It’s time to prepare for your ideal Spring !
I’m not one to complain about gray weather, some might say it’s quite the opposite. I’m known to have formulated some issues with hot summer days in the past, though this has radically changed since I started gardening, which is exactly the topic of our chat today.
Still, while I do enjoy my time spent under the blanket with a good book, February is the month of mental challenges for many of us living in the Northern hemisphere, the winter feels like it’s overstaying its welcome, and the prospect of those first hopeful days of Spring still feels rather distant. This is the time to dive deep into your books, both for escapism and for inspiration, since the ideal Spring calls for some preparation. Here’s my plan for these last two weeks of February, which might just turn out to be the most exciting time of this late Winter season.
From Winter Blues to Green Dreams : My Gardening Journey
The revelation of gardening happened in my early 30’s, when frankly, no one (including myself) thought it possible that a young woman who lived with a fear of insects and spiders all her life, who constantly hid from the sun and hated getting dirt under her nails, could ever become passionate about gardening. It turns out that the secret was in the size : when I moved into my apartment and suddenly had a large terrace to decorate instead of the vast gardens I knew in my childhood , things came naturally. I’ve told this story a while ago, if you missed it or if we hadn’t yet met, you can check it out HERE.
It’s been a few years now, and things are getting better with each season that brings me experience, wisdom and courage. I’ve arrived at a point where February is the signal to start planning the gardening year ahead, and that means both shopping and reading for me. And while the actual digging and planting might not be for everyone, there is alway a charming book to be found for garden lovers everywhere.
Small Joys, Big Impact
It’s time to get out your Floral Porcelain
Your cherished china is made to be used, so if like me, you have been keeping it for special occasions,
I have news for you : the next cup of tea you’re drinking is the moment you’ve been waiting for ! Porcelain manufacturers everywhere have been preparing for this moment, with floral patterns that bring joy and colour to the last days of Winter. My Royal Albert tea cup from the Caroline pattern has the elegant curves and the delicate cornflowers of
a classic English afternoon. Just what I need for the book I’m reading.
Green Tea, Rose and Raspberry
Tea and flowers feel like a match made in heaven, with classic blends that convey the spirit of Spring, like Jasmine or Osmanthus Green Tea.
For today, I’ve selected a blend of Sencha, rose and raspberry, a refreshing and stylish gathering of friends. Inspired by the beauty industry legend Terry de Gunzburg, this is the joyful smile of an intelligent woman, between the timeless elegance of the rose and the playful fruitiness of the raspberry, the green tea develops its freshly cut grass aromas, to transport you straight into the arms of Spring.
“When I got to the library I came to a standstill – ah, the dear room, what happy times I have spent in it, rummaging amongst the books, making plans for my garden, building castles in the air, writing, dreaming, doing nothing”
— Elizabeth von Arnim, Elizabeth and Her German Garden
Book Review : Why Elizabeth and her German Garden is the Perfect Late-Winter Read
Elizabeth von Arnim feels like a secret well kept by the English country reader, who never felt the need to flood the world with this delicate ode to nature. It’s only in recent years that I have found several enthusiasts of her writings, which sparked my curiosity, so I began exploring her works starting with her debut novel, published in 1898, Elizabeth and her German Garden.
A semi-biographical story written as a diary, the novel gathers the thoughts and impressions of the protagonist, Elizabeth, during a year spent at her husband’s country estate in the German province of Pomerania. The old house is of little interest for our nature-loving Elizabeth, who takes on the challenge of remodelling the abandoned gardens, despite the scepticism of everyone around her.
The charm of the book resides in the almost naive (if only it weren’t so brutal) honesty of Elizabeth’s diary entries, where she confesses a love of solitude and the true discomfort that social conventions inflict on her. The times she lived in and the social status of her family imposed many constraints for the young woman, and through her confessions, the reader almost feels blessed with the autonomy of a life spent without maids, cooks or gardeners. She speaks so fondly of gardening in all of its aspects, be it planting, sourcing for different types of rose bushes, or simply envisioning a new landscape for her outdoors heaven, that you suddenly feel the urge to get out and start digging.
This is a book made for nature lovers, for readers in search of a bucolic escape, but mostly a book made for introverts, who shall rejoice in a novel that feels more truthful than many memoirs I’ve read. As for the novice green thumb, Elizabeth von Arnim will give you a boost of confidence, with all her acknowledgements of trial and error, yet never stressful relentlessness. It’s as if she were whispering in your ear : if I can do it, so can you !
From Balcony to Bloom : My Decision to Create a Cut Flower Garden
While I have gotten better at gardening and dealing with the useful bugs that visit my 4th floor balcony, I still don’t spend that much time lounging outside. The comfort of my couch is more enticing after a 9 to 5 job and 3 hours of daily commute, but what I absolutely love is having flower arrangements inside. The ottoman in my living room is always bragging with a large floral design, but what I also enjoy are the smaller touches of colour in unexpected places : zinnias in a jug next to the kitchen sink, snapdragons keeping guard in my windowless bathroom that seem to smile at me while I do my skincare routine, or delicate poppies on my bedside table so that the last thing I see at night when I turn off the lights is the magical beauty of nature.
That’s why I decided to dedicate almost all of my pots to cut flowers, making my balcony the paradise I imagine each year for my interior. And while the bigger pieces like my hydrangeas, phlox or rose bush are the same, my annuals are the playground of February. Here is where I’m looking for inspiration this year.
A Gardener’s Inspiration
Floral Art in a French Château
The château of Chaumont sur Loire is one of my favourite places in the Loire Valley, not only for the Renaissance rich heritage, but for the special place contemporary art has found in such a historic place.
One of their yearly events that I highly recommend is their week dedicated to The Art of Flower arranging, where floral artists transform the Château’s rooms into spectacular wonderlands. They have published a luxury art book in a bilingual edition that is an absolute delight for floral enthusiasts, with art photography that captures the poetry of the designs. This is an undeniable proof that floristry is truly an art. For the amateur florist, this is the perfect place to gather inspiration, especially when it’s time to sow and prepare your botanical selection for the season. I find that classic high street florists often use the same varieties in their ready made bouquets. And frankly, there’s no point in trying to grow perfect roses on my balcony. But what I cannot buy are usually what is considered a filler, less noble yet surprisingly rare to find blooms. Take some time to search your local library’s collection, or put a beautiful art book like this one on your wishlist for a future birthday.
Sarah Raven’s gardening Podcast
I’ve mentioned my 3 hours commute to work earlier, and while this is a less than ideal situation, I chose to look at it as an opportunity to read or to listen to a podcast, depending on my mood. This time of year, my podcast of choice is Sarah Raven’s Grow, Cook, Eat, Arrange.
English gardener, cook and writer Sarah Raven, is the host of a weekly show that combines practical guides with interviews of gardeners and florists, gathering such inspiring information for the novice and the experienced gardener alike. Her philosophy on floral arrangements is the epitome of English style, she says that florals indoors should look like exuberant relaxed wildness. What a dream to create this in a city flat.
Since I’m not following all year long with the same assiduity, I binge listen to her episodes of Spring and Summer this time of year, either to get myself back in the mood for seed starters and planned week-end maintenance, or to gather new ideas for annuals that might enjoy life in a spacious container, perched up on the 4th floor, where bees and butterflies will keep them good company.
What to Sow Now : My choice for 2025 Annuals
in Pots & Small Spaces
Poppy Amazing Grey (Papaver rhoeas Amazing Grey)
My passion for poppies should come as no surprise, and after two years of indulging in the pure elegance of the white Bridal Silk variety, I’ve come to the dark side for a new take on refinement. As far as I’m concerned, growing poppies for floral arrangements comes to two technical secrets : freezing your seeds inside an ice cube before planting, and searing the stems over a flame right when you cut them. Success is guaranteed !
Sweet Pea Spencer Old Time (Lathyrus odoratus Spencer Old Times)
Who can resist the intoxicating fragrance of sweet peas ? They feel as luxurious as winter truffles, and oftentimes almost as expensive, so growing them in a large pot on my balcony is slowly becoming a yearly tradition. After playing around with blue and burgundy varieties, I’m testing this creamy-white with paint strokes of light purple that should pair nicely with my baby pink hydrangea.
Wallflower Anytime White (Matthiola incana Anytime White)
If you should grow one single cut flower for yourself, it should be a crisp white one. Put a single stem in any type of recycled bottle, jam jar or champagne flute, and you’ll have yourself a most elegant contemporary decor. This year I’m testing the Anytime White wallflower, which I’ve seen in bouquets and have always found to be charming. Let’s see how she does in a pot.
Nigella Persian Jewel Mix (Nigella damascena Persian Jewels Mix)
If you’re a lace lover, then without a doubt, Nigellas are your flowers. I’ve had the Spanish variety called Delft Blue for two years in a row, so this year I’m switching to the more classic Damascus Nigella in a variety of soft cool tones that should look elegant next to a white rose, or simply on their own.
Dahlia Tanita
Last year’s Dahlias have been the most delightful gifts of my balcony, far into late Autumn, so I’m adding a new burgundy one, in anticipation for my warm colour palette preferences that time of year.
Dwarf Gladiolus Elvira & Charming Beauty (Gladiolus nanus Elvira, Charming Beauty)
Gladiolus feel like the giraffes of the flower world. No one can say they’re not pretty, yet you never quite know how to handle them. I’m hoping these two dwarf varieties will be more moderate in size, yet still give some height to my larger arrangements.
I would love to know if you’re a gardener or if you enjoy arranging flowers in your home. My list of books for nature enthusiasts and aspiring gardeners is ever expanding, and I would love to gather your recommendations for some inspiring reads.
Be sure to check the podcast episode of this blog post, the soundscape will bring Spring a little closer to you.
Until next time, enjoy your reading and your gardening !
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