Miniature gardens – no green fingers required.

Not a keen gardener?  No matter.
Most of us can contend with the risk-free no green-fingers required Amaryllis that come ready-planted in a pot of soil.
Just put the bulb in the soil provided, add water everyday and wait, and we are soon (after a few weeks) rewarded with great results.

Meanwhile, with space being a premium in London (as in many big cities), not everyone can afford a property with a garden or outdoor space.
Cut flowers like these can bring a lot of joy and the strong colours provide added impact to any table top floral displays.

Jewellery label Cadenzza's presentation of their latest collection on a table decorated with romantic flower arrangements.

For something more serene and thought-provoking, London-based botanical designer Alyson Mowat has just launched her range of hand-crafted terrariums under the Botanique brand. Alyson offers bespoke low-maintenance miniature gardens to bring enjoyment to city dwellers.

THE JEWELLED GARDEN - Inspired by faceted crystal and bohemian boudoirs, the plants are chosen by colour to compliment the different stones included - Amethyst, Smokey Quartz or Crystal Quartz.

DESERT ROSE – An oasis of calm and tranquility; a garden of succulents or cacti in desert sand.

At the launch event this month in the Forest room at the Hospital Club in Covent Garden,  Alyson put on a display of elegant terrariums  – each promises to be a miniature biosphere that can infuse a sense of Zen into our home or workplace.

Each glass encasement has the ability to draw you inwards into its magical world and calms you from the hustle and bustle of the city life outside.

The terrariums are elegant showcases of succulent plants and cacti stylishly displayed among desert sand and semi-precious stones - Amethyst, Smokey Quartz or Crystal Quartz.  In some, a delicate orchid; others an aloe vera is suspended delicately exposing its roots.  Enclosed in these specially-designed glass displaying structures is a miniature world of refined tranquillity.   Unlike cut flowers which perish, the ecosystems in the closed terrariums mean the plants last for many months without need for attention or effort.

“My story is one of cultivation, curation and adventures across the globe in search of green inspiration. In my desire to celebrate nature, yet remain firmly rooted in the urban jungle of London, I have established
Botanique to create natural scenes and lush backdrops in city settings,” said Alyson, whose miniature biospheres offer low-maintenance natural beauty in homes or workplaces without the slugs, bad weather and hard labour.  

SUSPENSE - Displayed in water instead of soil, the transparency and geometric simplicity of this design focuses the eye on the sculptural beauty of the whole plant. The construction of each piece allows you to easily lift the upper part without disturbing the plant or pricking your fingers to change the water. Available in clear or with electric neon edges.

BOTANIQUE Terrarium Collections are available nationwide online.

All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.