Thanks a bunch, Granny
They say you never forget your first bunch of flowers. Mine arrived early in the morning on my 21st birthday. I opened the door of my university house (still a little bleary-eyed from celebrating the night before) to a beautiful bunch of white tulips. I knew instantly who had sent them.
Growing up, I had always admired the floral creations that adorned my grandparents’ home, and their garden was unfailingly immaculate. Favourite of all, however, were the vibrant tulips that lined their driveway. My granny made a point of planting them every winter so that they would be resplendent come spring. Standing in my little Durham house, staring at my birthday bunch, I was transported to the Cotswolds and the floral sanctuary of my grandparents’ home.
Despite my admiration for flowers, I have never considered myself to have my grandmother’s touch when it comes to arranging them. She only needs to look at a collection of blooms to transform them into a glorious arrangement; I struggle to keep even a bunch of carnations looking fresh. So, determined to improve, I opted to take a flower-arranging course. And who better to join me than Granny Hicks herself?
The Covent Garden Academy of Flowers, situated a stone’s throw from The Lady’s offices – has been running classes since 2010. With programmes ranging from evening sessions to 16- week courses, hundreds of flower aficionados have passed through its doors (including the Duchess of Cornwall). It is is also a functioning florist.
1. Fiona and her granny, Pamela Hicks, with their handmade bouquets 2. Tulips 3. Arrangements waiting to be sent to the academy's clients 4. a posy in a vintage teacup
On arrival, we descend to the floral haven – a wonderland of colourful flowers, ornate vases and ready-made displays – into a hive of activity, with the staff working hard on commissions. The academy produces elaborate arrangements for individuals, events and top London hotels and, judging by the happy chatter of the ladies, they all enjoy their work.
The class is small but comprises eight very different students. Ranging from a tax lawyer indulging her secret hobby, to a lady with a tea shop who wants to make her own table centrepieces, we are all equally keen to hone our floral skills. This class is ‘vintage’ themed and the academy’s principal, Gillian, informs us that by the end of the day, we will have learnt how to make a vintage bouquet as well as a delicate posy in a teacup. The sense of anticipation, coupled with the heady fragrance of flowers, makes us all feel a bit light-headed.
We are introduced to Madeleine, the resident expert in bouquets, who made a hand-held spray for the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee; she is a calm, thorough teacher. ‘Preparation is 80 per cent of making a bouquet,’ she says. ‘You need to have everything ready before you start assembling.’
Fiona and her grandmother observe Madeleine Mukherjee
We spend the next half an hour conditioning flowers and foliage. There is something wonderfully therapeutic about stripping leaves and snipping stems, and we soon learn that nothing is wasted. We throw tiny stems into a bucket of water to keep them fresh for miniature arrangements, and even rogue leaves are kept for buttonholes.
With our wares prepared, we watch Madeleine assemble a voluminous bouquet. ‘Foliage is precious,’ she says reverentially, before picking up a branch of leather leaf. Selecting one piece at a time, she transforms an assortment of leaves and branches into a beautiful green framework. ‘The idea is to create a spiral into which you can feed in the flowers,’ she explains.
Now it is our turn. Standing in front of the numerous buckets of flowers and foliage, we are almost paralysed by the choice. But not for long. Twisting and spiralling as we have been taught, the eclectic assortment of cuttings comes together before our eyes. Each arrangement is different, yet they all look as though they were spontaneously gathered from the garden. The secret to the technique, however, means that the bouquets are surprisingly sturdy. The spiral shape enables the stems to ‘lock’ into each other, so they stay in place even before they are tied.
6. Foliage frames the stars of the show, pink and cream roses 7. Gillian Wheeler, principal of the academy 8. The blooms outside the Academy
Funnily enough, the tying and wrapping of the flowers proves to be the most challenging part. The cellophane must be cut and folded in a particular way, the raffia bound just so, and the stems further cut down so that the flowers sit perfectly in the bag. It takes us a morning to produce a bouquet of a standard that is fit for delivery, but it is unfathomably satisfying to regard the finished product.
The morning runs swiftly into the afternoon, and we move on from bouquets to fine china. Using small cuttings and parts of flowers, we are shown how to create a vintage-style centrepiece by shaping a block of Oasis into a teacup, and then inserting delicate flowers into it. We even learn how to use hairspray and glitter to create sparkle. The concept is easy to execute but the effect is impressive. Of course, Granny already knows this; looking over, her teacup display is mini but magnificent.
The best part of the day is that you can take your creations home. Selecting the perfect vase for my arrangement later that evening, I am certain that I have inherited my granny’s passion for flowers.
Day courses at The Covent Garden Academy Of Flowers, from £195. For more information: 020-7240 6359, www.academyofflowers.com
Courses in various locations, which include hand-tieds, arrangements and for weddings: 0141-942 2163, www.scottishschooloffloristry.co.uk
Green And Gorgeous Flowers, Oxfordshire
Courses such as Floral Tea Party and Arrange Your Own Wedding Flowers: 07778-549412, www.greenandgorgeousflowers.co.uk
Flowers by Joanna Keely, Yorkshire
Seasonal displays and food and flower one-day workshops at a cookery school: 01904-702624, www.flowersbyjoannakeely.co.uk
Academy Of Floral Art, Devon
Recreational flower courses; courses for beginners: 07902-884208, www.academyoffloralart.com
Flowers With Flair, Suffolk
One-day courses include bridal flowers and an introduction to floristry: 01359-259254, www.flowerswithflair.co.uk
Growing up, I had always admired the floral creations that adorned my grandparents’ home, and their garden was unfailingly immaculate. Favourite of all, however, were the vibrant tulips that lined their driveway. My granny made a point of planting them every winter so that they would be resplendent come spring. Standing in my little Durham house, staring at my birthday bunch, I was transported to the Cotswolds and the floral sanctuary of my grandparents’ home.
Despite my admiration for flowers, I have never considered myself to have my grandmother’s touch when it comes to arranging them. She only needs to look at a collection of blooms to transform them into a glorious arrangement; I struggle to keep even a bunch of carnations looking fresh. So, determined to improve, I opted to take a flower-arranging course. And who better to join me than Granny Hicks herself?
The Covent Garden Academy of Flowers, situated a stone’s throw from The Lady’s offices – has been running classes since 2010. With programmes ranging from evening sessions to 16- week courses, hundreds of flower aficionados have passed through its doors (including the Duchess of Cornwall). It is is also a functioning florist.
1. Fiona and her granny, Pamela Hicks, with their handmade bouquets 2. Tulips 3. Arrangements waiting to be sent to the academy's clients 4. a posy in a vintage teacup On arrival, we descend to the floral haven – a wonderland of colourful flowers, ornate vases and ready-made displays – into a hive of activity, with the staff working hard on commissions. The academy produces elaborate arrangements for individuals, events and top London hotels and, judging by the happy chatter of the ladies, they all enjoy their work.
The class is small but comprises eight very different students. Ranging from a tax lawyer indulging her secret hobby, to a lady with a tea shop who wants to make her own table centrepieces, we are all equally keen to hone our floral skills. This class is ‘vintage’ themed and the academy’s principal, Gillian, informs us that by the end of the day, we will have learnt how to make a vintage bouquet as well as a delicate posy in a teacup. The sense of anticipation, coupled with the heady fragrance of flowers, makes us all feel a bit light-headed.
We are introduced to Madeleine, the resident expert in bouquets, who made a hand-held spray for the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee; she is a calm, thorough teacher. ‘Preparation is 80 per cent of making a bouquet,’ she says. ‘You need to have everything ready before you start assembling.’
Fiona and her grandmother observe Madeleine MukherjeeWe spend the next half an hour conditioning flowers and foliage. There is something wonderfully therapeutic about stripping leaves and snipping stems, and we soon learn that nothing is wasted. We throw tiny stems into a bucket of water to keep them fresh for miniature arrangements, and even rogue leaves are kept for buttonholes.
With our wares prepared, we watch Madeleine assemble a voluminous bouquet. ‘Foliage is precious,’ she says reverentially, before picking up a branch of leather leaf. Selecting one piece at a time, she transforms an assortment of leaves and branches into a beautiful green framework. ‘The idea is to create a spiral into which you can feed in the flowers,’ she explains.
Now it is our turn. Standing in front of the numerous buckets of flowers and foliage, we are almost paralysed by the choice. But not for long. Twisting and spiralling as we have been taught, the eclectic assortment of cuttings comes together before our eyes. Each arrangement is different, yet they all look as though they were spontaneously gathered from the garden. The secret to the technique, however, means that the bouquets are surprisingly sturdy. The spiral shape enables the stems to ‘lock’ into each other, so they stay in place even before they are tied.
6. Foliage frames the stars of the show, pink and cream roses 7. Gillian Wheeler, principal of the academy 8. The blooms outside the AcademyFunnily enough, the tying and wrapping of the flowers proves to be the most challenging part. The cellophane must be cut and folded in a particular way, the raffia bound just so, and the stems further cut down so that the flowers sit perfectly in the bag. It takes us a morning to produce a bouquet of a standard that is fit for delivery, but it is unfathomably satisfying to regard the finished product.
The morning runs swiftly into the afternoon, and we move on from bouquets to fine china. Using small cuttings and parts of flowers, we are shown how to create a vintage-style centrepiece by shaping a block of Oasis into a teacup, and then inserting delicate flowers into it. We even learn how to use hairspray and glitter to create sparkle. The concept is easy to execute but the effect is impressive. Of course, Granny already knows this; looking over, her teacup display is mini but magnificent.
The best part of the day is that you can take your creations home. Selecting the perfect vase for my arrangement later that evening, I am certain that I have inherited my granny’s passion for flowers.
Day courses at The Covent Garden Academy Of Flowers, from £195. For more information: 020-7240 6359, www.academyofflowers.com
OTHER COURSES IN THE UK
Scottish School Of Floristry, ScotlandCourses in various locations, which include hand-tieds, arrangements and for weddings: 0141-942 2163, www.scottishschooloffloristry.co.uk
Green And Gorgeous Flowers, Oxfordshire
Courses such as Floral Tea Party and Arrange Your Own Wedding Flowers: 07778-549412, www.greenandgorgeousflowers.co.uk
Flowers by Joanna Keely, Yorkshire
Seasonal displays and food and flower one-day workshops at a cookery school: 01904-702624, www.flowersbyjoannakeely.co.uk
Academy Of Floral Art, Devon
Recreational flower courses; courses for beginners: 07902-884208, www.academyoffloralart.com
Flowers With Flair, Suffolk
One-day courses include bridal flowers and an introduction to floristry: 01359-259254, www.flowerswithflair.co.uk