Stuart & Alexander Christmas Special!

In this episode of the Stuart & Alexander, Grace and Becca go live on Instagram, reflecting on their festive preparations, recent travels, and various holiday plans. You can also watch here. They discuss Grace's trip to London and their creative Christmas decor ideas, including the use of holly trees and paper chains. The conversation also touches on hosting Christmas dinners, the logistics of cooking, and holiday traditions. Grace shares her hectic schedule, including plans for a new kitchen garden vegetable growing calendar. There's holiday drinks, cats, and upcoming New Year resolutions.01:35 Grace's London Trip and Celebrations03:18 Christmas Preparations and Decorations05:22 Bringing the Outside In: Festive Floristry13:55 Christmas Tree Dilemmas and Solutions22:41 Ribbon Talk: Variated Holly and Velvet Ribbons24:36 Christmas Table Plans and NHS Shoutout25:29 Family Christmas Plans and Tablecloth Dilemmas27:14 Flower Arrangements and Gardening Friends34:44 Wreath Workshops and Foraging Adventures38:41 Christmas Break and Future Plans42:35 Exciting Trips and Stylish Convertible Dreams43:46 Wrapping Up: Festive G&Ts and Podcast Plans

S&A is now available on Instagram! Follow us forout-takes, behind the scenes, extra info, and what coming soon. https://www.instagram.com/stuartandalexander/ Stuart & Alexander is a podcast from friends and flowerobsessives, Becca Stuart and Grace Alexander.  Becca is a Cornish grower, florist and stylist, floweringthe best weddings and events in Cornwall. https://thegardengateflowercompany.co.ukhttps://www.instagram.com/thegardengateflowerco/ Grace is a seed merchant, writer for the Garden Collective and in conversion organic gardener.www.gracealexanderflowers.co.ukhttps://www.instagram.com/gracealexanderflowers/ IN: Gifts for your homeThe Wool Company https://www.thewoolcompany.co.uk Yorkshire Blankets https://yorkshireblankets.co.uk/Socks - Number 30 Ashburton @number30ashburton Dartmoor Shepherd https://thedartmoorshepherd.co.ukMerchant and Mills House https://merchantandmills.com/uk/house OUT: Gifts for your gardenBag - https://www.francli.co.uk/Warriner Leather https://www.warrinerleather.co.ukWintertide Market https://www.thesouthwester.co.uk/wintertideChicken Wire cloches https://www.waitrosegarden.com/products/_/crocus-collection/cc-protective-wire-clochesKatherine Miles https://www.katherine-miles.com OUT OUTWorkshop – Ambrose Veevers https://www.ambrosevevers.comFife Arms - https://thefifearms.com WILDCARDWentworth Puzzles - https://www.wentworthpuzzles.com/Willow & Stone https://www.willowandstone.co.uk/Gaia https://gaiapuzzles.co.uk/products/flowers-in-a-vase-national-gallery-1000-piece-jigsaw-puzzleAlthough do also look out for jigsaws in charity shops!   

As autumn folds itself around the garden, Grace and Becca settle in for an evening recording filled with comfort, carb-laden dreams, and tales of soil, bulbs, and books.Grace unwraps her most-anticipated arrival of the season — Winter in the Highlands by Flora Shedden — a feast of photography, venison, and Scottish charm.The conversation meanders through bones and broth, squash and stews, and the gentle rituals that mark the transition from abundance to rest.Rebecca reflects on her final wedding of the year, the quiet that follows, and the strange restlessness that comes with slowing down.Grace introduces her new digital gardening calendar — a quietly clever companion that pings timely reminders for every seasonal task, from ordering bulbs to checking compost supplies.They discuss the satisfaction of bulb planting, the mischief of squirrels, and the wisdom of leaving soil undisturbed through winter.There’s talk of weeds (including the dreaded field sorrel), cosmos jungles, and a fruit harvest so abundant it feels almost mythic.Rebecca takes us to Ashburton, that irresistible Devon town of vintage jumpers, ceramic butter knives, and dangerously good shops. Expect mentions of Rafiki Café, Amelia’s, Craftmongers, and Ambrose Vevers’ scorched chopping boards.Grace, meanwhile, lunches at Pythouse Kitchen Garden and The Newt, reflecting on the beauty of limewashed walls, maturing plantings, and restraint in garden design.Next month’s episode will be their Christmas Gift List Special — an In, Out, Out-Out, and Wild Card edition of beautiful things to covet, make, and give.Winter in the Highlands by Flora Shedden — available via [email protected] and @lauraedwardsphoto on InstagramAmbrose Vevers – scorched wood boards and craftsmanshipRafiki Café and Craftmongers, AshburtonGrace’s Digital Gardening Calendar — available at gracealexanderflowers.co.ukIn the GardenOut in the WorldOut OutLooking AheadMentions and Links

In this episode of Stuart and Alexander, Rebecca of The Garden Gate Flower Company and I tumble back into conversation. A rambling catch-up of triumphs, muddles, and mud under our nails. We talk about the curse of perfection paralysis (that wretched urge to get everything exactly right before you even begin), and the bone-deep weariness of decision fatigue.There are confessions about compost disasters, autumn sowing schemes, and our endless, glamorous-yet-muddy hunt for gardening clothes that don’t make us look like scarecrows. As ever, the chat wanders, from the dizzy joys and heartbreaks, to the way a garden can both soothe and completely overwhelm.An honest chat over tea about the things we can’t control, in our flowerside or in ourselves, and embracing letting go.

In this episode of Stuart and Alexander, Rebecca and Grace discuss the changing seasons, from an unusually autumnal August to garden management during peak wedding season. Rebecca shares the recent heartbreaking loss of her beloved dog, Mabel, and thanks the community for their support. We exchange tips on organising the garden with flags and labels, and Grace teases a new project involving engraved garden labels. Other topics include Rebecca's trip to the south of France, completing renovations, and upcoming garden events. 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:46 Reflecting on Autumn02:30 Remembering Mabel09:03 Cottage Renovation Updates19:23 Garden Challenges and Wedding Season21:54 Labelling and New Business Ideas28:39 Bleeping Out for Family-Friendly Content28:50 Tulip Talk: Ordering and Growing Tips30:41 Challenges with Tulips in Floral Work31:46 Favourite Tulip Varieties and Planting Strategies33:46 The Importance of Seasonal Planning35:51 Garden Visits and Reflections40:00 Travel Tales: South of France49:45 Upcoming Events and Workshops

We’re back!!!Earl Grey tea in hand, together at last, recording from the glorious Story of Emily. In this much-awaited episode, we talk Victoriana, out-outs, reinvention and renaissance, and why we’re finally ready to bloom again. Think teacups, textile obsessions, flowered parasols and figuring out who the hell we are, all in a rather dramatic fasion.

Join Becca & Grace talking all things festive and Christmas. Our favourite traditions and treats indoors, how we make the most of the magical season outside, and those truly special trips away that make the Christmas spirit rise.

Becca is a Cornish grower, florist and stylist, flowering the best weddings and events in Cornwall.  ⁠https://thegardengateflowercompany.co.uk⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thegardengateflowerco/⁠   Grace is a seed merchant, writer and in conversion organic gardener, and she runs the ultimate flower-lovers’ membership, Gather with Grace Alexander. ⁠www.gracealexanderflowers.co.uk⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/gracealexanderflowers/⁠   S&A is now available on Instagram! Follow us for out-takes, behind the scenes, extra info, and what coming soon. ⁠https://www.instagram.com/stuartandalexander/⁠   The Story of Emily Christmas is open Thursdays to Sundays. If you aren’t anywhere near Cornwall, you can see Becca’s work on their Instagram here.     She sourced teasels from me and candles from Alice in Scandiland. https://shop.aliceinscandiland.com/   Paperwhites. The good news is that they are on sale everywhere. Becca recommends just buying them: https://www.scentednarcissi.co.uk   Bare root roses also available now. Becca went for Koko Loko, Honey Dijon & Juliet.

Grace is a seed merchant, writer and in conversion organic gardener, and she runs the ultimate flower-lovers’ membership, Gather with Grace Alexander. ⁠www.gracealexanderflowers.co.uk⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/gracealexanderflowers/⁠   Becca is a Cornish grower, florist and stylist, flowering the best weddings and events in Cornwall.  ⁠⁠https://thegardengateflowercompany.co.uk⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thegardengateflowerco/⁠⁠ S&A is now available on Instagram! Follow us for out-takes, behind the scenes, extra info, and what coming soon. ⁠https://www.instagram.com/stuartandalexander/⁠   Walnuts Farm Georgian Townhouse https://www.instagram.com/walnuts_farm/   Lilac Restaurant in Lyme https://www.lilacwine.co.uk   Wild Wood - Kiln Dried Wood https://wildwoodfuel.co.uk   South Bosent Gardens, Dobwalls Liskeard Garden for NGS and Cornwall Wildlife Trust https://ngs.org.uk/gardens/south-bosent-pl14/   Everhot https://everhot.co.uk   Becca Soup Hero - Stellar Sauce Jug https://stellar.co.uk/stellar-1000-14cm-milk-sauce-pot-1-7l.html   Rag of Colts Bruton https://www.ragofcolts.com   Bonfield Block Printers https://www.bonfieldblockprinters.com https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/restored-georgian-house

Becca is a Cornish grower, florist and stylist, flowering the best weddings and events in Cornwall.  ⁠https://thegardengateflowercompany.co.uk⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thegardengateflowerco/⁠   Grace is a seed merchant, writer and in conversion organic gardener, and she runs the ultimate flower-lovers’ membership, Gather with Grace Alexander. ⁠www.gracealexanderflowers.co.uk⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/gracealexanderflowers/⁠   S&A is now available on Instagram! Follow us for out-takes, behind the scenes, extra info, and what coming soon. ⁠https://www.instagram.com/stuartandalexander/⁠   In: Grace’s question for Nigel Slater is at 1.07 of the Homing In podcast (I also recommend the previous episode – Kevin McCloud has led quite a life)   Out out: Coppafeel https://coppafeel.org Sabzi in Cornwall You can shop online here