All posts tagged hydrangea

June Wedding? Popular Flowers for Bouquets and More

It seems like this year has flown by quickly. It’s June already, and it’s time to start thinking about warmer weather in the U.S. – and maybe flowers for those of you who have June weddings coming up. We recently wrote about some flower ideas that are perfect for late-spring nuptials, but since there are so many blooms that can potentially add beauty to a casual or formal wedding, we thought we’d offer more suggestions.

If you’re running off to tie the knot this June and need flowers, or if you’ve planned your wedding for a while, but left flower arranging until the end, consider the following blossoms that are usually readily available this month.

Irises

The iris is an extremely large and diverse genus of flower, with nearly 300 species to choose from and thousands of cultivars in a variety of colors from the rainbow. Irises are super easy to grow, so think about planting them now for use next June. But, if you need them immediately, simply contact your local garden center or search online. The most common types of irises you’ll find are Siberian and Japanese varietals.

Wisteria

If you want to get creative with your flowers, go with wisteria. Wisteria grow on large, deciduous vines and they come in stunning, drooping flower clusters that can provide a perfect backdrop for showy flowers like orchids. They can also be the stars of the presentation, if you want them to. Wisteria are elegant, easy to care for, and affordable.

Roses

The good old rose. A go-to, and fall-back, flower for many, but one that certainly shouldn’t be considered just a run-of-the-mill or typical bloom. The rose is the ultimate floral symbol of love, so give serious thought to using it as part of your June wedding floral display. Roses are ideal for wedding bouquets, boutonnieres, and arrangements because they come in many colors, sizes, and shapes.

In addition to these popular June flowers, you can incorporate peonies, lupine, elderberry, bottlebrush, sweetspire, and hydrangea in the flower plan for your wedding.

Flowers that Love the Rain

Do you live in an area that gets lots of rain? If so, take advantage of the situation and grow flowers in your garden that love rainy weather.

The following flowers soak up rain like we soak up beauty. Which means, they’re like a sponge so plant them in your yard or on your patio, and then delight in them as they grow through the rain and sunshiny days.

Forget Me Not

Forget me nots love water and they thrive when planted near water’s edge. These delicate-looking flowers appear like a cloud of color on days when it’s monochrome outside. Forget me nots are short-lived perennials, but they self seed so you may find them popping up here and there throughout the year.

Japanese Primrose

Japanese primrose is a spring-blooming flower that loves April and May showers. It puts out 18-inch-tall clusters of blooms in pink, white, red, and magenta. The Japanese primrose has long flower stalks, which makes it perfect for cutting and bringing blossoms into the house on a rainy day.

Swamp Milkweed

If you haven’t seen swamp milkweed, don’t let its name lead you to think the flower is ordinary or not pretty. The swamp milkweed simply loves wet, wet soil. It happily grows almost anywhere, but put it where there’s tons of water and it’ll thrive. This rain-loving flower attracts monarchs and other butterflies when the sun comes out.

Calla Lily

Calla lilies are graceful flowers that often grow close to the ocean and they love damp soil. They come in a stunning array of colors, from white and yellow to pink and red. You’ll even find calla lilies in bronze, orange, and maroon. Calla lilies are long-lasting flowers that are excellent for cutting.

Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are many people’s favorite flower, so some individuals are often ecstatic when they find out they can grown these blooms in super-rainy climates. Hydrangeas absolutely love moisture, as might be evident when you consider that their name comes from the Latin word “hydra.”

Plant these flowers where the rain can pour down on them and you’ll be showered with beauty, and abundance, for your home and garden.

Fall Wedding Flowers

Many brides like to get a jump-start on choosing flowers for their wedding, so we thought we’d offer some suggestions for great flowers for a fall wedding. Since fall just passed, we still have memories of the season’s prettiest blooms in our head.

We’re vividly remembering warm orange and yellow-hued flowers like daisies and carnations. And, we’re envisioning these colors, plus others like lilies and orchids in shades of red and white, as stunning flowers for a fall wedding.

If you’re planning a wedding for next fall and are starting to gather ideas for your flowers, we think you should consider the following combinations of blooms.

Fall’s Bounty

Fall is known as a season of abundance, so why not show off the bounty of the season with a variety of warm-colored seasonal blooms in big bouquets. Put together arrangements with many pretty fall flowers, such as hydrangea, garden roses, dahlias, calla lilies, and Asiatic lilies.

Warm and Exotic

You can also convey the abundance of fall by choosing warm-colored flowers that originate in many parts of the world. Combine them with unconventional, yet still beautiful, plants that are not necessarily flowers but still gorgeous plants. We think a mix of kangaroo paws, chili peppers, ornamental cabbage, echeveria, passiflora vine, and viburnum berries will make a welcoming and special statement in a bouquet, table arrangement, or boutonniere.

Garden Bouquet

For a casual bouquet displaying fall’s best colors and blooms, put together a garden arrangement of cheerful and inviting dahlias, wildflowers, ranunculus, and yellow or orange daisies. Pair them with seasonal seeded eucalyptus.

All of these floral arrangement and bouquet ideas will surely give you a stunning display for your fall wedding, but they’re simply suggestions you can run with. As you plan for your wedding flowers, think about choosing blooms that might mean something to you and your future spouse. And, then pick fall-colored versions of these for your table, bouquets, and other floral arrangements.

If you have any suggestions for other pretty fall wedding flowers, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Flowers to Say “Thank You”

Saying “thank you” with flowers can be an easy, creative, and unexpected way to say “Thank you.” It’s easy for the giver, and it’s always a delight for the recipient.

If you’re looking for the perfect flowers to say “thank you,” we have a few suggestions. Whether you want to offer your appreciation to your child’s teacher, a neighbor who house sat for you, or a friend who took care of you when you were ill, you have many beautiful choices for “thank you” flowers to give.

The following are some flowers for saying “thank you” that we especially love:

Sweet Peas

What better way to say “thank you” for doing something sweet than sending sweet peas. Sweet peas can say “thank you” for concert tickets, a job referral, excellent ongoing service, or help with an event. These beauties smell just as sweet and wonderful as they look.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are flowers given to say “thank you for understanding.” They’re ideal to send to someone who has helped you through a tough time physically, emotionally, or financially. These blossoms come in pink, blue, peach, and white. They’re economical if you’re on a budget because you only need one or two blooms to fill up a vase.

Chrysanthemums

To say “thank you” to a friend, choose chrysanthemums. These flowers are cheerful and they represent joy. To show how joyful and thankful you are for a special friendship, give these blooms.

In addition to the flowers we’ve mentioned, you can say “thank you” by offering bellflowers, irises, or roses. Of course, any flower that you give with your whole heart will be a beautiful sentiment of gratitude.

 

The Best Flowers for People with Allergies

Do you live with allergies but love flowers? Do you want to give some beautiful flowers to someone who’d appreciate them if not for their allergies?

There are some gorgeous blooms that you can keep in your home, or give as a gift, that likely won’t cause an allergic reaction. These blossoms are fragrance-free or mildly fragrant, which helps keep irritation at bay.

For allergy sufferers, the following are the best flowers to have around:

Hydrangea

Hydrangea is a beautiful plant and it’s one that’s allergy friendly. This shrub, which produces flowers in a variety of colors, is a great choice for allergy sufferers because it doesn’t shed or smell much. It just sits there looking amazing with its pink, blue, white, or purple bunchy blooms.

Hosta

Hosta is another great choice for anyone with allergies. These flowers usually range from gold to chartreuse. Sometimes the smaller flowers come in shades of white or pale violet. Hosta are unscented, which is ideal for those with allergies. They require minimal sunlight or water, which also makes them perfect for many people.

Lilies

The lily is another stunning allergy-friendly plant. It gives off amazing blossoms that are pollen free. Pollen is an allergy trigger for many people. So, giving these flowers will keep a number of flower lovers thrilled that they can finally enjoy nature in their homes. For a treat, choose an exotic Asiatic lily for yourself or for someone you care about.

If you suffer from allergies and have a favorite, allergy-friendly flower you’d like to share with us, feel free to let us know in the comments below!

Beautiful Rose Alternative Anniversary Flower Bouquets

While roses are the traditional flower to give your loved one on your anniversary, the trends are changing as we see quirky and off-beat weddings bucking tradition. Roses are always a classic and beautiful way to honor a special day, but perhaps your significant other has unique taste and a style that is all their own. We love the idea of sending a floral arrangement with alternatives to roses because it shows that a lot of time and thought went into choosing the perfect flowers. Here are some of our favorite alternative anniversary bouquets:

Lavender Plant

A lavender plant is a beautiful way to honor your love on your anniversary day, especially if your significant other loves to garden. They can either keep this gorgeous plant in the decorative purple planter in which it arrives, or replant it in their yard. This is an especially great option for those who love the color purple, or love aromatherapy. Lavender is known for its relaxing scent, and would be a great addition if you are also gifting your love with a relaxing spa day.

Tropical Elegance

We are head over heels for this simply stunning calla lily arrangement. Available with six, eight or ten stems of calla lilies, the flowers come elegantly arranged among beautiful green palms. This is a perfect bouquet for someone who loves the exotic elegance of the likes of St. Tropez or Cabo San Lucas. This is also a great addition to an anniversary that will include a tropical vacation.

Hydrangeas

A hydrangea arrangement is a beautiful option for an anniversary. Hydrangeas are classic and elegant, and making a huge comeback with the surge in interest in vintage looks. They offer a stunning visual appeal to whatever space they adorn. Whether it is a table centerpiece, or on your love’s nightstand, they are sure to add an element of luminous festivity.

The key to making anniversary flower bouquets that feature rose alternatives is to keep them upscale and elegant, so as to ensure that it doesn’t look like you simply got a cheap bouquet of mixed flowers to skimp out on a special day. To do this, you simply need to pick an arrangement that fits any theme you may have to your anniversary, or pick an arrangement with one type of flower for uniformity. With those rules in mind, you are sure to find something beautiful that will make your significant other smile!

Skip to content