Frequently Asked Questions

Do you supply sachets of flower food to enhance vase life?

Our flowers are always freshly cut and immediately plunged into buckets of cold water. They are grown just yards from our potting shed so you can be assured that they have a long vase life. Flower food contains chemicals which are not good for the environment.
 

How can I make my cut flowers last a long time?

Three points here! Firstly, make sure that your container (vase, jug) is scrupulously clean. Secondly, remove any leaves that will lie below the water line. And thirdly, change the water everyday.
 

I’m getting married in November. Can you supply roses for my wedding?

Here at BordersEcoFlowers, we harvest flowers that are in bloom in their natural season. In Scotland, roses naturally flower in the Summer months so we are unable to supply them in November. You will find imported roses in florists and supermarkets, but these will have been grown in countries across the globe and flown here contributing thousands of air miles. There are lots of locally grown alternatives that you could use to create a memorable Autumnal theme to your special day. With vibrant gourds, architectural seed-heads, rusty coloured chrysanths you could make your wedding day truly unique.
 

I’ve ordered two buckets of flowers from you. Do I need to bring my own buckets?

In the spirit of environmental sustainability, we prefer that you bring your own bucket.  We can supply your flowers in a metal bucket for a small extra charge.
 

I run a self-catering cottage near Duns. Could you supply a vase of seasonal flowers to welcome our guests?

Certainly! Just let us know how much you would like to spend (a trio of jam jar posies start at £25) and the relevant dates and we’ll deliver the flowers direct to your property.
 

Could you give us road directions to find you at The Moorhouse?

From Duns, take the A6112 signposted Grantshouse. Continue through Preston. Three miles further on turn left signposted Edin’s Hall Broch. Continue up the hill and as you descend on the other side you will see The Moorhouse (painted yellow).

From the A1 at Grantshouse, take the A6112 signposted Duns and Coldstream. Cross the railway bridge and immediately turn right signposted Butterdean and Quixwood. Continue for three miles (single track road) until you reach a T-junction. You will see The Moorhouse (painted yellow) on your right.

Do you send flowers by post or courier?

We are conscious of our ecological foot-print so we choose not to send flowers by post.  We suggest that you find a grower near your home so that you can enjoy flowers grown in your own locality.

Can you deliver flowers to a local address on a weekly basis?

Yes! Our weekly flower deliveries are very popular.  We grow lots of varieties that have become commercially unavailable such as sweet violets, fabulously scented Dianthus ‘Mrs Sinkins’ and colourful Michaelmas daisies.  We often find that these old-fashioned flowers, so common in the gardens of yesteryear, bring back happy and vivid memories for the recipient.

What can you do for a natural funeral in February?

We collect hazel and dogwood stems from the garden to create a wreath base. For decoration we use evergreens and the first delicate flowers of spring - aconites and snowdrops.  We can incorporate the actual bulbs of small flowers which you can plant in a special place as a seasonal reminder of your loved one.

I found a ladybird on the flowers.  Why don’t you spray with insecticide?

We share the planet with all kinds of species.  Our garden is a natural ecosystem providing  a wide range of habitats to encourage all kinds of life and especially insects.  As with other organic gardens, we do face challenges from pests and diseases.  However, instead of reaching for a bottle of chemicals, we prefer to use alternative methods and we don’t mind too much if our hostas have been nibbled by snails.  Our friend, the song thrush will, no doubt, keep the snail population in check!

I love the bourganvillea that I’ve seen growing in Portugal.  Can you grow that in your polytunnel?

These plants certainly have a Wow factor! They are spectacular climbers that you see scrambling over buildings and producing an abundance of flowers despite the lack of rain in Portugal.  Unfortunately, our climate is too cold for bouganvillea. We would need to use heat (and therefore energy) to maintain the greenhouse at a high enough temperature to produce these magnificent plants.  Make the most of them whilst you are on holiday.  In the meantime, try visiting some local gardens that are open to the public to see the type of plants that suit our local climate