Our garden ..

We couldn’t be happier with our shop garden so far .. the power tools came out last Monday and we had a very funny afternoon putting our plant tables together .. even with zero plants on them we were the giddiest kippers.

A day later and our first plant delivery arrived, the loveliest established perennials to create instant beauty. One of us likes a bit of organised chaos and everything plonked whichever way on the table. One of us likes orderly rows. I think we may have to do a week of each!

Later this week will see the other two tables being filled .. .. thank you for all of your loveliest comments and encouragement on our new space. . We can’t wait to slowly add to it and create our dream shop garden for us all to enjoy. Potting bench and tables dotted about are pending, plus a little sitting bench just incase any of us need a little quiet time ….. exciting times .

In other news, wedding season is in full swing .. spot the tiny flower .

We hope that you have a lovely day wherever you are.

With love xx

Well what an exciting week at The Potting Sheds shop!!

The cutting garden is actually starting to look like a cutting garden( in parts) and we have gathered our first harvest for sale in the shop @ cedar farm.

There are also lots of exciting happenings at the shop with the development of the little plant garden (shop girl doesn’t like the word centre…. ) The plant benches have arrived, our beautiful chestnut pailing fence has been installed along with the rusty metal entrance arch. Further preparation will be happening this week and once the benches are built they will be full of perennials and shrubs. The perennials will be available in two sizes, 1 litre and 3 litre pots. I love the smaller pots as they are a really cost effective way of planting up an area when you need a few plants … remember you always want 3 or 5 or even 7 ! The 3 litre pots are great if you want a more instant impact.

We will also be selling some lovely shrubs in 3 and 5 litre pots for year round colour.

As a business we pride ourselves on knowing our plants so we will always be happy to advise you on your plant choices, put a selection of plants together for you and even plant them for you too should you need !

Watch this ( little ) space as it will be a beautiful place to visit and enjoy

xx

In other news ..

We hope you are keeping well and are having a lovely weekend xx

We have yet more exciting news to share with you can you believe.

As well as recently starting our very own cutting patch  (which has so far had its ups and downs) .. we have been offered a little more space at the back of the shop.

Here we are very very giddily planning to create a little Potting Sheds plant selling garden, something we have wished for a long time.

We already have a small space at the front of the shop for plant sales,  but we now plan to make a much bigger, tucked away, secret garden area   .. an extension of our shop really, where you can wander about at your leisure, choosing new plant additions from a much larger selection, to add to your garden.

(the images are of our vision, taken from google, .. not real life just yet!!) .

After a day out planting in Grange this week, we popped into the amazing Halecat Nursery. Oh what a really beautiful creative place it is.

We came away with so many ideas which we hope to use in our own new garden area. If you are in the Witherslack area, do pay them a visit if you can, we loved it and think you will too.

We will share more of our plans very soon but until then, have a very lovely Saturday xx

Update from the cutting patch ..

After a week away and with another bag full of seeds to sow in the cutting patch I’m feeling very nervous …. Have any of the seeds previously sown germinated ?

I am not a particularly patient person, but it is a virtue that is essential for good gardening. It’s certainly something I have developed over the years but growing seeds is definitely testing my patience to the limit.

To speed things along two of the patches have been dedicated for sowing seeds and the other 3 we will be filling with perennials for a bit of instant effect.

Deciding what perennials to use has been easy as it’s something we work with on a daily basis so we are going for favourites that we know flower well and that we love like achillea, echinops and asters but the seeds are a new thing to us.

Having spent and beautiful day at Perch Hill on the Sarah Raven cutting garden course a few years ago her website was the first port of call, a visit to Chiltern Seeds for some more and now I seem to pick up seeds whenever I am on my travels. Some beautiful Nigella seeds from Hale Cat nurseries this weekend joined the growing pile.

On inspection of the recently sown patch I felt completely deflated … a few Helianthus “Claret’ but sadly not a lot else other than what I suspect are weeds … I feel this little journey may be quite a steep learning curve!  Never mind …  on to the next patch with great optimism that this one is going to be a huge success!!

In other news, our rusty metal work has now arrived in the shop … just in time for the gardens springing into life xx

Exciting news ..

A long time ago, Nic and I had the daydream of growing some of our own flowers to sell in the shop. Nic is a true plantswoman, she knows all there is on this subject… all the complexities of each plant, a degree in plant biology, she then went on to do her masters ! She knows where each plant is happy to live and where it is not, all the important information.  I, on the other hand am not. I go purely on visuals, which isn’t always helpful. 

We are chalk and cheese in so many ways. She dresses practically and sensibly ready for action. She wears a tool belt. 

I dress as if about to appear in a period drama and have a penchant for tulle petticoats ……. but together, we make a rather good plant and flower team, and very importantly, laugh a lot along the way. 

Then covid and lock down came, everything was turned upside down, we didn’t know what was happening day to day let alone in the future, so our daydream was popped to one side.

A while ago as we were discussing the increased cost of flowers which we sell on the shop, the chatter again turned back to us starting a cutting patch of our very own. We are in the very very fortunate position of having access to green space so we decided to turn this into reality. 

We initially were completely over excited  and made a list of all of our favourite flowers and had the wildest of plans… it was pages long. Then reality hit and we remembered that we both already have busy jobs here (our initial plans would have needed a full 7 acres, 7 staff and no other jobs to do). So …. very very excitedly, back in the the autumn, we marked out six, 7 metre long beds and Nic started to dig …….

Last week our very first seeds went in (we have also persuaded a very kind gent to start some off in his greenhouse for us), perennials will be going in soon … we are beyond excited xx 

19th March ..

Is Mothering Sunday this year for those who aren’t sure.

And we will have flowers for all .. from a beautifully simple primrose or a jam jar of flowers, to the grandest of bouquets.

Our order book is open.

Just email shop@thepottingsheds.com, Instagram message or you can of course just actually telephone me on 01704 823313.

Of course it isn’t a day just for mums, I think it’s for anyone who shows you care and kindness.

And if flowers aren’t your thing, then don’t worry, we have books, candles, plants and so many other delights.

Tap here to take a look at our online shop or, we are open every day except Mondays ……. it would be lovely to see you in real life.

Thank you to all who visited this week, it really has been such fun, and to the lovely lady who burst into the shop laden with baskets, zinc trays and colour schemes declaring “I was trying to be one of those people on Instagram” … you made my week.

We are always very aware when talking about this particular day, that some people find it a struggle. Please know that you are in our thoughts.

With love xx

Spring wreath workshops ..

Hi there,

Happy new year to you.

If you would like to join us in making your very own spring wreath then we have two dates available.

The 9th and the 23rd March from 6 - 7.30pm.

All the materials will be provided and we will of course have prosecco, spiced apple juice and cakes in constant supply.

The cost is £50 per person.

Places are limited as our shop is tiny, so please email shop@thepottingsheds.com if you would like to attend.

Alternatively, we have a little table for two which is the perfect spot to come during the day for an hour or so and make your wreath with me . Just get in touch if you like.

Have the rest of a wonderful weekend.

With love xx

Autumn workshops ..

We are often asked if we run daytime workshops … which in the past we haven’t done as our little shop is tiny and is open every day.

But, we have occasionally had visitors in to make their own buttonholes or flower crowns etc for their wedding days, and it has always been so lovely and very very relaxed.

We have a little table for two in the shop, and have decided that it would maybe be a lovely space for you, ( if you enjoy quiet time or bring a friend if you like) to spend a couple of hours making an autumn wreath , during the daytime.

The shop would be open, so it will be a very casual chattery couple of hours, but we will be here to guide you along and supply you with coffee and cakes.

The dates for these are just whenever suits you, 11am-1pm, so please email shop@thepottingsheds.com or ring 01704 823313 if this is something you think you may like.

The cafe serves the most beautiful lunches so you can always pop over there afterwards.

The cost will be £40 per person, including all your foliage, flowers, coffee and cakes.

With love

Katie and Nic xx

Mothering Sunday ..

Falls on Sunday 27th March this year for those who aren’t sure.

We have bunches for all budgets, and of course, it isn’t just a day for mums. It could be a friend, auntie, granny or neighbour. Anybody who is close to you, who shows care and kindness.

Our order book is open if you wish to say it with flowers. 

You can order online at shop.thepottingsheds.com , on the phone on 01704 823313 or in actual real life. 

I am always very aware when talking about this day, that for some people, it is a struggle. Please know that you are in our thoughts. 

With love xx

A little Late in posting This but .,

Our very last wedding of the year and oh my, have you ever seen a more beautiful venue. 

A teeny tiny wedding, with just six guests, a baby and a dog. 

The brides stunning dress belonged to a very special grandma, and for the bouquet, we tried to replicate grandmas using a photograph taken on her wedding day .

Whether it be flowers, landscaping or planting …. your vision and dreams are the most important thing to us and we try so hard to realise that for you in making them a reality. 

Thank you so much for allowing us to share these beautiful photographs , they really have taken our breath away. 

Wishing you both all the happiness.

With love xx