Gathered for Autumn
The light shifts
Temperatures slide from the morning to the afternoon.
And then one morning, you notice it.
The garden has changed.
The dahlias are still going, but there are fewer of them. The hydrangeas have started to turn. Seed heads are appearing where flowers once were, and the whole place has taken on those slightly muddier, richer colours that seem to arrive without asking permission.
There is still colour to cut. Flowers to bring into the studio. But the feeling has changed.
Summer is no longer quite in charge.
And somewhere amongst all of that, autumn is standing in front of it all.
For the Months Ahead
The hedgerow has its own rhythm at this time of year. Leaves deepen, berries appear, seed heads ripen.
A few stems here. A branch there. Something slightly wonky, not for a florist's bucket but perfect for the kitchen table. Hydrangeas, perfect.
The lights go on earlier, a candle is chosen almost without thinking, and its scent settles into the room.
Something woody, green, smoky or warm.
The little rituals of the season begin to change.
And a little of autumn comes home with us.
A small collection of sweet peas, selected from those I grow each year at the potager.
Each set contains four packets, chosen to bring together a mix of colour, scent and form. The varieties change through the season, but all are selected for their beauty and fragrance in the garden and the vase.
Sweet peas are among the first flowers I look forward to each year, weaving through the roses and stocks as summer begins.
Included are four seed packets, ready to sow and grow in your own garden.
A deeply grounding soy wax candle made with essential oils, inspired by the warmth and shelter of a simple garden bothy.
Bothy brings together dry cedarwood and fresh rosemary with warm spice, earthy woods and a restrained trace of smoke. The blend is softened with birch, nutmeg, black pepper, vetiver and cade, creating a rich, woody scent with a quiet, weathered character.
Hand-poured in small batches by The Wild Potager Co., each candle is made with soy wax and essential oils, inspired by places and moments in the landscape.
200g
Burn time: 35hrs
*All candles are made to order, please allow an added 2/3 working days to posting timings.
Hand poured in Newcastle upon tyne.
Caution: Never leave a burning candle unattended. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Please do not burn on a surface or near anything that could catch fire. We always recommend burning the candle for 2/3hrs at a time, ensure candle is extinguished properly before leaving unattended.
A handmade autumn wreath gathered from the garden, with fresh hydrangeas, sedum, bay, marjoram and seasonal foliage arranged in soft, muted tones.
Made with fresh materials that will gradually dry in place, the wreath changes gently over time as the flowers and foliage lose their colour and take on the softer, faded tones of autumn.
Loosely gathered and naturally shaped, each wreath has its own mix of foliage, flowers and also textures from selected dried material, reflecting what is growing and available in the garden at the time.
A small, gathered posy of dried flowers, seedheads and foraged finds, made in the soft, faded colours of autumn.
Blush, cream, ochre and warm natural tones come together with little unexpected details throughout. Each posy is made by hand, using a changing mix of flowers and seasonal stems, so no two are quite the same.
The flowers are allowed to fall, lean and move rather than being arranged into a perfect shape. Each one is a little collection of what was grown, gathered, dried and saved from the season.
Made to bring a little of the garden indoors, the Autumn Posy looks lovely tucked into a small jug, resting on a shelf or simply gathered together with a few others.
Add the Hanging Posy Basket, a small woven basket with a looped handle, made for displaying dried flowers and seasonal stems.
Each posy is unique and will vary slightly from the photographs.
Potager to Studio
Autumn has one last great show of itself.
The garden is still giving, but the days are shortening and everything is beginning to slow. The garden seems to know that its time is changing, even when there is still more to gather.
The potager pickings make their way into the studio and become something else.
Wreaths take shape. Flowers are gathered for drying. Bowls and urns begin to fill. Seed heads, stems and foliage find their way into arrangements, onto shelves and into corners that seem to have been waiting for them.
Create A Christmas Wreath
Botanical Workshops for all Seasons.