The Spring Romantic Collection

Each collection contains 10 full-sized seed packets, carefully selected to create a romantic, pastel-themed garden:

1. 💜 Alyssum 'Royal Carpet'

A carpet of tiny purple blooms with a sweet honey fragrance. Perfect for edging, containers, or spilling over walls. This fast-growing hardy annual forms a dense mat of vivid-purple flowers that bloom all season long. Minimal upkeep, maximum impact.

2. 🐰 Lagurus Ovatus (Bunny Tails)

Impossibly soft, fluffy seed heads that add texture to bouquets and dried arrangements. These adorable, tactile grass heads are a children's favourite and dry beautifully for year-round displays. A whimsical addition to any garden.

3. ✨ Nicotiana 'Starlight Dancer'

Elegant, star-shaped blooms that release their intoxicating fragrance in the evening. These romantic flowers glow in the twilight and create a sensory experience as well as visual beauty. Perfect for evening gardens and patios.

4. 🌸 Poppy 'Lilac Pom Pom'

Frilly, ruffled blooms in soft lilac shades. Utterly romantic and perfect for cutting. These tissue-paper petals create a dreamy, cottage garden effect and the distinctive seed pods are architectural wonders for dried arrangements.

5. 🌙 Night Scented Stock 'Lilac'

The ultimate evening garden plant. Fill your borders with its legendary perfume that intensifies at dusk. The modest daytime flowers transform into a powerful sensory experience as the sun sets. A must-have for scented gardens.

6. 🔔 Bells of Ireland

Architectural spires of lime-green bells. A florist's dream for adding structure to arrangements. These unique vertical elements provide fresh contrast to soft pastels and dry beautifully while retaining their distinctive form.

7. 🌼 Acroclinium Strawflowers

Papery, everlasting blooms in delicate pinks and whites. Brilliant for drying and holding their colour indefinitely. These cheerful daisies add a light, airy quality to bouquets and are the perfect "pick and dry" flower for beginners.

8. 💙 Ageratum 'Timeless Mix'

Fluffy clusters in soft blues and purples. Reliable and long-flowering, Ageratum provides continuous colour from summer through to autumn. Excellent for edging, containers, and filling gaps in borders with its neat, compact habit.

9. 🌺 Cosmos 'Double Click Rose Bon Bon'

Fully double, rose-like blooms in candy-pink. Easy, prolific, and stunning. These romantic flowers provide endless cutting material and the more you pick, the more they bloom. A true cut-and-come-again superstar.

10. 💎 Nigella 'Persian Jewels Mix'

A romantic haze of jewel-toned flowers followed by beautiful architectural seed pods. Love-in-a-mist creates an ethereal, misty effect in the border and the distinctive "jester's hat" seed pods are treasured for dried arrangements.

This collection has been designed for spring sowing and is perfect for first-time growers. The varieties fall into three main categories:

Hardy Annuals (Indoor or Outdoor Start)

Varieties: Alyssum 'Royal Carpet', Nigella 'Persian Jewels Mix', Poppy 'Lilac Pom Pom'

When to Sow: March to May

Indoor Method:

1. Sow seeds in trays or small pots of seed compost, following packet instructions for depth.
2. Keep at 15-18°C until germination occurs.
3. These varieties can handle cooler temperatures than half-hardy annuals.
4. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle.
5. Harden off gradually before planting out in late April or May.

Half-Hardy Annuals (Start Indoors)

Varieties: Cosmos 'Double Click Rose Bon Bon', Nicotiana 'Starlight Dancer', Ageratum 'Timeless Mix', Night Scented Stock 'Lilac', Acroclinium Strawflowers

When to Sow: March to April indoors, plant out after last frost (late May)

Method:

1. Sow seeds in trays or small pots of seed compost, following packet instructions for depth.
2. Keep at 15-20°C until germination occurs.
3. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle.
4. Harden off gradually over 7-10 days before planting out.
5. Plant out after all risk of frost has passed, spacing as directed on packets.

Special Varieties

Bells of Ireland

Sow indoors in March-April for best results. Benefits from pre-chilling seeds in the fridge for 1-2 weeks before sowing to improve germination. Responds well to bottom heat during germination.

Lagurus Ovatus (Bunny Tails)

Hardy annual grass that can be sown indoors in March or April. Extremely easy and tolerates poor soil. Harvest seed heads when fully formed but before they shatter.

Container Growing

Many of these varieties thrive in pots and containers, making them perfect for small-space gardening:

• Best for Containers: Alyssum 'Royal Carpet', Ageratum 'Timeless Mix', Cosmos 'Double Click Rose Bon Bon', Nicotiana 'Starlight Dancer'
• Container Size: Use pots at least 20-30cm diameter for single plants, or larger containers for mixed plantings
• Compost: Use good quality multi-purpose compost with added slow-release fertiliser
• Watering: Containers dry out faster than borders – check daily in hot weather and water thoroughly
• Feeding: Feed every 2 weeks with liquid fertiliser once flowering begins

Why This Collection is Perfect for Cutting

Sophie has deliberately chosen varieties that work beautifully together in bouquets, following the classic "thriller, filler, spiller" formula:

🌟 Thrillers (Focal Points & Height)

• Bells of Ireland: Lime-green architectural spires provide structure
• Cosmos 'Double Click Rose Bon Bon': Large, rose-like blooms are the stars
• Nicotiana 'Starlight Dancer': Elegant vertical interest

☁️ Fillers (Volume & Texture)

• Ageratum 'Timeless Mix': Fluffy clusters add soft texture
• Nigella 'Persian Jewels': Misty, romantic haze
• Lagurus (Bunny Tails): Tactile, whimsical seed heads

🌸 Accent Flowers (Special Details)

• Poppy 'Lilac Pom Pom': Frilly, romantic focal points
• Acroclinium Strawflowers: Delicate papery blooms
• Night Scented Stock: Adds fragrance to evening arrangements

💜 Spillers (Trailing & Softening)

• Alyssum 'Royal Carpet': Tiny purple blooms add a honey-scented cascade

Arrangement Ideas

The Romantic Garden Posy

Combine Cosmos 'Double Click Rose Bon Bon' with Nigella 'Persian Jewels', add sprigs of Ageratum and finish with trailing Alyssum. Perfect for bedside tables or as a gift bouquet.

The Architectural Statement

Use Bells of Ireland as your vertical element, add Nicotiana for height, fill in with Bunny Tails and Nigella. This creates a striking, modern arrangement with vintage charm.

The Dried Arrangement

Harvest Bunny Tails, Bells of Ireland, Acroclinium, and Nigella seed pods. Hang upside down to dry, then create a long-lasting display that requires no water and holds its beauty for months.

Why This Makes a Thoughtful Gift

The Spring Romantic Collection is beautifully presented and makes an ideal gift for:

• First-time growers: Sophie's beginner-friendly selections take the guesswork out of what to grow
• Mother's Day: A gift that keeps giving, providing months of beautiful flowers
• Birthdays: For anyone who loves flowers, cottagecore aesthetics, or spending time in nature
• Housewarmings: Help someone create a beautiful garden in their new home
• Thank you gifts: More meaningful than shop-bought flowers – these create lasting memories
• Sophie's followers: Perfect for anyone who follows @lookinsidemygarden and wants to grow along with her courses

What's Included

• 10 full-sized seed packets (not sample sizes!)
• Complete growing instructions on each packet
• Eco-friendly, recyclable packaging
• Curated specifically by Sophie Valentine
• Coordinated romantic pastel colour palette
• Mix of varieties suitable for cutting, drying, and garden display

I'm a complete beginner – is this collection suitable for me?

Absolutely! Sophie specifically chose varieties that are forgiving and straightforward to grow. The mix includes both hardy annuals (which you can sow directly outdoors with minimal fuss) and half-hardy varieties (which give you experience with indoor sowing). Full instructions are provided on each packet, and Sophie's Instagram provides ongoing support throughout the season.

Do I need a big garden to grow this collection?

Not at all. Sophie is famous for her container growing techniques, and many of these varieties thrive in pots. You can grow the entire collection on a balcony, patio, or small courtyard garden. Even a sunny windowsill can accommodate some varieties started indoors.

Can I grow these varieties individually, or must they all be grown together?

Each variety works beautifully on its own! While the collection is designed to work together as a romantic pastel scheme, you can absolutely grow your favourites individually. Each packet contains enough seeds for a good display of that particular variety.

What if I miss the spring sowing window?

Don't worry! Many of these varieties can be sown successionally through late spring and even into early summer indoors. You'll get slightly later flowers, but they'll still perform beautifully. The key is to get them started indoors where you have control over temperature and moisture.

Will these varieties come back next year?

Most are annuals (completing their life cycle in one season), but several will self-seed if you allow them to drop seeds naturally. Nigella, Poppy, and Alyssum are particularly good self-seeders. For guaranteed results, save some seed or purchase fresh each year.

Are these flowers good for pollinators?

Yes! Many of these varieties are excellent for pollinators: Alyssum, Ageratum, Nicotiana, Cosmos, and Nigella all attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. You'll be supporting wildlife while creating your beautiful garden.

How do I find Sophie's growing guides and courses?

Follow Sophie on Instagram @lookinsidemygarden where she regularly shares growing tips, video tutorials, and runs seasonal Grow Club courses. She makes growing from seed accessible, affordable, and achievable for everyone – no matter your experience level or space constraints.