Gardener kept in dark about royal wedding flower display
The gardener said the geraniums were ideal for ‘a relaxed look’ – but will have to wait until Saturday to see them displayed.
Closely guarded royal wedding details remain secret, with even the gardener kept in the dark about how his flowers will be displayed on the big day.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have chosen white Mayflower and Dusky Cranesbill geraniums grown in The Royal Parks super nursery in London’s Hyde Park.
“We don’t know where they’re going to be, so we’ll be eagerly looking out ourselves to see where they are,” Mr Jones said.
It is thought the flowers – between 150 and 200 individual plants which are pollinator-friendly – will be incorporated into Ms Craddock’s displays in and around St George’s Chapel which will feature white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves.
Branches of beech, birch and hornbeam will also be used in the decorations, with the locally sourced foliage coming from the gardens and parkland of The Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park.
Mr Jones said geraniums “add a splash of colour”, adding: “They live for years so they will grow all summer, flower all summer, die down in the winter, and then come back again the following year, so very good value.”
The gardener said they were ideal for “a relaxed look”.
Asked if the flowers will be getting special treatment in the coming days, he said: “They’ll be getting a lot of TLC. We’ll be making sure they’re watered well, making sure they’re protected, and making sure that the flowers stay in the perfect condition for the day.
Looking ahead to Saturday, Mr Jones said: “I shall be watching the wedding along with half the rest of the country I would imagine. Looking out for my plants.”
Dr Alice Laughton, conservation manager at the Royal Parks, explained the importance of the flowers being pollinator-friendly, and what that might mean.
“The flowers that have been chosen are particularly pollinator-friendly flowers, which means they have a good store of nectar so they provide a lot of food for pollinators that are attracted to the flowers.
“So on wedding day we might see some bees, some bumblebees, hoverflies, some butterflies, all important pollinators here in the UK,” she said.
Dr Laughton is also excited for another reason – she is getting married this Saturday too.
“I like to think that all the wedding buzz is about my wedding so it’s been quite fun,” she said.
Talking about the flowers at her own wedding, she said: “My parents actually have grown all my flowers, so they’ve grown native pollinator-friendly flowers as well.”
