Hasn’t the whole EU Referendum campaign been ghastly? I’ve just wanted to run and hide in the garden until its all over. There’s no Boris in my bushes or Cameron among my calendulas. Farage hasn’t tried to deport my dahlias and Osborne isn’t insisting that I economise on echeverias (perhaps he should?). Gove most definitely isn’t to be found in my greenhouse. The garden is my sovereign territory and they are having no jurisdiction over it either way. As far as I’m concerned the whole lot of them belong on the compost heap, where they’d still be some use to humanity when they rot away, assuming politician decompose like the rest of us. Whatever the outcome on Friday, there are certain politicians that have descended to depths from which they will never rise in my estimation. Farage was down there already. It’s all been a little bit tawdry and embarrasing: not the greatest advert for Brand Britain.
In an inspired, tongue-in-cheek attempt to bring levity and beauty to polling day, GROW London have commissioned the wonderfully bonkers Fiona Haser Bizony from Electric Flower Daisy Farm to create floral headdresses representing the two opposing sides: “Remain” (the European flag) and “Leave” (the Union flag). They will be on show at GROW London from tonight until Sunday 26 June.
Personally I am “in”, although I also understand the heartfelt arguments for “out”. However, if I were to make a choice based on Fiona’s creations I’d have to vote “leave” just to enjoy the novelty of having conifer and spirea for sideburns. And who would not want love-in-a-mist woven into their barnet? I wonder if it’s an accident that “Remain” looks everso slightly Napoleonic?
Whether you’re in, out or shaking it all about as you watch us Brits trying to decide if we’re European or not, I hope you enjoy this light hearted tribute to today’s historic vote. I’ll be at home preparing my compost heap for some new high nitrogen fodder.
GROW London, the contemporary garden and lifestyle fair on Hampstead Heath opens this evening for a charity preview and runs until 26 June 2016. For top-notch nurseries, trendy tools and gorgeous gardenalia, I’d heartily recommend a visit.
All photography by Alma Hazer
