In a flower shop far, far away.

Nicola ( bride to be ) was a true delight. She would fly in to the shop, dash off her wedding flower spec and dash out again. A delightful, excitable lady.

When we got round to chatting properly, I got very excited too.

Her wedding flowers were to include vintage brooches, sparkles, lots more sparkles, gorgeous colour selections and Star Wars Lego figurines. For real.

I had to ask Mr Mole to give me a quick run down on the familial complexities of the films in order to assign correct figurine to correct flower requirement.

Me: So, obviously Princess Leia is the bride right?
Mr Mole: yes.
Me: then Luke Skywalker will be the groom then?
Mr Mole : no, dumbass, he was her brother.
Me: really? I thought he was the hero?
Mr Mole: well, yeah he was but Hans Solo was after Princess Leia.
Me: Indiana Jones?
Mr Mole: no, Hans Solo....and Darth Vadar was their father.
Me: eeeeew, really?
Mr Mole: i think Yoda would be the Best Man because he gave them advice.
Me: ok, but in this wedding the Best Man is a woman.
Mr Mole: Siiiiigh. i dunno. Can I stop listening now?

Anyway, here are the pics of some of the most beautiful bouquets we have had the pleasure to design and create. May the force be with you.

A trip down memory lane for Miss Mole.

Maybe it's because I am a May child but today's flower delivery sent me down memory lane head first. Some happy memories. Some just memories.

But all these flowers are so nostalgic for me as I am sure they are for so many.

Apple blossom - I used to nick massive bunches from the Rec on my way home from school. Anyone who grew up in a suburb will probably know a) municipal planting demands blossoming trees to keep up the spirits of the public b) a Rec is where all school kids gather after school as in ' you going down the Rec? '

Sweet Williams - I never had any money as a child and was a terrible shop lifter. Stuff from Woolworths ( along with the rest of my school ), stuff from Mr Stubbins the newsagent and flowers from outside the greengrocers. Mum never asked and I never told her where they came from.

Lilac - from my nan's garden. On my way out. ' bye Nana, see you soon ' as my grubby hands would be snapping off branches.

I was little tyke. Part feral child. I finally got caught nicking rabbit food from the pet shop. The shop owner scared me s**tless. I stopped after that.

Honest Guv'nor....

See you on the other side.

I bang on a lot about weddings, weddings, weddings.

But what about the other side of life that we don't openly speak of as a nation?

Death.

We undertake a lot of funeral work as part of a professional florists' repertoire. Fair enough, I will never be able to compete with supermarkets on price for bunches of flowers. And rightly so. That is because the flowers we sell are unusual, bespoke and far better quality. It's just not the same ball game.

But I am hoping there is an area that we do excel in, amongst others and that is heartfelt bespoke funeral flowers. We don't shout about it as that would appear gauche. But we should.

From a simple tied sheaf of wildflowers to an elaborate full length casket spray, garlands, wreaths, letters, we have undertaken countless funeral orders. We have decorated the venue where a memorial service has taken place and provided flowers for ceremonies that celebrate the loved one's life and achievements.

We are specialists in biodegradable funeral tributes wholly suitable for green burials in natural burial grounds as well as being specialists in the more traditional tributes. Let us tailor a tribute to incorporate sentimental flowers and personal memories as a fond and fitting farewell.

Feeling the love

Gentlemen of Brighton......congratulations.

The aftermath stories from flower shops post Valentines day have been done to death so I will keep it short.

But I will say hats off to numerous gents who got married with us and were genius enough to ask us to create a bouquet based on their wedding flowers. The use of technology is to be applauded. I have never seen so many Iphones being whipped out of pockets.

And the gents that knew their sweethearts liked wild flowers.

And the gents that went all out old fashioned romance with The Big Dozen.

And the gents that drove to us especially from miles away because they know their ladies love our flowers.

And the gents that had the foresight to pre order.

Thank you, thank you. Long may love continue to flourish.

Lightweight.

I totally caved today. Normally I'm in the 'stop whingeing and put another jumper on' camp but a combo of extreme lethargy and post Christmas blues got me and got me good.

Snow. I do love it. Makes me go rushing out to buy a chicken and make soup. Always.

I shut the shop and went home.

But my, it was pretty.

Fallow time.

Hello all.

How are we? It's a little uninspiring to say the least.

Is it just me or is everyone plagued by sales people in January?

Would you like to advertise with us?
Would you like to change your broadband?
Would you like to do a wedding fair?
Wanna sign to this?
Wanna sign up to that?

It is so tiresome. I delighted that there are people out there with more mettle, energy, goals to attain, targets to reach than me but please, take it elsewhere. My energies are at a bit of ebb.

Moan over.

I am going to leave you with some pretty Spring pictures to soothe, just in case the snow comes and scuppers everything. Hang in there.