Fleurs de Lyonville

04/06/2026

Once a bed is established for a few years, it can become more difficult to keep on top of the w**ding, as was the case with one of our feverfew (matricaria) beds.

It was time to flip it, but some really nasty perennial w**ds, specifically wild sorrel, had become established in sections, meaning that even with a heavy initial w**ding session, it was likely to come back again and again, like Freddy or Jason in a horror flick.

This is when one of the main no-dig techniques is really useful:

Lay out a thick layer of newspaper straight over the bed, overlapping generously so there are no gaps for grass to push through. Wet it down well. Then compost goes straight on top — and that’s it. The newspaper blocks the light, the w**ds and old growth break down underneath, and the worms do the work of pulling it all back into the soil for us.

No machinery and minimal soil disturbance. Just a good stack of old newspapers.

A couple of notes — make sure your newspaper is uncoated with no glossy pages, and overlap more than you think you need to. Gaps are where the nasty stuff finds its way back through.

Second, the paths on either side of this bed are in pretty rough shape, and a w**d like sorrel will eventually snake it’s way from the paths into the bed and we are back to square one. We did a very thorough w**d and mulch of those paths soon after we flipped and planted the bed out.

New PDF: No-Dig Growing Guide - coming soon 🌱

02/06/2026

When an annual bed is done, we cut the plants off at ground level rather than pulling them out root and stem. The root system stays intact underground, slowly breaking down into organic matter and feeding the soil life we’ve spent years building.

Those roots also create channels in the soil that improve aeration, soil structure, and give fungi and microorganisms the pathways they need to do their work.

A couple of things worth noting:

The loppers came out here because we were dealing with thick sunflower stems, most annuals you can cut with snips or a hedge trimmer at ground level.

This technique works specifically with annuals. Perennials and biennials are a different story, because many will reshoot from the base you leave in the ground, so those need a different approach entirely.

Save this for your end of season bed management 🌱

02/06/2026

When an annual bed is done, we cut the plants off at ground level rather than pulling them out root and stem. The root system stays intact underground, slowly breaking down into organic matter and feeding the soil life we’ve spent years building.

Those roots also create channels in the soil that improve aeration, soil structure, and give fungi and microorganisms the pathways they need to do their work.

A couple of things worth noting:

The loppers came out here because we were dealing with thick sunflower stems — most annuals you can cut with snips, or a hedge trimmer at ground level.

This technique works specifically with annuals. Perennials and biennials are a different story — many will reshoot from the base you leave in the ground, so those need a different approach entirely.

Save this for your end of season bed management 🌱

31/05/2026

One year from today we’ll be in the Toulouse countryside for our Clay & Petals Retreat with Madame Voyage, and we want to give you a real sense of what this week looks and feels like…

Think creativity and relaxation in equal measure: meditative hand-built pottery vase making, flower arranging, picking flowers from a local French flower farm, filling up on seasonal French food cooked by our private chef… Chris 😉, plenty of French wine, afternoons by the pool, finding treasures at antique markets, and wandering historic ceramic villages.

Clay & Petals is a six-day pottery and floral retreat in the south of France, June 1–6, 2027. Small group, just 12 guests.

Fully all-inclusive: accommodation, all meals, wine, pottery and floral design workshops, and experiences all taken care of.

Link in bio to find out more🌸✨

31/05/2026

One year from today we’ll be in the Toulouse countryside for our Clay & Petals Retreat with Madame Voyage, and we want to give you a real sense of what this week looks and feels like…

Think creativity and relaxation in equal measure: meditative hand-built pottery making, flower arranging, picking flowers from a local French flower farm, seasonal French food cooked by our private chef (Chris 😉), plenty of French wine, afternoons by the pool, antique markets, and wandering historic ceramic villages.

Clay & Petals is a six-day pottery and floral retreat in the south of France, June 1–6, 2027. Small group, just 12 guests.

Fully all-inclusive: accommodation, all meals, wine, pottery and floral design workshops, and experiences all taken care of.

Link in bio to find out more🌸✨

29/05/2026

Open house this morning

26/05/2026