This September, Burlington, Ontario, had its moment as Highclere Castle by way of the Royal Botanical Gardens. I was fortunate to attend a private tour and Afternoon Tea of the Fleurs de Villes Downton Abbey exhibit, organized by Touchwood PR and led by Fleurs de Villes co-founder Karen Marshall.
Fleurs de Villes, the Canadian floral couture show renowned for turning petals into gowns, has married its artistry to the beloved world of Downton Abbey. The result? A breathtaking garden party of botanicals, each mannequin dressed as a member of the Crawley household or the loyal staff below stairs.
Timed perfectly, the display coincided with the release of the new film, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale — making Burlington feel, for a few days, like the luckiest place to be chosen the epicentre of the Crawley universe.
After Sept. 21, the exhibit departs Burlington for its next chapter at Kew Gardens in London (Sept. 22-Oct 1), but here’s a taste of what I experienced — served, of course, with a pot of tea and tea tower to droll over.
Fleurs de Villes: Flowers of Cities
The Downton Abbey in Bloom experience isn’t just about petals and nostalgia; it’s part of a larger story. Fleurs de Villes (literally, flowers of cities) was founded in 2017 by two Canadian women, Karen Marshall and Tina Barkley, who wanted to create something different from traditional garden or trade shows. Instead of focusing on landscaping, they envisioned a stage dedicated purely to floristry — an art form in its own right.
Since then, the company has staged more than 136 shows in 35 cities across five countries, celebrating the work of over 1,400 floral artists. Their mission is simple yet profound: to elevate floral art and bring joy through flowers. As Marshall puts it, “From birth to death, every single major life event, across all cultures, is marked with flowers. Everybody has a deep emotional connection to them.”
In 2023, Fleurs de Villes partnered with Focus Features and Carnival Films to create a series of Downton Abbey floral shows. This Burlington installation marks their seventh Downton Abbey event, timed to coincide with the release of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. The tour has already taken them to Highclere Castle — the real Downton Abbey — and Leicester Square for the film’s premiere. Next stop: Kew Gardens in London, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
With a commitment to authenticity, each show uses only botanicals — mostly fresh, sometimes dried, never artificial unless weather forces an outdoor concession. It’s this devotion to craft, combined with local florists and suppliers in each city, that has earned Fleurs de Villes the nickname: “the Cirque du Soleil of the floral world.”
Upstairs, Downstairs in Flowers
Each mannequin in the exhibit is a love letter to a character, painstakingly rendered in fresh blooms by local florists. Even if you have seen the exhibit in one part of the world, it will be different in another. Here are a few highlights of the Burlington exhibit.
Afternoon Tea that Mrs. Patmore Would Approve
No Downton-themed afternoon would be complete without tea. After the tour, guests were treated to a classic Afternoon Tea service: delicate finger sandwiches, golden scones with clotted cream and jam, and an array of petits fours that looked as though they’d been lifted from the Downton kitchens themselves.
As I sipped my tea, surrounded by flowers and fellow admirers of the Crawley family, it struck me: Downton Abbey is as much about tradition and hospitality as it is about drama. And in this setting, both were beautifully honoured.
A Thoughtful Gift from Touchwood PR
To top off the experience, Touchwood PR provided each guest with a generous gift bag — a treasure trove for any Downton enthusiast. Inside was a Downton Abbey tote bag, perfect for market strolls or library visits; a beautifully scented candle in a tea cup for a touch of manor house ambience; a deck of Downton Abbey playing cards (ideal for whist in the drawing room); and the pièce de résistance — a gorgeous Lost Pattern Downton designed scarf, the kind of accessory even Lady Mary would covet.
It was the perfect keepsake to carry the memory of the day home.
From Burlington to London
The Burlington exhibit runs until September 21, so locals still have a chance to step into this floral fantasy. After that, it crosses the Atlantic to Kew Gardens in London, where the British will surely take equal delight in seeing their beloved Crawleys re-imagined in petals.
Whether you are a die-hard fan or a casual admirer, this exhibition reminds us that the world of Downton continues to bloom — both on screen and beyond.
