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My name is Rona Wheeldon and I write a flower-inspired blog called Flowerona.

I’m delighted to present my first blog post for Laura Ashley. I wanted to showcase the amazing range of flora which is grown on our shores so to start with, we’re off to the area where I grew up (the South West) to visit one the UK’s best kept flower, plant and bulb growers..

A few years ago, my husband and I went on a short break to the Scilly Isles. Although only 28 miles from Cornwall, it’s hard to believe that you’re in the UK when you’re there as the scenery is so different!

What struck me in particular were the different types of flowers and foliage growing in gardens and hedgerows…ones that you’d rarely see on the mainland. This is all due to the warm Gulf Stream which flows around the islands creating a sub-tropical climate.

We stayed on St Mary’s and island-hopped each day. And the island which I particularly fell in love with was St.Martin’s, with its spectacular white sandy beaches and turquoise sea, which reminded me of the Caribbean!

 

It’s on this island that the award-winning Scilly Flowers is based.  The company’s run by Ben and Zoe Julian who are pictured in the image above with their children, Rosie and Piran.

They specialise in growing narcissi and pinks, and the weather conditions on the Scilly Islands are perfect for these particular flowers.

Ben’s parents moved to the Scilly Isles in 1987. They spent a year working alongside an island farmer and then invested their savings in the 27 acre Churchtown Farm.

After a number of harsh winters and falling wholesale flower prices, they hit on the idea of sending gift boxes of flowers in the first class post.

In 2002, Ben and Zoe took over the running of the farm. The business has continued to thrive and now sends out over 90,000 beautiful boxes of flowers throughout the UK every year.

 

Scented Narcissi

In the winter, they grow scented narcissi which are the traditional flower crop of the islands.

They specialise in growing the multi-headed and powerfully scented ‘Tazetta’ types of narcissi, including Soleil D’Or, Paper White and Golden Dawn.

The flowers are sent out from October until April.

Scented Pinks

From May to October, they grow scented pinks, an old English summer flower with a subtle clove scent, beautiful colours and long vase life.

Varieties include Monica, Lady in Red, Lily the Pink, Devon Wizard, Devon Cream and Letitia.

Apparently, the name ‘pink’ doesn’t actually refer to the colour of the flower but it refers to its appearance.  The edges of the petals have a crinkled shape as if they’ve been shaped by old-fashioned pinking shears.

So, if you’re planning your holidays for 2012 and fancy a staycation, I highly recommend visiting the Scilly Isles. We flew by helicopter from Penzance which was a real treat!  You can also fly by aeroplane or take the ferry.

Scilly Flowers are open to the public if you’d like to pop in. Their main tourist season for visitors is Easter to October, but they’re open throughout the year. You’ll be able to read information boards telling you what’s going on, watch a DVD about the farm, see the flowers being packed… and place an order, if you’d like to.

If you love visiting gardens, don’t miss the Abbey Garden on Tresco…well worth a visit!

And for a great resource for planning your trip, do take a look at the islands’ official tourism website Simply Scilly .

The Scilly Isles really are the perfect place to visit to ‘get away from it all’ and I can’t recommend them highly enough!

 

If this post (like us) has inspired you to get back out in the garden for spring, take a look below at our Laura Ashley gardening products and accessories…

Laura Ashley garden items are available in selected garden centres and from the Tenax website only.