The Flowerfield

I studied Landscape-architecture in Berlin and worked as a consultant for Carlow County Council and private clients. In 2011 I started to grow flowers for cutting. From March to October I sell my flowers at farmers markets and online.

From the beginning, I decided not to fight the Irish climate but to embrace it. I chose traditional cottage garden flowers that love the cool climate. Customers are constantly amazed at how many varieties can be grown successfully here in Ireland no matter what the summer is like. Slowly grown outside flowers develop maximum colour and scent and have a much better vase life. My customers often come back with reports that last week’s flowers are still perfect. Many tell me that they had stopped buying flowers all together because they were disappointed with the vase life and that they are delighted to have found my flowers.

My arrangements are made to the customers wishes right in front of them. I enjoy this process. Some days everybody seems to look for large bouquets, other days people are asking for small posies. Either way, they are getting a generous, lush, and beautiful, fresh bunch of flowers.

I also arrange flowers weekly for ‘The Brook Lodge Hotel’ and the organic restaurant ‘The Strawberry Tree’ in Macreddin village. There I try to capture the essence of what is happening seasonally in nature. Apart from my organically grown (although not certified) flowers, I forage the hedgerows surrounding our flower farm. Even in the depth of winter, there will be interesting branches, seed heads, and grasses for display.

For Autumn and Christmas, I make seasonal wreaths using flowers and berries I dried throughout the year. My German background comes into play here and of course, I do flowers for weddings and special occasions and to order.