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Flowers & Folklore

Flowers & Folklore

By: Sarah Rushbrooke & Keeley Rees
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About this listen

 Have you ever wondered why you shouldn't bring snowdrops into your home? Or what happens when you hear bluebells rings? This podcast is for you. Regular episodes from florists, Sarah Rushbrooke and Keeley Rees. Listen for floral lore and unusual flower facts.

flowersandfolklore.substack.comKeeley Rees Art
Episodes
  • Garden gossip 3

    Garden gossip 3
    Jan 28 2026
    In this Garden Gossip episode of Flowers & Folklore, Sarah and Keeley spill all the recent flower goss. From seasonal quiet spells to the ideas and projects that have been quietly taking up all their daydreams.From fairy lights and backyard vows to magnolias, amaranthus, unexpected thistle, and trusting your gut when plans unravel, this episode wanders through wedding flowers, winter studios, meaningful funeral work, and the power flowers hold in moments of joy and grief. Along the way, there’s talk of cake side-quests, Tolkien, hellebores on graves, creative play without pressure, and why fleeting beauty might be the whole point.Enjoy! Floristry & FlowersKeeley:Keeley did her first ever wedding as a florist! Yes siree Bob, that’s the secret project she mentioned in our previous Garden Gossip episode. It just also happens that this wedding was her own. Perhaps, one could argue, that it was a bit mad to attempt to do the flowers on her own wedding day (& in 38 degree heat!) but the madness made way for something magical. Sarah: Sarah recently put together a bold, joyful funeral arrangement for someone who loved colour. She went for fiery Icelandic poppies, wiggly ranunculus, pink spray roses, winter foliage, skimmia, and little pops of ilex berries. It was a riot of life in the middle of winter, and Sarah reflects on how flowers like these can offer a quiet bit of comfort, helping people pause, breathe, and remember the personality and passions of the person they’re celebrating. Even in sorrow, there’s a little magic in the way flowers can hold space for love.InspirationsKeeley:* Sarah mentioned Keeley’s Cake decorating post * This stunning tin snowdrop made by In Progress from Meg Fatharly. Meg’s instagram is also here. Sarah:* Secret Garden interactive book* Sarah’s visit to Tolkien’s grave, with a little hellebore. * Cyclamen by Karim Abu Shakra from the Palestine MuseumComing up…* Sarah’s DIY wedding course which will be out in February* Mother’s Day workshops and vouchers* Keeley’s substack We’re nerdy & noseyWhat flower-related things have you been inspired by recently? We’d love to hear your stories and connections about flowers. Our listenership is really spread across the world, so if you have some local folklore about a specific flower please write in and let us know.Email us at flowersandfolklorepodcast@gmail.com or message us on instagram. Enjoy the episode!Keeley & SarahFind Sarah online: Instagram | Substack | PinterestFind Keeley online: Instagram | SubstackMore info and transcript on Flowers & Folklore you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. Get full access to Flowers & Folklore at flowersandfolklore.substack.com/subscribe
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    39 mins
  • Camellia

    Camellia
    Jan 24 2026
    Hello, hello! So lovely to be back and be sharing our first episode of 2026 in which Sarah takes us into the curious world of the Camellia. Don’t be fooled by its beauty and abundance, this flower has a layered and more powerful past than you might expect. In this episode we wander about gently through history, folklore, politics and fashion houses. Plus, it wouldn’t be an episode about a pretty flower with at least one reference to a noble death, right? In amongst that creepy revelation we talk about memory keeping, notebooks, perfumes that evoke images of ‘theatre and posh old ladies’ and the lengths humans go to, just to have flowers in their lives, no matter the era.Grab a cup of tea, settle in, and maybe don’t pluck flowers from mysterious trees...Books* The Language of Flowers by Odessa Begay* A Year in Flowers by Erin Benzakein* Floriography by Jessica Roux* The Complete Language of Flowers by S. Theresa Dietz* The Language of Flowers by Margaret Pickston* Two Japanese tales featured here. This is an illustrated database of Japanese folklore and worth noting they also have Patreon. The accompanying image below is by Matthew Meyer:Impact on Women’s Sufforage in New ZealandSpeech: “So Women Can Get the Vote” by Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia.Journal: The camellia – suffragist symbol of womanly excellence. Battle of the Camellias.A symbol for Suffrage 130 by Vanessa Smith.Artworks & LiteratureLa dame aux camélias by Alexandre Dumas Camellia artworks by British painter and botanical artist Clara Pope (c.1767 – 24 December 1838).Camellia and Bird by Japanese ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Hiroshige (1797 – 12 October 1858).Also mentionedCamelia Oil by NiwakiCamellias in The House of ChanelFlowers & Folklore on InstagramWe’d love to hear from you! Have your own floral stories or lore about Camellia? We’re accepting reader submissions, so if you have a flower story, (about any flower) please share it with us! Comment below or email us at flowersandfolklorepodcast@gmail.comEnjoy the episode!Sarah & KeeleyFind Sarah online: Instagram | Substack | PinterestFind Keeley online: Instagram | SubstackMore info and transcript on Flowers & Folklore you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. Get full access to Flowers & Folklore at flowersandfolklore.substack.com/subscribe
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    55 mins
  • Garden gossip 2

    Garden gossip 2
    Dec 24 2025
    In this episode of Flowers & Folklore: Garden Gossip, we chat about what’s been inspiring us lately and what flowers we’ve been working with recently. Flowers & FloristryA wreath someone made in Sarah’s wreath workshopsA sneak peak from the vampy photoshoot at The MarlboroughA flower crown Sarah made for my Christmas party, because she forgot to photograph any of the arrangementsWhat are Sarah and Keeley up to?Listen to Keeley’s other podcast Creative CourageThe incredible Idea Catcher Spreadsheet that Keeley is offering podcast listener’s for free. This will be available soon.Sarah is working on a DIY Wedding Flower course. Follow her Instagram for updates.Christmas ornamentsFrom Keeley:The Die Hard Christmas ornament I made for my son. An heirloom nativity set gifted to me by Uncles & Aunty’s on my dad’s side of the family. This was in Nanna Betty’s home every Christmas and I was obssesed with it. Little wooden angel - one of 3 wooden pieces given to me from my Amma & Grandad’s collection. Anne of Green Gables ornament my Amma brought back from Canada for me.A brass instrument to remind me of my Grandad and growing up in the Salvation Army with their gorgeous brass band. And just because - our Christmas tree this year. Christmas ornamentsFrom Sarah:A snow globe with a dressage horse insideOne half of the set of turtle doves I share with my sisterThe Grandma ornament my sister had made for meMary Queen of Scots because she’s amazingOther inspriationEleanor Gander’s incredible tattoosFloral lace over the buildingsGarden gnome headcrown guy AKA Jonathan HiebertWe’d love to hear from you.Have your own floral stories or lore? We’d love to hear from you! We’re accepting reader submissions, so if you have a flower story, (about any flower) please share it with us! Comment below or email us at flowersandfolklorepodcast@gmail.comEnjoy the episode!Keeley & SarahFind Sarah online: Instagram | Substack | PinterestFind Keeley online: Instagram | SubstackMore info and transcript on Flowers & Folklore you must access this via your desktop and not your phone. Get full access to Flowers & Folklore at flowersandfolklore.substack.com/subscribe
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    45 mins
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