It is with great pleasure that we announce the forthcoming publication of our first book: Naturalistic Flowers: A Year of Plants, Places and People. This was a memorable year of discovery, delight and spontaneity. We hit the road together, Jess with her camera, Ally with bucket and snips. We journeyed through the seasons to twelve different locations, making and shooting arrangements on site and exploring the idea of floral design with a sense of place. Every step of the way we sought to imbue the pages with a sense of adventure and the freedom that comes from looking at the world through the lens of the flower arranger. Everywhere we went we looked closely at the scenery and at what was growing, discovering hundreds of extraordinary and exquisite plants, both wild and cultivated.

Our dream for this book is that it will inspire readers to reconnect with the natural world as urgently and as frequently as possible. That it will find those in need of solace and the healing power of beauty, of working with their hands, of noticing the miraculous in the everyday. We hope that it will encourage some who have not done so yet to plant a seed, to reach for a vase or a camera, to take a step in the direction of tenderness and optimism.

Published by Thames & Hudson on 16 April in the UK and already available in the US, you can source your copy from Bookshop.org in the UK or US and receive 15% off the RRP using code AESME15 until 15 April.

ORDER YOUR COPY HERE

In our latest online course we share our tried-and-tested methods and techniques for making show-stopping floral scenery for events. You'll discover which vessels and mechanics to use, how to factor in water sources, ways to create height, volume and drama, and most importantly, how to keep it simple and safe with maximum impact.

"Scaling up can be daunting - the size and quantity of materials, the variability of the weather, the structure, safety and logistics - are all factors that require greater consideration when designing an installation than a small vase or bouquet of flowers. But there are many overlaps, too, and installation work does not necessarily need to be complicated - they are often most effective when the design is kept simple…" An Introduction to Installations

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