27/05/2026
'Will you quit your job and do this full time?'
The question asked of me this weekend by Helen, who was celebrating a special birthday in her garden with her good friend Ali.
Ali asked me to provide a garden experience for her friend as her gift. I jumped at the chance to bring together two friends in glorious sunshine listening to their stories of friendship and hearing why the canopy of a well pruned ceansthus rendered them giddy with 'in jokes'.
I brought buckets of flowers from my garden and tried to think of all the little touches that would help Helen feel as though she was on a retreat in her own home. I arrived to squeels of excitement, in their anticipation of time spent creating just for the sake of it.
The purpose of the morning was not to create a floristry level bouquet but to fall in love with flowers and pay close attention to colour and form. For two friends to spend a few hours mindfully creating together.
The highlight for me was an infectiously enthusiastic Helen ringing her son, who was sleeping upstairs, insisting he came to the window to see her creation. Sleepy eyed, he agreed to take photos from his bedroom window as she shouted up to him, 'best day ever!'.
He emerged a few moments later and was kajooled into making his own vase arrangement (picture 8). I noted a genuine flicker of enjoyment on his face as he left with them back into the house.
I smiled as I noticed the four of us together, unfurling from busy weeks, shoulders settling.
No, I won't be quiting my role in healthcare anytime soon. I am SO enjoying these events and see them as intrinsically linked to my vocation; health = spending quality time with people, exploring our creative selves, making things just for the sake of beauty and kinship with nature.
1. Morning after kitchen displays
2. Thalictrum & perennial cornflower
3. Hand on heart, feeling proud
4/5. Arms full
6/7. Kenzan for micro moments
8. Cow parsley & meadow buttercup
9. Helen & Fred - thank you so much.
