ON AN AUTUMN DAY IN 1987, I embarked upon a full time career in flowers with the illustrious London company of Pulbrook & Gould. Since then the season has held a special nostalgia for me.
I remember bucketfuls of vivid dahlias and glistening bundles of blackberries being delivered on that first day. I also remember the agony of torn fingers as we removed all the blackberry thorns so that customers could arrange them painlessly.
I remember bucketfuls of vivid dahlias and glistening bundles of blackberries being delivered on that first day. I also remember the agony of torn fingers as we removed all the blackberry thorns so that customers could arrange them painlessly.
Later in the season came boxes of extraordi- nary, blistered, ornamental gourds and hard skinned but edible squashes and pumpkins. Branches of crabapples were delivered; their reds, yellows and oranges clashing spectacularly with branches of flaming leaves. The sharp blue of gentians and velvety purple of violets seemed to complement and complete all these vibrant autumnal colours so well.
In his new book, Shane Connolly, go-to floral designer of British royalty, showcases his appreciation of nature's botanicals through the seasons. As the leaves begin to fall, we excerpt his particular love for autumn and all it has to offer
