CHILDREN GARDENING, GROWING FLOWERS, VEGETABLES AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

CHILDREN GARDENING, GROWING FLOWERS, VEGETABLES AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

• 6.1.20

We love growing our own flowers and vegetables in the garden, the children like to pick their items to grow and each has a little area. 

I find growing with children is a great way to get them outside, enjoying some fresh air and exercise. Learning about plants, nature, looking after something other than themselves and how it feels when a slug strikes!

Previously we have grown giant Zinnia's, Sunflowers (every year) in a number of colours, heights, and head sizes. Cucumbers did very well last year along with cherry trailing tomatoes and Slovacina peppers which were given to us as a gift. 

This year our two boys Jacob (eight) and Oakley (six) have chosen to grow, pumpkins, carrots, cucumbers, sweetcorn, sunflowers, calendula, and zinnias. As their planter broke last year I am thinking of trying them with crates this year. I will update you with some photographs once we are underway. 

Some great cut flower seeds we have tried and are great to try with children I think ar, Calendula officials ‘Indian Prince’, Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’, Sunflower Vanilla Ice and Centaurea Cyanus ‘Polka Dot’ mixed’. These are easy to grow and make great cut flowers. 

Plant them inside to get them growing early in Spring or sow them directly outside in the sunshine when the frost has passed. Direction for the best growing tips can be found on the back of the seed packets, so great to read with children. 

Benefits of planting flowers and vegetables with children include

• Reducing pollution
• Eating homegrown food from the garden
• Reducing carbon footprints
• Helping Bees and insects 
• Well being for gardeners (mindfulness)
• Healthy exercise benefits
• Social activity for the family to enjoy together
• Cut flowers can fill a home or be gifted to friends and family
• Children learn to nurture and watch for nature in the garden
• Having fun together

Here are some children’s activities I have tried and enjoyed with my children, great for school holidays and having fun together. 

1. Paint or draw pictures of the seeds and the plants as they grow. 

2. Keep a plant diary over a period of time.

4. Photograph the children and yourselves while you are gardening together. Create your own ‘Flower Story’. A collage of pictures while you grow the flowers as a reminder and keepsake. This could be gifted with some flowers as an extra special gift. 

5. Learn to wrap flowers like a florist with this handy our handy six-step guide. Ideal for Mother Day Gifts or special end of term teacher presents. For more ideas on flower wrapping ideas follow me on Pinterest or Instagram. 

6. Make up a story or poem about your garden.

7. Collet the flower seeds and use them with glue to make patterns.

8. Press flowers and keep in sketchbooks with labels.

9. Flower petals can be used for art, style the scene and take a photograph to print out. See below or look at Bridget Beth Collins as her flower art is stunning as she tells stories with flowers. 

Having fun in the garden and creating thoughtful gifts with flowers can be lots of fun. A gift where someone has taken time can mean so much to someone special. When life can seem so fast-paced, gardening can really help time slow down and create last memories by bringing family together. 

"You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry. Don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way." - Walter Hagen

To begin your own flower journey with children be sure to look at the new Children’s Flower Wrap Set with flower seeds or the rainbow flower wrap and sticker kits. 

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How Nurturing A Flower Garden Created New Possibilities

How Nurturing A Flower Garden Created New Possibilities

• 16.12.19

I wanted the flower cutting garden to be a constant source of inspiration for my design work which heavily features florals. To use seasonal flowers that were fresh and I could select when needed. Rather than relying on locally brought flowers and what was for sale, although I do love to support British Flowers and I do visit pick your own flower events. 

What I hadn’t anticipated when I developed the area of our garden to grow flowers was how much I would like to browse the seed catalogues. Research online the colours, leaf textures, stem styles and vast selection of new flowers each year. With a cup of tea and a cosy chair, it is a great autumn and winter activity to start planning the cutting garden for the following year. Especially if you are not a fan of the darker months this can help as you begin to grow seeds inside. On a window sill, conservatory or even the hardy plants in a cold frame.

If asked what I would like for Christmas or Birthday's I do tend to answer with gift vouchers for our local garden centres or online sellers. I love to browse the sites and select what new items I would like to try in the garden. 

The first year I did select some flowers from Floret USA and coming from America I hadn’t realised the import tax would be more than the seeds themselves. However, I see this as an investment as I have grown these beautiful Daydream and Cupcake Poppies for a few years now and each year I collect seeds. I can sow every year without making another purchase and I have gifted some to my mum so she is enjoying her own. Also, we swap seeds to try new flowers and build up our flower stocks. 

Planting the seeds I let my children help, they love getting muddy in the garden. They have now started to select their own seeds to grow for next year including red sunflower xxx Pumpkin xxx, not quite a flower but I am quite open to trying new things. Also, I love my two sons being involved in the garden with helping to water and seeing things develop. Although they do lose interest after a while but that is fine. It allows me to carry on listening to the rustle of leaves, the birds and my boys playing in the background. I have been surprised how quiet it can feel in your mind when gardening, just thinking of the plants and being outside. How after an hour in the garden I can feel lifted in my mind having achieved something or just seen some new developments in growing through the seasons. 

I had thought growing a cutting flower garden would be inspiration for my design work and it is every day. Watching the seasonal flowers, colours breaking through each month but it has been so much more. 

Giving me time to have quiet moments as I nurture the plants, watering, feeding, staking and enjoying cutting the flowers so they come again. That is the difference for cut flowers, the types of flowers for a cutting garden grow more as you cut them. Giving an abundance of flowers through their flowering months.

I arrange flowers to constantly fill our home on tables and window sills. To add a fresh garden feeling inside when the weather still has a chill in the spring and when it feels too warm for long periods in the summer.  

I like to wrap a bunch of flowers for friends or family members to brighten their day. Sharing the love of flowers and the joy people show when realising they are homegrown is really special. I cannot think of a more thoughtful gift than homegrown flowers, especially if it is from someone you love. That is how the cutting garden inspired me to create the Flower Wrap & Grow business I run today, so we can all grow and share the joy of flowers. 

This summer has been busy but so much fun with the children helping in the garden developing their understanding of nature and growing cycles. Next year I am arranging an area for both of the boys to grow their own, I will add photographs of how they get on as we go along.

After digging and watering regularly with my husbands relaxing in the garden was wonderful with blooms to watch has been amazing. As I look back with lots of memories, I am excited for next year and to see the flowers grow again with some new additions.

Whether you start with one flower pot or a whole section of your garden, I couldn’t recommend growing your own cut flower enough. 

Do join the newsletter here if you would like to keep up with us on the Flower Garden. Each month there will be updates, offers and lots of seasonal ideas based on flowers. 

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How To Host Your Own Flower Party

How To Host Your Own Flower Party

• 5.10.19

I recently hosted a flower party for friends and featured a flower bar with my garden cut flowers where gusts could make their own floral bouquets. It was a great way to get everyone together and have fun with flowers, learning something new while catching up. 

Flower Bar with homegrown flowers

Although I used garden flowers other ways to create a flower bar could include brought bunches, visiting a pick your own flower event or ordering a Do-It-Yourself flower bucket from a local flower farm.

I decided on a cosy cottage theme where I re-used everyday flower vases and jugs, however for a chic feel you could mix tall cylinder glass vases and galvanised metal buckets. You can see more ideas on my Pinterest boards for flower party ideas. 

The Flower Bar for my party was set on a vintage style potting table which meant I could hang the flower decorations off the side and layer flower wrap for each guest with stickers, British twine, ribbons, scissors and pens all on the flower bar.  I used materials from my Wrap & Grow range which you can see on the shop.

Garden cut flowers dahlias, Calendula offinalis, Phloax drummondii gardaniflora 'Cherry Caramel' 

I had an eco-friendly event as I wanted to make sure I had non coated flower wrap so it can be recycled, recycled kraft papers, eco-friendly tissue paper, wooden labels which are from sustainable certified woodlands and vessels I could reuse after the event.

Wooden flower decorations keepsakes

I did send party invitations which I designed from flowers which would be featured in the vases at my flower party. I photographed the flowers and made them into an invitation for favourite friends. Other ideas to create invitations could include a special photograph with the message on the back, pressed flower cards or download our free invitation to printout yourself.

I found that the flower party was a great opportunity to get some wonderful photographs of my friends and I to share on instagram and Facebook. I will be taking more photographs at the next event as I want to complete our our flower story.

Flower story collage sheet

If you host a flower party do include the tag #Flowerpartyfun as I love to see your faces and fun at flower parties. I will be doing the same at our next flower party so do follow me on Instagram @flowerwrapandgrow to keep in touch.

I did add afternoon tea, with cake and some bubbles for refreshment, to keep the party flowing. The party had a lovely feeling and I am already planning my next flower party event for 2020. It was great to see all my friends have a great time and take some special flowers for themselves home that they created from the day. 

Wrap and Grow - flower wrapping paper and bouquets

Quote
Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower and draws all good things towards you. - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

This is the flower list of the flora and foliage I included from my cutting garden
From left to right: Sweet peas Harlequin Sweet Pea Mix and Vintage Silk Sweet Pea Mix, Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Cherry Caramel’ with Orlaya grandiflora, Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’, Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Daydream’, Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Purity’, Cosmos Cupcake blush, Cosmos Cupcake White, Helianthus annuus ‘Sonja’, Calendula officinalis 'Indian Prince’, Snapdragon ‘Madame Butterfly Bronze’ Antirrhinum majus, Dahlia 'Totally Tangerine’, Dahlia 'Linda's Baby’, Dahlia ‘Snowstorm’, Dahlia 'Bright Eyes’ David Austin roses Desdemona and Port Sunlight, Euphorbia oblongata, Cerinthe major ‘Purpurascens’ and the large Dahlia 'Fairway Spur’.

I generally grow my flowers from seed and you can purchase these cut flower seeds from the suppliers below and rose plants, these are the sites I tend to use the most. (Please note with Floret there are import taxes which are due and in come cases I have paid more than the order to the UK. Although I deemed it as ok as I collect seeds each year and so I haven't need to purchase again).

David Austin Roses (beautiful award winning roses)

Floret (amazing cut flowers including Daydream and Cupcake Cosmos)

Sarah Raven (wonderful dahlias, cutflower sets and flowers for nearly everything)

Suttons (A good selection of seeds and shrubs)

Flower bar and wooden flower decoration keepsakes

British Flowers

The Flower Bar - Party Ideas

Cut flowers from the garden

Ribbons and British twine

Helianthus annuus 'Sonja'

If you plan a flower party do make sure you look at my shop which offers flower wrap, flower stickers, these wooden flower decorations and soon new for 2020 Party Sharing Sets. 

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THE ART OF BEAUTIFUL CUT FLOWER GIFTING

THE ART OF BEAUTIFUL CUT FLOWER GIFTING

• 11.6.19

I have been asked a lot recently about how I started my flower cutting garden and what tips I could give so I will be writing the post next week on 'How I Started My Flower Cutting Garden' this week as it is British flower week 10 - 16th June I wanted to give a little bit on why I created Wrap & Grow Flower Wrap Gift Sets.

My cutting garden last July was in full bloom and I wanted it to last as long as possible. As Sarah Raven says a cutting garden is where you "Cut flowers and they come again'. I released I needed to be cutting lots so the beautiful blooms didn't go to seed like Sweetpeas easily can if left without cutting. 

I had filled my house with beautiful blooms but I didn't have an easy way to wrap and gift flowers to friends and family who would appreciate them. I looked for some pretty flower wrap and personal stickers but I was unable to find them easily.

I decided to design my own and create a set which was easy to keep and use as needed. As a mum, I am always conscious of leaving the world in good condition for our children. I knew the products had to be eco-friendly and made in Britain. 

As I am not alone and I know many of us are taking up growing flowers for a hobby, to fill our home, for a wedding or just to add a little calm to our lives. I believe we will all like to try and wrap flowers for family and friends. Whether we grow them or buy local flowers, it's fun learning and bringing joy with flowers.

For ideas on how to use the flower Wrap & Grow gift sets take a peek at the Pinterest boards here and keep an eye on Instagram where pictures are posted daily. Below is an example of what is possible with one flower wrap gift set. 

Flower Wrapping Inspiration using Coral Flower Wrap & Grow Gift Set

Now is a great time to order a Wrap & Grow Flower Set ready for your abundance of flowers blloming or try now with local flowers this British Flowers Week. As June is the month of British Flower Week there is currently 20% off with voucher code Britishflowers20 and free UK delivery. Offer ends June 30th 2019 and is subject to availability. www.KellyRideout.com

If you would like step by step instructions on How To Wrap A Flower Bouquet in Six Steps see this blog post or if you would like to Celebrate British flowers week take a look. To keep up to date with Inspired Living Now join the newsletter we would love to have you. 

Homegrown flowers from the cutting garden last summer 2018. 

Homegrown Cut Flowers - Dahlia's, Cosmos)

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Let's Celebrate British Flowers Week 10 - 16 June 2019

Let's Celebrate British Flowers Week 10 - 16 June 2019

• 5.6.19

Excited to be supporting and cheering on British Flower growers and sellers this June for British Flowers Week. This week-long celebration of British-grown cut flowers and foliage aims to bring British flowers back into British homes.

There is a wonderful exhibition of British flowers at the Garden Museum with Gardens Illustrated. The campaign from New Covent Garden Market's brings together florists, flower growers, wholesalers and flower lovers, encouraging them to put Britain’s best blooms on display.

There are many events going on around the UK including flower workshops, talks, open gardens to exhibitions and more. Follow #BritishFlowersweek on social media or you can keep an eye on the British Flower Week website to see more information on events near you. I am keen to try a flower crown workshop this year as they look so much fun!

Flowers grown in Britain are like strawberries you pick off the bush in your garden or ones you pick at a local farm. The strawberries always taste much juicier, with a fuller flavour and with natural colours. While others massed grown can lose their smell and taste of water.

If the flowers are in season and haven’t crossed thousands of miles, they are the ones for me every-time. They last longer in the vase at home, save on flower carbon footprints and who doesn’t want to see more beautiful fields of flowers in Britain?

I have been researching flower farms where you can pick your own flowers or buy seasonal buckets of flowers. Ideal for DIY wedding parties, afternoon tea flower arranging events and so much more.

Take a look at British flowers week for sellers at the New Convent Garden Market and selected favourite florists and artisan growers.

If you would like to find a local flower farm, event or workshop then take a peek at the Flowers From The Farm map. I love this map and it's great to see the number of British flower farms growing.

Our support for British Flower Week is buying British flowers and the launch of the specially designed Coral Flower Wrap Gift Set. Designed exclusively for British Flowers Week and is inspired by “Living Coral” Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2019. All materials are eco-friendly and Made in Britain, hand packed in Hampshire with love.

As a special offer for British Flower Week, there is a 20% off Voucher code BRITISHFLOWERS20 to use at www.kellyrideout.com - Ideal to wrap a special British flower bouquet for someone special this June.

Let’s make Britain Bloom together and buy British flowers!

British Flowers links for flower ideas and information

Free download to British flowers by seasons on this handy downloadable British Flower Calendar.
https://www.newcoventgardenmarket.com/flowers/british-seasonal-flower-calendar

Flower Farms Map of Britain
https://www.flowersfromthefarm.co.uk/members-map

Buying British Flowers
https://www.britishflowersweek.com/buying-british-flowers

Keep up to date with British Flowers Week
https://www.britishflowersweek.com

British Flowers Pinterest Board
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/kellyrideout_Design/british-flower-week-2019

Social media hashtag to follow #BritishFlowersWeek and #WrapandGrow
Come say hello @kellyrideout_design and let's chat all about flowers!

Coral Flower Wrap Gift Set voucher code BritishFlowers20
https://www.kellyrideout.com/coralflowerwrap

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DIY How To Wrap A Flower Bouquet In Six Steps

DIY How To Wrap A Flower Bouquet In Six Steps

• 19.3.19

It is lovely to share thoughtful gifts to family and friends straight from your garden or kitchen table. I grow flowers so I select them from the cutting garden but if you don't simply find somewhere great to buy flowers. This handy map from Flowers From The Farm is a great asset as you can see local flower workshops, pick your own flower events and you can buy beautiful British Flowers near to you in Britain.

A handy six-step guide shows you how to wrap a homegrown bouquet easily and gift straight away to someone special. Making an ideal thoughtful gift that they can enjoy as the flowers begin to bloom.

Step 1.

Select your flowers and foliage carefully from your garden or local shop. Remove extra leaves on the stems below where you will hand-tie the flowers. I use British twine by jute but you can use florist tape or elastic bands. Just be sure the flowers are not to restricted as you want the flowers to be able to drink water at all times. 

Arrange your flowers so they have nice coverage of colour. For example, if you had three different coloured flowers. You may choose to add colour 1, then a colour 2 and a colour 3. Then repeat so the colours as you add can be separate out to each corner. Once you are happy, tie the flower arrangement together. Trim the stems of the flowers to roughly the same lengths.

Step 2.

Select which flower wrap you would like to use, brown Kraft wrap is good, Satin tissue paper or flower gift wrap non-coated. Eco-friendly papers and items which can be recycled are great for this kind of wrapping so just ensure you do not choose glitter or coated papers as these generally cannot be recycled. 

 The example in the photograph is mint green flower wrap.

Wrap & Grow Gift Box Content to Wrap Your Bouquets

Step 3. 

Lay your chosen paper on the table and with pointed order at an angle. Lay your flowers heads up close to the point of the paper.

Flowers onto eco-friendly Flower Wrap

Step 4. 

Wrap the paper from left across the flowers and tuck in behind the hand-tied bunch. 

Wrap flower paper from left to right

Step 5. 

Lift up the bottom right of the flower wrap and fold the paper over the flower stems. Crease a line up the paper on the right as shown. Wrap the remaining flower gift wrap around the flowers to join together. 

DIY flower bouquet wrapping in six steps

Step 6. 

You can choose a sticker to add the finishing touches to the bouquet, a ribbon or sellotape to set the paper into place. In this example, a ‘With Love’ sticker has been used. The sticker is set to the front of the flowers. You can present the sticker first, for the special recipient to read the message from your thoughtful gift. 

Homegrown or local brought flowers handmade bouquet - with love.

Flower bouquets do not need to be complicated with the right materials and pretty flowers you can create gorgeous thoughtful gifts. 

Ideal for Mothers Day, Easter, Birthdays, or simply as a thank you to someone special. Each Wrap & Grow gifting set comes with a packet of seeds to replenish stock of flowers or to grow something new. 

If you would like to see the Wrap & Grow Homemade Flower Bouquet Gift Sets view here or if you would like to browser flower wrap or decorations look here.

For more flower bouquet, posey and flower gifting ideas you can take look on Pinterest or follow on Instagram @kellyrideout_design. You can also join the newsletter for updates on the latest flower gifts, shop offers, and competitions. 

I would love to see some homemade bouquets you have created, after using these steps? Add your comment below as I would love to see them. 

As always, thank you for reading.

Kelly x

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Inspiration To Make Homemade Flower Bouquets and Arrangements

Inspiration To Make Homemade Flower Bouquets and Arrangements

• 14.3.19

I had such a great year on the cutting garden last year I decided to gift some flowers, to family, friends and charity events. I loved putting together the simple flower arrangements straight from the garden but found it hard to find the right flower wrap and decorations.

I set to work and decided to design my own as they had been so well received. I hope others like you might like to use them and gift them too. I wanted the flower wrap, decorations and all things included to be eco-friendly and Made in Britain and that is excatly what they are so we can wrap with peace of mind. My other main goal was to help others enjoy flowers as I love them and I really wanted this world to bloom all over so I added seed packets.

This month the new 'WRAP & GROW' Gift Sets For Homemade Flower Bouquets With Seeds are launched. I wanted to take this opportunity to look back at what was made and include some of the new ideas I created in the studio this week for flower arrangements.

Below I created homemade flower bouquets, kraft and sticker posey's, flower decorated bunches and a single stem flower gift. What will you create with yours? (Share your designs on Instagram and Facebook #wrapandgrow)

Perhaps you would like to share your abundant flowers from your garden this spring or during the year. Maybe you would like to try something new but you don't grow flowers. Then you could buy locally grown flowers and create your very own arrangements too.

Steps to creating an arrangement can be found in this handy six-step guide or simply
1, Choose the flower arrangement type you would like to create
2, Select your flowers and foliage (from your garden or brought locally)
3, Collect the materials you will need to complete the arrangement

The inspiration for homemade flower bouquets and simple arrangements is below.

Homemade Flower Bouquets
These were wrapped with the new flower gift wrap I created for wrapping my blooms and decided to design more as it was so well received. Colour selections now include the Coral colour of the year, mint green, fresh blue, yellow, patterns and rainbow colours. View Wrap and Bloom gift sets or Flower wrapping paper and stickers here.

Spring Flowers Bouquet Using Fresh Blue and Stickers

Multicoloured Set Of Flower Wraps and Stickers

Homegrown And Coral Mixed Set of Flower Wraps And Stickers

Kraft Paper And Sticker Posey's
These can take fewer flowers and simple ideas can look stunning as sweet little thank you gifts or a treat for someone special.

Just For You - Kraft Paper, Satin Tissue Wrap and Sticker

Grown With Love Kraft Paper and Grown With Love Sticker

Fresh Spring Flower Creations With Kraft Paper And Stickers

Decorated Flower Bunches
Adding a keepsake wooden tag which I wrote on the reverse with permanent maker I found to be very effective. I still see these hung around friends houses now on cupboard door handles and dressers. The decoration is kept long after the flowers have faded.

Flowers Wooden Tag Decoration

Hand-tied Roses With A Keepsake Wooden Flower Decoration

Simply hung over a flower in the bunch with a personal message on the reverse.

Single Stem Flower Gift
Use a hero flower like a Sunflower, Gerbera, Hydrangea, Rose or Dahlia and simply hand-tie some ribbon and a keepsake to make a sweet friendship gift.

Gerbera With A Flower Decoration And Keepsake Tag.

I will be adding to the blog new seasonal inspiration as the flowering months begin and we can see new blooms coming in from the garden. Until then you can also find me on Instagram and see inspiration on the Pinterest boards. #wrapandgrow
  

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