Martin Gathers Statice for Drying
Martin carefully gathers bunches of freshly cut Statice, a flower that has long been cherished for its remarkable ability to hold colour and form even as it dries. With steady hands, he sorts stems of purple, white, and crimson, placing them into neat bundles ready for the drying racks.
Statice, also known as Limonium, is a traditional choice for dried arrangements, once found in parlour vases and cottage wreaths across Britain. At Heligan, it is part of a wider effort to reconnect with the craft of growing, harvesting, and preserving flowers in ways that echo the working gardens of the past.
Drying flowers was once more than a pastime. It was a way to keep the brightness of the garden through winter, when fresh blooms were scarce. Today, this practice offers the same promise: to hold onto a season’s colour and weave it into something lasting.