At Jennifleurs, our florists have numerous passions and while flowers are probably the primary one, we are also passionate about the history of the town we live in and the surrounding area. We find inspiration on our doorstep on a daily basis and thought we should share some local history and the flowers we love.
Colchester is an historic market town in the county of Essex, with a population of approximately 180,000. It is situated on the River Colne in the south east of England and is approximately 50 miles north east of London. Once called Camulodnum, it was the first Roman city in, and the erstwhile capital of Roman Britain, as such Colchester can lay claim to being the oldest recorded town in the UK. There is also archaeological evidence of human habitation in the area dating back to the Palaeolithic Period. It has been a military garrison since Roman times, and during World War 2 Colchester was home to infantry and light-anti-aircraft training units.
The area is also awash with scenic landscapes and natural beauty which attract numerous amateur and artisanal florists, not to mention wildlife. The flowers and plant life found here help to form a variety of habitats which make it a prime location for bird lovers and botanists. Speaking of botanists, Colchester has a small place in the botanical history of the UK. Beth Chatto was a pioneering British botanist, author and garden designer who along with her husband researched the origins of garden plants and flowers, was educated at Colchester County High School for Girls in the 1930s. She also founded Beth Chatto Gardens, now known as Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens, which have a National Heritage Grade II listing and are an informal collection of historically significant gardens. These ecological garden were founded in 1960 and are a prime example of sustainable planting, echoing Mrs. Chatto’s primary ethos of ‘right plant, right place’. Many of the flowers on display were propagated from plants Mrs. Chatto collected herself and are grown in peat-free soil.
The natural beauty of Colchester is reflected in the vast number of nature reserves in the area, some of which were established by the RSPB. Flatford Wildlife Garden is a prime example of an RSPB site and it was designed to provide visitors a glimpse at the wildlife spectacle that can be found when a garden is rich in the correct species of plants and flowers. The two main habitats here are garden habitats and mini meadow. The garden provides numerous wildlife friendly ideas which amateur florists can incorporate into their own green spaces, such as log piles, a small pond and colourful borders which provide homes for pollinators, which in turn attract larger wildlife. The mini meadow includes spring flowers like cowslips and summer blooms like yellow rattle and wild carrot, which makes it a haven for bug life and is a fine example that even a small expanse of wildflowers can attract an array of insects. It’s no surprise that our florists find fuel for their passions here!
Fringringhoe Wick Nature Reserve spans 200 acres and is situated on the banks of the River Colne, affording stunning views of the Colne Estuary and saltmarsh. It encompasses a variety of habitats from ponds and lakes to woodland, scrubland and heathland, and is a fine example of the natural beauty of the area. It also offers visitors a fantastic opportunity to observe local flora, and some more exotic wildlife like migratory birds.
The florists at Jennifleurs feel spoiled by the abundance of beauty on our doorstep and feel that we have the passion and expertise to provide bouquets and designs for any occasion.
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At Jennifleurs, our florists have numerous passions and while flowers are probably the primary one, we are also passionate about the history of the town we live in and the surrounding area. We find inspiration on our doorstep on a daily basis and thought we should share some local history and the flowers we love.
Colchester is an historic market town in the county of Essex, with a population of approximately 180,000. It is situated on the River Colne in the south east of England and is approximately 50 miles north east of London. Once called Camulodnum, it was the first Roman city in, and the erstwhile capital of Roman Britain, as such Colchester can lay claim to being the oldest recorded town in the UK. There is also archaeological evidence of human habitation in the area dating back to the Palaeolithic Period. It has been a military garrison since Roman times, and during World War 2 Colchester was home to infantry and light-anti-aircraft training units.
The area is also awash with scenic landscapes and natural beauty which attract numerous amateur and artisanal florists, not to mention wildlife. The flowers and plant life found here help to form a variety of habitats which make it a prime location for bird lovers and botanists. Speaking of botanists, Colchester has a small place in the botanical history of the UK. Beth Chatto was a pioneering British botanist, author and garden designer who along with her husband researched the origins of garden plants and flowers, was educated at Colchester County High School for Girls in the 1930s. She also founded Beth Chatto Gardens, now known as Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens, which have a National Heritage Grade II listing and are an informal collection of historically significant gardens. These ecological garden were founded in 1960 and are a prime example of sustainable planting, echoing Mrs. Chatto’s primary ethos of ‘right plant, right place’. Many of the flowers on display were propagated from plants Mrs. Chatto collected herself and are grown in peat-free soil.
The natural beauty of Colchester is reflected in the vast number of nature reserves in the area, some of which were established by the RSPB. Flatford Wildlife Garden is a prime example of an RSPB site and it was designed to provide visitors a glimpse at the wildlife spectacle that can be found when a garden is rich in the correct species of plants and flowers. The two main habitats here are garden habitats and mini meadow. The garden provides numerous wildlife friendly ideas which amateur florists can incorporate into their own green spaces, such as log piles, a small pond and colourful borders which provide homes for pollinators, which in turn attract larger wildlife. The mini meadow includes spring flowers like cowslips and summer blooms like yellow rattle and wild carrot, which makes it a haven for bug life and is a fine example that even a small expanse of wildflowers can attract an array of insects. It’s no surprise that our florists find fuel for their passions here!
Fringringhoe Wick Nature Reserve spans 200 acres and is situated on the banks of the River Colne, affording stunning views of the Colne Estuary and saltmarsh. It encompasses a variety of habitats from ponds and lakes to woodland, scrubland and heathland, and is a fine example of the natural beauty of the area. It also offers visitors a fantastic opportunity to observe local flora, and some more exotic wildlife like migratory birds.
The florists at Jennifleurs feel spoiled by the abundance of beauty on our doorstep and feel that we have the passion and expertise to provide bouquets and designs for any occasion.
Things our Customers Say
