The Bunches Blog

The Bunches Blog - Jubilee Joy - Thursday, 24th May

The sun is shining, numerous ice creams have been consumed at Bunches HQ and we've got into the Jubilee spirit by creating our own bunting!

Decorate you street party or Bank Holiday celebrations with your free Bunches bunting. It's free to download and all you will need is a printer, stapler, scissors and some pretty ribbon.

Download your bunting here. Don't forget to share your photos of the finished product on the Bunches Facebook wall: www.bunches.co.uk/facebook.

The Bunches Blog - Etwall Well Dressing 2012 - Wednesday, 23rd May

Every year, a Well Dressing Festival is held in Etwall, Derbyshire on the third weekend in May and has been an annual event since 1970. The Well Dressing Festival is a tradition that each year raises money for local charities and pulls together the community.

For those unfamiliar with the event, Well Dressing is the decoration of walls around springs and wells in villages using materials depending on the time of year, in this case spring blossoms, plants and flowers are used.

Last year Bunches donated flowers for the event and this year was no different! The donation of flowers supported the Scout's and Brownies on their displays, who used the 2012 Summer Olympics as their inspiration.

Take a peak at the photos below of the fantastic finished displays...

The Bunches Blog - Running For The Latrines.... - Tuesday, 22nd May

Last week Commercial Director Dan and Production Director Will flew back to Kande, Malawi to follow up on the progress made in the village following our trip last October. They have returned with glowing reports of positive changes in the area and how Bunches investment is making a real difference.

It was lovely to hear that work has already started building much needed toilet blocks in the village. Seven latrines have been funded by my London Marathon sponsorship, together with a further seven made possible with Bunches financial support. Twenty will be built in total which will serve 20,000 people and reduce the spread of disease.

A water borehole has also been repaired since our last visit and 2 further boreholes are due to be drilled which will improve access to clean, safe water.

Below are a few snaps from their trip, showing work in progress on the latrines. A video from the trip will be available for viewing very soon, so keep an eye on our charity page.

The Bunches Blog - Majestic Blooms! - Friday, 18th May

With only 2 weeks until the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations begin, everyone at Bunches is looking forward to an extended weekend of festivities on 2nd June.

To mark the occasion, we have created a new patriotic bouquet inspired by the Union Jack. The 'Majesty' flower bouquet features an elegant red Rose surrounded by white Chrysanthemums, red long-stemmed Carnations, papery blue Statice and cheerful red Germini - the perfect centrepiece for any Jubilee celebration!

The 'Majesty' bouquet is priced at Â£19.99 and includes a box of yummy milk chocolates when purchased online. Don't forget to place your order by 3pm on 31st May for delivery in time for the Jubilee!

The Bunches Blog - Summer of Roses.. - Sunday, 13th May

Here at Bunches HQ, we're ignoring this unpredictable British weather and getting ready for the long awaited summer months. Days out at the beach, BBQs with the family and picnics in the park are just some of the things we're all looking forward to.

We haven't just been dreaming of long lazy days in the sun, we have also been hard at work creating beautiful summer bouquets full of bold colours to brighten up any home! We have a perfect bunch of blooms to send to your loved ones or even enjoy for yourself.

My personal favourite is the Summer Roses bouquet. It's a colourful selection of twelve mixed Roses in pink, orange, yellow and cerise shades, beautifully finished with Salal and rattan. It's definitely an eye catcher and won't fail to make your recipient smile. It also needs no arranging, so they can just simply pop it into a vase and enjoy the blooms opening at home!

The Bunches Blog - Meet Aga - Friday, 27th April

Aga is our Floral Designer and has been part of the Bunches team for 5 years. She grew up in the village of Zdziechowice, Poland and has 2 children. We thought we would get to know her a little better...

What does your job involve?
- My job is really varied...I design Bunches bouquets and ensure our customers receive a lovely gift by sourcing long lasting floral varieties and quality checking our blooms. I also visit suppliers; work on product photo shoots and train staff to ensure everyone knows about our latest seasonal ranges.

Where do you get your inspiration for creating bouquets?
- Everywhere! When I'm shopping, from magazines, clothes, visits to Holland, flower shows and galleries.

What's the best thing about working at Bunches?
- Working with flowers every day and with such lovely people - Bunches is my second home!

Describe yourself in 3 words
- Creative, helpful & feisty!

What is your favourite flower?
- I can't narrow it down to just one, but three of my favourites are Spray Carnations as they are so long lasting, Calla Lilies for their elegance and Freesias because of their beautiful scent.

What 3 celebrities (dead or alive) would you invite round for a dinner party?
- Lady Diana, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Lopez.

What is your favourite holiday destination & why?
- It's a close call between Holland because of the flowers and Ireland because of the beautiful countryside and friendly people.

Describe your perfect weekend
- A drive in a Formula 1 car followed by dinner with my friends and Jenson Button.

The Bunches Blog - A Marathon Effort! - Tuesday, 24th April

Following 6 months of training and anticipation, the day of the London Marathon finally arrived on Sunday. After a very nerve wracking start, I slowly began to relax, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy London's most famous landmarks in the glorious sunshine.

I completed the 26.2 mile course in 4 hours 56 minutes and was very proud to receive my medal at the finish line on The Mall. The highlights of my day included the adrenaline rush running over Tower Bridge and the incredible crowd support as I passed Big Ben at mile 25.

We have raised over £2,200 to build latrines in the village of Kande, Malawi where I visited last year with Bunches and the charity Links International. A huge thank you to everyone who supported and sponsored me - all the pain and hard work was worth it!

The Bunches Blog - Creative Recycling! - Wednesday, 18th April

Crafty customer Susanna Crowther recently got in touch with a photo of a lovely decoupage chair - decorated with old Bunches brochures! She carefully cut out the floral images and varnished them on to create a wonderful and unique piece of furniture. Thanks Susanna!

If you have used your old Bunches brochures in an unusual way, please let us know! Email your photos to flowers@bunches.co.uk.

The Bunches Blog - Spring Colour at Keukenhof - Monday, 16th April

Last week our Floral Designer Aga visited Holland's spectacular seasonal floral display at Keukenhof Gardens...

I fell in love with the spring at Keukenhof Gardens last Friday. A place in the Netherlands that, without exaggeration is paradise on earth - It is the place to truly see spring blossom!

The park is world famous and has been one of the most popular destinations in the Netherlands for sixty three years now. Every spring, hundreds of people stroll around the gardens to enjoy millions of flowers, thousands of trees and bushes in blossom, as well as countless emerald ponds, streams and canals.

Over 7 million Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths are in full bloom and you really do experience spring in all its glory. I've returned with lots of inspiration and ideas for floral designs, so watch this space for exciting new Bunches bouquets!

The Bunches Blog - Chocolate Fest! - Thursday, 5th April

Easter is almost here and everyone at Bunches HQ is looking forward to the long weekend!

The office is rarely without a few sweet treats and this week has been no exception, with every member of staff given a gorgeous iced chocolate egg. We're doing our best to resist tucking in before Sunday - Happy Easter!