By Sally Sola, Founder, Cheltenham Flower School
Isn’t autumn just beautiful? Everywhere you look right now, the season is showing off in the most wonderful way. The trees are blazing with gold, copper and ruby tones, the pavements are crunchy with leaves and there’s that unmistakeable smell of autumn in the air; earthy, smoky, and comforting all at once.
In the flower world, this is such a beautiful time. Dahlias are still going strong, and they’re joined by the soft textures of grasses, seed heads, and rich seasonal foliage. The colours are incredible; deep plums, burnt oranges, warm ochres, everything feels abundant and cosy. Like nature’s giving us one last celebration before winter slows things down.
The hedgerows and gardens are still generous too. Apples and pears are tumbling down, pumpkins and squashes are lined up in glorious shapes and sizes, and berries add that little jewel-like sparkle everywhere you look. I always feel autumn has a kind of richness that feeds not just our tables but also our creativity.
This is the season to really enjoy, to light the candles, gather around the table, bring those golden tones indoors, and savour the cosiness. It’s not about rushing through, but about noticing all those little seasonal moments; the low afternoon sun through amber leaves, the rustle of wind in the trees, even the excuse for that first hot chocolate or pumpkin spice latte of the year! And if, like me, you have already spotted the creeping presence of Christmas in the supermarkets, then take this as your excuse to ignore this for a moment. Autumn is arguably the most fleeting of seasons; we try to hang onto summer too long and then are pushed into Christmas too soon if we aren’t careful. This is why I make sure to take the time and actually savour all that this wonderful time of year has to offer.
And of course, it’s one of my favourite times to share floral creativity with you. If you’d love to bring some of autumn’s beauty into your own home, I still have spaces on my Autumn Vase Arrangement Workshop at Society Café, and on my Autumn Tablescape Workshop at The Greenway Hotel & Spa. They’re the perfect way to capture the season’s colours, textures and abundance and enjoy a few hours of mindful floral creativity too.
So, let’s make the most of autumn in full colour, it doesn’t last forever, but it’s beautiful while it’s here. A time to be savoured and enjoyed before the Christmas festivities begin!
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