By Sally Sola, Founder, Cheltenham Flower School
In floristry, timing is everything and colour is the magic thread that ties it all together. As florists, we don’t just work with flowers; we work with the rhythm of the seasons and the emotions that colours evoke. When these two elements align, something truly special happens; arrangements that feel alive, authentic, and deeply connected to their moment in time.
The Beauty of Seasonality
Nature is the best designer. Every season brings its own palette of blooms, textures, and scents. Spring arrives offering soft, hopeful pastels like blush Ranunculus, buttery Narcissi, and delicate Hellebores. Summer turns up the volume with bold Peonies, bright Cosmos, and garden Roses in full bloom. Autumn introduces earthy richness with Dahlias, Hydrangeas, and foliage in burnished tones. And winter, often underestimated, offers rich red berries, sculptural branches, and the elegance of amaryllis and paperwhites, not to mention the abundance of rich green and silver foliage’s. When a floral design reflects the time of year, it feels grounded, real, and emotionally resonant.
Why Colour Matters
Colour is more than decoration; it speaks a language all its own. Soft blues and lilacs can calm and soothe, while fiery oranges and reds energise and uplift. In weddings, corporate events, or everyday bouquets, colour not only helps tell a story; it creates a feeling.
But in floristry, colour isn’t used in isolation; it’s always working in harmony (or deliberate contrast) with shape, texture, and scale. That’s why even subtle shifts in tone can have a big impact. A cooler blush pink rose paired with silver foliage gives a very different feel from a warmer, richer pink rose against caramel toned grasses.
And because flowers are living materials, their hues are never flat or artificial. Each petal holds dimension and depth, catching the light in different ways, which brings a natural richness to any colour scheme.
Creating with Intention
As florists, we’re always interpreting both the season and the customer’s brief. Do they want a bouquet that whispers of spring’s arrival, or something that celebrates autumn’s abundance? By combining seasonal blooms with intentional colour choices, we create designs that are not only beautiful but deeply meaningful. This is what I consider when I put a workshop together. What is it for? What am I or they wanting to create?
In the end, floristry is about more than aesthetics; it’s about connection. Connection to the time of year, to nature and to the feelings flowers can conjure up and stir in us. When we let seasonality and colour lead the way, we create designs that don’t just look good; we create designs that feel right. These insights, this understanding and the feelings they can induce are just some of the things I love to share with people in my workshops and bespoke sessions.
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