We are very excited to announce that this year we will getting involved with the famous Festival of Flowers at Leeds Castle, Kent this September. The festival is created using beautiful fresh blooms, however Country Baskets will be taking along Chelsea award winning florist, Tracy Rowbottom, to work her magic with our stunning faux flowers.
The Festival of Flowers’ impressive line-up of events will leave you feeling inspired, featuring: gorgeous floral creations by world renown designers, demonstrations throughout the event, specialist talks and tours of the beautiful gardens. This event is definitely worth a visit!
Credit: Neil Whittaker at the Leeds Castle - Festival of Flowers 2016
This year’s theme for the festival is ‘An Enchanted Castle’ in which Tracy will be dressing the Barbican and Fortified Mill at the entrance to the Castle. The ancient arches already have an organic feel as moss has been growing for centuries, which acts as a beautiful base for the flowers that will be cascading down the ancient walls. Combining the natural organic elements of the exhibition space with faux flowers will create a gorgeous feel that will welcome visitors not only to the event and grounds of the castle, but also the theme of this year’s Festival of Flowers.
Picture taken by Tracy Rowbootom: the Barbican and Fortified Mill
Picture taken by Tracy Rowbootom: the Barbican and Fortified Mill
“Enchantment in the eyes that look, enchantment through the eyes that see.” - Valerie Dohren
Is a quote chosen by Tracy and used as the title of her installations for the castle’s Festival of Flowers, this goes hand in hand with the idea of an enchanted castle whilst similarly giving the installation's uniqueness. Also innkeeping to the theme of ‘An Enchanted Castle’, there will be florists like Simon Lycett, Solomon Leong and Dennis Kneepens, who will be creating pieces and arrangements for the interior of the gorgeous castle.
There will be a stunning array of some of the best florists in the UK attending this year’s Festival, including names like Tina Parkes of the Academy of Floral Art and RHS Chelsea Gold Medallist Di Marvell, Amy Curtis who designed last year and Louise Roots who won Gold at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. With so many fabulous names been confirmed for the event, the hype this year is understandable!
Credit: Leeds Castle - Festival of Flowers 2016
Wild Roses and Orchids will be the stars of Tracy’s installations for the event, which will work perfectly with the natural moss of the ancient walls. There will also be an appearance from vines and thistles that Tracy will be using, taken from the artificial collections that can be found in Country Baskets. Influences for the installations have been taken from the exhibition space and surrounding gardens but also the flowers that will be used. As Orchids have a hanging form they are ideal for the cascading element of the pieces, as well as Wild Roses going hand in hand with the already organic feel of the surfaces that Tracy will be dressing.
Photos by Country Baskets: Faux flower arrangement
Photo by Country Basket: Faux flower collection
To be a part of the event and all of the beauty that will be displayed throughout the castle and its grounds, make sure to take a trip this September. To purchase tickets, make your way to the Leeds Castle website where you can also find information for what’s on and specifics for the Festival of Flowers.
