I’m delighted to announce the publication of my new book ‘The Botanical Home’. I’ve been researching this material for several years and I’m very happy with the finished product: a beautifully illustrated volume featuring stunning photographs, which have been largely taken or chosen by my daughter Tasha.
Here is an excerpt from the Introduction:
At Home with Nature
“Nature is an essential component in all our lives. It is the basis on which civilisation is founded, yet sometimes we can forget this essential connection. Recognising and honouring our interdependence with nature is key to re-establishing a meaningful relationship with ourselves and with our environment. Direct interaction with nature can also be a grounding force amid the ups and downs of our daily lives – it literally brings us down to earth and reminds us that we are a part of the natural world. The vibrant green scent of aromatic herbs; the brilliant radiance of a vase of fresh flowers; the grainy textural feel of wood; the enveloping warmth from the flickering flames of an open fire – all these sensory experiences raise simple but primeval emotional responses within us, which are comforting, nourishing and reassuring. By surrounding ourselves with elements from nature in our homes, we are simultaneously elevating our senses and soothing our souls at a primal level. Bringing plants and greenery indoors is one of the most effective ways to create a healing environment – a well-being sanctuary in which to regenerate and recharge from the overload of our modern lives…
The creation of a healing and sustainable home is also about being aware of the challenges facing our society today. Confronted by such enormous ecological issues as global warming and the destruction of natural habitats, we urgently need to return to a more environmentally conscious way of living, to renew our connection with nature and to utilise the limitless healing potential of botanicals as an everyday practice. By incorporating the lifestyle suggestions presented in this book, we can begin to move away from the habits that further destroy our ecosystems and instead make an individual step towards addressing some of these important environmental issues.”
How to Create a Sustainable Aromatic Sanctuary at Home
The main body of the book provides guidelines for using botanicals within a wide range of practical applications, such as flower arranging and stillroom preparations, as well as giving step-by-step instructions on how to make over 60 recipes for a multitude of household products. Learn how to care for your home with a botanical cleaning kit, make surface cleaners, fizzy toilet tabs and scented laundry products as well as eco-friendly laundry detergents. This section also includes how to create fresh flower arrangements, healing teas, herbal vinegars, prepare flower waters and botanical perfumes – as well as how to blend and dry flowers to make potpourri, sleep sachets and insect-repellent sacs.
Enhance your home and delight your senses by creating botanical shrines, scented candles, pressed flower designs and flower petal paper. Then soothe and relax your body and mind by taking a ritual aromatic bath or tuning into nature through an elemental meditation. Did you know you can also use houseplants to purify the air and fragrance your home naturally with homemade incense, reed diffusers, pomanders and aromatic wax melts, rather than using synthetic products?
Botanical Home Hygiene
Here is an example of one of the recipes from Chapter 3:
Aromatic Bathroom Cleaning Spray
This is a quick recipe to create a cleaning spray within minutes that you can use immediately. The pairing of vinegar and naturally antibacterial and antiviral essential oils is a simple and easy first step to removing unnecessary chemicals from your home. This is no ‘old wives’ tale – vinegar really is a hero ingredient of the cleaning cupboard, thanks to its acetic acid content, which helps combat germs and mould, loosens mineral deposits and dissolves soap scum. In this recipe, it is combined with naturally antibacterial, antiviral essential oils that have the bonus of smelling delightful.
Cypress adds a green, herbaceous accord, paired with the woody base notes of cedar to create a delightfully pleasing forest aroma, and the citrus element imparts a sunshine note. For extra cleaning power in the bathtub or toilet, sprinkle a little baking powder or bicarbonate of soda on surfaces first to make a paste, before spritzing with this solution and then scrubbing off with an eco-sponge or brush.
Ingredients
325ml (11.4fl oz) white vinegar, 175ml (6.1fl oz) purified water, 10 drops each of lemon, cedarwood and cypress essential oils
Equipment
500ml (17fl oz) large nozzle spray bottle – glass or recycled plastic.
Method
- Pour the vinegar and water into your 500ml (17fl oz) spray bottle – a glass spray bottle is ideal or recycle a clean plastic one.
- Add 30 drops of essential oils (in total).
- Shake gently to combine all ingredients.
- Spray and use around the home to clean surfaces, avoiding granite and marble.
Tip: This handy solution can also be used to clean glass or mirrors with a soft eco-cloth, or as a deodorising air freshener in the bathroom
Best Botanical Species to grow at Home
The second section of the book provides a detailed guide on how to cultivate over 40 easy-to-grow plants, each with a botanical description and a range of suggested applications, including my personal tips. By following the instructions in this book, you will not only be able to grow and nurture flowers and herbs from seed but also learn how to make garlands, posies and exquisite flower arrangements. Invite the outside indoors using design and planting ideas for every season to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of living close to nature as part of your everyday life!
You can now purchase an exclusively signed author’s copy of ‘The Botanical Home‘ from our website!