Seasonal Flowers in March – What’s Flowering Now at Featherstone Flowers
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
As the weather finally begins to turn from a very grey winter, we see spring exploding all around us. There is a different atmosphere here at Featherstone Flowers among the team — a little panic as we try to keep up with the myriad of jobs on the field, and real delight as the birdsong rises to a roar in the mornings.
The joy of harvesting fresh green material and our own flowers from the field is catching, and we find ourselves creating arrangements simply for the sheer pleasure of it. From the field we are now cutting hellebores, muscari, daffodils, narcissi, leucojeum, tulips, viola and copious amounts of anemones, along with the first few stems of orlaya from the polytunnel.
Over the years we have gradually increased the number of anemone varieties we grow, and now have a wonderful range of colours. There are soft blush pinks, deep maroons and beautifully frilled double forms, alongside the brightest blues which produce giant flowers.
Spring Foliage and Branches Available in March
There is also a short moment in early spring when foliage can be used just as it bursts through, while the leaves are still small and full of life. Later in the season, when the growth becomes soft and lush, many of these stems cannot cope with being cut and will wilt almost immediately. Right now, however, this fresh growth in its vivid spring colours is perfect.
From the shrubs in our field we cut the bright oranges of Spiraea 'Goldflame', the silvery Brachyglottis 'Sunshine' - perfect for cutting all year round, the first few raspberry stems, rosemary and eucalyptus.
Blossom and Branches from the Hedgerows
From the hedgerows, where we have permission to forage, we are gathering hazel just as the buds begin to open, along with hawthorn, cherry blossom and horse chestnut.
Alongside what we grow ourselves, we are also fortunate to work with several exceptional glasshouse growers here in England who supply flowers throughout the year. At the moment they are producing a beautiful range of tulips, ranunculus, alstroemeria, snapdragons and narcissi which sit perfectly alongside the flowers from our own field.
They also provide a wider range of foliage — something that is particularly useful for us as our alkaline soil means there are certain plants we cannot grow easily here, including pieris, skimmia and camellia.
All of these early spring flowers and foliage are finding their way into our bouquets and arrangements here at the barn. March is a particularly exciting moment in the flower field, as new varieties appear almost week by week and the mix of stems changes constantly. For weddings and events taking place at this time of year, it means a beautiful palette of narcissi, tulips, anemones and fresh spring foliage — all with the lightness and movement that truly marks the arrival of the season.
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