INSIDE THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW WITH OKA

Last week, the Oka team invited me to a flower workshop with a twist. This was a lesson in the artistry behind arranging uncannily lifelike flowers crafted from silk. If you haven't been privy to the floral haven at Oka I urge you to drop by. Just recently at a friend's house I was commenting on her incredible tablecentre bouquet for her to proudly declare them Oka fauxs that she'd arranged in the shop herself. Willow Crossley has partnered with the brand to create beautiful wild looking bouquets (right up my street) but there's the opportunity to flex your own creatives muscles too. The flowers are incredibly lifelike, never need their water changing and, in the long run, work in your bank account's favour.

The offering of peonies, roses, lavender and sweet peas immediately made me draw parallels with my wedding bouquet which I loved so much and, despite best efforts to press it, really doesn't have quite the same impact now it's two dimensional. Our masterclass tutor Hilary was on board will helping me replicate it and didn't seem phased by the one and only tiny image I showed her via a cracked phone screen to work from. I am absolutely chuffed with the new addition to our flat.

Bedroom goals – and placing my arrangement in situ.

The treats kept coming as we jumped into cabs to the Chelsea Flower Show, my first visit and more exciting than ever having moved to the area last year. We headed over for cocktails at The Dorchester pop up – and to admire their jaw-on-the-floor bouquets and flower wall – and milled amongst the flower fanatics on a blissfully warm evening. Have a scroll of a few highlights below, including the Radio 2 Feel Good Gardens; a collaboration with the RHS featuring The Jo Whiley Scent Garden, The Chris Evans Taste Garden, The Anneka Rice Colour Cutting Garden, The Jeremy Vine Texture Garden and The Zoe Ball Listening Garden.

My future garden

Thank you Oka for having me.