Tablescaping in Winter & Early spring

If you are like me, waiting for the British flower season to begin, you might think there are not many ways to bring colour to your table. However, nature provides lots of inspiration and there are a few tricks we can do to enjoy colour and scent in the winter months.

My absolute joy in winter months is to force flowering bulbs indoors. You can choose from hyacinths, daffodils, paperwhites and muscari. You can skip prechilling the bulbs by purchasing already chilled bulbs from reputable sellers such as Sarah Raven which note the best species and cultivars for forcing, along with number of weeks from planting to bloom.

In early spring, a quick trip to the garden centre and you will find flowering violas and primulas; perfect to bring indoors to decorate your Sunday table, and then plant outdoors in borders, patio containers or pots on the balcony. Violas are fairly easy to grow, and to look after; keep deadheading to enjoy their delightful blooms and lovely scent for longer. As oppose to their pansy cousins, violas will grow back year after year. Furthermore, you can safely use them to decorate your salads or cakes.

Primulas make a cheerful display in spring borders but also on your table! They come in many colours and shapes. My absolute favourite is Primula vulgaris, the common primrose, is one of the first signs of spring! Her delicate pale yellow nearly white flowers, with wrinkled green leaves brings optimism and a touch of wilderness to your indoor displays.

Use vintage terracotta pots, china soupiers or bowls, stone planters to add character and style. Apart from their pleasing look, vintage pots are sustainable, environmental friendly, can be recycled and reused again and again. Once the plants have finished blooming, plant them in the garden or save the bulbs for the next flowering season. Although vintage terracotta pots are hard to come by, check eBay, your local charity shops or Oxfam online for unique pieces.