The June Edition
Summer At Last...
It’s June. Officially summer at last! The roses are out and rattan returns, there are cucumber sandwiches, Wimbledon to watch, strawberries and cream; the softness of peonies and flutter of sweet peas, cricket ‘til sundown, sports days, speech days, packing for holidays, and that wonderful feeling that slower summer days are stretching out ahead of us.
My Willow Loves this month is all about bold summer brights, and there’s more of the same and a little holiday theme in our 6 extra’s at the end for our paid community.
My flowery focus this month is all about summer event flowers - there is so much beauty on our doorstep to play with at this time of year so I encourage you to get creative and let the flowers lead…
Our edit is rattan and not just because of our beautiful vase collection but because no summer is complete with rattan, raffia, straw… everything.
For wellness, we look at saffron and the growing discussion around its benefits as a natural supplement for all sorts of health benefits including mood.
Finally, we share a fun fact about foxgloves and round up things to do or book ahead for this month…
*This is my monthly free edition, but every Friday, I send out an email to my paid subscribers with flowery, fashion, food and wellness content, and other related posts in between with guests, interviews and ideas to inspire, create and nurture - with my goal being to share as much as I can so we can all find joy everyday.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy month ahead wherever you are.
With Love,
Willow
PS. this is a long read so might be best to read in app/web browser (just in case it cuts off in your email).
PPS. A note on our edits - all brands are lovingly chosen or approved by me. For some of them, we may receive a commission if you purchase an item.
Willow Loves
What I’m loving this month…
Top row, left to right
A Me&Em red showstopper for summer events, yes please
Rainbow swirls in my favourite of our filigrana vases
Green crochet gazelles for England’s green and pleasant land
Make it a heart-y month with Boden’s fun hoops
Looking for the perfect white tee? Thank you Anya Hindmarch x Uniqlo
Getting the Merit glow with flush balm in ‘Stockholm’
Willow Loves… (6 more!)
(scroll to the end for our paid subscribers)
In Season Event Flowers…
Summer is the season for celebrations and flowers are naturally the main event in my eyes. Whether you’re professionally flowering for weddings or events over the summer, or a fellow flower lover wanting to fill your home and tablescapes for any occasion, there is an abundance to play with right now - seasonal, local and absolutely beautiful.
Here are my forever go-tos for summer flowering…
Roses
A stand out on their own, two of my favourites are Margaret Merrill and Ferdinand Pichard. For wedding and installation work, look out for climbing roses, long vines make for instant arranging.
Sweet Peas
Add a light and airy feel and of course, colour too. I am always drawn to the very pale lilac and also love the perfect pink, Rose Wedding. They both have a magic power to lift any arrangement. Think about cutting them long to include their tendrils too, they bring so much to the party I promise!
Peonies
I love peony season. The ultimate leading ladies in event flowering. They are so big, so beautiful, so flouffy, so dramatic. They behave, do their bit, no drama. Just big, brilliant, easy beauty. We had some seriously cool marbled ones called Candy Stripe last year which devastatingly, I cannot locate for love nor money this season!
Foxgloves
Another seasonal highlight for me. I adore all the colours but this season i’m especially drawn the the soft peach Sutton’s Apricot.
Poppies
Wonderful to punctuate any airy summer arrangement with their colour and delicacy. Like fairies dancing along the top of the table.
The growing season here in England is largely May through to October, and my go to flower growers here in the UK are Marlston Farmgirl, Chippy Farm Flowers, Anna Brown, Green and Gorgeous, Stokesay Flowers and a little further afield, Burnt Fen Flowers. There are so many wonderful growers and you can find the ones who are local to you by visiting the website Flowers From The Farm.
For more on big scale event flowers, my latest Create Academy course walks you through it all (watch the trailer here).
Happy flowering!
Edit - Raffia Season
Whatever we call it - rattan, raffia, straw - I can never ever get enough and this summer there is loads, including our vase collection!
Clockwise from top, left
Mango girls fringed raffia bag
Anya Hindmarch Eyes Half Moon Cross-Body
Oliver Bonas Cowboy Straw Fedora Hat
New Look Wicker Shell Cross Body Bag
Willow Crossley Rattan Palm Vase Set
Topshop Gevvie beaded handle straw bag in green stripe
Aquazzura Marea raffia and leather thong sandals
New Look Stone Raffia Look Ruffled Bucket Bag
Clergerie Dolce raffia platform sandals
La Redoute Dolkie Raffia Lamp Shade
LOEWE Paula's Ibiza Anagram beaded bucket bag
La Redoute Loama Braided Rattan Console Table
Bite-size wellness
We all want to spend less time wading through the often overwhelming messaging on how to prioritise wellbeing. So we’re introducing - bite-size wellness tips - interesting new ideas we come across that might be worth considering to implement into our busy lives.
Mood Boosting Saffron
This month we look at the growing evidence of saffron, hailed as a super-spice and natural plant-based remedy for a host of health concerns - from mood - anxiety and depression in adults and teenagers to weight loss, help with poor sleep, PMT, cognitive focus, symptoms of ADHD and even libido.
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a plant that has played a role in traditional and complementary medicine for thousands of years. It has high antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory properties.
Dr. Daniel G. Amen, a renowned US-based psychiatrist, alongside others has recently promoted the use of saffron for various mental health benefits, including mood improvement and potential neuroprotective effects. He suggests that saffron can enhance dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine levels, leading to increased energy, improved mood, and better cognitive function. Amen also highlights saffron's effectiveness in treating anxiety and depression.
Some saffron-based supplements we’ve found…
Important Note: While Dr. Amen and other researchers suggest promising benefits of saffron, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before using saffron as a treatment for any mental health condition. Saffron may interact with medications and could have side effects in some individuals.
Interested to know… has anyone tried it?
Fun flower fact
Foxgloves gained their name through a mixture of myth and likely bad translation. The Latin name for the flower is digitalis which comes from the word ‘finger’. In 1542, a German botanist called Leonhart Fuchs renamed the flower ‘Fingerhut’, which roughly translated to ‘thimble’. This name is thought to refer to the flower's shape, resembling a glove. In Old English, however, the flower received its name thanks to the folk myth that foxes wore the flowers on their paws to soften any sounds they make while hunting prey.
I like to think of them as bells surrounding fairy dells myself!
Recipe - Creamy Lemon Linguine
“This is a simplified version of one of my most frequently made recipes, which in turn was based on a most beloved Nigella Lawson recipe,” says Letitia. “The original recipe uses double cream, but I use mascarpone as it is easier to get hold of in Italy and works perfectly here. I have never met a creamy lemon pasta dish that I didn’t like.”
Ingredients
200g linguine
2 medium egg yolks
100g mascarpone
2 tbsp finely grated pecorino or veggie equivalent
Finely grated zest 1 lemon, plus half its juice
30g unsalted butter
2-3 basil leaves, torn
Extra-virgin olive oil to serve
Method
Cook the pasta in a large saucepan of well-salted boiling water until al dente (7-8 minutes). Drain the pasta, reserving a little of the cooking water just in case the sauce needs it (although I rarely need it here). Return the pasta to the pan.
Meanwhile, mix together the egg yolks, mascarpone, pecorino and lemon zest and juice in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and the butter and set aside.
Throw the sauce into the pan of drained pasta and stir vigorously over the lowest heat, tossing the linguine well until every strand is coated and saucy. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt or lemon juice if you see fit. Add the torn basil leaves, stir quickly, then serve with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.
Recipe taken from For the Love of Lemons by Letitia Clark (Quadrille £28). Photography by Charlotte Bland.
June Arts & Culture
What to see, visit & plan this month…
Last day today (until 5pm) of British Flowers Week at the Garden Museum. Get there if you can!
Visit The Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy starting 18 June
Visit Chatsworth House for the Gorgeous Nothings flower exhibition running now through the summer
Wimbledon runs 30 Jun – Sun, 13 Jul - get amongst the spectating any way you can
Visit the National Gallery to see Siena - The Rise Of Painting in the golden era of art in central Italy in the 14th Century (until 22 June)
Plan ahead for the annual Charleston Festival of the Garden on 17-20 July
And book tickets for Glyndebourne Summer Festival and visit Charleston House while you’re nearby