‘What Are Gardens For?’ Shane Connolly: Bringing the Garden Inside

Say it with flowers: Shane Connolly is steeped in the history of flowers and their important role in art, poetry and jewellery, which brings an extra depth to his work. From the field maples lining the nave of Westminster Abbey for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, or the simple bridal bouquet of spring flowers held by the Duchess of Cornwall, to rich tableaux reminiscent of a Dutch master, he transcends floristry, creating living works of art with flowers and foliage. Accordingly, as well as being By Appointment to both HRH The Prince of Wales and HM The Queen, his work appears on the best dinner tables and events at large venues such as the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Royal Academy. A firm believer in using seasonal, British-grown flowers to bring nature inside, Shane’s work has a lightness of touch – as likely to highlight the particular intricacies of an individual tulip or the chequered charms of a tiny fritillary as he is to wow you with a large arrangement; in his hands a clump of weeds can transform into something worthy of Albrecht Durer. An engaging and amusing speaker, he will be looking at the long history of the meaning of flowers, whether in the poetry and plays of Shakespeare or the Victorian language of flowers. He will also create an arrangement especially for the evening, using flowers and foliage from the Oudolf Field. ‘What Are Gardens For?’ is a series of talks curated by Caroline Donald, Garden Editor of the Sunday Times. Tickets: £12