Barry Porter, Porter’s Foliage
David Gorton of GB Foliage with fl orist John Carter
Fresh and funky foliage Foliage Row at New Covent Garden Flower Market – home to foliage specialists GB Foliage and Porters Foliage - is a favourite haunt of London fl orists and foliage devotees from further afi eld, such as Suzi. “On my next trip down from Cardiff , the fi rst things I am buying are willow branches covered in catkins from David Gorton at GB Foliage. Tall branches of fl owering foliage make all the diff erence at my shop, helping me stand apart from the competition. I like to off er stock in my shop that customers say they have never seen before in a fl ower shop.” One of the fi rst signs that spring is on its way is
not so much the fi rst snowdrops or crocuses, but trees coming into bud. Spring is one of the best times for cut foliage, when the leaves have not quite burst, but the branches are in bud. Amongst the fi rst to show are deciduous magnolia, birch and Salix and, depending on the weather, you will fi nd late camellias and forsythia. Foliage Row is also renowned for spectacular
stems of blossom in the spring months from 1m to 4m tall. Apple, pear, double cherry and almond blossom from growers in Britain and Europe adorn the Flower Market and look spectacular at events, parties, in homes, hotels and shop windows.
“Water, water, water,” is the top tip from Barry
Porter of Porters Foliage for looking after spring foliage and blossom. “Never underestimate how much water these stems need. They are running on the sugars, the carbohydrates in the buds. Two days are fi ne, but beyond that, this foliage needs huge amounts of water, so fl oral foam can be tricky.”
Fresh and funky fl orist's favourite Suzi Hunt’s all-time favourite spring fl ower is the ranunculus. Why? So many reasons it seems... “I could possibly have only ranunculus in my shop!” laughs Suzi. “It is my favourite fl ower, and relatively unknown to the buying public. Supermarkets rarely stock it. It comes in so many diff erent shades now from cream, primrose-yellow, pinks, shocking yellow, orange, dark burgundy and my favourite - lime green - so it is really versatile.” Suzi’s top tips for keeping ranunculus in pristine
condition? “Take the fl owers out of their wrap as soon as possible and remove all the foliage to prevent them going mouldy. Fill a vase with fl ower food treated water, space the stems out well and then watch them just keep on growing! When they fi nally tire, snip the heads off and fl oat them in water. They look pretty funky like that!”
F&wb Spring 2013 57
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