We’ve always believed flowers have the power to make us feel better. As it turns out, science rather agrees.
There are some things we florists have always known instinctively.
Walk into a room filled with flowers and something changes.
Perhaps it’s the colour. The scent. The connection to nature. Or simply the pleasure of seeing something beautiful where there wasn’t something beautiful before.
Flowers make us feel good. And rather wonderfully, there’s research to back that up.
Flowers Really Can Make Us Happier
Researchers at Rutgers University in the US have spent years studying the relationship between flowers and human emotion.
In one study, receiving flowers prompted genuine smiles and was associated with more positive moods several days later.
Other research has found that simply being around fresh flowers can promote feelings of relaxation, while studies looking at our response to flowers following stress have found reductions in negative emotions and physiological signs of stress.
In other words, bringing flowers into our homes isn't just about making the kitchen table look lovely.
They can change how a space, and potentially, how we feel. And we rather love that.
Perhaps That's Why Florists Are Such a Happy Bunch
Here's another little piece of research that made us smile.
A Career Happiness Index by City & Guilds ranked florists and gardeners as the happiest workers surveyed, with 87% saying they were happy in their work.
Now, we're not claiming that every day in a flower shop is complete floral bliss.
You should see us at 6am during wedding season.
But there is something rather wonderful about spending your working life surrounded by nature.
We see the seasons arrive before most people do.
The first peonies. The first British sweet peas. Buckets overflowing with summer dahlias. Berries and grasses signalling that autumn is on its way. And then pine, eucalyptus and winter foliage filling the shop as Christmas approaches.
Perhaps being surrounded by all that natural beauty every day really does rub off on us.
So Why Do We Wait for Someone Else to Send Us Flowers?
Flowers have traditionally been something we give to other people.
Birthdays. Anniversaries. Thank yous. Celebrations. I'm thinking of you.
But somewhere along the way, we think we forgot that it's perfectly acceptable to buy flowers simply because you love having flowers at home.
A vase of seasonal flowers on the kitchen table can be one of life's smallest luxuries. You walk past them twenty times a day. You notice a bud opening that wasn't open yesterday. You move them from the kitchen to the sitting room. You pinch one stem for the little vase beside your bed. And eventually they become part of the rhythm of your home.
Which is exactly why we love our Mad Lilies Flower Subscription so much.
Flowers, Without Having to Remember to Buy Them
The idea behind our flower subscription is wonderfully simple.
Beautiful seasonal flowers arrive at your door regularly, without you having to remember to order them.
You choose how often you'd like them and we take care of everything else.
Our most popular option is fortnightly, and we can completely understand why.
It's frequent enough to make having flowers at home feel like part of everyday life, rather than an occasional treat.
And because we work with the seasons, no two subscriptions are ever the same.
That's half the joy of it.
A Year in Flowers
Subscribe for long enough and you’ll begin to notice the year changing through what’s arriving at your door.
In September, dahlias are still stealing the show, joined by delicate clusters of snowberry — one of the first beautiful signs that autumn is on its way.
As the season deepens, expect rich berries, textural grasses, sculptural seed heads and branches in burnished autumn tones. Then winter brings its own treasures, from elegant amaryllis and fragrant narcissi to the first jewel-like anemones and ranunculus.
And before you know it, spring arrives — with tulips, blossom and, eventually, those blowsy, fleeting peonies we wait all year for.
A subscription also introduces you to flowers you might never think to choose yourself. Beautiful campanula, clematis and phlox, unusual seasonal varieties and intriguing foliage all find their way into our work as the year unfolds.
It’s one of the things our florists love most about creating subscription flowers. We’re not simply repeating the same bouquet every fortnight — we’re choosing what looks particularly wonderful right now.
Your Flowers, Your Way
We also know that everyone's home, and taste, is different. If you have a particular colour palette you love, just tell us.
Perhaps your home suits whites and greens. Maybe you love soft pinks and blush tones. Or perhaps you'd rather we went gloriously colourful.
We can tailor your subscription accordingly while still allowing the seasons to guide what goes into it.
And life doesn't always run to schedule either. Going away?
We can simply pause your subscription while you're on holiday and start it again when you're home.
It should be one of life's pleasures, not another thing to organise.
A Little Luxury That's Actually Rather Good for You
We often talk about life's little luxuries: the good candle, the really lovely hand wash, fresh coffee on a Sunday morning, clean sheets. And, of course, a vase filled with flowers.
They're small things, but they're the things that can make everyday life feel that little bit better.
And if the research tells us that flowers can lift our mood, promote feelings of relaxation and bring a little more positivity into our surroundings, perhaps we shouldn't always wait for someone else to send them.
Perhaps flowers deserve to be part of the everyday.
We certainly think so.
Bring a Little More Flower Power Into Your Life
Our Mad Lilies Flower Subscriptions are designed around the very best of each season, with beautiful flowers selected and prepared by our florists before being delivered regularly to your door.
Choose weekly, fortnightly or monthly deliveries and let us bring the seasons to you.
And remember, no special occasion is required.