What to do in London on a Saturday morning?
The obvious is to enjoy a good sleep in, but that’s not my plan.
Saturday morning early and I’m at New Covent Garden buying flowers for the week ahead.
Home, wherever it may be, doesn’t feel like home to me without a bloom or two.
The beauty of New Covent Garden on a Saturday morning is that it is more relaxed and not quite as early a start as Monday to Friday. Arrive at 7:30 or 8:00 am and there is still plenty to be bought.
The market in SW8, on the southside of the Thames, is still one of the best places to buy cut flowers, garden plants, vases, candles, ribbons and papers.
After several visits you get to know who has what and which vendors buy to your taste. I came home with french tulips and cymbidium orchid stems.
Why I am having a crush on cymbidiums, I have no idea. Ten years ago I would have rather put cut grass in a vase than a “cym”.
Time and taste moves on.
My love affair with flowers and flower arranging started when I was at university. I had a part time position working in a florist and I adored every moment of those hours stripping roses, creating bridal bouquets and simple mixed bunches.
My nails may never have been perfect but I didn’t care. Working with flowers was the most blisssful job.
I learned all about vases, the heights and neck sizes for each variety of bloom, it’s one of the reasons I am always out at New Covent Garden, the selection of vases is well worth the early morning wake up call.
I became a convert to the glass vase at home in Provence as I loved the contrast of modern placed alongside or on our older pieces.
The glass vase collection is made up of varying sizes of squares, columns, hurricanes and trumpet shapes. These designs work well for most types of flowers. Hurricanes and tulips, hyacinths and squares, amaryllis and columns, trumpets and a single hydrangea, to name but a few. Afterwards, adding the more decorative jugs and bowls to a collection provides a unique touch and personality to floral arrangements.
square // column // hurricane // trumpet
I have promised myself time and again, no more vases, no more schlepping them between countries.
Yes, I am still carrying them between London and Provence on a regular basis.
Like my shoes and handbag policy, there can never be too many vases… xv
New Covent Garden
London SW8
4am – 10 am Monday to Saturday
inside
c best (door 5) for vases, candles and accessories // quality plants (door 3) for potted orchids and buxus // zest flowers (stand Q17) for tulips, roses and hydrangeas
image nicolette camille floral design
