Flùr Kin • A little end-of-year note
There’s something about this time of year that always feels full. Gardens are growing faster than we can keep up with them, the days stretch longer, and calendars seem to gather commitments at the same speed the flowers gather bees.
Before the year races away entirely, I wanted to share a few updates from our corner of Northland.
A Short Pause for a long awaited Journey
The Flùr store will be taking a little summer rest from 1 December until 15 January while I head back to Scotland to visit family.
The last time I was there was in 2019, and it feels more than a little overdue.
Alongside catching up with loved ones, I'm hoping to spend some time learning about the inspiring rewilding work happening across Scotland, particularly in parts of the Highlands where native habitats are beginning to recover and thrive once again. It feels fitting that the place where so many of my own family stories began is also becoming part of a new story about restoring nature.
We're also stopping in Singapore on the way, so if you follow Flùr on social media, expect far too many photographs from the Botanic Gardens and Butterfly House. I'll do my best to show some restraint, but no promises.
Any orders placed after 30 November will be lovingly packed when we return in mid-January.
Twenty-Five Sanctuaries and Growing
One of the highlights of this year has been watching the Flùr Star Sanctuaries community quietly grow.
We're now up to 25 sanctuaries across Aotearoa.
What I love most is the variety.
Some are small pocket sanctuaries tucked into suburban gardens. Others are larger spaces supporting a wide range of pollinators and wildlife. Every one of them matters.
In fact, those tiny pocket sanctuaries may be some of the most important. For a bee, butterfly, hoverfly, or moth, a small spray-free patch can be the difference between finding food and finding none at all.
At the other end of the scale are remarkable places such as the sanctuary garden of the Moths and Butterflies of New Zealand Trust, a five-star sanctuary helping protect and celebrate some of our most overlooked pollinators. We're proud to support their work and hope to collaborate more closely in the future.
If you enjoy butterflies and moths, they've recently released a beautiful 2027 calendar, with proceeds helping support their conservation work. It's well worth a look.
Together, these 25 sanctuaries are becoming something larger than any individual garden.
Together, we're growing 10,000 spray-free sanctuaries across Aotearoa by 2036.
New: Scent & Story Gift Satchels
Two new Scent & Story gift satchels are now available on the website.
The Gentle Gardener
Created for hands that spend time among plants, soil and seasons.
The Daily Ritual
A simple invitation to slow down and create small moments of care within everyday life.
Each gift satchel arrives with a tassel tie. Inside, every product is wrapped in botanical tissue paper and accompanied by a frameable poem inspired by the natural world.
They're designed to feel a little like opening a letter from an old friend.
A gift for yourself, or for someone you love.
Availability is limited, and once this first release is gone, it may be some time before we create more.
Care for Skin and Wings
Discover the thoughtful pairing of a signature oil and balm, specifically crafted for those who spend their days amongst the blooms and pollinators.
The Gentle Gardener Gift Satchel
A ritual for the skin. Features a signature balm and 30ml body oil, plus a poem card dedicated to the creatures that visit our gardens.
$59.00
A Book Worth Curling Up With
If you're looking for a summer read, I've recently been enjoying the work of Dave Goulson, one of the world's most engaging writers on pollinators.
A Buzz in the Meadow is a lovely blend of science, observation and storytelling. It's full of hopeful reminders that even small patches of land can become havens for bees, butterflies and other wildlife when given the chance.
It's the kind of book that makes you look at your own garden a little differently the next morning.
Until Next Time
Thank you for being part of the Flùr Kin community this year.
Whether you've purchased an oil, read a newsletter, followed along on social media, joined a sanctuary, shared a post with a friend, or simply enjoyed a quiet moment in your own garden, you've helped support the bigger vision behind Flùr.
A world with a little more beauty, a little more slowness, and a little more space for pollinators to thrive.
I hope your summer includes sunshine, flowers, good books, and moments worth paying attention to.
With warmth,
Kathryn
Founder
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
— John Muir
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