That flowers are beautiful no one can deny. And we have seen a sea of them in the past pandemic year; flowers sent to the sick, for bereavement, to thank those who have cared and today, of course, for Mother’s Day.

But florist Claire Bowen, a founding ambassador of the Sustainable Floristry Network who promotes environmental awareness within the industry, says there are more to flowers than meets the eye – or the nose.

They contain medicinal and healing properties as well as providing psychological benefits. Flower power is real – and Claire, 48, formerly of East Lothian – is ready to prove it. The floristry guru, who runs courses at her Oxfordshire business Honeysuckle & Hilda, has just launched a new book, The Healing Power Of Flowers.

“They can be used to show appreciation to someone who cares for someone else, be it mothers, Godmothers, or simply mother figures…pretty much everybody who looks out for anybody else. In times like these, we need them all more than ever.

“In a world where overconsumption contributes to widespread environmental problems, the simple act of giving flowers that have been sustainably sourced can be more meaningful than any lavish gift. Nature is fundamental to our wellbeing and if we honour her, we will be rewarded many times over.”

An expat Scot, Claire always has her homeland at heart. She said: “I always think of heather as an iconic Scottish plant. I went to prep school near the Eildon Hills in the Borders and the sight of them covered in heather has stayed with me. When my own mother died a few years ago, I made her funeral spray out of heather and thistles and native grasses, shaped to look like a Scottish moor. It truly represented her love for her country. She was a passionate Scot.