Blog
A winter’s day wreath making workshop with the Crafty Gardeners
On a crisp December day I joined Louise and Jane-Marie on one of the Crafty Gardeners wreath making workshops. First we gathered together all necessities and loaded up the car with fresh foliage then set off to Ashton court estate. Ashton Court (in Long Ashton) is a...
Best of the Bunch and Crafty Gardeners
Introducing THE Best of the Bunch and Crafty Gardeners A little insight into my time spent with a local florist business To begin, let me introduce you to the Crafty gardeners and Best of the Bunch. In summary, these local Bristol...
I miss the Hills – a poem by Michelle and farewell from Louise
Michelle wrote this poem in 2018 and it was read at her funeral. I Miss the Hills Sometimes I miss the hills The beautiful, terrible hills A gasping ascent to a transcendent summit Misty slopes and jagged edges There is a part of me in the hills Deep in the...
Birthday Treat
I look forward to my birthday because it’s a great excuse for treating myself. I often think we don’t treat ourselves enough but I certainly made up for that recently when I booked a full day workshop with Sarah from Simply by...
Our Crafty Gardener Philosophy
I love gardens, you won’t be surprised to learn. I love sitting in my garden watching the bees on the flowers and listening to the birds sing. I love going back to gardens I have designed to see how they have changed and grown. But, you may be surprised to...
Spring time
I don’t know about you but I love being led by the Seasons and I am really enjoying Spring this year. I am filled with such cheer when I see banks of bright sunny daffodils; taking a woodland walk and drawing in deep breathes of the hyacinth like scent of bluebells...
Valentine Flowers
Valentine’s day is inextricably linked with flowers. It’s a celebration of romance in the UK but in other countries it’s a celebration of friendship and kindness. Understandably there is often some backlash against the commercial pressure of the day however it is a...
Creating a Calm Garden
A garden should be a place of comfort. A place where you can have a quiet moment and let your worries slip away. When you catch sight of your garden through a window, your spirits should lift and your shoulders drop. So, how to achieve this oasis of calm in your back...
How to make the most from your supermarket flowers
A lady came up to me at the end of my floral demonstration to the Wrington WI last week and thanked me for being reminded of something we all know - flowers make a truly memorable gift. I’d said that I had read somewhere that 94 % of people surveyed...
How to make the most from your supermarket flowers PART 2
In the first part of the blog called How to make the most from your supermarket flowers I gave you step by step instruction on how to create a single colour knock out using the spiralling technique. Using the same technique I am going to show you how to add a collar...
Bulbs – The Perfect Plant?
Clients often ask me how they can have colourful flowers all year round. They don’t want a lot of fuss and bother. Something that you can plant and leave. Does such a fantasy plant exist? Absolutely! Bulbs are the perfect plant. Most bulbs will not only...
Louise on the Radio
I was pleasantly surprised to be invited by Steve Yabsley to be his main guest on his BBC Bristol lunchtime show. The timing was fantastic as I was launching The Crafty Gardeners in early 2018 and this would be a brilliant chance to speak about it. It was...
Design Tips to Transform your Garden for the Summer
Winter is a perfect time of year for planning garden improvements. Here are five tips for a summer garden transformation. Create Structure Winter is the best time of year to check if your garden has any backbone. A garden should have a skeletal shape that...
Making a Christmas Wreath (video)
Frome Independent Nurseries
Frome has a choice of local independent nurseries where you can rely on friendly expert advice and the confidence that comes with buying locally grown plants. Crafty Gardeners designer Michelle Wake reviews what’s available and asks for tips on plants for...