant sales again. There is one thing I will say about our plugs they grow up strong, and tough..so wherever they end up in the country they should be able to stand up for themselves and fill your vases with flowers when they bloom. * Im particually proud of this song choice if you have your audio on 👌 .... I know that's pathetic but its January and I have to get my kicks where I can until the flowers return 🤣
First Friday back at it. I've been easing myself into the new season, gently doing a few hours in the field every day. It's far too early to sow anything, but the structural maintenance jobs on the flower field are keeping me busy. There are glimpses of what's to come already emerging around the field and polytunnels. The Prunus subhirtella Autumnalis (winter blossom) trees are now on their 3rd year in the field and are flowering away. Lonicera feagantissima (winter honysuckle) is looking good, and I'm snipping bits off to enjoy the lovely delicate scent. Last years feverfew will need strimming back next week as it is already greening up from the base. The Ranunculus and anemone plug plants are more than happy in the tunnel and will be up on the webshop mid-February. It's pretty exciting, really, for early January.
See ya later 2023👋. If i had to describe this year in one word, it would be "trying". Personally and professionally its been a tough one. But as I look back through my year Reel it is scattered with lots of beautiful and funny moments, gorgeous flowers ,and lots of chicken love 🤣. Thank you to you all ...followers, subscribers , workshopers, plant purchacers, and all the couples who've trusted me with your floral dreams this year. And a big cheers to my close friends and family who tirelessly support me and Picked at Dawn, couldn't do it without ya x I wish you all a happy and healthy 2024 Much love Suzie and the chickens 🐔 x
Ti's the the season to be jolly, get your hands in the moss, and wrestle some Holly... I sign off my first year on substack with a step by step guide on how to create your own wreath, garland, and a living table decoration. Thank you to all subscribers. I'm collating info and what you want to learn next year, so all feedback greatfully received. If you don't know what substack is, there is a link via the website and in my stories highlights. I hope you all join me next year for now. Cheers🍷
From the person " on the naughty list and I regret nothing" 😉 Wreath makers (bar the few who got away ) Thank you so much for joining me this year. Here comes your moment .....
Full of excitement for our 2024 workshops! Checkout what we've got for you from the beginners to people in the biz' wanting to expand your knowledge, growers to floral creatives. Come and join us in 2024.
When your favorite foraging spot gets a blanket of snow and you feel like your living a beautiful parody to The Boy the Mole the Fox and the Horse by @charliemackesy
Wreaths are go... its only December 1st and I already know that this is my favorite combo of the 23' season. Varigated, & silvery with cones. Although it needs a catchier title one might come to over the coming days and after I've sampled a few mulled wines😉. If you would like a wreath packed with gorgeous foliage we will be taking orders until 11th December.
Bulb planting... Its the least favourite job of many growers. Its expensive and normaly a tiring persute at the end of a long season. If you have still yet to be convinced to don the wellies and waterproofs and get your bulbs in ready for Spring. I've just sent all subscribers a little free to all article on substack. Talking you through how we get our thousands of bulbs in the ground and a few of my favourite varieties. I expect to see you all out first thing tomorrow with hands full of bulbs filled with excitement of spring beauty. Either that or photos of you in a muddy trench will do🤣.
Flowers are our passion, we want as many people to enjoy them as possible. I am delighted to launch our workshop offering for 2024. They cover every aspect of what we do. Whether you're into growing, wandering through feilds, or getting creative with flowers. Take a look at it, and let me know what you think. Our workshops are designed for all abilities, and if I do say so myself, they are great fun. We Can't wait to see you all in 2024. Ps they make great gifts too😉 Booking via the website Original photos 1&4 📷 by @tessabunney
Another of the seasonal growing tasks was completed today. Whilst the storm was swirling around in the field today. I took a cup of tea, and some controversially unsoaked sweet pea seeds, into the shelter of the polytunnel. Yes, that's me coming out as a none beliver in the myth. You really dont need to soak the seed🙊. Another job ticked off the list, as I sowed trays of potential beauty for next Spring. I also got through a cracking episode of the brilliant @diaryofaceopodcast podcast, which I highly recommend to anyone whether you are sowing sweet peas or not this week.
Short edit of a few of the bits of beauty that went into creating our last wedding install of the season. Nurturing the flowers and selecting the reflections of the season from our surroundings is what we love to do, and our final wedding until next spring reflected that. Thank you, Serena and Jack, for such a lovely brief 🍂🍁
A regular question asked of flower farmers, what do you do in winter?..... Well, today was spent digging a trench, filling it with Tulip bulbs, overseen by chickens. Granted I don't do this every day between now and spring, but its a little snippet of November in the flower feild in all its muddy glory🤩.
I know it's early, but as the evenings draw in, and we all hunker into nights by the fire snuggled with a cosy blanket and ready for binging on Netflix, or maybe that's just me🙈. If your thoughts are also turning to messing with moss and fiddling with foliage to form a festive wreath .... then..... drumroll 😉.............................. Dates for our workshops are on the website now.
The frost on Monday took down the outdoor Dahlias, and when I looked at my posts I realised I hadn't even acknowledged their presence this season🙈. Thankfully the flowers in the tunnel are still blooming strongly, so I thought I sneek these little cuties I here. These are Gurta Twilight a pompom variety, so lovely and small, with kaleidoscope petals of soft pink. I've grown this on for years and is still a favorite
As this season draws to a close, thoughts are turning to all the flowers to come in 2024. With that in mind I have just updated the webshop with lots of plug plants. The selection is growing every week, plants available now include these lovely little Lupins, which will flower next June. Also listed are the first batches of Anemone, Ranunculus and Orlaya along with others. Have a happy weekend planning your flower patches🌱
A little inspo selection created for a meeting about our last Autumn wedding coming up in a few weeks. Let's hope the weather is kind🤞and these beauties make it to the stage surrounded by mounds of golden bracken 🧡🤎
Looking back over the week , this was our Tuesday. Have you ever wondered about how we go from empty space to a room full of flowers. For a substack special, I filmed the behind the scenes for subscribers, and I have just sent out a free edition showing the process from beginning to end. Explaining how we do what we do and the principal s behind out event floristry. I hope you enjoy your insight into this intermate wedding setup. Thanks as ever to Rosie and @erdabotanicals for joining me on this wedding.
The Ciderella story has a lot to answer for, I've really developed a like for growing Pumkins over the years. I find them quite magical, and I've enjoyed whatching my Pumkin patch creeping across the ground at the top of the field stedily for months. Although sadly, none have turned into magical chariots.....yet 🎃 As a grand finalay to the season, we will be running a Floral Pumpkin workshop Come along and fill a pumpkin with flowers. On 7th 8th October, details on the website. Booking essential. This workshop is a just fun short session, I've even got little uns' for your little people.
This week is going to be a busy one here as it sees a mega installation wedding on Tuesday were me and my crew of people who share my love of nature and all its dangely bits will be filling a room with flowers and foliage. Then, onto end of the week, plug plant dispatching. Thank you all gor your orders. More stock will be uploaded on Friday as I'm nearly sold out this week👏. But we will start here with a calm, cusp of end summer bouquete made for Laura a couple of weeks ago. I am looking forward to a week of flowers and fun this week. Enjoy yours whatever your upto.
Plug Plants are in the webshop now. A few Eagle eyed plant purchasers have already visited and will have received their plants today, so have a happy planting weekend ahead. New stock will be uploaded every Friday, when I've assessed the plants. There is also a list on the website of the varieties I've sown. So please keep checking on a weekly basis. All the plants are sown here by our own dirty hands into peatfree compost, we dispatch our plants in packs of 3, packaged in compostable materials, and ship weekly to all mainland UK postcodes. We look forward to filling your greenhouses, gardens, and allotments with flowers. Because flowers make people smile 😊 Have a happy weekend Suzie x🌱
Annual asters really are beauties of the seaon with their face full of squidgy petals. They can be a little tricky to establish, they like just the right ammount of water and when very young plants they can suffer wilt but get them through that and each plant produces an abundance of stems if nipped out. Worth the effort for sure.
A week ago, it was like the field had given up and gone into a sleepy Autumnal mood, it was quite a quick period of hibernation. As this week of sunshine had sent the flowers crazy and the field is bursting at the seams with flowers, there are so many beauties shouting out to have thier photo taken. I felt this tangle of Malope was the perfect end to the week.
1st week of September and the roses are looking good for another suprise flush of flowers. Song choice was a toss up between this and bed of roses by Bon Jovi this won out as a more chilled start to a new week 😌.
Here is the bouquet I made for the end of August. It features the showstopper flowers and just as importantly the backing dancers. This is what I call the flowers that dance out the tops sides and middle of a boquete, also the ones people often forget when planning to grow flowers. That thought was the basis of my end of August Substack ( my monthly ramble ) where you get to see behind the scenes, what's been happening in the feild in more depth, the good, the bad and about our future plans, also I share hints and tips for growing and creating with flowers for anyone on any scale. If you have other plans for your weekend, just enjoy these flowers from me to you. Suzie x You can subscribe via the website, if you fancy it.
The seed sowing began with the biennials in June and has continued with a range of Hardy Annuals and Perennials since. I have received many messages asking when the plug plant shop will be back up and running. Im pleased to say we have been busy sowing a larger range of plants than we have ever released at one point before, all especially selected for producing cut flowers. Our 1st batch of plugplants for the Autumn planting window will be available from 8th September, via the website, ready for national shipping and the variety and quantities will expand weekly. There will be more exciting developments to share about our plugplants during the coming weeks, so stay tuned folkes 🌱
Thankfully, it was a beautiful day today for H and M and their vow renual ceremony. It was a truly lovely brief, which was right up my garden path. Creating a garden in a garden ceremony space , a bouquet using pretty stems from my field, and an intimate table meadow for a meal in greenhouse 💚.
That's the current schedule of workshops done for the summer. We have welcomed many guests since April, and it has been a pleasure to meet you all. Here are just a couple of snaps from this weekend. I do enjoy our workshop vibe everyone getting excited about flowers you've never seen before, the laughter, the quite moments of concentration, the expressions of " is she absolutely mad" 😆 when I explain my vision for how the field will look in 5 years time. But most of all, in what can be a world of pressure and stress, I love watching people relax. As I post this, I've just had a message from one of today's attendees, i never share stuff like this, but this has made me believe that I might not be mad after all..... Hi Suzie, I just wanted to thank you for this morning. I had such a lovely time, it was so relaxing and so nice to work with the flowers. I’m so pleased with my bouquet. You’ve created a really lovely place. Until Christmas folks when we will be back in a warmer environment to wrangle wreaths Thank you 👏
Today, we took advantage of a bit of sunshine to bring in the Acroclinium. Some times called strawflower due to the texture of the petals, We are harvesting these for making dried flowers wreaths with. Rember to always pick flowers you wish to dry on a dry weather day. Otherwise, you are fighting an uphill battle.
After what has been a week spent soaked in rain under thundery skys this weekend we had the perfect remedy, creating a wedding of woven light textures for Georgia and Xander. Every single stem was grown in our field less than 4 miles from the lovely venue of @newburghpriory we created garlands of oak for the tables and poles with a hanging wave covered in hydrangeas, malope and limonium with scattering of other bits of pretty, and for Georgia an antique white boquete.
Many of you who scroll across this post may just enjoy the simplicity of seeing a small section of the flower field in July. Then there are some people in the world who look at things whatever it may be and instantly want to know more... How did it get there? How does it work? We're did that idea develop from? How could it be improved?. These are the people with the busy brains (you are not alone Im one of you lot🙈). So of you are interested in the how's, and why's behind the squares of Picked at Dawn. You may quite enjoy joining us on substack. Full subscription allows an access all areas, monthly field tour , tips on growing, what you can be doing if you are growing, and a general monthly roundup of what's going on in more depth. Link on tonights stories or via the website. For those who already subscribe you have mail 😀 I hope you enjoy . Suzie x
I can't believe in all my years of growing. It has taken me this long to discover the simple Nastutium as a cut flower. These beauties last for ages in arrangements. I've been enjoying some for as long as 2 weeks after picking. Yes, the stems are quite short compared to many other flowers, but they look great in low bowl, bud vases, or popping their heads out of the side of a bouquete. I am growing 2 varieties this year, tiptop and milkmaid, bit I suspect I will be growing many more next year. Have a happy Friday, folks x
It feels like the summer is bouncing along at the moment with a huge pace. Whilst the summer flowers bloom away, seeds are being collected, biennials sown bulbs ordered and plans for next year are well and truly on the table. In fact, most of the time, I can't see the table for drawings, lists, laptops and cold tea at the (not how I like my cuppa butt the way it normally ends up). So I am starting this week by taking a little breather and for you a summery mixed pallet of prettiness, made for Katie, Fridays bride.
Had a little play today with a few pretty bits from the field. I took inspiration from the Nasturtium flowers, which are currently growing around the tomatoes in the polytunnel. I also picked Calendula, Roses, Feverfew, Scabious, Malope, and Phlox to create this summery mix in a dish. It will now sit happily on the kitchen table, and if I get peckish, I can always nibble a Nasturtium or a calendula 😆. If you would like to come and play with flowers in the field, there are opportunities for you to join me throughout the summer on the website. You don't need to have any floristry experiance, these workshops are a fun couple of hours to explore your creativity and make something pretty for your home. I hope you had a restful Sunday x Link to workshops in bio
The many and varied tasks of this week have included. Getting the last of this years plants in the feild, harvesting the garlic, applying alot of mulch, replying to wedding enquiries, making a boquete modeled here by Rosie as felt toned with her leggings perfectly 😃, and finally writing a June substack article all about soil, drought and filming a video about where we grow these flowers.....and then tonight as if to make a mockery of my chosen subject for this months article, it rained 🤣 Phew. If you want to join us on substack, I will put the link in today's story
Amazing Grey poppies easing us into a new week. These beautifuly delicate looking flowers never cease to stop me in my tracks. I enjoy looking at each flower, trying to decide which is my favourite, an impossible task, as every flower is different with unique markings and colour shade. Some have more ruffely petals than others, and this year, some are producing more red in their petals, harking back to their original ancestral genes. Wishing you all an amazing week #amazinggreypoppy
Today it rained at last 🥳
A Thank you using all my favourite flowers from the field at the moment. Yesterday's field tour was a great success. I was I admit apprehensive before the event to show this 2 year old feild with its tiny shrubs and signs of drought wondering if people would be underwhelmed. But it sparked some great conversations of the future of what and how we grow during these increasingly challenging conditions. There were moments of shear intrigue when people saw what cress looks like if you sow it in the ground instead of a small pot, and there was cake lots of cake!. I saw people I've know for years and people I've only ever met virtually and you were all very kind, and full of fun. So Thanks to everyone who attended and those who sprinkled thier own seeds of kindness to the cause. I'm happy to say together we raised £450 for @parkinsonsuk and @dementia_uk
I am capturing small videos of the flowers in the field at the moment whilst practising using a steady cam'. The field is moving so quickly in the summer heat, but I quite enjoyed this calm moment with the cornflower.
Next Sunday is my Field Open Day. If you wondered what the field looks like in its 3rd year, now is your chance to find out. I will be taking you round the field and talking to groups about how everything is grown. I do feel the need to manage your expectation levels here this is a real working flower farm. it's not a Chelsea garden🙈. It's not perfect it has weeds and symptoms of drought, but it also has a fair number of pretty flowers too. Added to this, there will be flowers, plants, and refreshments for sale. The 10am tour is sold out but tickets remain for 2pm and 4pm. All the money from booked tickets will be split between @parkinsonsuk And @dementia_uk we have already raised £250 for these charity's so thank you to everyone who has booked to come along, and those have expressed kindness. There are afew places left for the lunchtime and afternoon sessions. T-shirt from Dementia UK reads "You may not always recognise me, but you will always recognise my love," If you wish to Read why this cause is so special to me it's in my post from April
Before the late spring flowers become a distant memory, I wanted to share this fireplace we did for the wedding of Rachel and John a few weeks ago I was given such a beautiful colour brief for this one all corals, pinks, apricot, oranges and a scattering of blue. When I took on this wedding, I was a little more nervous than usual with the bride being a florist herself !. I needn't have worried the couple where a dream to work for. They allowed me to create as I wished and put total faith in me. I am ever so thankful for the freedom couples give me to run with their flowers. In my opinion, It creates better work as you are creating unique flowers, especially for each couple. #fireplacefriday
New week and new flowers coming into bloom on what feels like an hourly basis. It's a fast-moving period for flowers popping at the moment. This beauty joined the party today. Clarkia Memoria. I've grown Clarkia or Goditia before, but this is such a pretty shade of cream with a soft blush centre. The stems of this plant hold multiple buds at the top. You can see them in this photo. I think they look like little green chillies 😆. Well each one of those open into these lovely flowers, giving it a brilliant vase life, too. #floweroftheweek And it's only Monday!
The last week has been wedding madness here. 4 weddings since last Saturday, which is a lot for us. We loved them all and can't wait to share images of all the flowers from the weddings. This is one small corner of Pip and Charlie's wedding yesterday. I filmed clips from the whole process of picking conditioning and creating this wedding, which I'm currently editing to form part of a substack read and watch, which will be with subscribers tonight. I hope you will find the journey of these flower stems, from field to ceremony interesting, I will put a sign up link in today's story. Many thanks to the team for this week @erdabotanicals Rosie and Brenda 🙏
One full-on wedding and one DIY wedding done so far this weekend. Now to begin picking again this evening, ready for a monocrome colour pallet wedding on Monday. This Hespiris will be perfuming the goomsmaides bouquets and the aisle along with syringa and lots of other bits and bobs. The field is really hitting a roll now, thankfully, just in time. #betterlatethannever
Growing can sometimes be trying. Weather you are sowing your 1st seed or you have sown 7 million. Things can always go wrong because you are working with external influences. Most things can be planned for but sometimes nature throws a curveball. I'm used to rolling with the punches of growing but sadly early this, spring I was supplied with a "bad" batch of compost. It cost me £100's of seed, £100's on the "bad" compost itself, took me over 6 weeks of growing , to work out there was a big issue & lost me 12,000 sown potential plug plants. I've been quiet on here as I've felt like a failure this spring, as I love my growing and it went wrong on a big scale for the first time in career. I was let down by my trusted compost supplier. I've had to spend weeks re-sowing and and now I've finally found a compost that seems stable, and I've got some plug plants up on the webshop. I'm sorry if you are someone who has been wanting and waiting this year, but unlike a few compost suppliers out there, I will not sell an inferior product. If you are still looking for cut flower plug plants, check out my webshop. Please DM me if you feel you have suffered at the hands of a compost brand this season, please Inc brand name and what has happened. I intended to ask the big brand sthe questions #onbehalfofallgrowers Have a good growing weekend Suzie🌱 FYI , I'm currently growing in @bandq_uk goodhome peat free with great results
A pop of colour today provided by the Poppies. Not many people realise how well single flowered Poppies last as cut flowers. I usually only pick them fully out for a wedding or in this case to enjoy myself. If I was picking for a customers vase I would be selecting flower buds just as they were bursting open. Another thing many people don't realise about this variety, which is an Iclandic Poppie, is that they have a subtle but delicious perfume. I can't place how to describe it, apart from like a bag of sweets. If you like a pop of colour and the smell of sweets, remember to sow some Poppies next march and enjoy 🍬🍭💗❤️🧡💛🤍🩷
Geum Mia Tia staning out against the grey sky. Was a beautiful morning in the field today, getting a lot of plants in the ground and weeding done with Rosie. Then rain stopped play as those dark clouds turned to very heavy rain. It might just be me but it doesn't feel like we have had many Spring days so far, maybe we are just going to leap straight into Summer?
I bet you thought I had forgotten to post my April flower of the month with chicken photo!? Well, no, I only forgot that April has 30 days, not 31, so that's why I am a day late 🙈 . Here is our chicken called Feather, and as she has snazzy feathers, she chose a tulip with equally snazzy petals. #tulipapricotparrot #flowerofthemonth #Aprilflowers
Some Tulips this Tuesday, Please enjoy this ruffled selection is a big thank you to all of your responses on my last post. Hearing your personal stories has ment so much. Whether you are going to be joining us on our charity day or not, Thank you.
Flowers and a personal note.... Im not one to share masses of stuff that is personal to me, but sometimes it's interesting to know a little of the life I have a life beyond these images. Today is #worldparkinsonsday and I want to tell you why that's important to me. In 2010 my Dad was diagnosed with Parkinsons he was only 59, he had his own business, was a party animal and had lots of plans for a future of travels round the world. At first it was a slow progression( little is still understood about this the fastest growing neurological disease on the planet). Then things developed quicker and 6 years ago he was diagnosed with parkinsons dementia my mum devoted herself to be his full-time carer, and still lives this with him even though he is now in fultime nursing. My family along with may others, have witnessed how parkinsons and dementia steal people away in the most cruel way, we have seen the difficulty in a system and thankfully experienced the wonderful support that charity's offer people living with this condition and how they help familys when you have no idea how to deal with it. So I want to give something back to @parkinsonsuk and @dementia_uk on 18th June this year ( farthers day, uk). I am opening my field for tours. All the money raised from tickets will go to these 2 charities. Tickets are available via my website in the workshop section. Booking essential. I'd love to see you there and thank you for reading. Suzie 🌱
Another rainy grotty weather day here in North Yorkshire, along with a chill on the breeze. It's times like this growers need to keep the faith that Sping is coming. I am very thankful currently for polytunnels, which are providing a bit of added warmth, providing me with bunddels of beautiful tulips. If you are a subscriber to my substack articles, then you have some weekend reading and a video tour of the field sat in your inbox. You get to see the muddy cold reality of a field limping into Spring along with the pretty bits like harvesting these stunners.
March... A month of Daffodils and for chicken Zan dust baths in the tunnel. This chicken is named after my childhood name as I couldn't say Suzanne. I was known for shouting "Zan do" about everything because I wanted to try to do everything myself. Now adays, I'm still of a similar mindset, but now i realise I can't do everything. Although if Zan could do one thing this weekend, it would be..... stop this blinking rain! Have a restful weekend, everyone
A big bunch of Sunday sunshine. Yesterday was our first workshop of the season, and it was a warm and colourful morning surrounded by a whole load of beautiful spring flowers. It fills me with happiness to be able to share my flowers with people and see what they create. Our next workshop , spring bouquete making, is already sold out. Thank you all 🙌. Seems you all love spring as much as I do. I may put an extra date up if you are interested. Send me a DM. There are other workshop dates in the summer that will excitingly be held in the field as I've set myself a challenge to build a new outdoor summer studio so you can create surrounded by flowers 💐 Have a happy Sunday x
It's just hitting peak Daffodil season here. These pops of sunshine have erupted over the last few days and are filling my room with their beautiful scent. This is what one of our Daffodil wraps looks like after 1 week. I have simply cut all the stems at different lengths to allow them space to shine and placed stems through a mushed up peice of chicken wire in a vase. They have opened gradually as all our daffs are picked to open in your home. Slide to see how they were picked and arranged. Link in bio to get yourself some flowers to enjoy ( daffs for very local deliveries only) And to say thank you to anyone who orders any flowers from us use code- flowerdeliveryintro at the checkout, and we will cover the delivery charge of your first purchase 💛 #knowwheretheyaregrown #shoplocal #shopseasonal