About Me, Kate Jones

I have developed 1/4 of an acre of my garden into a dedicated cutting garden with the aim of sharing my flowers with those who appreciate seasonal flowers grown as nature intended, travelling a short distance from garden to a vase in your home; sustainably enjoying what is in season on our own doorstep.

Having retired early from a career in teaching I needed something different but equally challenging in my life. I have always loved flowers and enjoyed developing my ¾ acre garden in Aspley Guise. Whilst working full time I opened my garden in the Aspley Guise annual open gardens and enjoyed sharing the garden with those who came to look around. In 2019, the summer I retired my eldest daughter had her wedding in the garden. I grew the flowers for the event and thoroughly enjoyed decorating the day with my flowers most of which I had grown from seed. Perhaps there is something similar in nurturing children’s learning and nurturing young seedlings to flower. They certainly both require time, patience and a lot of effort!

In order to give myself credibility I studied for and achieved the RHS Level 2 Diploma in Horticulture at Shuttleworth College. The course extended and developed my knowledge and gardening skill as well as my ability to remember the Latin plant names.

It also gave me the confidence to use my teaching expertise to do some garden coaching where I work with owners to develop and maintain their own gardens, passing on my knowledge, experience and passion for gardening.

I have developed ¼ of an acre of my garden into a flower farm sharing my flowers with those who appreciate seasonal flowers grown as nature intended, travelling a short distance from farm to vase in your home. Sustainably enjoying what is in season on our own doorstep.

I welcome visitors to the garden to see the process of raising my flowers. Raising flowers for cutting and having a beautiful country garden are two very different propositions but the two are managed well at Chernocke House. I never stand still I am always learning and developing, both my skills and the garden, finding new ways to share my love of beautiful, local seasonal flowers which never fail to bring pleasure to those that receive them.