Lucie Loves... Lifestyle // Saying yes to Fresh Beginnings and goodbye to the January blues – in partnership with FlowerBe: Creative Flower Subscriptions [ad]

There was a time, a few years back now, that I used to buy myself fresh flowers for my home nearly every week, and seeing them standing there all pretty in their various vases would never fail to bring a smile to my face.

I’m a firm believer in the fact that flowers should be enjoyed at all times the year, and not just reserved for birthdays, weddings or “I’m-sorry, I messed up” gestures.

Those of you who are floral fans, like me, will know that – when ordering flowers online (usually for one of the above mentioned occasions) it can be bloomin’ overwhelming (pun intended) and sometimes disappointing, when the flowers that you’ve chosen are, in reality, nothing like the ones that you thought you were paying for on the internet.

There’s nothing sadder than a bouquet that could pass for a bunch cellophaned of petrol station carnations. It says “Oops! I forgot!” and never fails to make the recipient feel like a bit of an afterthought… and no one wants that!

Over the years the Lucie Loves blog team have worked with a few different flower delivery companies, bespoke florists and flower arranging specialists, and so (like to think) we know a good bouquet when we see one. We’ve partnered with Sean and Li from FlowerBe - a fresh flower subscription service, costing from £25 for a single delivery, £26 fortnightly delivery or from £22 monthly, with a choice on fortnightly and monthly subscriptions to pick from the Tall, Short or Market Special option.

Life is too short to wait for someone to buy you flowers.

Fact!

So how is FlowerBe different from other flower delivery services?

“FlowerBe is the idea of bringing together seasonal flowers and inspirational interiors, learning about flowers and artful arranging. As much as there is not one type of rose or dahlia, one shade of blue or one design of chair, there is no single way of enjoying and expressing flowers in your own home.”

When your FlowerBe subscription arrives, the stems are loose – just like you’d see at a wholesale flower market – the place that professional florists go to shop for the flowers that will eventually end up in your bouquet. The idea behind FlowerBe is that you can pick and choose from that fortnight or month’s ever so pretty, generously-sized seasonal selection and then arrange them at leisure in a way that will suit you and your home.

FlowerBe are taking a stand (or should that be stems?) and creating a floral revolution of their very own, in a real flowers to the people type of way.

Out with cheap-looking, machine-arranged, supermarket flowers – and in with beautiful, unique, seasonal flowers that will allow you to experience the joy of floristry in your own home.

They don’t do arrangements. Instead, they give you the tools in a box – loose and un-arranged. Your delivery comes with a free monthly-themed magazine full of great ideas and inspiration. Each month they offer three original and alternative different selections, by selecting arrangements that combine a variety of flowers and seasonal. January’s theme is Fresh Beginnings, a celebration of the New Year, in collaboration with Cate St Hill, a Scandi-loving design and interiors writer and stylist based in London.

Upon opening my three boxes of flowers, (one Tall, one Short and one Market Special) the zingy, nostalgic perfume of the freshly cut stems and the unmistakable scent of eucalyptus filled my nostrils. It took me back to standing in the shop of my all-time favourite florist, Zita Elze, and selecting the flowers for my wedding bouquet. There’s a lot to be said for making something yourself, with getting hands on and then being able to step back and marvel at your creation.

Old milk bottles, glass carboys, and green glass vintage demi johns all make for excellent alternatives to your bog-standard vase. If you need inspiration for various vessels to house your arrangements or single stems, take a peek at the FlowerBe Journal Pinterest is also a great place for oiling your imagination – follow my Home Style Inspiration board to see what catches my eye!