Sunshine, Seedlings and Stunning Wedding Flowers
- Firth Flock Flowers
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
June 2026 Update from the Flower Field
June has been one of those months that begins quietly and then suddenly gathers pace. Warm days, soft sunshine and just enough early rain made the whole field wake up at once — and before we knew it, everything was growing, blooming, stretching and needing immediate attention, all at once.
It’s been beautiful.
It’s been busy.
And it’s been full of the small, grounding moments that remind me why I love this work.
Life on the Field: When Everything Flowers at Once
Early June brought those gentle “raindrops‑on‑roses” days — the kind where the whole field seems to breathe. But with that came the usual June rush: seedlings waiting to go in, weeds racing ahead, watering that never ends, and flowers opening faster than we can cut them.
Many blooms were left for the bees simply because there weren’t enough hours in the day to cut and condition and try to sell them.
And yes, I did briefly wonder whether sleep is optional.
We’ve expanded more of the ¼‑acre plot again this year, which means more planting, more watering, more weeding… and more gratitude for Bethan, who has been working alongside me under the hot sun.
British Flowers Week — Why Seasonal Flowers Matter
British Flowers Week arrived just as the field was shifting into summer. Many of this year’s flowers are still small seedlings, but it felt fantastic to look back at photos from 2025 and hope for the same abundance again.
Right now, we’re nurturing the next generation: trays of seedlings moving into the field, needing constant watering, care and protection from the elements (and the bugs).
We’ve noticed a real shift in recent years toward buying more consciously. More people are thinking about where their flowers, food and even clothes come from — the chemicals used, the impact on health, and the working conditions of the people growing and making these things on the other side of the world.
We’re always happy to celebrate British flowers, even in difficult economic times when many people are choosing necessities over luxuries. But if you buy fewer flowers and buy them more consciously, that’s a huge step forward. Most people can’t afford to buy everything organic or choose linen and organic cotton every time — but small changes matter. A capsule wardrobe, buying seasonal food, preserving and fermenting when produce is abundant, or treating yourself to a monthly bouquet instead of a weekly supermarket bunch… it all helps farmers like us.
We’d also love to highlight local makers and producers in future newsletters and on social media. We’ll be asking for suggestions on Facebook this month so we can shine a little light on sustainable, conscious businesses in our community.
Freshly cut snapdragons from @limagardenswales for one of our upcoming weddings
A Kind Spotlight from NFU Mutual
A lovely surprise this month was being featured by NFU Mutual Ruthin & Dolgellau for British Flowers Week. They reached out to share a little about what we do here — our commitment to British-grown flowers, our seasonal approach, and the joy of working with what’s growing right now.
It was a gentle boost in the middle of a very busy month, and we’re grateful for it.
Wedding Inspiration: Wildflower Whimsy with a Citrus Twist
This June wedding had the loveliest brief — a wildflower‑inspired, whimsical style with natural movement, soft texture and a relaxed, garden‑gathered feel. The colour palette was mostly white, lemon yellow and green, with a hint of pale pink. The bridesmaids wore lemon‑yellow dresses, and their bouquets were kept simple and elegant with white, single‑variety stems.
The day before the wedding, the couple collected DIY buckets from the farm in Llanfair DC. On the morning itself, we delivered the bouquets, a little flower collar for the dog, and the milk churn arrangements to the church in Cilcain.
Inside the venue at Pentre Mawr, the couple asked us to add lemons into the arrangements. We fixed them onto little sticks and tucked them into the white flowers, and the whole room instantly felt brighter and more joyful. Their own décor was incredible too — honestly the best we’ve ever seen at that venue. They transformed the big white marquee so beautifully; even simple touches like lemon‑yellow ribbons hanging on bunting made the whole space feel fresh, joyful and completely theirs.
We set up bud vases and a long, low arrangement for the top table, and moved the milk churns from the church to the venue so they could be enjoyed for the rest of the day.
A gentle, elegant wedding with a playful citrus twist — full of personality, and very much their vision.
There are no rules with weddings; it’s your day, and your chance to be playful.
Wedding Inspiration: A First Visit to Grange Barn
We also flowered a wedding at Grange Barn at the end of May. The couple wanted a wildflower‑inspired, pastel palette with soft movement, gentle texture and a rustic feel to suit the barn. Their colours included pale pinks, soft blues, apricot, muted greens, pale yellow and lilac, all blended in a calm, romantic way.
The flowers were a celebration of early‑summer abundance, using whatever was at its best that week — peonies, garden roses, rambling roses, foxgloves, larkspur, delphinium, nigella, cornflowers, phacelia, linaria, sweet rocket, ranunculus, anemones, tulips, herbs and soft foliage. Light, airy and full of gentle colour, the arrangements had that natural, gathered‑from‑the‑garden feel the couple loved.
Why We Use Wool Mulch — A Little Circular Magic
We’re often asked why we use sheep wool as mulch, and the truth is, it’s one of the most natural, circular things we do on the field. Most of the wool comes from our own flock — Welsh Black Mountain sheep and the little pet lambs we take in each year — and it feels right to return it to the soil.
Wool is a waste product for many farmers now. Prices have dropped so low that it often costs more to shear a sheep than the fleece is worth. So using it on the field gives it a purpose again, and it keeps the whole process local and circular.
It’s also surprisingly brilliant stuff:
• it suppresses weeds
• it holds moisture (a blessing in this heat)
• it breaks down slowly, feeding the soil with gentle, slow‑release nutrients
• it insulates roots from heat and cold
• and slugs strongly dislike it
We usually lay it down in spring, once the soil has warmed a little, and top it up through the season as needed. Thanks to the wonderful local breeders who answered our call for black wool this month, we’ve been able to mulch more of the field than ever.
Looking Ahead: Gŵyl Rhuthun — 4th July
Ruthin Festival is nearly here, and we’ll have a stall on the square selling our dried flower crowns. Bethan and Jenny will be running the stall on the day, and we’re really looking forward to being part of the celebrations again.
We’re sharing a lovely collage from last year, kindly put together by Alannette Photography, capturing so many happy faces in their crowns. It’s always such a joyful event, and we can’t wait to bring a bit of colour to the square once more.
Heatwave at the End of the Month
June has finished with a full‑on heatwave — record‑breaking temperatures that have made life on the field incredibly challenging.
Trying to get seedlings established with almost no water has been tough. The soil dries instantly, and even with constant care, some plants simply can’t cope. It’s been a month of early mornings, late evenings and doing everything we can to keep the field alive.
The heat has also meant we’ve had to pause our postal flowers. We would never send anything out unless it arrived looking its absolute best, and in this weather, that simply isn’t guaranteed.
To be sure, we sent out a batch of test bouquets to friends and family at our own expense — just to see how they survived the journey. How did they do? We’ll share more once we’ve gathered feedback.
It’s disappointing, of course, but quality always comes first. We’ll persevere — as we always do. The weather will break, the field will recover, and the flowers will find their rhythm again.
With muddy hands and hopeful hearts,
Ellen
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