Kitten Grayson is a florist who learned her trade on projects such as the perennial meadow at Hauser & Wirth in Bruton, and, under the guise of her namesake studio, has since applied her green fingers to homegrown flower arrangements for Heckfield Place. Here, Grayson shares tips on how to forage for flowers when out walking, from appreciating the humble beauty of cow parsley to how to arrange your finds. We recommend familiarising yourself with the Woodland Trust’s guidelines on responsible foraging, less you end up unwittingly snipping a prize tulip from a private patch.

And for more horticultural inspiration, check out the April edition of our Gardener’s Diary.

Kitten Grayson: Finding a way to bring the outside in is now more important than ever, to find comfort in nature and celebrate spring. Flowers breathe life and energy into a room, enveloping you in their fresh scent and vibrant colour. There is inherent beauty in every unique stem, in every state – from root to tip, from unfurling bud to drooping swan song. Ever evolving, never static, they are an endless source of pleasure.

On my one walk a day I like to
keep an eye out for small flowers or foliage I can bring home. You do not need
much, two to three stems will do. It is important to pick responsibly and
respect nature. I love picking flowers like cow parsley: they grow in parks and
fields and are about to burst into beautiful bursts of
white clouds. Place them in a bud vase to enjoy them, and if you have
a garden you can add some more homegrown flowers like tulips, which are now starting
to bloom.

It is also a great idea to look
for branches that may have fallen off trees, take these home and put them in a
vase or create a little installation with them. In spring there is also
beautiful blossom, and while it is tempting to take these home, it is always
better to enjoy them on your walk and leave them for the bees.

Gardening, along with my one
walk a day, has become a way for me to keep calm in this unsettling time. It is
the best feeling when you put your hands into the soil and know you are helping
things grow. If you have a garden or a balcony, no matter the size, now is
the time to grow something from seed. Sow some seeds like cosmos or sweet peas
now to enjoy in summer, along with nasturtium, which is both beautiful and edible.
All of these grow vigorously and will keep producing flowers, allowing you to make
arrangements in your home.

Use your foraged branches and
flowers to create a small flower assembly. You do not need to have vases, you
can use any beautiful cups, glasses or bowls you have available. Place your
stems in your vessel and make sure to cut them at different lengths to add
movement and interest to your arrangement. Don’t forget to change the water and
re-cut your stems every few days to make the flowers last as long as
possible. Flower arranging is incredibly meditative and therapeutic; a
small form of escapism from the everyday.