Language of Flowers

You may not realize it, but the flowers you choose for a bouquet have meaning. In Victorian times, people would use flowers to send coded messages, based on the symbolic meaning given to each flower, to express feelings they could not verbalize. These small bouquets were called tussie-mussies.

Though not commonly used today, some flowers still are known for their symbolism. Red roses are typically used to convey a passionate love while yellow roses are for friendship. I can remember the first time I received roses from a boyfriend, hoping they would be red and not yellow. Doubt he knew the difference :)

The next time you create a bouquet, think about creating a hidden message. Here are some common meanings of flowers:

Anemone = unfading love

Bells of Ireland = luck

Campanula = gratitude

Daffodil = uncertainty

Dahlia = elegance

Daisy = innocence

Honeysuckle = devoted affection

Hydrangea = frigidness

Ivy = dependence

Lavender = devotion

Lilac (purple) = first emotion of love

Lily (white) = purity

Lily of the Valley = trustworthy

Mallow = consumed by love

Mint = suspicion

Orchid = refined beauty

Peony = bashfulness

Rose (red) = passionate love

Rose (white) = eternal love

Rose (red & white) = united

Rosemary = remembrance

Sunflower = pure thoughts

Thyme = thriftiness

Wheat = wealth and prosperity

Unique Vases for Centerpieces

I was on one of my favorite sites today, www.zgallerie.com, looking for inspiration. Do reception centerpieces always need to be in clear glass vases? Certainly not! Look at a few of these ideas... So these are really candle holders/pillars, but a flower arrangement could easily be attached where the candle sits. I love Baroque style, maybe because it mimics flowers. These would really make an event feel opulent but current at the same time.

Mercury vases are so beautiful. With silver being a popular accent, why not bring the color and shine to the table with these beauties?

This vase is just architectually cool. I love how the light reflects off the various surfaces. Imagine candles surrounding the vase, creating that effect. Not a large opening at top for flowers, but this vase really only needs a few stunning stems to compliment it. Try orchids or flowering branches.

Purple is such a popular accent color for weddings, why not have the vase be the choosen shade instead of the flowers? Would be stunning with white or green flowers, all of the same variety, like ranunculus.

Hope these few examples have given you inspiration as well. Off to look for more ideas...

Wedding at Bowman's Bay and Majestic Inn

Tracy and Mark were recently married, on one of the hotest days of the summer. The ceremony was held at Bowman's Bay, where Tracy grew up. Beautiful outdoor location, right on the ocean.

Tracy choose hydrangeas and purple shades for her colors. We used garden flowers and herbs, to keep the look natural. Above is a picture of her bouquet, including: hydrangea, roses, salvia, sedum, malva, lavender, mint, rosemary, oregano and grasses. Very fragrant!

By using herbs, your bouquet will smell wonderful. Touching a mint leaf releases its oils and fills the room with its fresh scent. Herbs have been used for centuries in weddings, with many meanings attached to them. For example, rosemary is for remembrance.

Mark and Tracy, at the top of the Majestic Inn and Spa. Their reception was held here, in the recently added outdoor courtyard. Beautiful historic building with a wonderful staff.

For the boutonnieres, we used white English roses with rosemary. English roses are a great choice for boutonnieres because they are generally flat when fully open. And many of them are fragrant!

One of the reception centerpieces at the Majestic Inn. We used hydrangea, dahlia, rose, malva, sedum, mint and grasses. The vases are square glass with leaves wrapped inside.

A stunning wedding, one that really showcases using garden flowers from my farm. Hope these photos give you inspiration for your wedding or event!

Wedding at The Quarry LaConner

This June I had the pleasure of designing flowers for Heather and Dustin's wedding. Held at The Quarry in LaConner, they had a stunning sunny day for their outdoor wedding.

The wedding colors were black and white with red highlights. Heather chose Casa Blanca lilies for her bouquet. Also included are freesia, Mokara orchids, Grand Prix roses and Black Bacarra roses.

The bright colors really stood out nicely against the black and white dresses.

We used cymbidium orchids for the boutonniers. They add a sense of elegance and are extremely durable to all the hugging!

Instead of using rose petals for the flower girl, we used red Mokara orchids. Aren't they beautiful?

Cymbidiums were added to the stunning black and white cake.

The centerpieces really looked sharp agains the white table cloths. Flowers used were Mokara orchids, Grand Prix roses, Black Bacarra rose, pinchusion protea, freesia, spider mums and gerbera.

Their wedding was so much fun to work on. A great couple and a beautiful wedding! Thanks to Sheila Carson Photography for the use of her gorgeous photos.

Visit from Scarlet Dragonfly

Walking thought the garden the other day, I spotted the most amazing dragonfly I have ever seen. Vibrant cherry red body with wings that seemed to be gold, though you could see through them. He was resting on a poppy seed head, just enjoying the sunshine. The girls and I just admired him for a few minutes before it dawned on me that I should run in the house to get the camera. Needless to say, he was gone by the time I returned. Hope he comes back for a visit soon!

Welcome Summer

I love when the flower colors change from pastel to jewel tones. Check out the yellow tiger lily. Stunning, right? The dahlias have just started blooming, as well as the zinnias. These are some of my summer work horses. My snapdragons are hitting their stride, though the recent rain storm took its toll on them. For those of you who didn't know snapdragons had a fragrance, the burgundy ones do. A nice fruity smell. Other items in this bouquet include lemon balm, marble arch salvia and frosted explosion grass. This bouquet is a great example of the arrangements I deliver to my weekly clients. Perfect size for an office counter or breakfast table. Now lets just hope our summer weather sticks around for awhile...