Visiting Petersham Nurseries is always a real treat. It’s a nursery based in Surrey, which also has a shop, cafe and tea house – all housed in vintage greenhouses.
There’s a huge range of spring plants on offer at the moment, including hyacinths, narcissi, tulips, hellebores, primulas and muscari, plus hydrangeas, iris and mimosa.
The whole place is so photogenic…I hope you enjoy the images I’ve captured.
It’s very hard to resist buying from the shop, where everything is so beautifully styled, from gardening tools, pots and wellies to homeware and gifts.
The cafe and tea house are run by celebrity chef Skye Gyngell and her team. Reservations for the cafe, which has recently been awarded a Michelin star, are essential.
I know this blog is about flowers, but I had such a lovely time in the tea house. I could have spent the whole afternoon there, enjoying the spring sunshine, as it has a really lovely relaxing atmosphere. The home-made chocolate, carrot and coconut cake was out-of-this-world. I can honestly say that I can’t remember the last time I tasted such a delicious cake!
I noticed that they’re running a Flower Arranging Workshop there next month, on Thursday 7th April from 10am–1pm. It’s being conducted by resident florist and stylist Ronny de Koning, who’ll be demonstrating how to make arrangements and bouquets using seasonally available flowers and foliage. Plus you make your own creation to take home.
Petersham Nurseries really is an oasis on the edge of London and I’d very much recommend a visit.
You can also keep up-to-date on their news via Twitter and Facebook.
(Images : Rona Wheeldon for Flowerona)
March 17th says
March 11, 2011 at 3:40 pmAbsolutely beautiful photos, just lovely, thanks. We’re off to Petersham this Sunday x
Rona says
March 11, 2011 at 4:14 pmThank you very much for your comment. I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed looking at the images. Hope you have a lovely time at Petersham this weekend! 🙂
Nicole Liew says
March 11, 2011 at 8:56 pmRonny used to own The Wild Bunch in Richmond where I did my one-day-a-week work experience with him before I set up The White Orchid a year later. He is now the buyer for Petersham Nurseries and I think they are going to set up a concessionaire in Selfridges ( deja vu for you?).
Petersham Nurseries always makes me feel as if I am in France.
Rona says
March 12, 2011 at 6:36 amI thought I remembered Ronny’s name. It certainly is deja vu! Petersham Nurseries went into Selfridges in January : http://www.petershamnurseries.com/newsandevents_view.asp?nNews_ID=%7B2CCFDC19-81DA-4391-817C-AA455A355D6F%7D
I must take a look next time I’m in Oxford Street.
Lynne, Tea for Joy says
March 11, 2011 at 9:15 pmLovely photos. I haven’t been here in a while – need to make it my mission to go soon!
Rona says
March 12, 2011 at 6:29 amHi Lynne
Thank you! It’s such a lovely relaxing place…a bit of a sanctuary on the outskirts of London. Hope you enjoy your visit there soon.
Rona
Laura, HappyHomemakerUK says
March 12, 2011 at 3:32 pmWe made reservations to go in April, thanks to you. Can’t wait!
Rona says
March 14, 2011 at 9:05 amWonderful! I look forward to hearing all about it :-).
Christina says
March 15, 2011 at 2:44 pmI just got home from having tea there and tried the carrot, coconut and chocolate cake and I can safely say that it is the best cake I have had in years!! I stumbled across your site while searching for the recipe online, if anyone out there has got the recipe, let me know pleeeeease, it’s divine!!
Rona says
March 15, 2011 at 3:24 pmHi Christina. I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it too! Oh…if only we had the recipe…