What's in the buckets changes every week. This is the year as we buy it, month by month, from the first narcissi to the last of the holly.

Bronze and magenta chrysanthemums in buckets at a flower stall

Week 43 · 19–24 October

In season
now

Garden rose, cosmos, zinnia, dahlia, hydrangea, michaelmas daisy, smoke bush, rose hips, chrysanthemum, beech, holly, eucalyptus.

Next week: the last of the cosmos and dahlias.

Order the florist's choice

Month
by month

When each flower is at its best near here. Some can be bought from glasshouses or abroad outside these months; we mostly don't.

  1. SnowdropIn the garden, not in the buckets: we leave them where they are.
  2. HelleboreCalled the Christmas rose and the Lenten rose, though it isn't a rose.
  3. AmaryllisSold as flowering bulbs in November and December, for Christmas.
  4. NarcissusGrowers look for stems of at least 30 cm. Under five days in a vase.
  5. TulipTwo to four weeks in a vase. The Dutch made tulipières to show them stem by stem.
  6. RanunculusThe double forms are the ones florists use; each head is 3–5 cm across.
  7. AnemoneFlowers from April to June, a little later in a cool spring.
  8. Snake's head fritillaryOnce picked wild in such numbers it was sold in London markets. Not any more.
  9. LilacGrown in spring for its scent.
  10. PeonyThe buds show in May, and that is how they are cut and sold: in bud.
  11. Sweet peaFlowers from midsummer for weeks, as long as it keeps being picked.
  12. DelphiniumJune and July. Under five days in a vase.
  13. NigellaEarly summer flowers, then seed capsules that turn brown by late summer.
  14. AstrantiaFlowers from June through September.
  15. Garden roseBest in the first flush in early summer, with a second in autumn. Six to fourteen days in a vase.
  16. LisianthusHard to grow, easy to keep: two to three weeks in a vase.
  17. CosmosHalf-hardy; the first frost finishes it.
  18. ZinniaAll summer, until the first frost.
  19. DahliaEvery petal is a floret, a flower in its own right. Under five days in a vase, and gone with the first frost.
  20. HydrangeaFrom early summer until early winter.
  21. Michaelmas daisyJuly to October, named for Michaelmas at the end of September.
  22. Smoke bushFor its leaves: peach, yellow and scarlet in autumn.
  23. Rose hipsRipen from late summer; we cut them on the branch.
  24. ChrysanthemumThe autumn flower. Two to four weeks in a vase.
  25. BeechClipped beech keeps its copper leaves all winter.
  26. HollyBerries ripen in October and November.
  27. EucalyptusFoliage all year round.

Winter

December to February

Amaryllis from bulbs, hellebores, and snowdrops, which we leave in the garden. Eucalyptus and clipped beech carry the green.

A pink-striped amaryllis
A pink-striped amaryllis
Snowdrops hanging their heads
Snowdrops hanging their heads

Spring

March to May

Narcissi from February, then tulips, ranunculus and anemones, and lilac in May.

Orange tulips, petals open, on a dark ground
Orange tulips, petals open, on a dark ground
A purple anemone in a cup against a blue wall
A purple anemone in a cup against a blue wall
Purple lilac in flower
Purple lilac in flower

Summer

June to August

Peonies in early June, sweet peas for weeks after, delphiniums, astrantia and the first flush of garden roses.

A peony bud about to open
A peony bud about to open
A pale apricot rose fully open
A pale apricot rose fully open

Autumn

September to November · now

Dahlias and cosmos until the first frost, then chrysanthemums, rose hips and smoke bush.

A single burgundy dahlia
A single burgundy dahlia
Deep red chrysanthemum petals, close up
Deep red chrysanthemum petals, close up
A hand dropping dried rose hips into a jar
A hand dropping dried rose hips into a jar

How long
they last

In a vase of clean water, somewhere cool
Dahlia, narcissus, delphiniumUnder 5 days
Garden rose6 to 14 days
Lisianthus2 to 3 weeks
Tulip, chrysanthemum, carnation2 to 4 weeks
Pink and white peonies in a white jugNextSend some this weekFlorist's choice from £35, made with what's in.