A Q&a with Hazel Gardiner

WE CAUGHT UP WITH HAZEL GARDINER, FLORAL ARTIST AND FRIEND OF WILD BEAUTY, RECENTLY TO ASK HER MORE ABOUT THE INSPIRATION BEHIND HER DESIGNS, HER GO TO GARDEN ESCAPES AND HER TABLESCAPING TIPS. HAZEL HAS A NATURAL INSTINCT FOR GARDENING A SIGNATURE STYLE OF FLORISTRY THAT OFTEN MERGES FRESH, SILK AND DRIED MATERIALS. YOU CAN READ OUR FULL CHAT WITH HER BELOW AND FIND OUT WHY SHE IS USING MORE HEATHER IN HER DESIGNS THIS WINTER.

We love your floral designs for their wild, natural aesthetic. Where do you get your inspiration?

Nature, that is always my first thought when designing. We often work on otherworldly commissions and events where we are asked to create the unexpected. Even if the final design is unique and conceptual, we always look to the way flowers grow and interact with their natural environment as a structure to build upon.

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming you to Rhug Estate, the home of Wild Beauty. Has spending time here inspired any of your creations?

When I experience flowers in their natural habit it completely transforms how I treat and design with them. As a gardener I know the required growing conditions for most of the British flowers and foliage I use. If I understand that a variety is drought tolerant or prefers a wet rainforest it informs how I work with that bloom. Visiting Rhug was a completely immersive and visceral experience. Experiencing blue tansy and yarrow growing naturally and seeing the hives that create such beautiful wax amplified my respect for the ingredients, the growing process and the Wild Beauty team. It has transformed how I work with heather for example, I’m actively selecting this for my Christmas arrangements this year as I have newfound respect for its multi-purpose properties. It was a highlight of the year to get to experience this very special place in such intimacy.

In London, do you have a favourite park or garden you like to visit?

I love visiting secret tucked away gardens such as the Cloister Garden in the grounds of St John Priory Church in Clerkenwell and The Garden Musuem with landscaping by Dan Pearson and Christopher Bradley Hole. If you wanted to venture a little further there is the glorious Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield.

What is important to you when sourcing flowers and foliage for your floral designs?

Seasonality, colour and movement. Everything goes back to the brief, what are we trying to convey, what story are we trying to tell? We work on many installations that need to evoke a certain emotion which informs the materials we choose. We try and use British where possible which means we are dictated to by the bounty of the season which really forces creativity, especially in the winter months but this is a beautiful challenge. Working with an ephemeral material is something we really enjoy as it perpetually changing.

If you had to choose your favourite floral project to date, what would it be?

Completely transforming Levi’s sustainable concept store in the heart of London for Black History Month. We created a luscious indoor garden featuring an abundant amount of specially selected plants, dried flower walls made from denim pockets and an exuberant window display. Its intention was to remind people that diversity and inclusivity, like a garden, still need to be nurtured. It was also a symbol of beauty for both the natural world and black culture, a celebratory experience for all.

Do you have a tip you can share to help elevate our at home arrangements?

Play around with size and if in doubt use a large amount of one variety for that wild painterly effect in stark contrast to more rigid arrangements. Instead of buying a mass made wreath usually created in heavy blue spruce make your own with a natural wreath vine base adding groupings of berried ivy, yew and fir.

Can you give us a hint as to what your Christmas table will look like this year and the trends you are seeing as we come into the festive season?

I always like the non-traditional so will be creating a table that is in line with my interior this year rather than adopting the custom vivid red and green festive palette. There will be lots of blues, soft pastels and apricot tones. I will also be adding my paper floral centrepiece I’ve designed with Meri Meri. I think people really want to go big this year and over the last 12 months tablescaping has become a huge trend. Think maximalist displays full of textural flowers, lashings of ivy and patterned ceramics. Sustainably is also a top priority so many are looking to use responsibly foraged materials which compostable and dried flowers for their displays.