Me and My Garden
Those of you who already know me will be aware of my passion for the garden. For those who don't then let me introduce myself.
My interest in gardening started when I was very young. I can remember helping my Dad with his rose beds before I was even old enough for school and as a teenager I got as much pleasure out of weeding as my friends did from partying. I found gardening a wonderful way to de-stress at exam time and I became hooked on the satisfaction that comes from nurturing something from seed and watching it grow and flourish.
That desire to nurture took me in a very different direction for many years as I pursued a career in nursing, eventually becoming a health visitor and providing families with the knowledge and confidence they needed to grow.
My passion for gardening never left me and I grasped every opportunity to spend time outside digging, weeding and planting before finally taking the decision to make my garden my career. I studied horticulture at RHS Harlow Carr and ran my own garden maintenance and design company before moving to London, where I was lucky enough to work with the inspirational team at Petersham Nurseries.
Since returning to Harrogate I have enjoyed creating my own cut flower garden and garden school at home. It gives me enormous pleasure to share my passion with other like minded men and women through the classes and workshops I run as part of Harrogate Garden and Flower School.
I work with the seasons to cultivate some old fashioned favourite blooms, as well as looking out for new varieties of well-loved classics, adding something a little out of the ordinary. The majority of my flowers are sown & raised by hand...mine! The roses I buy from David Austin Roses. I am thrilled to be a member of the British flower growing network Flowers from the Farm and champion British cut flowers at every opportunity, using them creatively in my workshops.
With the popularity, rightly so, of the slow food movement, it's surely the time for slow flowers too...locally grown, seasonal, sustainable & wonderfully scented with a good vase life. You can even have your own bespoke flower service...grown to order. Just get your orders in at seed sowing time!
At a glance, Jo Banks Flowers and The Harrogate Garden and Flower School offer...
Those of you who already know me will be aware of my passion for the garden. For those who don't then let me introduce myself.
My interest in gardening started when I was very young. I can remember helping my Dad with his rose beds before I was even old enough for school and as a teenager I got as much pleasure out of weeding as my friends did from partying. I found gardening a wonderful way to de-stress at exam time and I became hooked on the satisfaction that comes from nurturing something from seed and watching it grow and flourish.
That desire to nurture took me in a very different direction for many years as I pursued a career in nursing, eventually becoming a health visitor and providing families with the knowledge and confidence they needed to grow.
My passion for gardening never left me and I grasped every opportunity to spend time outside digging, weeding and planting before finally taking the decision to make my garden my career. I studied horticulture at RHS Harlow Carr and ran my own garden maintenance and design company before moving to London, where I was lucky enough to work with the inspirational team at Petersham Nurseries.
Since returning to Harrogate I have enjoyed creating my own cut flower garden and garden school at home. It gives me enormous pleasure to share my passion with other like minded men and women through the classes and workshops I run as part of Harrogate Garden and Flower School.
I work with the seasons to cultivate some old fashioned favourite blooms, as well as looking out for new varieties of well-loved classics, adding something a little out of the ordinary. The majority of my flowers are sown & raised by hand...mine! The roses I buy from David Austin Roses. I am thrilled to be a member of the British flower growing network Flowers from the Farm and champion British cut flowers at every opportunity, using them creatively in my workshops.
With the popularity, rightly so, of the slow food movement, it's surely the time for slow flowers too...locally grown, seasonal, sustainable & wonderfully scented with a good vase life. You can even have your own bespoke flower service...grown to order. Just get your orders in at seed sowing time!
At a glance, Jo Banks Flowers and The Harrogate Garden and Flower School offer...
- Monthly Garden Classes, covering theory and practical aspects of the garden in a fun and relaxed atmosphere
- Workshops on hand tied bouquets, Seasonal flower decorating, Christmas flowers & wreath making, how to grow cut flowers, herbs, edible flowers and composting
- Seasonal, local, beautiful cut flowers for your home or as gift
- Flower styling for entertaining and events
- A full Garden Design service, including project management
- Planting plans for your garden
- A Plant Nursery selling quality, more unusual plants than often available elsewhere
- General garden advice
