'I absolutely adore Clare Nolan's approaches to garden planning and creative use of color in her designs. This gem is sure to delight any flower lover.' - Erin Benzakein of Floret Flower Farm Planting cut flowers brings that 'grow-your-own' excitement to a whole new level - being able to step out of the back door and pick a single stem for beside the bed or pull together a posy for a friend is a joy. In this beautifully designed book, brimming with inspirational photographs, Clare Nolan reveals her secrets for growing a bountiful harvest as well as styling spectacular homegrown displays that will fill your home with colour and the gorgeous scent of the garden year-round. She takes the mystique out of what to grow and guides you through the entire process - from choosing the plants to suit both your garden and home décor and laying out your cutting patch, to planning ahead so you get your perfect palette of colour, texture and shape to play with at the right time. A whole chapter on arranging will inspire you to create spectacular arrangements for your home without the need for complicated floristry techniques.
A stunningly gorgeous book. I loved it on all levels...from the pleasure of the photography to the wealth of information. Such an inspirational book... I want to race outside and dig my own cutting garden then toss around a rainbow of flower seeds. I've just now finished reading it and I want to turn back to the first page and start all over again.
This book is stunning. The images are so beautiful and the paper quality made it even better. I also learned a lot and love that she lists her favourite varieties. I will not only go back to this book when I want to be inspired and immersed in beauty, but also when I'm looking for great varieties to plant in my garden.
I liked that this former stylist has a garden not just in the country but in the city: raiding and foraging for flowers which grew out of control; then Clare began growing her own flowers out of giant wooden planters made from scaffolding boards set out on the concrete of her London back garden. She then got (from being on their wait-list) at the top of the list at a local allotment site, where she was able to grow flowers among her vegetables. When Clare did make the move to the countryside, putting her roots down in all aspects of her life, she planted a dedicated cutting patch at the bottom of her cottage garden.
Clare says that “Flowers are an emotional marker through our lives, a symbolic gesture to mark our rights of passage—moments of joy, sadness, passion, and love. And that growing your own gives you a connection to nature, and once you’re hooked on flower growing, there’s no turning back, only fine-tuning in that you notice things more; seeing things clearer, anticipating the weather, and prioritizing your plants' care…what you plant, how you grow them, and when to pick them. It is an investment in time with having your own cut flower garden, but well worth it. Consider it as having the best flower shop in the world at the bottom of your garden, just waiting for you and those pruning shears.
This book was endorsed by Erin Benzakein of Floret Farm, who said: Thoughtfully organized and beautifully designed, this lovely book shares space on the shelf with all my favorite flower books.
What a beautiful book with loads of practical advice on who to prepare and structure your garden for maximum blooms. I would have liked more tips on how to arrange flowers but this book is one to cherish and take in hand often.
Absolutely gorgeous ideas for displaying flowers grown in your own garden. Must admit, my planting is pretty hot and miss, with the advice in this book, I should get much more flowers on display, can't wait to plant!
The photography in this book is utterly stunning. Clare Nolan was an interior designer, stylist and editorial producer who left her corporate career to farm flowers. Her style is unique and, hopefully, this book gives me the skills to develop my own personal style.