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THE ENGLISH HOME 117Florist Jay Archer has been spraying pine conesand foraging for moss for festive wreaths sincethe end of August. She enthuses: “Scent is reallyimportant at Christmas. I think it’s lovely when youwalk into the house and the fire is crackling and it’swarm and smells of mince pies, cinnamon and pine;you can just catch the blend of those scents and ittransports you back to being a child at Christmas.”Harking back to the natural decorations usedcenturies ago, requests for fresh foliage are at theirheight during the festive period, with berried branches,pine and holly holding particular appeal. Jaycontinues: “Paperwhites smell amazing, and you canget really beautiful scented roses. Traditional clovesstuck in oranges and dried cranberries also blend inwith fresh displays very well and all the elements cometogether to create the scent of mulled wine.”Jay’s award-winning floristry business began froma childhood passion for nature cultivated with hergrandparents, and, at Christmas time, naturalelements were always part of her grandparents’decorations. “My grandma’s garden was full of lotsof poppies. She would ask me to cut them, then shewould tie them in little bunches and we would arrangethem on the Christmas tree.”Mostly self-taught, Jay launched her floral designbusiness nine years ago, after encouragement from her(now) husband. “In the early days, I went foraging allthe time and used garden flowers because they werecheaper and readily available,” she explains.``````Images of Jay’s seasonal creations resonated withclients, and, instead of moving on to use exoticflowers, Jay found her niche creating locally sourcedfloral designs for weddings and seasonal displays.The business is based on a farm in Hampshire,surrounded by woodland and hedgerows – perfect forsourcing armfuls of natural produce, both for Jay’sfloristry business and her own home, especially atChristmas. “I always go on foraging trips with mystep-children. I ask them to find interesting produceand then we spray paint them and make big Christmasmobiles to hang in the kitchen.”Preparations for the festive period begin in thesummer and peak throughout December until twoweeks after Christmas, with seasonal arrangementsincluding traditionally made wreaths, ready to beplaced on the front door from the first of December.The business also includes a local house dressingservice in Hampshire, as well as a floristry school.Popular Christmas colour schemes include all-natural shades of green, and the glamorouscombination of red and gold is always highlyrequested. “In modern life, families are so split upthroughout the year, so Christmas is one of the onlytimes of the year that people always get together,” Jayreasons. “Mother-hens want to make a bit ofa fuss and make sure the table looks beautiful, andthey justifiably feel guilt-free indulging in beautifulflowers and wreaths.”jayarcherfloraldesign.comTHE NATURAL GATHERERIn the build-up to Christmas, florist Jay Archer loves to seek out seasonal foliage andflowers to make lavish wreaths, bounteous fresh garlands and vivid table displays``````ABOVE, FROM LEFTAlthough roseslook delicate, theyare long lasting,making them idealto incorporateinto Christmasarrangements.Jay runs a floristryschool, which offersfestive courses onwreath making andfestive dinner-partytable flowers.Courses run duringNovember andDecember. Visit,jafdflowerschool.comTraditional wreathrings are made usinga moss and copperframe, which meansthey can be sprayedwith water andreused again thefollowing year.TEH US DEC15 Making Xmas Special.indd 117 14/10/2015 11:29