I was agreeably surprised the other day to come upon Eleventh Flower, situated in the little parade of shops up at Fiveways. I'd been expecting the usual few shops with all the necessaries and nothing much more, but Eleventh Flower and its immediate neighbours were definite browsing material.
First and foremost, it's a florist, but a florist that's really branched out. On the pavement are little displays, not just of cut flowers but of living plants - a small selection of hardy herbs has been put together for you in a sort of kit, including chives, dill, mint and thyme, and there are embryonic tomato plants unfolding and the shoots of summer flowers awaiting replanting in your patch of planet earth. As you go inside, the left is devoted to cut flowers but the right entirely to a sort of gift shop, in which such lovely little trifles as candles that look like stones and white cast-iron garden lamp holders reside. They also had coffee plants growing in coffee cups, and a few other original and endearing ideas that made me think seriously about trekking out to Fiveways next time an awkward birthday comes up. The atmosphere was friendly and open to browsers as well, with an affable lady in charge and a couple of gracious and affectionate hounds penned in behind the counter. If you're in the area, I'd say this place is definitely worth a visit. read more