L O P M I N T & P U R D Y
DORSET'S ARTISAN COUNTRY HOUSE FLOWERS
W E L C O M E
to my little corner of Dorset where you will find
HOME GROWN
SEASONAL FLOWERS &
NATURAL ARTISAN FLORISTRY
M Y R O O T S
Hi, I'm Claire,
I am a City & Guilds qualified freelance florist, a Portrait, Botanical and Landscape Artist based near Wareham, on the edge of the Purbeck Hills in Dorset
My love for the county stemmed from my early teens when my parents bought a holiday 'bolthole' on the Dorset coast. Since then I have loved the county and all that it offers. I would find myself returning to it time and time again as a safe haven, nursing and reviving me through past heart aches and recovery from chronic Lyme Disease
So 5 years ago, it was an absolute 'dream come true', when I could move my son, cat & dog down here permanently into my very own little haven in the county that I loved dearly
......from our small two up two down London pad with no outdoor space, we now had a spacious garden to enjoy......and with little to no knowledge of gardening I got to work to try and revive a few abandoned, rotten and 'ground elder' infested beds which were to become the foundation of a 'little garden allotment'
I had been drawing and painting for quite a few years and had a hit a certain plateau in terms of motivation towards my art; so, craving a new creative path, & following my new found love for growing my own flowers, I started training to be a florist, and as they say, the rest is history
Floristry has become a deep passion and a great source of joy
AT THE HEART OF MY FLOWER 'LOPMINT'
[olde Dorset vernacular meaning a garden allotment]
LIES A DEEP COMMITMENT TO LIVING A CREATIVE,
SLOW PACED & SIMPLE LIFE
THAT EMBRACES SEASONALITY & SERENITY
MY PHILOSOPHY
My floristry journey is just starting but my inspiration will always come from being surrounded by
all things 'purdy' [olde Dorset vernacular meaning 'pretty']
I really enjoy the change in seasons & embracing places & experiences that speak to my nostalgic sentiments
Organic growing, recycling as much as I can & sustainable floristry practices inform everyone of my 'natural artisan' floral creations
Generosity, sharing knowledge & experiences without 'gate-keeping'; along with bolstering and supporting other small local businesses is the cornerstone of my philosophy
CREATIVITY
Having managed an interiors studio where I was surrounded by creativity and fresh ideas every day, and with a recent background as a portrait artist, I understand the importance of 'every detail.' I know how colour palettes, tones, texture, space, alignment and scale all integrate together to create something very 'purdy' & dynamic & in today's competitive market it is all about unique designs that capture attention. I believe that my neurospicy brain helps me bring a fresh perspective to floristry, bringing my client's moodboards to life in a unique way
My floristry provides me with a quiet space and time for creativity which has been intrinsic to my neurodivergent mind. It literally breathes life into me. I hope that my workshops allow others to enjoy that same opportunity in what is, very often, a busy and chaotic world
My love for country house living & interiors inspires me along with a strong interest in feng shui.
I am utterly evangelical about the impact that great flower design can have to a home, an interior or 'event location' and this is what inspires and drives my creativity
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Floristry has a terrible reputation for landfill waste...those awful green oasis blocks ....'aaaargh!' not to mention how toxic they are to work with
Sustainability is at the heart of everything I do and as a recently fully trained florist I take the responsibility of moving with the times very seriously. I believe there are no longer any excuses in using non biodegradable oasis blocks, sheets and sheets of plastic or those dated poly-ribbons. Floristry has relied upon these for far too long over the last few decades, so I'm re-learning & embracing 'olde' traditional ways of floristry by using chicken wire, handmade wooden frames, biodegradable & bamboo trays, agra wool blocks and natural materials like moss
I prioritize recycling any plastic pots or trays that I already have, creating my own compost and partnering with local compost makers. To inform my customers, all my designs are logo'd with 'fully compostable' and or 'recycling' icons. All packaging is paper, and in some cases 'yesterday's newspapers' are used for wrapping, Water bubbles are made with fully compostable bio-bags
Tools are cleaned with non-toxic organic solutions and any unsold or short stemmed flowers are lovingly donated to local hospices and charities
Each flower is carefully conditioned & fed with British handmade flower food to ensure its vase life lasts as long as possible.....and when it comes to the end of their life cycle I pick and deadhead as many as I can to make my own confetti
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FLORISTRY
BUSINESS
STUDIES
ARTISANAL EXPERTISE
Flowers have the power to transform an event from ordinary to extraordinary. to transform a rather urban drab space into something spectacular and breath taking. My love for both English Country house interiors & 'nature' have influenced my loose and relaxed 'natural artisan' floristry style
My design approach is to bring in a very 'pretty' 'country house garden' from the outdoors, into the indoors, which I hope I achieve through my natural floristry expertise
Using home made 'lopmint' grown flowers supplemented with 'artisan' local stems, I can ensure that every bouquet, although 'small batch', are bespoke, organic, natural, seasonal, high quality and have as long 'a vase life' as possible, without any of the air miles
I know perfection is non-attainable all of the time but I certainly strive to meet my customers, brides and birthday recipient 'needs' & 'expectations' by delivering as much of an exceptional job as I can. To see the delight and or receive lovely testimonies, gives me immense delight
C A T H E R I N E , S A N D F O R D
"THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE FLOWERS FOR OUR BARN DANCE. THEY ADDED SUCH A CHEERFUL TOUCH TO THE EVENING ...LOTS OF COMPLIMENTS ....YOU'RE SO CLEVER!"
NOSTALGIA
Each one of my floral designs is a heartfelt nod to nostalgia. Drawing my inspiration from my favourite childhood book 'The Secret Garden' I create bouquets that capture the charm and essence of a timeless quintessential English Edwardian Country Garden. Each arrangement is named after a character or location from the book, reflecting their unique spirit & essence
The Edwardian garden era was characterised by an Arts & Crafts inspired blend of formal & wild, featuring garden rooms with distinct themes, naturalistic & abundant. It included decorative structures like pergolas, water features and large pedestal stone urns. The Edwardian age was far less manicured than the Victorian period, it still captured a romantic naturalism but remained structured with visual interests through careful planning & layering. My events floristry, in particular my wedding floristry, aims to recreate this geomancy & transport you to a place of timeless, elegant prettiness & serenity
So with my love of the book and its sentiments, it was such a wonderful serendipitous moment when I was invited to take on a summer assignment as a resident florist at the Gatehouse, in Wareham's very own secret garden. Carey's Secret Garden has a wonderful back story to match any of 'Frances Hodgson Burnett's' notations and is well worth a visit. The secret garden, is just one of my high quality British stem suppliers, picked for their mutual ethos and love for the Dorset county
GENEROSITY
Generosity lies at the heart of my floristry philosophy, shown I hope; not only in my lush & abundant, seasonal bouquets but also in my endeavour towards generosity of spirit & openly sharing knowledge
Completing a floristry qualification requires attaining 150 to 180 hours of work experience, and for many florist students who mostly make up 'women mid lifers on a career pivot', this can be both daunting & logistically difficult, especially when 'seeking placements' I firmly believe that there is abundance for all if you allow it. Just as two flower shops in Wareham thrived side by side for years, each cultivating its unique aethetic while also supporting one another & their individual customers, so too students; when given the exact same materials can create completely different designs. No two florists will have the same style, the same motivations, the same customer base. No two flower farms will have the same terrain or the same weather conditions
I am committed to fostering a collaborative spirit & making sure I give a big shout out to both my fellow flower farmers & florists but also to work collaboratively alongside my customers, suppliers, stockists, event venues et al
As a newbie to the industry; I am still very much on the learning curve myself and will be needing my own help and assistance along the way. Therefore I offer internships for aspiring florists and plan to actively engage with local schools to provide students with valuable work experience, ensuring that mutual learning, knowledge and opportunity blooms for everyone
I hope to create a series of 'free toolkit resources' from my own 'Lopmint' log & notebooks made over the last few years which may be helpful for anyone interested in floristry, flower growing, country interiors, design, drawing, & or painting
If you are a Florist Student seeking a work experience internship then please do not hesitate to contact me
claire@lopmintandpurdy.com
SEASONALITY
Seasonality is the main 'north star' guiding principle for growing on the Lopmint
My floral designs therefore are often determined on what is currently growing & thriving on the Lopmint or what is available from other British grown wholesalers. At times this means I have to make changes or alterations to designs from season to season, year to year to reflect the natural rhythms of each growing season
For wedding and event flowers I will always inform you should any alternatives be needed
By prioritizing seasonal flowers I not only ensure the freshest most vibrant designs are available but I also honor the environment. Every arrangement is a homage to natures cycles; bringing the essence of each season into every bouquet
THE LOPMINT & PURDY SEASON
JANUARY - FEBRUARY
With the exception of my farewell flowers, no other flowers or floristry will be available.
I will be very busy on the Lopmint, cultivating, deweeding, fertilizing, sowing & planting during these months plus working 'on the business' rather than 'in the business' planning for the year ahead.
My Easter Shop will be open for pre-orders, other 'gifting' products, plus gift vouchers will still be available at this time of the year
During the winter months there is still a very high demand for Farewell Flowers and for this reason this service will continue despite the Lopmint being closed.
Funeral flowers will use imported flora material in order to be fulfilled, but wherever possible I try to minimise as much as I can by using as much British grown foliage and any other foraged blooms that may be available at the time of year
MARCH
Lopmint & Purdy will be open on an ad hoc basis.
Tulip and Narcissus, Hellibores and other Spring bulbs and potted plants will be in full bloom in time for Mothers Day & Easter orders as well as gift vouchers and subscription offers
APRIL - SEPTEMBER
Lopmint & Purdy's season will be open, and all flower services will be available
The Lopmint will be in full bloom between July & the end of August
OCTOBER
With the exception of my Farewell Flowers, no other flowers or 'floristry' will be available. I will be very busy putting to bed the Lopmint ready for the winter season, planning for next summer's Weddings, plus getting ready for the hectic festive wreath making season
The Christmas Shop will be open for Pre-Orders
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER
The Christmas Season will be in full swing, with the Christmas Shop fully open. Wreaths, garlands and gift vouchers will be available, along with the usual farewell flowers
M E L I S S A , P O O L E
“I JUST HAD THE BEST TIME AT THE WORKSHOP. THANK YOU CLAIRE...YOU'RE THE SWEETEST. HONESTLY I DIDN'T THINK I'D BE CRAFTY BUT YOU MADE IT SO EASY. I AM SO PROUD OF MY GORGEOUS WREATH. I CAN'T WAIT TO HANG IT UP AT HOME & SHOW IT OFF"
SOME
'FEELING CHUFFED'
MOMENTS
K E I T H, V E R W O O D
"JUST WANTED TO SAY ANOTHER MASSIVE THANKS FOR THE AMAZING FLOWERS - EVERYTHING WE WANTED & MORE! I HEARD SO MANY LOVELY COMMENTS. THE STAFF FROM O'HARA'S SEE LOTS OF TRIBUTE FLOWERS & THEY SAID THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED!"
C A T H E R I N E , S A N D F O R D
"THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE FLOWERS FOR OUR BARN DANCE. THEY ADDED SUCH A CHEERFUL TOUCH TO THE EVENING ...LOTS OF COMPLIMENTS ....YOU'RE SO CLEVER!"
SO WHAT'S NEXT?
The 'Lopmint' is officially only on its third season so there is always plenty to learn. I have just adopted a very 'brambly' and 'weed-filled' abandoned piece of land from my kindly local farmer; which I will be gradually and lovingly cultivating and nurturing over the next coming months ready for next year's growing season 2026
GOALS FOR 2025|2026
Many of my arrangements are largely made with flowers provided by my fellow local flower farmers or at the very least, supplied by some well trusted wholesalers that share a similar philosophy of bolstering and supporting 'British Flower Farming' Many are 'supplemented' with my own home grown stems. I am hoping that by next growing season; with my expanded growing space, it will be the other way round; where the local sourced flowers will be the minority and will be supplementing my own
I am hoping that I will have had the opportunity to partner up with 2 to 3 different local stockists in the form of farm shops, or artisan coffee shops and deli's. If you are an owner or manager of any local site that might like to have a bucket or small display of local seasonal flowers, then please do get in touch
I am also hoping to find a residential florist placement with a hotel or a particular event space. As I am fresh off launching, I would love to bolster up my connections with local event organisers. Again, if there is any interest or you think there may be an opportunity for mutual collaboration; then please do not hesitate to contact me
I hope that my home-grown and locally sourced flowers can provide you with a much needed daily dose of comfort and joy
Welcome to Lopmint & Purdy. I am so excited to share my flower growing and floristry journey every step of the way with you
I will always aim to provide a personal touch so please call, email or even drop by the studio to discuss your requirements and I will try my very best to help you out
07951 100 653 | Based in East Morden, Nr Wareham
