Mother's Day with Hamish Powell

Being a florist isn’t just a job - it’s a vocation. Our talented team live and breath beautiful blooms - and when you start to unearth where this devotion first began, it was often during happy childhood moments. In honour of Mother's Day, we chat with McQueens rising star, Hamish Powell who shares how his Mother, in particular, helped shape his interest in botany and creates a stunning seasonal bouquet inspired by his floral super hero. 

Hi Hamish! Tell us about your early memories of flowers... 

For me, spring is the season of nostalgia. Fond memories flow of the blooming and budding and shooting and sprouting that would flood my mother’s modest cottage garden. Crossing the garden gate’s threshold, you would be overwhelmed with the intoxicating scent of hyacinths until wafting over to the front door where the heady perfume of lilac would hit you.
 
What role did your mother play in shaping your love for flowers?

Although it sounds picturesque, the endless afternoons spent deadheading daffodils and sweeping fallen blossom off the patio seemed, to 10-year-old Hamish, a gruelling punishment. Looking back, this time spent with my mum in the garden was formative for my fondness of both the flowers (so much so I went on to study) and the revitalising energy that springtide brings.

Tell us about your floral creation inspired by your mum?

This Mother’s day I wanted to celebrate the botanical knowledge and memories my wonderful mother gave me as a child; creating a bouquet reminiscent of her pristine bulb beds and herbaceous borders. I started with smell; the sense most capable of plunging one into nostalgia. Using fragrant blooms like hyacinth, narcissus and lilac, accompanying English foliage and springtime stem combine to create this floral memory lane.

Ingredients
Plum blossom
Cherry blossom
Lilac
Snakeshead fritillaria
Narcissus Bridal Queen
Double daffodil
Pasta gerbera
Double French tulip
Camelia
Hyacinth
Rosemary