Flowers

Flowers in the garden and on the plate, without fuss.

Roses, elderflowers, violets, nasturtiums — flowers have practical uses that we simply stopped passing on. Here we put them back into practice: drying, syrups, cooking, home cosmetics. No folklore, just method.

Right now in the garden

October — bulbs, planting and tucking in

This month's tasks

Planting spring bulbs Planting perennials Dividing perennials Sowing poppies and nigella Lifting dahlias after the first frost Bringing tender plants in Mulching beds Saving the last seeds

Read in this notebook

Flowers articles

Flowers

If the Wild Pansy Has Three Colours, Blame Cupid

A missed arrow from Cupid and a love potion in Shakespeare: the legend behind the three colours of Viola tricolor.

Flowers

Lilies: The Bouquet That's Out to Get Your Cat

Pollen, leaves, vase water: for a cat, every part of a lily is toxic. Why it's so serious, and what to do after contact.

Flowers

The Capitulare de Villis: When Charlemagne Decided What Would Grow in the Gardens

94 plants, 16 fruit trees, 5 fibre and dye plants, and above all why Carolingian power cared about writing down what should grow.

Flowers

Picking and Drying Flowers: Simple Methods to Preserve Them All Year

Linden, chamomile, rose, elderflower… Traditional methods for harvesting and drying flowers to use in teas, syrups and desserts.

Flowers

To Attract Butterflies, You Have to Accept Caterpillars

Host plants, nectar flowers, the too-tidy garden: understanding the full cycle to welcome butterflies for good.

Flowers

The Secret to a Year-Round Flowering Border Isn't the Number of Flowers

Spring, summer, autumn: how to spread flowering times so the border stays interesting all season long.

Flowers

Edible Flowers: Far More Than Decoration

Nasturtium, borage, violet, rose, lavender: edible flowers have a real place in the kitchen. Flavours, uses, recipes and how to grow them.

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Flowers

How to Make Flower Ice Cubes

How to make flower ice cubes with garden flowers: borage, pansy, violet, rose petals. Techniques, tips for clearer ice and summer drink ideas.

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Flowers

Don't Toss Rhubarb Leaves — Turn Them Into a Rose Bush Spray

Don't toss your rhubarb leaves. Here's how to brew a homemade spray traditionally used against aphids on roses.

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Flowers in the garden and on the plate, without fuss.

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