Hawthorns in May
Should we take them indoors … or not?
Flower friends, how have you been? Regular readers will have realised I’ve become somewhat erratic - a return to form perhaps, after all when I started this newsletter I described it as “irregular”. Well, dear reader, a few words for you: exams, twins, chaos. Letter writing has fallen by the wayside as I’m currently juggling the logistics of GCSEs in a neurodiverse household, along with meeting a stack of professional and artistic obligations. But I do have news for you, and plenty of it, so buckle up, and I’ll share.
Although it’s over now, the hawthorns put on a magnificent show this year. These images by no means convey the most voluptuous boughs of blossom I spotted. Having driven to Wales and back several times, unable to capture images (because, you know, the law, safety, timing), some of the trees and hedges I spotted left me overwhelmed at the sheer volume of their luscious load of rich creamy flowers, so heavy the branches drooped under the weight. I followed my inspiration and created a new piece, Hawthorn in May, detail shown in the image above. Traditionally seen as bad luck, there is science behind the thinking that hawthorn blossom should not come indoors. The flowers release a chemical called trimethalymine, which also happens to be the first chemical released by a the recently deceased. Hence “the smell of death” which, when merely thought of as the smell of hawthorn blossom, some people love, and some people hate. So an intricate, meticulously crafted paper version is truly the best (or only) way to keep hawthorn blossom in the house! Also, making paper flowers can be repetitive but is also always absorbing, and this piece is another reason for my absence. Excuses, excuses…
NEWS FROM THE STUDIO
June is the month of the Wirral Open Studio Tour, on the weekend of 14 - 15 June. I’m really happy to say that my recent - and new - exhibition pieces will be on show in the studio that weekend, before being whisked away for their next engagement a couple of days later. The Heath and Scrub series, featuring bramble, gorse and heather, plus a new series of Plant Dyed Paper Botanicals - including the titular piece “Hawthorn in May”
In July I will be at RHS Wentworth Woodhouse for five days, 16 - 20 July, with my new look, expanded collection of Paper Wildflower Craft Kits. This is huge for me and both exciting and terrifying! The logistics of preparing for a big show are pretty crazy, especially as a one woman operation, and production is in full swing. I’m still pinning down my display pieces, I had in mind a backdrop of giant flowers but I’m kinda inclined towards elegance right now, hmmm, watch this space… and wish me luck!
‘In Bud and Bloom’ at Rheged Gallery, Penrith opens on Friday 18th July and will feature a selection of my framed sculptural work. I feel honoured to be selected for this exhibition and can’t wait to visit it myself. I’ll be stopping on my way up to Scotland in August. I’m truly disappointed not to be able to make the opening but frankly I’d need a teleportation device to take me from Wentworth Woodhouse to Cumbria, and I'm pretty sure they are still theoretical.
New stockists I’m really happy to share that The Hub, Sleaford (home to the national centre of craft and design) is now stocking my Paper Wildflower Craft Kits. I am also excited to report repeat orders coming in, and to tease you with the mention of a creative collaboration in the pipeline with National Museums Liverpool…watch this space!
BADA: “Drawing out Hilbre Archipelago” Liverpool Independents Biennial 13 - 14 September I will be exhibiting on Hilbre Island along side contemporary landscape artist Amanda Oliphant for the closing weekend of this project. Plan your visit and remember to check the tides on the day before walking out to the island.
There is one thing missing from that list - the Flourishing Retreat. Due to circumstances we couldn’t control, the retreat is currently being reviewed, with two options currently on the table. We will either postpone it (which means sometime in 2026, and we are searching for a suitable venue) OR we will change it altogether. One solution to keep the retreat on the planned weekend 25 -28 September is to simplify the offering, as we have access to a wonderful training room in a beautiful rural setting and much closer to Norwich, close to a great selection of hotels and Airbnbs. We could deliver all the wonderful sessions we have planned for you, provide fantastic lunches with the same amazing caterer, and plan evening activities, and the benefit of this of course is a reduction in price and flexibility for anyone who can’t commit to the full weekend. What do you think? I’d still love to deliver these sessions with Meg in September, but I also welcome any comments, suggestions and ideas. And I’m also thinking about how to deliver a retreat closer to home (and hopefully Meg can come along to that too!)
So what with the exam timetable and being on hand to ensure that everyone gets to the right place at the right time - and home again - I haven’t ventured out much these past few weeks, apart from my trips to Ruthin and Warrington to deliver workshops - four flowers in four days But I did attend Wirral Makefest, debuting new colours in my Plant Dyed Paper range.
Hibiscus and Black Bean yield vibrant blues and pinks but I know from experience the real questions concern longevity and durability. Black Bean is very sensitive to modifiers, which can have its benefits but also leads to unexpected changes. It is not so keen on glue, changing colour, shifting to green and purple seemingly at will. Hibiscus is another interesting colourant. Initially a clear, bright shade of pink, it too is a sensitive soul and very sensitive to changes in temperature. During the warmer weather in the first half of May, the pink tones persisted, but as the weather changed they took on a bluer hue. It makes for an interesting creative experiment but right now, I still don’t appear to have a solution to my blues! Oh, to have the right colours for naturally dyed cornflowers! Indigo veers too much towards aqua, red cabbage is so fugitive it has run away by the end of the week…. Maybe further experimentation with black beans will yield better results. Patience and persistence is the key.
And on that note, and a promise not to leave it so long, I will end for this time. Thanks for reading, with love as always, Ling
PS By the time of Open Studio I will have listed summer and autumn classes. Over the past several years I've built up a portfolio of over sixty flower tutorials - probably more as the past few weeks have seen me take on new challenges in evening classes. I am always open to suggestions and requests if you yearn to make a specific flower
All photography by Ling Warlow 2025
Your work is absolutely incredible, Ling! I did not know the thing about bringing hawthorn blossom inside being bad luck - fascinating. Best of luck with all of your events over the next few months! 👏
I now have a better insight into your comment Ling! It sounds like an exciting if tiring summer for you; look after yourself.