Seasonal thoughts from the garden, the kitchen, and the in-between.
This isn’t a blog in the usual sense.
It’s a place to pause. A space to share what’s growing, what’s fading, what’s inspiring. Some entries are short—a photograph and a few lines. Others are longer: reflections on garden rhythms, floral work, or creative living.
No fixed schedule. Just thoughts as they come, written between the seasons.
You’re welcome to wander.
Spring Floral Design Workshop - a collaboration between Debra Hayes and Riverdale Farm
Garden Gathered blooms from Riverdale Farm.
Eco-friendly Micro Wedding
Local Albany photographer Holly Medway organised a Spring Micro Wedding Shoot at Phillips Brook Estate in November 2020. A lovely mix of vintage urns, repurposed vessels and home made recycled candelabras from my collection filled the delightfully rustic space which together with our home grown flowers was beautiful.
Ode to Spring 2020
Spring in the garden at Riverdale Farm means an abundance of delicate blooms and scented garden roses. This spring bounty of floral material inspired a collaboration with a group of talented wedding vendors at the farm.
Mindfulness meets Floral Design at Riverdale Farm
After a year of uncertainty, I once again had the pleasure of hosting a MedArtation Workshop at our farm in early October 2020 with the delightful Nia Connop of Extend OT in Perth.
2020 Garden Gathered Wedding Celebration at Riverdale Farm
A simply styled spring wedding celebration at our small flower farm with the first of the spring blooms was a colourful seasonal and sensory delight. All captured beautifully by Jemma Keech Photography.
Rustically refined Riverdale 1898
The Riverdale survey title is Plantagenet Location 771, created in 1898. We purchased the property in 2004 and run a herd of Murray Grey cattle and have an extensive country style garden #countrystyle from which we enjoy vegetables, fruits and harvest pinot grapes for wine.
Summer Paddock Elopement Shoot
On a warm summer’s day in early January, Abbey and I inspired by the parched paddocks surrounding the extensive gardens at Riverdale Farm #riverdalefarmalbany #riverdalefarm designed a bouquet and table setting.
Looking back on Spring 2018... Garden Gathered Workshop
Taking time to catch up on some blog posts to share some of the beautiful imagery sitting on my computer....whilst staying at home during the current world wide pandemic.
MedArtation at Riverdale Farm 2019
At the beginning of the spring rose flush in November 2019, a lovely group of floral enthusiasts from the Great Southern and beyond gathered at Riverdale Farm for an afternoon of Mindfulness led by Nia Connop of Extend OT and Floral Design led by Helen Leighton.
Seasonal Floral Design Class – Spring at Riverdale Farm
Late September is a time in the garden when the lovely spring garden flowers start to appear, a welcome sight after all the hard work that takes place over the winter months. I love this time of the year when the garden starts to show the promise of all the good things to come.
Garden Gathered Workshop Spring 2017 at Riverdale Farm Albany
‘Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth’ Henry David Thoreau