By Sally Sola, Founder, Cheltenham Flower School
If you’ll allow me to be a little self-indulgent this month, I’d love to share the story behind my favourite summer flower and why it means so much to me.
You might be wondering, “Why is that important, Sally?” Bear with me, it will all become clear.
When people ask me what my favourite flower is, I have two answers. My favourite flower of all time is undoubtedly the Peony. Their beautiful, romantic blooms are hard to beat and they even featured in my bridal bouquet 17 years ago. Sadly, their season is incredibly short, and while I absolutely adore them, they don’t have the same deep-rooted connection to my journey into floristry.
When it comes to summer flowers, there is only one winner for me: the beautifully scented Sweet Pea.
Why Sweet Peas Will Always Be My Favourite Summer Flower
When I was growing up, my Grandad grew Sweet Peas in colours and quantities that I don’t think I’ve ever seen matched since. This was back in the 1980s, and perhaps my younger self’s idea of “abundance” was different, but I vividly remember towering wigwams of bamboo canes covered in climbing Sweet Peas in both the front and back garden.
I spent most weekends at my Grandparents’ house and every summer I was given a very important job. I was allowed to cut as many Sweet Peas as I liked and arrange them in vases around their home.
The vases themselves were beautiful, heavy cut glass filled to the brim with delicate, fragrant stems. Their sweet perfume drifted through every room and arranging them became a treasured weekend tradition that I looked forward to every single week. Looking back now, I realise those moments shaped me more than I could ever have imagined.
The Flowers That Started My Floristry Journey
I’ve spoken before in my blog, About Me: Origin Story to Floristry, about how my Gran played such an important role in inspiring me to become a florist. But as I’ve reflected over the years, I’ve come to believe my Grandad quietly played his part too.
He was a man of few words, and although all my cousins had their own gardening jobs to do, I don’t think it was entirely by chance that mine involved cutting flowers and arranging them indoors.
Perhaps he simply knew I’d enjoy it. Perhaps he had no idea what he was setting in motion.
Either way, those simple afternoons spent gathering Sweet Peas became part of the foundation of a career that has now spanned more than 25 years.
Why I Still Love Sweet Peas Today
Sweet Peas are wonderfully delicate. Their ruffled petals, incredible scent and soft, romantic colours make them one of the most beautiful seasonal flowers available during the British summer in my opinion.
Ironically, despite all these years of working with flowers, I still can’t grow them successfully myself! They’re also not the longest-lasting cut flower, but somehow that only makes them more special. Like so many of the best things in nature, they’re fleeting, reminding us to appreciate them while they’re here.
Every time I unwrap a fresh bunch of Sweet Peas, their unmistakable fragrance instantly transports me back to my grandparents’ house. For a moment, I’m that little girl again, carrying an armful of flowers into the kitchen and proudly filling those heavy glass vases.
That’s the wonderful thing about flowers; they have an incredible ability to hold memories. A scent, a colour or a single stem can take us back to people, places and moments that have shaped who we are.
So, while Peonies may still hold the title of my favourite flower overall, Sweet Peas will always be my favourite summer flower because they represent where my love of floristry truly began.
I’d love to know, do you have a flower that instantly brings back happy memories? Whether it’s because of a family member, a special occasion or simply its beautiful scent, I’d love to hear your story in the comments.
If you’d like to spend time surrounded by beautifully seasonal flowers and create memories of your own, I’d love to welcome you to one of my floral workshops.
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