Columbia Road Flower Market and its environs is quite the spectacle; this is obvious from the sheer number of photographers hovering at every stall. What also gives it away is the pale-pink-suited male model strolling past holding a large bunch of deep pink velvety dahlias, or the tweed wearing, moustached 20 year old art student purchasing a large, single-headed hydrangea wrapped in complimentary brown paper, or perhaps it’s the 70 year old Vivienne Westwood lookalike sitting next to an array of desirable vintage goods. Yesterday, at least, it was achingly hip. Some of the individual plants however are not quite so cool: miniature cacti with overly bright flowers and ubiquitous Phalaenopsis orchids in plastic wrapping, were examples of plants that seemed a little too anxious. Yet when packed in tightly with everything else – muted earthy toned brassicas and artichoke flowers, tufted palms, yuccas and codylines, pretty chrysanthemums, pansies and roses, handsome heathers, sunflowers, dahlias and gladioli, not to mention popular culinary herbs, lavender and chilli pepper plants, and even some deep blue gentians – it adds up to an unmissable show.
Plant Curator is now on Instagram; capturing slightly out of focus plant elements, on a smartphone, on the go. Has anyone noticed?…Plants are everywhere!
Columbia Road Flower Market, Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG
