'Handpicked with Love'

The sunny days allowed a wealth of flower picking and pressing. I would pick the flowers from my cottage garden each cool morning before the intensity of the heat became unbearable during the peak of the day, when even the blooms drooped their silken heads in exhaustion.

Although the garden is just 2 months old, the ample armfuls of floral delights have been a real treat. I picked feverfew, sweet alyssum, buttercups, forget-me-not, lobelia and my new favourite ‘poached egg’. I discovered a few new ways of natural and safe preservation, which thankfully eliminates any need to use silica sand. The result is beautifully preserved blooms, that still hold onto the warmth and vibrancy of an Irish summer.