Enclosed by high walls, Fiona Inglis of PYRUS has curated a growing space where every variety is chosen and cherished. At this time of the year the apple trees are smothered with fruit and the roses draped with necklaces of nasturtium, their vibrant petals streaked with intricate lines as if some had dipped a brush in maroon ink and finely marked each petal by hand.
Distracted by so many delicious corners and moments, grappling a notebook and camera, I found it quite the challenge to focus on the task at hand - choosing the materials for my demonstration the following day at Elliott’s. I wanted to include as many edibles as possible, to tie in with the season and lunch menu and Fiona didn’t hold back - cutting me the cream of the crop of her beans and tomatoes as well as dusky coffee and mustard roses. Once I could envisage the colour palette - a blend of raspberry, soft browns and yellow - I was off to the races and quickly filled a bucket with tickseed and cosmos for colour, garden orache and fennel for shape and texture.
I also couldn’t resist the love-in-a-puff vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum). We haven’t grown this in a couple of years - I think I OD’d on it and fancied a change but it was great to reunited with those delicate little tendrils and balloon-like seedpods.
A recent addition to the garden is a beautifully designed pavilion and Fiona and I settled down with coffee and pastel de nata to a long discussion that can soon be watched in full over at Flowers on Film. During our conversation we meandered from the joys (and challenges!) of a garden-led approach to floral design, to small-scale growing, to personal reflections on balancing work and motherhood, knuckling down through the hard times, to what’s next for PYRUS and Fiona’s goals for the future.
Fiona is an incredibly humble person and an absolute artist; she rarely does interviews so we’re honoured that she agreed to share her time and thoughts so candidly and generously on the channel. After our conversation she was off to don a dress and tiara for a jewellery shoot that was taking place in the garden, while in the studio arrangements were being lined up for an event - all in a day’s work!
My main takeaway from our day at PYRUS was a reminder of how richly varied this world is that we are lucky enough to call our work, from turning compost and tending to plants to gently placing flowers in the most luxurious of settings. Every day is different and though flowers are the very epitome of ephemerality, capturing them on film means that we can enjoy their exquisite forms and colours for a little longer; a way to preserve their beauty.
Food & Flowers | The Edinburgh Episodes will be a three-part film series available to watch on our digital platform Flowers on Film.
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