High Summer & Heartfelt Blooms

As July draws to a close and the flower field hums with colour and life, we’ve been reflecting on just how full this midsummer season has been — from music festivals and weddings to working non-stop on the flower field as well as setting up community partnerships, the fields (and our days) are buzzing in every sense.

Back at the Llangollen

International Eisteddfod

To kickstart our month, we were honoured to provide flowers for the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod for the second year running. It’s such a special celebration of music, dance, and culture — and seeing our blooms in the heart of the Pavilion was a true joy.

The Eisteddfod team gave heartfelt thanks to all the growers and volunteers who brought it to life, and we were delighted to be part of a collective effort that included growers from across North Wales and beyond. We’re especially proud that 25% of the flowers used were grown right here in our region.

Ruthin Festival & Flower Crowns on the Square

We also had a brilliant time at Gŵyl Rhuthun Festival, back for a second year — and this time right on the square, close to the heart of the action. With live music floating through the air and a strong sense of community all around, we sold plenty of flower crowns and chatted with lots of familiar and new faces. We’re already looking forward to building on this year’s success at next year’s festival!

A Blooming Business

Our field is bursting with life, despite the recent UK heatwaves, which brought temperatures here hotter than parts of Morocco, Egypt, and Greece. Thanks to plenty of mulching (with our own sheep’s wool!) and careful watering, we’ve managed to keep everything in bloom.

What started as a scrubby patch of land in early 2024 is now a thriving small business — with rows of vibrant flowers growing between paths of wood chip, feeding directly into our local economy.

We’ve added more beds this year, which means a bigger variety of blooms for weddings, bouquet orders, local cafes, and our drying rafters. One of our favourite partnerships is with Leonardo’s Delicatessen in Ruthin, where our flowers add colour to the tables. We’d love to work with more local businesses on this — we provide arrangements at trade prices and collect jars to reuse and refill.

Wildlife & Pollinators

The wildlife on the field has been just as busy as we have. Bees, butterflies, beetles, and all manner of tiny creatures have been hard at work, and we make a point to pause and appreciate them.

While some commercial flower growers prefer to avoid insect pollination to keep blooms looking pristine, for us, the role of pollinators is essential — especially in a sustainable, organic setup like ours. These visitors may nibble or seed the odd flower, but they are part of the beauty and success of our ecosystem.

You might have seen Ellen transferring ladybird larvae to her feverfew on one of her reels this month — that’s just one example of the lengths she’ll go to keep those aphids at bay!

Weddings, Funerals & Bespoke Orders

This has been a rich and varied month for floral work. We’ve done so many weddings — from all-white elegance to soft pastels, to bold, vibrant colour. One even featured flowers displayed in country boots, which we adored. July really is an incredible month for bloom variety, and we love being able to walk the field, pick what’s best, and create arrangements that are truly one-of-a-kind.

We’ve also created a number of heartfelt funeral tributes this month, including a beautiful sunflower sheaf paired with deep purples and blues. There’s something very moving about the warmth and symbolism of a sunflower for a final farewell.

Dried Flowers & Seasonal Gifts

Yes, a few blooms inevitably pass their fresh-cut peak before we can use them — but nothing goes to waste. We already have rafters hung with drying flowers, destined for our everlasting arrangements in the off-season.

We’ve also launched a new £15 gift bundle: a seasonal flower jam jar and luxury Coco Pzazz chocolate, a favourite across artisan shops in Wales. It’s the perfect treat for a loved one — thoughtful, special, and easy on the budget. Perfect for birthdays, thank-yous, or just because.

Upcoming Events

21 September — Autumn Sowing Workshop at The Source

10am–4pm | LlangynhafalWe’ll be back at The Source for our Autumn Hardy Annuals Workshop — focusing on planting for early spring blooms. A full day of hands-on sowing, expert tips, and delicious food in a beautiful setting.🎟️ Book here

25 September — Evening Bouquet Workshop at The Ivy Hair Club

6:30–8:30pm | The Ivy Hair Club, MoldJoin us for a relaxed evening of floristry in a peaceful, plant-filled salon. You'll create your own hand-tied bouquet with guidance from Ellen, and hear more about sustainable flower farming. Hosted in collaboration with Caroline at The Ivy, a stylist and Plastic-Free Champion committed to low-impact beauty.£40 per person — very limited spaces🎟️ Book here

12 August — Blooms & Brunch at Nantclwyd y Dre

11am–3pm | Nantclwyd y Dre, RuthinSpend the day in the serene gardens of Ruthin’s oldest house. Start with a hand-tied bouquet workshop using flowers freshly cut from our farm, followed by a gorgeous afternoon tea from The Sorbus Tree. Includes access to explore the historic house and grounds, all materials, and a truly memorable experience.Adult: £60 | Duo: £100 | Child (10+): £30🎟️ Book here

Garden Tasks for the coming month…

A few simple tasks to keep the flowers coming and prep for seasons ahead:

• Deadhead and pick regularly to encourage more blooms

• Start ordering seeds for autumn sowing (think calendula, scabious, ammi, larkspur)

• Collect seed from early self-sowers like poppies and nigella

• Mulch and water deeply, especially new plantings

• Tidy spent plants, but leave some seed heads for birds or drying

Flower of the Month

Double-Flowered Snapdragon, a hardworking beauty — these frilly snapdragons flower like mad, last for ages, and never fail to turn heads.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you as always for reading and supporting what we do. July has been rich in community and creativity — and there’s still plenty more blooming on the horizon.

Love,

Firth Flock Flowers