May…the month of hope?

June 6, 2024

It took me by surprise to find out it was the 1st of May. Spring had barely begun, this being one of those years where it happens all at once, after the incessant cold and the rain. But there it was, a gloriously sunny day up at Linnels Farm being watched by sheep as some splendid tulip bowls came into their barn space to be photographed.

A brief early-bank holiday break of three days in Scotland followed, where wind met sun and a pesky cold had me indoors with a book and saw the completion of my tea towel embroidered in trailing peas. I’m enjoying this new creative act. It’ll never take the place of flowers and I won’t love it as a hobby as much as taking photos but it lets my busy mind rest at the end of a day and friends can all expect a new tea towel at Christmas. There. That word. It’s now the end of May and the emails have already started to roll in. 

There was a surreal day. I don’t need to tell you about it, but, since this is my own way of documenting life, I’ll put it here for my reference. Whoever said “there’s nowt so strange as folk” was spot on. The event caused me to question deeply the hidden agendas of people you meet, or think you know well. It doesn’t concern the flowery world so nobody reading needs to speculate. Let’s just say it was the first bearded iris that John at Grown Made had just brought that day, and the act of putting it into a bowl, that allowed me to breathe. 

I seem to recall something from physics by that Newton fella. His 3rd law I think. You know, the one about “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”. And so, to counterbalance the surreal day, there was a wedding. The kind of wedding I love. Sam is from Oldham but now lives in the USA with Davi. They travelled back here to get married. A small wedding, lasting a few days for 10 close family and friends. In Yorkshire, at Middleton Lodge.

They came and stayed in the farmhouse and, despite me telling them to bring their thermals, the weather finally turned warm. Hedgerows bursting with cow parsley would be the backdrop to their relaxed woodland ceremony late one Monday afternoon. Some flowers were needed for the farmhouse and knowing Davi’s love of old blue and white china, I found three antique ginger jars and filled them with the pale blue and white froth of May. I love the thought of these vessels going to their new homes with the wedding party as a reminder of the day.

Another antique, in the form of a polished copper jug, held Davi’s bouquet. The brief I’d been given was ‘Dutch Masters’. Of course I’d seen the dress, and also a beautiful ‘wrap’ in case my weather predictions turned out to be prescient. The only tulips to flower here this year came just days before. See…there it is, the counterbalance. A couple of Absalon went into the bouquet alongside some trailing blush pink clematis, the bell-shaped foliage of our enkianthus tree and lots of jewel-coloured ranunculus. Three Amazing Grey poppies joined in for a bit of a dance. The sun shone brightly all day, but the bouquet and wrap were worn together because it was a bit chilly along the edges of the shadowy woodland. The photographer for the day (and into the night) was Dylan, one half of the supremely talented pair called The Kitcheners. Yes, the ones who take all the evocative elopement photographs and films. 

Above photos by Dylan of The Kitcheners (www.thekitcheners.co.uk)

The Dutch Masters wedding breakfast took place in the private dining room of The Coach House. I love this room with the deep blue walls, the cosy atmosphere and the perfect side light as you enter. Bundles of beribboned English asparagus sat on the deep olive green runner, grapes cascading from tiny urns and billowing arrangements full of deep plum parrot tulips and iridescent butterfly ranunculus caught the May evening light and that of the candles later on. There was a cake made of towering cheeses, which my friend Kirsty – who came over for an early courtyard dinner – made look ‘fetching’ with figs, more grapes and tiny white currants. 

Above photos by Dylan of The Kitcheners (www.thekitcheners.co.uk)

Returning the following morning at the crack of dawn (for the mandatory clear down) there was not a flower in sight. All of them scooped out of their vessels by the happy wedding party and taken the short walk home to the farmhouse to be placed in champagne buckets. Proof positive that it’s possible to do beautiful weddings without any waste. And maybe I can record it here in the hope it may happen: I’d like to do more like this. 

The crack of dawn also saw me off on my own woodland walk, around the back of the garden, through the orchard, past the greenhouses and a startled pheasant, and into the walled garden. Once there I found the wisteria cocoon, got out my camera and breathed properly for the first time in several days. 

Time marches in May. Off I went home, to tackle the weeds but with a stop off; at a place with a secret garden and a driveway to rival any of the cathedrals you’ll find here or abroad. Carpeted in wild garlic, under a delicate but insanely high and seemingly unending arch of trees, it lead me to somewhere and someone I hope to see again. I ‘think’ I might have found Simply Yorkshire 2025 but we’ll see how life pans out.

The froth of May gave way to some of the first roses and the work of the guests in all of the classes just seems to get better and better. Bouquets have been flying all around the garden. The grand finale tablescape saw Rebecca (@herbivore) complete her career class and I’ve no doubt of her future success in the wedding world. Julie from Madge and Ivy came to start her practical days on the ‘Carefully Crafted’ career class and made the most perfect bouquet on a day when I know that she too needed all the distraction techniques that only flowers can provide. 

The new Carefully Crafted class for this next year was announced a couple of weeks ago, and already I’m looking forward to speaking to and meeting two new guests who are from other worlds. I can’t tell you how much I love this class. There’s still a place left if you’d like it. 

And then…..there were irises! We didn’t promise them but there they were, picked at just the right time, free of slugs and displayed in a way that had me thinking of an altar in a great cathedral. Nobody needs to worry, I’ve not suddenly found religion but I’ve never said anything other than that churches and cathedrals are some of my favourite buildings…because of the light. I’m fascinated by how those buildings are positioned to capture the very best shafts of light, built in times when cameras didn’t exist. On the other hand, there are also greenhouses. I find these just as captivating. Thank you India and Chris of Vervain Flowers for all of your generosity, especially in sharing your brand new/old India Yellow Alton greenhouse. It provided me with a special 5 minute dawn ‘retreat’ on the very last day of May. And thank you Éva Németh for capturing some golden moments on our iris class, a day which tipped the scales of May in the right direction.

Above photos by Éva Németh

And, what of the small dog with no eyes? June arrived in a lovely warm way yesterday and we decided to see if she could manage what used to be her daily walk, up the back lane to the hilltop. Patience was required – with Mr Simply showing much more of it than me. It’s a steep lane with dodgy bits and it’s hard to concentrate on your own steps whilst also being the eyes for four little paws. We made it. We reached the summit and the wildflower meadow was at its early summer best. Happy days.