Harvest Flowers

A glorious beam of autumn sunshine was radiating from an azure sky as members of our church flower teams gathered at Finchley Nurseries in Mill Hill to pick harvest flowers.

Our custom of picking gloriously vibrant dahlias fresh from the fields in Burtonhole Lane dates back several decades. The weather isn’t always kind but our hardy flower arrangers turn up in rain and shine.

Saturday was such a happy day and newcomers were delighted to join in what is one of the best “Flower Team” events of the year.

We do hope everyone enjoyed the arrangements we prepared for our annual festival.

Dahlias are striking flowers but not long lasting so we refresh them regularly to prolong their beauty.

The staff at this well respected and ancient garden centre are always welcoming and, as regular customers, we are afforded a generous church discount.

No visit would be complete without coffee and biscuits. Finchley Nurseries boasts a café in the grounds where visitors can enjoy hot and cold refreshments. Tempting dishes of homegrown produce for breakfast or lunch are available all year round.

In fine weather, nothing beats sitting on the patio or in the summer house, which offer lovely views of the gardens.  Entertainment from local musicians and singers is a regular feature in the warmer months too.

But Christmas is the most exciting time of all to visit with festive music, lit up pathways and endless fir trees to suit all homes and budgets.

We select ours every year with the help of various children and grandchildren – a long held Radnedge family tradition.

— Lynn Radnedge