Flower powered

I gathered this rather random bunch of silver and blue bits and pieces from my garden today: it's amazing how easy it is to make up a few vases from the stuff growing in your back garden. And, given the ethical minefield that is the cut flower trade, it's a better (and free!) way to brighten up your house, particularly in the summer. Even the horribly invasive and much-hated purple Tradescantia ends up radiant against the white background of my bathroom.

Alternatively, these English flower bouquets from the ever-excellent Wiggly Wigglers look lovely.

But given that I had another seed-buying splurge at the weekend,  it's a good job I am getting flowers for free. But, you see, I really did need some lollo rossa lettuce, and I rather fancied growing some lovage, and another variety of beetroot was just staring me in the face, and ... well, yes, like any other addict, I can think of a lot of excuses for my compulsion to buy seeds. In my defence, they do get used and provide my household with lovely fresh produce. And how much does the average seed packet cost? A pound or two - what can you buy for that sort of money these days - a downpayment on a box of Belgian chocolates?

I am always seeking out new seed companies (see the list on the left-hand column) but I always end up coming back to my old favourite, the Organic Gardening Catalogue, not least because I get a 10% discount as an HDRA member. If anyone has any more good seeds sources to add to the list, please let me know.

Comments

[Esther Regenwetter]

Hi Jane,
Congratulations on your brilliant blog.
My favourite seed supplier is the Organic Gardening Catalogue too. However, I have another seed supplier that I love: Suffolk Herbs (http://suffolkherbs.com/). They're the organic arm of Kings Seeds.

They are more expensive than OGC for seed potatoes, but cheaper for most other things. Best buy from them is their Texsel Greens (Abyssinian cabbage), which they call "Texel Greens", at 89p. They can't spell to save their lives (their catalogue could do with a proofreader), their website uses frames and has a rubbish UI (and is down at the time of writing!), but their range of organic seeds is enormous, and the service is truly excellent.

Esther

[Jane Perrone]

You're absolutely right Esther, I have been meaning to add Suffolk Herbs to my bookmarks for some time now. I have got their catalogue for several years and perhaps I'll take the plunge after your recommendation! Thanks for the compliments about the blog.

[Andrew Spark]

Very nice blogs about flowers.

[Andrew Spark]

What a pleasant surprise to stumble upon this website. I love it. I will return again!