June
May and June seem to have passed in a blur. I’ve really been trying to slow things down where I can, taking moments to sit in the garden and reflect on how far things have come. It feels quite special to look back on the journey of building Chalk&Oak Flowers over the past two years: from those early days of setting up, to this first full season of being open to the public and selling what I grow.
Much of the time before May was spent quietly behind the scenes;planning, organising, and managing all the administrative parts of the business. Alongside that, of course, came the real heart of it all: sowing seeds, nurturing young seedlings, potting on, and finally planting out into the cut flower beds.
Then May arrived with a shift into events and gatherings, which has been such a joy. June has followed with a lovely run of small weddings and orders, milk churn arrangements, bouquets, buttonholes; each one slightly different, shaped by whatever is looking its best in the garden that week. It’s always especially rewarding working with couples who truly value seasonal, natural flowers and understand that each arrangement reflects the moment it was picked.
The weather, as ever, has kept things interesting. Here on the Kent Downs, we’ve had everything thrown at us: strong winds and heavy rain battering the garden for days, followed by a sudden heatwave, then more downpours, and now another stretch of heat. Despite it all, the garden seems to be holding its own. The mix of rain, shade, and the occasional thunderstorm has meant I’ve not had to intervene too much,just keeping an eye on younger plants that might be feeling the strain.
There’s been plenty of gentle tending though, especially deadheading to keep everything flowering for longer and to prevent plants from going to seed too quickly. The cosmos and sweet peas have just started to come into their own, and I’ve been enjoying the daily ritual of picking and tending them. It’s something my girls love to help with too, which makes it all the more special.
June really does feel like meadow month. I’ve been using a lot of native flowers in my work; field scabious, sorrel, daisies, bringing that soft, natural feel into the arrangements. It’s a style that feels very true to the season and the landscape around us.
A couple of weeks ago, I planted out the last of the plugs, which always feels like a milestone. Now there’s that sense of anticipation building, looking ahead to the next wave,cosmos in full swing, along with dahlias and snapdragons not far behind.
For now, it’s about enjoying this moment: the rhythm of the season, the burning orange sunsets,the unpredictability of the weather, and the quiet satisfaction of seeing everything slowly come together.
