Flowers Wedding Valentines

Flower Design Staff Training with New York Florist Mentor Tim Huckerbee

We had a fantastic day last week with the amazing Tim Huckerbee, directly from New York via Glasgow where he'd done a seminar for Metz, if you are a florist reading this blog, believe me you need him in your life!

The main thrust of our training was really about realising & managing customer expectation.

Our much valued customers regularly ask for a fantastic amazing, huge and showy hand tied bouquet for £20 the same £20 they've paid for the past 20 years, which to be fair used to buy them a big showy hand tie but now buys a very beautiful small handtie great for a desk or side table but not a design that could be described as showy. So Tim taught us how to describe simply and to sell appropriately resulting in much, much happier customers, who could ask for more?

So we hand picked from our Flower Design team our more senior florists for this very special training day; Emma, Nigel (From Metz), Gemma, Jason, Vicki, Rachel, Olivia, Shirl & Tim Huckerbee

Oh yes and there's no show without punch!

Nigel from Metz organized the day for us acting as "go between", picking him up from the train station and delivering him back afterwards, Metz very generously covered Tim's travel expenses which really helped us to be able manage the cost of the training (there are many hidden benefits to buying from Metz!)

Following a fabulous days training we all went to Jali for a delicious Indian Banquet

We had lots of time to discuss the days events in a very relaxed environment which really helped us all to remember the process.

And what a glorious sunset on Blackpool Promenade

The results have been incredible, we've had more calls, emails and cards from super satisfied clients that we ever had done before, so huge thanks to Tim, Nigel and all the team at Metz and roll on September when Tim's back with us.

Should any one want information about booking Tim Huckerbee, just email Nigel, nigelb@metz.com

Just a Few Flowers Around the House....

in Flower Design House decorating

A fabulous vase of Delphiniums, Hydrangeas and Arum lilies on the entrance table in the hall

There were a few delicate vases strategically placed on occasional tables

And goldfish bowls of Darcey Roses and Hydrangeas

All for one of our favourite couples Vic & Anne-Marie

A Little Preview of Nicola & Michael McVeigh's Great Hall at Mains Wedding Yesterday

in Colour Pink and Purple,Colour Purple

Nicola carried a bouquet of Peonies, Roses & Sweet Peas in hot pink, Deep Purple & Ivory

Huge Congratulations to the new Mr & Mrs McVeigh

The Ceremony Vases of fresh Delphiniums, Hydrangeas and Peonies

Bridesmaids bouquets of Roses, Sweet Peas and Peonies

The full and fabulous flower story will be right here on Monday

Afternoon Tea Demonstration at Lytham Hall

in Caterer Rowley's Catering,Flower Design Afternoon Tea,Flower Design Demonstrations,Venue Lytham Hall Afternoon Tea

This was a superb event booked in it's entirety by the lovely ladies of "Arnold School Ladies Luncheon Club" many, many months ago.

At the time of booking none of us knew that it would fall on such an important day in England's bid to win the World Cup.

But as many of you wonderful blog readers and afternoon tea attenders will know we usually have a spectacular team of highly trained, super talented, Chefs, Entertainers & Photographers namely; Paul Rowley, Howard Wing & Jonny Draper amongst our number, amazingly for a Wednesday afternoon they all had last minute wedding bookings to attend to, I was assured on all three counts that it had nothing what so ever to do with the football!

But every fairy story has to have it's "Villains" (Aformentioned) and its "Heroes" now my wonderful and completely brilliant heroes of the day were Jason & Ben, these two are always totally reliable, they have never ever let me down and moreover they always exceed my expectations, and they were both prepared to miss the England match for the greater good of Arnold School Ladies Luncheon, and for that I am immensley grateful! However I'm not completely convinced by their efforts at singing! I'd also like to mention how wonderful it was of Chris Astbury from the Astbury Studio in Poulton to send a representative!

Ben just before he burst into song and the lovely Lisa Drazen & I

One of my all time favourite ladies Tricia Allen

The event was a total sell out and as you can see the tables were dressed with Red & White football shaped posies and the most incredible "Barber Shop" Style "a la Ben" napkins in support of our English Football Team

So many gorgeous ladies, so much Champagne and a plethora of fabulous fresh flowers

The gorgeous Joan Stott

Spectacular Heliconias and luscious English Garden Flowers

So my very first design, a delicious confection in lemon and ivory of Hydrangeas, English Garden Roses, Dill, Phlox, Astilbe, Honesty, Hosta, Peonies and Aconitum.

And just how gorgeous are these lovely lemon Peonies

The menu looked fabulous

Red Heliconia

The savouries were delicious

Then onto an Orchid fountain

I'd used Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium and Vanda Orchids

Then Aqua Roses and Antirhinnums in a Martini Vase

Alliums & Venus Fly Traps

The delicious cakes and pastries wer

e served by the equally lovely Jonny

The finale completed to coincide with England's Goal!

This is my brand new friend Kitty Astbury the very glamarous mum of photographer Chris Astbury

This lovely lady won the moss football boots and floral football

Mrs Benson

The flowers were all raffled complete with their containers with all proceeds being split between Trinity Hospice and Elizabeth Gomm's "Happy House" Charity.