Herbarium - a floral love story

It's June and on these long and light days my garden is a colour palette of different shades of green, mauves, pinks and whites. With here and there a sparkle of golden and blue. There's the sweet perfume of roses, lavender and honeysuckle when I'm sitting in the evening to read and slow down.

It all looks so abundantly and vibrant as if the garden too, is enjoying the coming of summer with these endless days of sun and warmth.

I'm so delighted with all these lovely colours and various shapes of flower petals and leaves. The garden never looks the same and changes by every day or year that passes.

‘Flowers supply our souls with the beauty that's necessary to keep our thoughts in tune with nature.'

Jim G. Brown

I wish I could capture tiny pieces of its beauty in bottles, jars and domes. Not only like with the porcelain work I make, but the real stuff.

But there's this never ending natural cycle of growth and decay. All this glorious beauty never lasts. It only invites us to look closely and marvel in its temporary beauty. To not take it for granted.

Will you join me for a little walk in my garden where we can gather flowers?

Here's the vegetable garden and my new green house made by my husband. I'm so happy with it and it's filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, lettuce and melons (for now).

I always have as many flowers as possible between my vegetables.They keep the soil healthy, provide pollen for the bees, add to the biodiversity and just look pretty!

Two new raised veggie beds (also made by my husband) under the apple trees where garlic, fennel, red beet, parsnip are growing. On the right side is the bed for the pumpkins and zucchinis.

The poppies have been popped up everywhere and perfectly match with all the other flowers, just the way I like it! Not do I only love their soft pink colour and delicate petals but also the seedpods are just lovely.

However, there's simple way to treasure the garden's beauty a little while longer… by making an herbarium! It's an act of love to a carefully picked flower and drying it between the pages of a book or flower press, whatever you like!

‘If you take a flower in your hand

and really look at it,

it's your world for a moment.'

Georgia O’Keeffe

People have been pressing flowers for hundreds of years. The activity dates all the way back to the 16th century Japan, but became hugely popular during the Victorian era, thanks to a growing interest in natural history and the sentimental language of flowers.

The technique hasn't changed much since then, whether you choose to press your flowers between the pages of a book or magazine or use a wooden flower press.

Pick your flowers on a dry day and press them as soon as possible after picking. Or take a little travel flower press with you on your walks, as I do. During my time in Cornwall I took it with me all the time to collect flowers and plants to press them immediately.

Wait a least a fortnight before opening your book/press/magazine to have a peak.

My herbarium is slowly growing with all kind of wildflowers.

After you've admired the results, store the pressed flowers on a layer of acid-free tissue paper in a dry drawer or box.

The vivid flower you once picked, has now become a delicate papery keepsake that will last for a lifetime and can be enjoyed whenever you like. Isn't it wonderful to browse through your herbarium on a grey winter's day and dream of summer to come?

I've also created some porcelain herbarium books with illustrated and decorated pages in which you can also collect your own flowers and maybe combine it with some beautiful poetry.

These one-of-a-kind porcelain books are available on the coming ceramic markets and in my studio.

I hope your summer season will be filled with flowers and maybe you start making your own herbarium…