My Life In Plants | The Floral Creative | Jane Hartley from Dove & Myrtle
Meet Jane from Dove & Myrtle
I'm catching up with inspiring people whose lives are filled with plants, flowers and tangled garden paths. From gardeners & growers to florists, herbalists, natural dyers and houseplant whisperers. I'm talking to those kindred spirits who’ve made plants a part of their everyday rhythm. I ask about their stories, the things we can all learn from plants and the small rituals that keep them grounded.
For the 5th edition of My Life In Plants I am so excited to feature Jane who runs Dove & Myrtle in East Sussex.
Q. Tell us a little about yourself - who you are, what you do, and how plants became part of your life…
A. I'm Jane and I founded my creative floral studio back in 2018. I mostly create natural, wild cottage garden style florals for gorgeous weddings across Sussex and Surrey but I also take on other floral commissions and host one-to-one mentoring sessions in my little flint barn between Lewes and the coast. I have always been inspired by the romance of secret walled gardens filled with flowers and I think the love of flowers and plants is in my blood. My granny (Dove) was a florist and her father, my great grandfather Robert Lloyd was a head gardener and garden designer who championed the benefits of nature for mental health patients. He was ahead of his time and coincidentally, my love of gardening and nurturing plants was reignited when I lost my mum and our allotment became a place of much needed peace and solace.
"My great grandfather Robert Lloyd was a head gardener and garden designer who championed the benefits of nature for mental health patients"
Q. What’s one thing plants have taught you that you try to carry into everyday life?
A. I am so much more aligned with the seasons and the main takeaway plants have taught me is that nature has a cycle and a rhythm we can't control no matter how much we think we can. To accept that in gardening is one thing but it's also had a significant impact on how I choose to live my life in so many ways.
Q. Do you have an everyday plant care or self-care ritual that you’d like to share?
A. I love the ritual of watering my containers as the sun begins to set in the evening and then an early morning meander around the garden before the rest of the world wakes up to see what new shoots have appeared overnight.
Q. If you could save just one plant in an ark for the future, what would it be and why?
A. That's a really hard one! I actually don't think I can choose just one but it would definitely be either a sweet pea, hollyhock or a rose.
Q. Can you share a recent moment that reminded you why you love what you do?
A. As a wedding florist, it really is seeing the magic and the happiness our flowers bring to each wedding. Dove & Myrtle's floral style is joyful and romantic and for me, the moment I hand over the bridal bouquet is so special. Seeing my client's reaction is the best feeling and a constant reminder of why I love what I do.
"It's ok if something doesn't work, it truly is part of the process"
Q. Any advice for someone just beginning their own life in plants?
A. Be open and curious, sometimes an unexpected opportunity presents itself and you never know where it may lead you. I was all set to be a flower farmer and then discovered a passion for flower arranging when I was least expecting it! Do your best not to compare yourself to others and be true to yourself. It's ok if something doesn't work, it truly is part of the process. Oh yes... and always do it for you, not for the "(Insta)gram!" That's a slippery slope for sure. Lean into the natural world and enjoy every moment.
You can follow Jane on Instagram @doveandmyrtle and at www.doveandmyrtle.com