Winter Wedding Flowers from the Garden

In winter in the South, you can still find flowers in the garden- you just have to look a little harder though. One cold weather bloomer at Springwell Gardens is Winter Daphne. It's an evergreen shrub that breaks out into a myriad of  waxy pink blooms in January. Though not very showy, these petite flower clusters are quite charming and VERY FRAGRANT!

They're so lovely tucked into bouquets with other winter bloomers such as hellebore and pansies, and with some frost protection- we can have anemones too.

 

 Winter Daphne is also great for detail work such as corsages, boutonnieres and flower halos.

The shrubs are loaded with tight pink buds and should start blooming in the next week or two- just in time for January weddings!

Rich Aubergine Perilla Adds Lovely Contrast to Summer Bouquets

Let me introduce you to Perilla frutescens. 

It's an interesting plant in the garden beds at Springwell Gardens. But what's really great  is how the leaves of this sultry, dark beauty set off a bouquet or centerpiece design with their delicate shape and subtle licorice fragrance.

 

Perilla frutescens is an annual plant that readily reseeds. In addition to its interesting dark foliage, it also produces delicate pink flower spires in September. If you let these flowers dry on the stems, the seeds will just fall to the ground and  you have plants for years to come.

I have been using it for several years now in my summer and fall floral designs. 

And look forward to adding it again in 2014!

Warm Peaches, Pinks and Yellows for Alex and Ben's December Wedding

I am just loving this color palette for Alex and Ben's  wedding flowers. It's so cheery with its warm apricots, peaches and pinks and rich golden yellow- just perfect for chasing away the cold and gloom of winter.

The flowers included apricot colored stock and peachy-coral Ilse spray roses, pink lisianthus, golden button mums and a deep cherry-pink rose called Cherry-O (which I think is an absolutely stunning color).

Silvery green foliage from the garden included Silver Drop eucalyptus, Centaurea Colchester White, and blue cypress which added a rich texture to the boutonnieres for the guys.

It's hard to believe it's already been a week since the wedding. I am so happy for this newlywed couple. I have known Ben for years, and I am looking forward to getting to know his lovely bride, Alex! Praying God's blessing for you as you begin your lives together as husband and wife!!!

Waiting...

While there is not much blooming in the gardens now, there's a lot to do to get ready for winter.

The greenhouse sheeting is on several of the hoop tunnels, and frost cloth is coming out for the cold nights ahead. The tunnels are great for growing ranunculus, anemones, Chantilly snaps, and other springtime flowers that I want to protect.

 Daffodils, leucojums, tulips, and muscari have been and are being planted, pansies have been potted, and the are lots of anemones and ranunculus pushing up in the garden.
No, there is not much blooming now- this is a time of waiting... But the good news is that the waiting won't be too long. By January there should be some early flowers to offer, then more in February and lots more in March....
So here are a few things that will be showing up SOON at Springwell Gardens-

Yes, soon the waiting will be over and I will be picking these flowers again- Just For You!

Ranunculus and Anemones for Spring Weddings

Planting time for anemones and ranunculus is here. The summer and fall annuals have been cleared, and beds are being prepped for a whole new batch corms.
Some of the corms that I saved from last year were actually planted out in early October, and there are a few anemones that are starting to bloom.

This will be the third year of growing ranunculus and anemones at Springwell Gardens. Last year's crop was great, and I am hopeful that there will be plenty of blooms for my March and April 2014 brides.
These plants need some protection so I will be adding plastic coverings and frost cloth to the beds once the corms are in place.

    

I hope to have anemones blooming by mid December (well- with the ones blooming now, I can check that one done!)

And ranunculus should start up by mid February. The big challenge will be keeping the beds protected! We have had some mild winters lately.... But this year may be a bit colder- we'll have to wait and see. I will keep you posted on how things come along as the season progresses.

Soft Peaches and Pinks for Quinn and David's Wedding Flowers

This fall season has truly gone by in a blur. I have to keep reminding myself that it's November already!
As I catch my breath before the holidays arrive, it's great to look back on October and remember some of the lovely weddings I had the privilege to provide flowers for...

Quinn and David's wedding was mid October. One of the first of those coolish autumny days. The skies were just a little drizzly, not too much though, and the emotions were absolutely joyful!

Quinn and her Mom, BJ, are dear friends of mine. When we met to discuss the wedding flowers, it was evident that Quinn knew just what she wanted.
As the wedding day approached,  it was so exciting to see her vision come to life. The colors were soft pinks and peaches and ivories and the flowers included roses, spray roses, baby's breath, and textures such as hypericum berries and fragrant dried lavender.

The wrapping for her bouquet was burlap jute overlaid with lace.And guys sported boutonnieres of waxflowers and dried lavender- the fragrance was wonderful!

So many personal touches were provided by Quinn's family, including these super sweet monogram mugs that her sister, Lauren, gave to the couple! 

Table decor was a charming blend of bottles, flowers and votives which were perfect for reception venue- The Cotton Company in Wake Forest, NC.

The super delicious cake was provided by the very gifted Beth Wallen of CakealiciousNC. Her cakes are incredible!!!

I am so happy for Quinn and David as they begin their marriage... Praying God's blessing for you two!!!

Beautiful, Bold Dahlias and Zinnias for Kelsey and Eddie

It's so exciting to see the vision for wedding flowers come to life!

When I first met with Kelsey and her mom, Ellen, I learned that the color palette would be bold- very bold. Strong reds, golden yellows, electric blues, touches of coral-peach, bright oranges, and purples that would look stunning against the royal blue bridesmaids dresses. 

The flower choices included lots of garden varieties in keeping with the rustic atmosphere of Snipes Farm. Garden picks included Love-in-a-Puff pods and vines, scented geranium, Sweet Annie, peach dahlias, Karma Chocolate dahlias, orange crested celosia and peach, yellow and red zinnias.
Blue delphinium, orange and yellow spray roses that came from my wholesaler added the finishing touches to the bouquets and the cute centerpiece designs- collections of bottles, jars and vases nestled within picture frames (Ellen's idea) on burlap runners. 

 Everything was coming together beautifully when I left. The guests were arriving and the atmosphere was exciting!!! I heard from Ellen that a great time was had by all.

Kelsey and Eddie- I am so happy for you both! Praying God's blessing as you begin your marriage!!!

Spring Snowflakes for Springtime Bouquets

The bulbs have been ordered and should be arriving next week. And Leucojums, commonly known as "Spring Snowflakes", will be in the mix!

These are such sweet little flowers- delicate bells rimmed with green speckled scallops.

Their nodding heads add a gentle movement to springtime bouquets.

They are featured in the first bouquet with red anemones, orange and white ranunculus, green viburnum and Bridal Crown narcissus. The second bouquet of all white flowers includes leucojum, anemones and ranunculus. They will be available from mid March through April at Springwell Gardens.

Poppies for May Weddings!!!

September is slipping away so quickly... Time for getting ready for the winter and spring season. Seed sowing has started and I am looking forward to having more of these...

 

Iceland Poppies. They are here for such a brief time in the south, but so worth growing. Last year they started up in late April and continued almost through the end of May.

Because the flowers are so fragile, it is best to source them locally. I'm talking them up to brides who are getting married next May- I think they will be a great hit!

Soft Blush Flowers for Hilary and Gordon's Wedding

Hilary and Gordon were married last Saturday. The day was perfect and the barn and grounds at The Little Herb House on the southeast side of Raleigh was absolutely lovely. I'm really looking forward to seeing the images captured by Brett and Jessica.

I met with Hilary and her Mom, Carol, back in February. Hilary already knew what she wanted- a soft color palette that featured creams, blush pinks,  delicate peaches, and silvery greens. She also loved textural elements such as seeded eucalyptus and  silver brunia berry. The flowers included Juliet garden roses,Senorita roses, soft pink chablis spray roses,and white lisianthus.

The designs for her bridesmaids featured white hydrangea, white lisianthus, ivory spray roses, wax flowers, seeded eucalyptus, and alstromeria that provided a bright splash of pink.

Boutonnieres for the Dads were twine wrapped baby's breath and

the groom and groomsmen wore spray roses edged with seeded eucalyptus. Gordon's boutonniere featured a sprig of sedum and brunia berries with a single Dusty Miller leaf.

Instead of wearing flowers, the Moms carried posies of white lisianthus, spray roses and scented geranium leaves.

Now it's HONEYMOON time! Hilary and Gordon, praying God's blessing for you as you begin your lives together!!!!