First Frost

Our first frost has finally made its appearance. We had a close call a few weeks back, but last night it really hit.

And while it's hard to see the flower season come to a close.

I can't help but look back and be thankful. 2014 has been a great year for growing flowers and I have enjoyed it immensely!

 

And I am so thankful for each time I have been able to take those flowers and work them into wedding designs for some very special couples!

The Bridal Bouquet....

It's exciting each time I put the finishing touches on a bride's bouquet, turn it around to inspect it to make sure it's just what she wanted, and when it is, to let out that grateful sigh....

Each bouquet is so different from all the others, because each bouquet is for that one special bride.

It starts with that first meeting where we talk flowers and styles and what she likes and what she doesn't, and little touches that will make that bouquet HER bouquet.

It's really great when I am growing flowers for her. Sometimes actually starting the seeds or planting the bulbs with her wedding day in mind. Or maybe it's a special flower or vine we discover together when we step outside to view the gardens.

It's a privilege and it's so rewarding, and I am so thankful for each woman who asks me to make her bridal bouquet!

Wooden Boxes for Centerpiece Designs

My husband Wilson made some wooden boxes a couple of years ago for our daughter's wedding, and I have loved designing with them ever since.

So whenever I see boxes at a thrift shop or flea market, I grab them up. They are the perfect containers for couples who want to bring a rustic elegance to their reception designs. 

These centerpiece arrangements created for a summer bridal shower were filled with flowers from the garden such as Queen Ann's Lace, Lamb's Ear, Love-in-a-Puff vine, Mountain Mint, zinnias, dahlias and more.

Below is a sewing machine box filled with zinnias and black-eye Susans for an inspiration shoot by Blest Photography.

And for the foodie- kale, purple hull crowder peas, and pattypan squash add a playful touch to this fall design.

More Love-In-A-Puff Wedding Designs

The Love-In-Puff vines at Springwell Gardens will continue to produce lots of lovely tendrils and balloon-like puffs until frost. They are slated to make an appearance at several weddings in October.

They are lovely for bouquet work, but they work great in centerpiece designs. 

Delicate vines swirling in and around flowers with the  glowing green puffs hovering about.

And what happens when you open up one of those little puffs- It's fun to watch the look on a bride's face when she realizes what she sees- The little black seeds say it all....

Ranunculus and Anemones for Spring Weddings

This will be a busy month! In a addition to some upcoming, lovely weddings, there are of course, garden chores.

Yesterday my shipment of ranunculus and anemone corms came in. These flowers are breathtakingly lovely, and are a favorite of brides! I plan to get the first batch of corms into the garden beds later in the month. I hope to have some Carmel white anemones with dark eyes ready for Kaitlin's December wedding.

The plantings will be staggered a bit. Most of the corms should be in by mid October, but I am still experimenting with putting in a small batch for later springtime blooms. Anemones will start blooming as early as December, and will continue slowly through January. The pace will begin to pick up by late February and continue to gain speed through April.
If the temperatures for winter are normal in 2015, I expect to see the ranunculus blooming by early March.

There will also be other lovely flowers to join them- Hellebore, Winter Honeysuckle and Winter Daphne will begin to bloom in January. And I plan to set aside some protected garden space for lots of pansies. All of these flowers are absolutely fabulous for winter and early springtime bouquets.

Late Summer at Springwell Gardens

September is here and summer is slipping away... well sort of... the days are getting shorter, but the heat and humidity are hanging on. The garden is full and kinda overgrown...

Don't look too closely or you will see there's a bit of mildew on the stems and insect nibbles too...

It's like shabby chic for the outdoors if you ask me. There are still  flowers blooming, but some are slowing down.

It's time to gather blooms for drying for winter designs,

And to keep an eye on the dahlias and sedums that I need for weddings this month and next.

Soon it will be time to start planting corms and bulbs for next season's blooms.

One of these days I hope to have the beds neater and better organized. I will keep you posted on how that goes....

Cafe Au Lait Dahlias and Pink Majolica Spray Roses

Some things are worth the wait! That is what I think about these Cafe Au Lait Dahlias. They are starting to bloom now at Springwell Gardens.

This is my second year of growing them. Last year I received dahlia tubers that were supposed to be Cafe Au Lait, but they were not!

Here they featured in a bouquet with pink Majolica spray roses, coral pink Jitterbug and white Bride-To-Be Dahlias, with a collar of seeded eucalyptus, Dusty Miller and Centaurea "Colchester White".

 I am looking forward to using them this fall for a few special brides!