#floralconstruction

Plant of the Day

Sunday 23 June 2019

In London I walked past the workspace of Jens Jakobsen, the Danish Florist, who has created imaginative displays that spill onto the pavement. There were towering containers of sprouting Solanum tuberosum (potato), baskets of Soleirolia soleirolii (baby's tears, angel's tears, bits and pieces, mind-your-own-business) and cascades of Viola tricolor cultivars (Jump up (heartsease, Johnny-jump-up-and-kiss-me).

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 16 July 2019

Prize winning Chrysanthemum cultivars from Chrysanthemums Direct on a display stand at the Royal Horticultural Society Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, UK. As well as perfect blooms to admire there were small plants for purchase and specialist bags to protect the developing flowers, especially useful when they are being grown for showing.

Plant of the Day Thursday 24 May 2018

More floral constructions from Jens Jakobsen, the Danish Florist in London, including this cascade of Muehlenbeckia complexa (Australian ivy) brimming out of this Salix (willow) container attached to the metal fencing. The onions (Allium cepa) I shared with you on Sunday 25 March 2018 have also sprouted!

The landscape architecture and garden design students and staff of Writtle University College, Essex, were wowed by the display on the way back from a reception for them, hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Lindley Library, London, at the launch of their collaborative exhibition ’Rethinking Repton’. Thank you to the RHS for this great opportunity and to the wonderful students for all their efforts and enthusiasm.

Plant of the Day

Sunday 25 March 2018

Celebrating the onion (Allium cepa) in this floral construction by Jens Jakobsen. To cultivate onions they need open ground, with a sunny, sheltered site with fertile, well-drained soil. Ideally plant onion sets (small bulbs) 10cm apart in rows 30cm apart from mid-March to mid-April. Gently push the sets into well-cultivated soil so that the tip is just showing, and firm them in.

Plants of the Day

Wednesday 22 November 2017

In the warmer environment of central London Cyclamen persicum (florists cyclamen) cultivars and Muehlenbeckia complexa (Australian ivy, mattress vine, maidenhair vine, necklace vine, wire plant) were part of a display by Jens Jacobsen, Floral Construction. The natural habitat for Cyclamen is rocky areas among shrub vegetation. It is a tender plant which will not tolerate the frost. The Muehlenbeckia is a deciduous climber, forming dense masses of slender, wiry, interlaced stems, here creating the upholstery for a chair!

Plant of the Day

Thursday 7 September 2017

On the way to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) headquarters at Vincent Square in London to help assess the Masters of Horticulture dissertation vivas I discover the amazing work of Jens Jacobsen, Floral Construction. Woven into the metal railings were nests of textured stems supporting tender and hardy plants thriving in the warmer environment of the city. The glossy rosettes of Asplenium nidus (bird's nest fern) fronds, and twig 'boats' of succulent Echeveria added joy to this urban space. In addition the dissertation talks were fascinating so it was a day full of learning for me - thank you to the RHS candidates who had worked so hard.

Plant of the Day

Friday 8 September 2017

Congratulations to all the landscape architecture, landscape and garden design and horticulture students who graduate today from Writtle University College and the University of Essex with bachelor degrees, masters and a special mention to Dr JoonKyu Lee my successful PhD student. It has been a privilege and fun to share time with you all learning about plants and gardens. Here is a bouquet of the tender succulent Echeveria 'Perle von Nürnberg' (hen and chicks) for you! These rosettes can be up to 15cm wide developing a beautiful purple sheen which grows in intensity the brighter the light.