The Hort Report: 21st February 2025
Lego flowers, snowdrop lunches, and more!
Here’s your weekly Hort Report - the round-up of industry news, retail insights, home gardener gossip, influencer spotlights, social media news, and so much more.
Grab a hot drink, and catch up on the latest below…
NEWS FLASH
Botanical Lego store opens in Antwerp
The Bol X LEGO The Botanical flower shop is now open in Antwerp! Stop by and admire the beautiful LEGO Botanical collection, featuring orchids, roses, wild bouquets, and floral arrangements. "I can buy myself flowers” definitely applies here!
INFLUENCER SPOTLIGHT
Carl Franklin Jones III
So you’ve seen a pumpkin carving, but what about a watermelon? Or even a papaya? Food artist Carl travels the world showcasing his incredible creations, and you can see everything he’s up to on his Instagram page!
Visit @thefruitcarverwisdom on Instagram
SOCIAL NEWS
It’s the season for snowdrop lunches
Gardener and writer John Grimshaw posted about attending a snowdrop lunch hosted by snowdrop grower Lucy Tyler and Will Ross-Jones. As he states in his Instagram caption, “This is one of Lucy's own seedlings, a very pretty short yellow, currently known under the identifier Elena, but perhaps to be published under a different cultivar name.”
PRODUCT NEWS
Rose geranium scented cedarwood pencils
Delight a stationery lover or treat yourself to this lovely set of six cedarwood pencils, infused with the warm, herbaceous fragrance of rose geranium. Expertly crafted in a century-old factory, these beautifully scented pencils offer both practicality and a hint of luxury. Presented in a handmade letterpress box, they make a thoughtful gift for floraphiles.
Shop here.
TRADE NEWS
Garden Media Group predicts garden trends for 2025
Garden Media Group, a public-relations company serving plant breeders, nurseries and others, released its annual Garden Trends Report earlier this year, which predicts how related industries, such as home, lifestyle, fashion and tech, may influence the horticulture and gardening markets.
Read a summary here.
JOB AD
Horniman Museum & Gardens seeks Garden Apprentice
The Horniman Museum and Gardens is seeking a Garden Apprentice for a two-year, full-time apprenticeship in partnership with Capel Manor College. The role includes one day of study per week at Capel Manor and hands-on experience in the museum’s award-winning heritage garden. The apprentice will work alongside a skilled team to develop their horticultural career. This opportunity is funded by The Finnis Scott Foundation and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Applications close on Tuesday, 4th March at 10:00.
Find out more here.
BOOK
Wildflowers by Chris Thorogood
This beautifully illustrated book by botanist Chris Thorogood explores 300 wildflower species, revealing fascinating facts about their history, uses, and unique adaptations.
From orchids that lived alongside dinosaurs to flowers that mimic stones or feed on creatures, it uncovers the wonders of the botanical world. Blending natural history, culture, medicine, and technology, the book also includes a habitat guide, identification tips, and a grow-your-own section - making it the perfect companion for flower lovers.
Buy it here.
WHAT TO DO NOW
Kew’s orchid festival
The annual orchid festival is back at Kew, and closes on 2nd March - so there’s still time to visit! This year, visitors will be treated to an exquisite Peruvian-themed display, complete with an array of orchids amidst sculptures of native animals. You can also learn all about the important work that Kew does in Peru, restoring forests, adapting agriculture to climate change and enhancing access to medicinal plants.
Find out more here.
HOME GARDENER PLANT OF THE WEEK
Salvia Blackberry Ripple
Salvia ‘Blackberry Ripple’ is a stunning, bee-friendly perennial with fruity-coloured flowers and scented foliage. A recent addition to the Malvern Salvia Collection, it’s perfect for the middle or back of a border and also makes a lovely cut flower. Growing up to 80cm tall with a 60cm spread, it is hardy down to -10°C. Available from April.
Find out more here.
INDUSTRY PLANT OF THE WEEK
Sunpatiens
Your eyes don’t deceive you - that’s a ski slope of Sunpatiens! Who needs to visit the French Alps when you’ve got this? These flowers are planted on Chausuyama, a mountain in Japan, in a display that showcases the real impact of Sunpatiens en masse.
See the full video of the display here.
PODCAST PICK
World Radio Gardening
Have you listened to the world’s first streamed gardening radio station? Broadcasting from Epping, it centres on gardening - of course - with interviews, talk shows and music.
Listen here.
SUBSTACK RECOMMENDATION
A directory of garden writers
If you can’t get enough of garden writing, Julie Witmer has helpfully put together a directory of hort-related Substacks. She’s also adding to this list, so come back when you’ve run out of things to read! And don’t forget to check the comments section for other readers’ recommendations, too!
Read it here.
LAST MINUTE EVENT
The Big Dahlia Night In
Subscribe as a member to The Grow Club (Sophie Valentine’s beginner grower club) to access this event, which covers everything you need to know about dahlias, growing from seed and tuber, taking cuttings, planting out, staking, growing in pots, pinching out, diseases and pest control and of course what to do at the end of the season.
Get a membership here.
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Thnku!