There are few people who embody the beauty of seasonal living quite like Hazel Gardiner. A three-time RHS Gold Medal-winning designer, broadcaster and writer, Hazel has built a remarkable career creating immersive floral and botanical experiences that celebrate the ever-changing landscape around us.

Following an unexpected change in direction that saw gardening become a transformative part of her own life, Hazel founded her eponymous design studio, where flowers, plants and nature are used to tell captivating stories for some of the world's most respected brands and institutions. Alongside her design work, she is a passionate advocate for making horticulture more accessible, sharing the wellbeing benefits of gardening through television, writing and education.

We caught up with Hazel to talk about the beauty of living with the seasons, the places that continually inspire her, and the simple rituals that help her slow down and reconnect with nature.

what is your favourite moment in the day, and why does it feel so special?

The first walk through the garden before anyone else is awake — before emails, before the day has a shape. It's the one moment that's entirely mine, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. I try to get natural sunlight in my eyes within 30 minutes of waking, as I’m fascinated by our circadian rhythms and how they influence creativity, focus and wellbeing.

Which daily ritual helps you feel grounded?

Cutting something small from the garden each morning, even if it's just a single stem for my desk. Feeling the earth beneath my feet is incredibly grounding and reconnects me with why I do this work in the first place.

I've also practised meditation for over 15 years. It has become a complete palate cleanser for my mind before a day of activity, helping me create space, clarity and calm before the busyness begins.

what is a scent that instantly transports you to another time or place?

Geranium leaves, I love the extraordinary range of scented pelargoniums and the way their fragrance changes depending on the variety. Simply rubbing the leaves releases such a strong, distinctive scent, it immediately transports me back to the many British gardens I’ve visited over the years. A close second is freshly cut grass. That scent instantly takes me back to my primary school surrounded by playing fields. Scent has an extraordinary ability to transport me through time. 

do you have a favourite flower and what draws you to them?

There are simply too many to mention! My favourites change with the seasons and what is growing in the garden, which perhaps says everything about how I see flowers. I also adore Cosmos Apricotta. Its soft, pastel tones are so delicate. I would naturally pair it with deeper, moodier foliage plants. I’ve recently introduced Heuchera Palace Purple into the shadier areas of the garden. I love the contrast between those gentle flowers and richer foliage in the both the garden and displays. As a floral artist, I’ve always appreciated so much more than just flowers. At the moment, I love huge branches of  Silver Leaved Whitebeam also used in our first RHS Chelsea installation. Foliage is often overlooked or underused. Nature is beautiful in the simplest of ways, and sometimes the most unexpected stems have the greatest presence.

Which season do you feel most connected to, and why?

Late summer into autumn — that turning point when the garden softens and everything starts to feel a little wilder. There is such generosity in that season, a sense of abundance before the quiet of winter. I love the textures, seed heads, grasses and imperfections that emerge, it’s often when I feel most inspired creatively.

do you have a place that brings you peace?

The Garden Museum, in the former church of St Mary-at-Lambeth, right next to Lambeth Palace on the Thames - there is a stillness there. At its centre is a courtyard garden designed by Dan Pearson. It reminds me how deeply gardening, design and storytelling are connected, and how gardens are so much more than just plants. They hold memories, emotions and stories.

is there a space in your home that you especially love?

My custom-built design studio and garden. Through our social channels, I’m finally inviting people into my everyday moments of creating and nurturing my own private garden — from planting and seasonal changes to the small rituals that bring me so much joy. I want to share not only the finished images, but the process, the learning, the successes and the inevitable challenges along the way. While we create the flowers for our events and installations elsewhere, my garden studio is my own intimate and private oasis. It is my calm space — somewhere to think, create, write and simply be.

What is the luxury in your life that feels entirely non-negotiable?

Spaciousness. More than anything, I value moments where nothing is demanding my attention. At the end of a long installation day, that means a properly hot bath in complete silence — no phone, no lights, just warmth and stillness -this is luxury to me.

  • A side-by-side double image: the left shows Hazel Gardiner a white blazer, striped blue shirt, and red striped tie against green foliage. The right shows an outdoor decorated event table with cream drapery, candles, flowers, and red hanging fruit.

Which moment, habit or routine feels most important right now?

Deadheading my roses. It is such a tiny, repetitive task, but I find it incredibly mindful and almost transporting. The smallest and most routine jobs in the garden are often the most soothing. They slow my thoughts, encourage me to really notice the plants and remind me that beautiful indoor and outdoor plant spaces are created through small, consistent acts of care. I think those quiet moments are where so much joy is found — taking the time to observe, nurture and appreciate what is right in front of you and stop busy minds.

what does a comfort meal look like for you?

Without question, it is my husband’s Bolognese, cooking is his happy place and he’s a fantastic at it! After long days immersed in event production, there is something deeply comforting about coming home to a meal that has been made with such care. It’s often served with La Campofilone spaghetti, which we buy in Le Marche, Italy — the region where we were married. It has become one of those small rituals that instantly transports us back there.

  • A two-panel interior design photograph showcasing a warm, rustic kitchen setup. The left panel highlights a textured beige stone backsplash, a hanging bundle of garlic, and countertop accessories including a wire egg basket and Anemone Hand Wash & Lotion Bottles.

Is there a GROVE England product you return to again and again — how does it make you feel?

The Anemone Hand Wash. My hands are my most important tools, looking after them feels like an important daily ritual. What I love about is that it instantly connects me back to the garden. The scent transports me outdoors, even if I have spent the day sitting in front of my laptop with no flowers in sight. I’m reminded of nature and the world I feel most connected to.

is there something nostalgic that always lifts your mood?

Listening to John Cassavetes 2 by Ekkehard Ehlers, which I discovered in a hotel rooms vinyl collection during my last trip to Japan. Hearing it instantly evokes that incredible journey. It’s a beautifully lyricless piece of music which is what I play when writing or designing: something that creates atmosphere without taking over the imagination. Whenever I return to it, I am transported back to that moment and the sense of discovery that made the trip so special.

  • A two-panel lifestyle photograph. The left panel shows a close-up of a white floral bouquet with cream and pale yellow flowers against a black background. The right shows Hazel arranging flowers.

We hope you've enjoyed spending a little time in Hazel's world. To continue the journey, do explore Hazel's Substack, where she chronicles life in her own garden, the places that inspire her and the slower, seasonal moments that shape her creativity. We think you'll find it every bit as inspiring as we do.

  • Hazel Gardiner stands in a. poly tunnel with greenery around her, wearing a dark jacket over a light top.