“Winter, in general, isn’t my favourite season, but working with the unique natural materials it has to offer helps me to make friends with it and appreciate its unmistakable beauty,” says Jessica Bird, founder of Birdsong Floristry.
The Greenwich Market florist believes people “appreciate flowers in the home more during colder months”, because “winter has us spending most of our time indoors, so bringing some elements of nature and the outdoors in is a great way to stay connected”, she says.
Jessica adds: “Flowers brighten up our homes with much-needed colour, they will lift moods and are a reminder that spring and summer do come back around again.”
At Birdsong Floristry, Jessica works with dried and preserved natural materials, homegrown in her garden in Kent and locally foraged. She then dries and preserves everything.
You will find lots of handmade creations on her stall at Greenwich Market, including seasonal wreaths, table decorations, dried and preserved bouquets, floral hair accessories, customised embroidery hoops, and botanical tree decorations.
She enjoys trading at the market as it brings “an opportunity to meet and talk to so many interesting people, some local and others visiting from all over the world”.
For the winter season, you will find lots of red and orange tones in the Birdsong Floristry bouquets. Jessica likes to use “fiery autumnal colours for lots of warmth in contrast to the colder weather outside”.
She adds that she also enjoys using snowy whites and cooler colours, as well as grasses, seed heads and birch twigs, “to fully embrace the season and its natural beauty”.
Jessica also creates seasonal wreaths. They are always made from naturally preserved materials, which means the wreaths can be used year after year if used indoors.
They can also be used outdoors and if you have good weather protection, such as a porch, “this improves their longevity”, Jessica adds.
But a wreath from Birdsong Floristry will last for months, even when exposed fully to the elements, this makes them a biodegradable eco-friend alternative and a “great option for people who like long-lasting wreaths but prefer not to buy plastic or artificial ones”, says Jessica.
Each wreath has a different colour palette and style, you’ll find traditional red and green Christmas colours available, too.
“Everyone has different tastes, so I like to provide a lot of variety,” says Jessica.
She adds: “I have used a lot of natural pinks, rusty warm browns, silvers and greens this year, using hydrangea, preserved autumn leaves of different shades and textures, lavender and dried bracken.
“There are also the more classic and traditional ones with bountiful pinecones, holly, ivy and citrus slices.”
