Rachel de Thame admits she hasn't yet resolved the frequent issue of sowing seeds excessively

Gardening Enthusiast Embarks on Flower Farming Journey

In the heart of the Cotswolds, a gardening enthusiast has recently embarked on an exciting new venture – flower farming. This ambitious project is a natural progression for the individual, who has nurtured a productive and restored walled garden for some time now.

The author's garden offers a picturesque view overlooking the rolling Cotswold fields, and is home to a diverse range of flora that thrive under the author's careful cultivation. The author finds inspiration in various gardens across the country, with a particular fondness for bluebell woods and cow parsley in the verges over traditional rose gardens.

The author's interest in gardening is not new, and they have spent countless hours studying the entomological aspects of the subject, delving deep into insect numbers, forage, and habitats. This knowledge has been instrumental in the author's endeavour to create spaces that benefit pollinators and other beneficial insects.

The author's book, "A Flower Garden for Pollinators", aims to encourage gardeners to adopt a holistic, year-round approach that provides plants for forage, shelter, and egg-laying sites. The author believes that having a beautiful garden can coexist with delivering benefits for pollinators.

In the author's garden, snowdrops carpet the ground during winter, and the author has a record for tardy tulip planting in February. The author's current garden is a work in progress, being the largest plot they've had in a series of gardens.

The author's current projects include filming for BBC Gardeners' World and RHS shows, and planning to hold talks and workshops from their corner of the Cotswolds. The author also enjoys reading works by other gardening enthusiasts, currently immersed in Jekka McVicar's book, 100 Herbs to Grow, and Polly Nicholson's book, The Tulip Garden.

The author's admiration for the field extends to other notable writers such as Beth Chatto, Dr Oliver Rackham, Sue Stuart-Smith, and Sarah Raven. Despite the author's passion for gardening, they have not yet mastered the common pitfall of sowing too much and producing more than they can eat, particularly with courgettes.

As the author embarks on their flower farming journey, they look forward to offering cut flowers, grown in the walled garden, as a small-scale artisanal attempt at flower farming. The author's passion for gardening, coupled with their commitment to pollinator-friendly spaces, makes for an exciting chapter in the world of horticulture.

Rachel de Thame admits she hasn't yet resolved the frequent issue of sowing seeds excessively