Book Review:How To Grow The Flowers by Marianne Mogendorrf and Camila Romain

If you don’t follow Wolves Lane Flower Company on Instagram you are missing out on a glorious account which I have adored for several years and for several reasons. British flowers are one of my passions, and I will forever fight for this small but mighty corner of the floristry industry that in the last few years has really stood up for the joys of seasonality and sustainability. In many cases these are not farmers with acres of land, or who are even growing full time, but every single grower is passionate about sustainability, and the effect that a luxury product like flowers is having on the world, on workers and on the health of our homes.

Anyway, I digress. Camila and Marianne are fairly new flower farmers and they grow in a community based space in North London, where lots of other magic also happens. It’s a space I am desperate to visit and fingers crossed 2023 will be the year. With that they have quickly learned to use that space to the max, and so whilst obviously being focused on the flowers as their core work, soil health and sustainable practices are part of that core mission.

The book takes the reader through a year on the flower farm, starting in autumn as all gardening and growing does, and each seasonal section talks about soil, seeds. tending and harvesting, and has seasonal “recipes” for bringing plants into our homes that are creative and joyful. I need a dahlia staircase next summer for sure and there are instructions on how to make one.

The entire book is filled with stunning photographs from Aloha Shaw, and whilst this could absolutely be seen as a coffee table book, it’s also brilliantly informative and really speaks of Camila and Marianne’s processes, both strategic and practical.

But, and this is an important point that is a joy, what this book is at its core is humble. These ladies know that they are fairly new to the growing world, they understand that actually whatever a grower does, nature is the boss and working with her is imperative. As they say the book is “a testament to their passions” and that can be felt through every word.

And what this ends up being is a book that gives anyone the permission they might feel they need to go out and grow, even in the smallest of spaces. It’s a book that empowers and encourages and one I would strongly recommend for anyone interested in flower growing, whether as a business or for their own home. Bravo ladies.