Garden Gathered

Garden Gathered is a year in the life of floral designer and farmer florist, Helen Leighton of Riverdale Farm.

 

Through a photographic portfolio and garden journal, Helen shares her ‘seed to vase’ approach to flowers and her sustainable garden-gathered style, which permeates the country lifestyle she has built with her husband Jim, in Albany, Western Australia.

 

Limited edition. 280 pgs. Hardcover.

Published by: The Flower Press

Printed and bound in Western Australia.

ISBN: 978-0-646-86383-2

​

Stockists:-

​

Western Australia

Paper Bark Merchant's Albany 

Butterscotch Albany and online

Stamms Emporium Albany

Debra Hayes Floral Perth

Gentle musings on country life

Bursting with beautiful floral photography, Garden Gathered follows the seasons at Riverdale Farm and captures the essence of a creative, and often old-fashioned country life.

​

Organised into seasons, Helen's journal of daily life in the garden with Jim (and their dog, Maisy) explores themes such as ‘Timeless Styling’, ‘The Vineyard’ and ‘Keeping Bees’. Helen also weaves in design notes, working with Australian native flowers, tips for flower farming, and ingredients for her arrangements.

 

Her detailed observations, often meditative in nature, provide rich insight into the rich simplicity of life on the land. Driven by a philosophy of connecting to nature, family, creativity and community, Helen genuinely desires to share her life on Riverdale Farm in the hope of inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.

​

About the author, Helen Leighton

​

An experienced garden and floral designer, Helen is renowned for her garden-gathered style and sustainable philosophy of growing and designing flowers.

 

In 2014, Helen fulfilled a lifelong dream to complete a Floral Design Course at the Zita Elze Design Academy in Kew, London. This followed a 2004 garden design course at Inchbald School of Design in London. Every year, she builds upon her skills by attending internationally recognised workshops worldwide, working alongside others who share her passion for working with locally grown flowers.

 

She loves bringing the skills and ideas she learns overseas back to Riverdale Farm and creating beautiful bouquets for local weddings and events. 

 

When not tending to her large country garden and floral design business, she works alongside her husband, Jim, in their pinot vineyard, bee hives, vegetable garden, and orchard. You might also find her baking, sewing, or hosting family and friends at the farm.

​

​Media