To understand my depth of feeling for collecting items adorned by roses, violets, wisteria, pansies and other old-fashioned flowers, imagine a wonderful box of exquisite chocolates; lovingly and beautifully made.
Behind a glass case or arranged neatly in a ballotin are all kinds of delectable delights. The fruit-filled ones, the fondant ones, nuts whole or crushed or even in praline, milk and dark; meek, demure little morsels just waiting to melt in your mouth.
My bowerbird tendencies are driven by the need to be surrounded by the scents, sights and touch of flowers. They are like air and food to me. Unfortunately I can’t use the volume of floral items I have in my possession, and since many have been packed away these last nearly three years, I am constantly tempted to increase my stash.
Fabrics are so tactile – I love natural fabrics and most of all, silk. Cotton is probably next as I need to sew and have a colourful selection of mostly floral 100% cotton fabrics for quilting and other home décor items. Great huge cabbage type roses, in pinks, reds and on backgrounds ranging from pink, to green, to blue and lemon – all the gelato colours. Or if you like, the colours you would find inside those delectable fondant-filled chocolates.
My current favourite is a sky-blue blue featuring sprays of roses in a medium size and spread. Cath Kidston and Barefoot Roses created two of my favourite designs. My kitchen boasts a toaster-cover, a tablecloth and a tea cosy in this colourway. I love to surround myself with this luscious selection of colours and form; it’s bringing the outside in really. With the sun streaming in on a cool morning, before anyone but the chickens are out and about, it is heavenly to sit at the table with a steaming cup of tea or coffee, browsing the advertising mail before plunging into the busyness of the day.
My favourite ritual involving china is setting a tray with a cloth, a teapot complete with the above-mentioned handmade tea cosy, a vintage china cup and saucer, tea strainer and dish, silver spoon, and brewing away in the pot is my favourite tea blend, French Earl Grey. It contains black tea, rose, calendula and hibiscus petals, but curiously no bergamot, which is what Early Grey tea was originally unique for, and which I can also enjoy by the pot-full. But the rose petals are irresistible visually, in flavour and in aroma and they carry on the floral theme.
There is much to commend being surrounded by the outside, when I’m inside. It has a relaxing and calming effect, brings me into contact with nature and encourages nurture. The greens of the twigs and leaves are restful; the blush of orange or pink petals gives a sense of sweet motherly love. When I literally drop the day’s cuttings into an old silver teapot or a vase, the leaves and flower heads jostle to be seen – lush, living works of art, albeit temporal.
Best of all, no matter how much I indulge my passion for the floral, not one ounce, not one gram goes on my hips!
