Flowers & Folklore

In this episode of Flowers & Folklore: Garden Gossip, we chat about what's been inspiring us lately and what flowers we've been working with recently.Keeley tells us about viburnum, viburnum and more viburnum and Sarah tells us about the end of wedding season. Tangents include a trip through Keeley's gorgeous garden and Haddon Hall's recent exhibition Magic. Sarah also reveals her dislike of gyp and Jane Austen's Emma.Flowers & Floristry* Keeley's beautiful designs from college* The Season of Abundance ran by Sophies Flower Co. Read Sarah's essay about it on Substack* The waxflower tree Sarah and the other students made at McQueens Flower SchoolWhat are Sarah and Keeley up to?* Join Sarah in Glasgow for one of her wreath making workshops this winter* Getting married in Scotland? Sarah is offering 10% off weddings booked by the end of November 2025* Keeley has launched her gorgeous new business The Green Edit StudioHave your own floral stories or lore? We'd love to hear from you! We're accepting reader submissions, so if you have a flower story, (about any flower) please share it with us! Comment below or email us at flowersandfolklorepodcast@gmail.comEnjoy the episode!Sarah & KeeleyFind Sarah online: Instagram | Substack | PinterestFind Keeley online: Instagram | SubstackMore info and transcript on Flowers & Folklore you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. Get full access to Flowers & Folklore at flowersandfolklore.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Flowers & Folklore, we dive into the surprising history and tales surrounding the humble “bit-like-a-granny's-handbag' nasturtium, from its gory Greek naming origins to its gentle flower fairy depictions.We discover why this bright orange bloom was once associated with warriors and triumph, how Beatrix Potter, Claude Monet, and Cicely Mary Barker each captured its charm, and why it was once thought to repel serpents and bring good fortune. Along the way, we chat about Tales of the Shire (and Tolkien's opinionated spelling choices), there's poetry by Anne Spencer of the Harlem Renaissance, plus we uncover the curious Elizabeth Linnaeus phenomenon, and disappear down a rabbit hole over our mutual obsession with miniatures.It's a magical episode that'll make you see nasturtiums in a whole new (flashing?) light.Books, Art & Poetry* The Language of Flowers by Odessa Begay* Unearthing The Secret Garden by Martha McDowell* The Flower Fairies Alphabet (1934) by Cicely Mary Barker — “Nasturtium the Jolly” poem & illustration* The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (Nasturtiums in Mr. McGregor's garden)* Lines to a Nasturtium poem by Anne Bethel Spencer * The Witch's Garden by Sandra Lawrence* Country Life article by Mark Diacono: “In praise of the humble nasturtium”* “How to do the flowers” by Constance SpryArtworks* Nasturtiums in a Blue Vase by Claude Monet* Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit nasturtium illustration* Cicely Mary Barker's Nasturtium FairyGames & Fun Bits* Tales of the Shire game by Wētā Workshop* Snaps from Sarah's Halloween dried floral headdress workshop * Dollhouse project & miniature-making course (affiliate link, also you can get 10% off your whole order with the code: KEELEY) Picture below of the beginning of Keeley's Brambly Hedge treehouse.Bonus video of Sarah's foster boy Bruno “helping” to clean up after the workshop:Have your own regional stories or nasturtium lore? We'd love to hear from you! We're accepting reader submissions, so if you have a flower story, (about any flower) please share it with us! Comment below or email us at flowersandfolklorepodcast@gmail.comEnjoy the episode!Sarah & KeeleyFind Sarah online: Instagram | Substack | PinterestFind Keeley online: Instagram | SubstackMore info and transcript on Flowers & Folklore you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. Get full access to Flowers & Folklore at flowersandfolklore.substack.com/subscribe

Hello! First episode back after an unexpected break! Two reasons why this is extra exciting: A) 1: because I'm now joined by Keeley Rees as a co-host! (Hooray!)And 2) because we'll be bringing you new episode formats each month, as well as the much-loved Flowers & Folklore deep dive episode on one flower. Same podcast. Same feed. More floral nerddom. Also, new moody artwork:In this episode we chat about how we met and how we found flowers, or should it be how flowers found *us*? Plus we share our favourite and least favourite flowers. (They know what they did.)Plusss we've started a new Instagram account to share all of our findings and connect with you. Follow along here. We LOVE hearing from you and want to open up floor soon for reader submissions so if you have a flower story, please share it with us! Comment below or email us at flowersandfolklorepodcast@gmail.comEnjoy the episode! Sarah & Keeley Find Sarah online:InstagramSubstackPinterestFind Keeley online:InstagramSubstackMore info and transcript on Flowers & Folklore you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit flowersandfolklore.substack.com

The sixth episode of Flowers & Folklore will be all about the tulip!Resources used for this episode:The Language of Flowers by Margaret PickstonThe Language of Flowers by Odessa BegayThe Complete Language of Flowers by S. Theresa DietzFlower Fairies of the Spring by Cicely Mary Barkerhttps://www.tulipmania.art/in-persian-mythology-the-tulip-is-considered-to-be-the-flower-of-love/https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/learning/dartmoor-legends/the-legend-of-the-bed-of-tulipshttps://amsterdamtulipmuseum.com/pages/the-story-of-the-tulipSave Wild Tulips: https://www.fauna-flora.org/species/wild-tulips/Find Sarah online:InstagramSubstackPinterestHave you heard some interesting folklore about tulips? Please let me know! Leave a comment or email me on podcast@rookbotanics.comMore info and transcript on Sarah's Substack - you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. Get full access to The Foibles of a Florist at sarahrushbrooke.substack.com/subscribe

The fifth episode of Flowers & Folklore will be all about the daffodil!Resources used for this episode:Discovering the Folklore of Plants by Margaret BakerThe Language of Flowers by Odessa BegayThe Brief Life of Flowers by Fiona StaffordBeatrix Potter's Gardening Life by Marta McDowellFlower Fairies of the Spring by Cicely Mary BarkerFlowers Fairies of the Garden by Cicely Mary Barkerhttps://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/wild-daffodilhttps://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-inspiration/plants-we-love/daffodils-art-myth-folklorehttps://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/libraries-at-rhs/articles/sarah-backhouse-creator-of-first-pink-daffodilFind Sarah online:InstagramSubstackPinterestHave you heard some interesting folklore about daffodils? Please let me know! Leave a comment or email me on podcast@rookbotanics.comMore info and transcript on Sarah's Substack - you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. Get full access to The Foibles of a Florist at sarahrushbrooke.substack.com/subscribe

The fourth episode of Flowers & Folklore will be all about snowdrop!Resources used for this episode:Discovering the Folklore of Plants by Margaret BakerSnowdrop by Gail HarlandThe Language of Flowers by Odessa BegayThe Brief Life of Flowers by Fiona Staffordhttps://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2022/01/where-and-when-to-see-snowdrops/Flower Fairies of the Winter by Cicely Mary BarkerGækkebrev: https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A6kkebrevFind Sarah online:InstagramSubstackPinterestHave you heard some interesting folklore about snowdrops? Please let me know! Leave a comment or email me on podcast@rookbotanics.comMore info and transcript on Sarah's Substack - you must access this via your desktop and not your phone.Have you heard some interesting folklore about thistles? Please let me know! Leave a comment or email me on podcast@rookbotanics.comMore info and transcript on Sarah's substack - you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. Get full access to The Foibles of a Florist at sarahrushbrooke.substack.com/subscribe

The third episode of Flowers & Folklore will be all about mistletoe.Resources used for this episode:*Breverton's Complete Herbal by Terry Breverton*Discovering the Folklore of Plants by Margaret Baker*The Hedgerow Apothecary by Christine Iverson*https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/mistletoe-christmas-tradition*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscum_album*https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2015/12/a-folktale-about-mistletoe/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA88a5BhDPARIsAFj595iDda97vz30rR4HzH01ycUaGv1ejfEX8Zn7L5EliU2caoc2agjB65gaAuHGEALw_wcB*MistleGO the national surveyFind Sarah online:* Instagram* Substack* Pinterest*Buy a Rook Botanics gift voucherHave you heard some interesting folklore about thistles? Please let me know! Leave a comment or email me on podcast@rookbotanics.comMore info and transcript on Sarah's substack - you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. Get full access to The Foibles of a Florist at sarahrushbrooke.substack.com/subscribe

The second episode of Flowers & Folklore will be all about the thistle!Resources used for this episode:* Breverton's Complete Herbal by Terry Breverton* Discovering the Folklore of Plants by Margaret Baker* Floriography by Jessica Roux* The Language of Flowers by Odessa Begay* The Brief Life of Flowers by Fiona Stafford* Witch's Garden by Sandra Lawrence* The Complete Language of Flowers by S. Theresa Dietz* A Modern Herbal by Alys Fowler* https://www.efdss.org/learning/resources/beginners-guides/47-british-folk-customs-may/3412-may-morning#* https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/attractions/arts-culture/thistle* https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/the-thistle-scotlands-national-flower* https://www.icysedgwick.com/thistles-folklore/Find Sarah online:* Instagram* Substack* PinterestHave you heard some interesting folklore about thistles? Please let me know! Leave a comment or email me on podcast@rookbotanics.comMore info and transcript on Sarah's substack - you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. Get full access to The Foibles of a Florist at sarahrushbrooke.substack.com/subscribe

The ever episode of Flowers & Folklore will be all about the foxglove!Resources used for this episode:* Breverton's Complete Herbal by Terry Breverton* Discovering the Folklore of Plants by Margaret Baker* Floriography by Jessica Roux* The Language of Flowers by Odessa Begay* The Brief Life of Flowers by Fiona Stafford* The Hedgerow Apothecary by Christine Iverson* The Forager's Calendar by John Wright* Witch's Garden by Sandra Lawrence* Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life by Marta McDowell* https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/incredible-tale-foxglove-179066* https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/foxglove/* https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/foxgloveFind Sarah online:* Instagram* Substack* PinterestHave you heard some interesting folklore about foxgloves? Please let me know! Leave a comment on Substack or email me on podcast@rookbotanics.comMore info and transcript: https://sarahrushbrooke.substack.com/ Get full access to The Foibles of a Florist at sarahrushbrooke.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever wondered why you shouldn't bring snowdrops into your home? Or what happens when you hear bluebells rings? Then this podcast is for you. There will be monthly episodes from me, Sarah Rushbrooke. I'm a florist, a flower nerd and folklore fanatic. Each episode focuses on a specific flower, it's lore and unusual floral facts.Launching this Sunday! So keep an eye out wherever you listen to podcasts.Find Sarah online:* Instagram* Substack* Pinterest Get full access to The Foibles of a Florist at sarahrushbrooke.substack.com/subscribe