Pansies for Springtime Weddings

I have always been enamored with the idea of adding pansies to wedding designs. One of the main reasons is because they are so unexpected, yet so lovely for garden-inspired designs. They are some of the first heralds of spring in our area, and always seem so cheery. There's nothing like picking a few and breathing in their delicate fragrance! Last year I met a bride who was also enamored by pansies. Kate wanted garden flowers in rich violets, purples, and lavender-blue. So included with the Chinese Forget Me Not, the hellebore, euphorbia, and spikes of catmint were... pansies.

Just as their sweet faces can light up the garden, so they can also light up garden-inspired wedding designs!

Seasonal Blooms for Winter Weddings

With a little planning, couples may be able to have locally sourced, seasonal blooms for their wedding day even in winter. Some of the choices include paperwhite narcissus, and a wonderfully fragrant flowering shrub called Winter Daphne.

Anemones may also be available. Here at Springwell Gardens, we grow anemones in hoop tunnels that provide some protection from the winter weather. A new plant for us is flowering kale. This ornamental version of kale actually looks like a flower. We offer it in white and purple shades.

Other elements include evergreens such as Blue Cypress and everlasting flowers such as celosia and gomphrena that are dried for winter designs.

It's a time to be creative, and this is just what we are striving to do at Springwell Gardens!  We are looking forward to offering these beautiful blooms and textures and even more for winter weddings!

Shawna and Steve's Elegant Backyard Wedding

Sometimes the floral consultation is the very first time a couple really thinks about flowers for their wedding day.

In the case of Shawna and Steve, our first meeting happened after months of correspondence. And ideas that had started out shadowy and vague, had become strong and definitive. Their vision would combine flowers, foliage and vines  into  woodsy and elegant designs that would complement an intimate backyard setting for the wedding and reception. 

And now it's so rewarding to see the reality of that vision in these stunning images taken by Rebecca of Rebecca Ames Photography.

Traditional flowers such as roses and hydrangeas shared the stage with garden flowers grown at Springwell, such as fragrant herbs, dahlias, gomphrena, tuberose, and Queen Ann's Lace. Textural elements such as lamb's ear, curly willow, and seeded eucalyptus were woven together with rich dark green Star Jasmine vine, and delicate Love in a Puff vine.

The feel was romantic and light, from the loose and flowing creations that adorned the arbor (created by Steve and his Dad), to the lanterns mingling among flower filled vessels and vines that swept down the center of the tables.

 

 

               

It was a privilege to create the floral designs for this sweet couple's wedding.

Be sure to check out Rebecca's Wedding Page to see more images from this beautiful wedding. She did an incredible job of capturing the all the elements that go into telling the story of their wedding day.

Love In A Puff for Summer and Fall Weddings

One of the things we celebrate at weddings is LOVE! So I am always excited when I can add something tangible to the bridal bouquet that is a reminder of Love. For summer and fall weddings that tangible something has been Love In A Puff.

It's a sweet little vine, with a very cute name, and it is a delicate accent that can be used in both the bridal bouquet and as well as other designs.

The balloon puffs look enchanting in the way they dance around the design.

And the smile on a bride's face when she sees what is inside those little puffs is priceless!

Keep Those Succulents From Your Wedding Flowers

Succulents have been popular for weddings for the last several years. There are a variety that work well in both centerpiece and bouquets designs. I thought I would show you how you can keep these plants growing after the wedding.

Nicole's bouquet, pictured above, included several soft green succulents known as echeveria, and the lantern centerpiece design had several different types of sedums, "hens and chicks" Sempervivum, and graptosedum nestled among the flowers and herbs.

 

I think it's great that these little succulents can be removed after the wedding and actually rooted and grown into thriving plants.  

The picture above shows a nice variety that were plucked from some recent designs. The lower part of the stem was stripped and then pushed into moist potting soil.

There's not much else that needs to be done. Just check to make sure the soil stays moist, but not soggy and within a few weeks the stems will begin to put on roots.

Pictured above are some succulents that I saved and rooted for one of my brides. This is about seven weeks after the wedding.  

The next step is to move these plants to a larger pot or to a well drained area in the garden that receives about 4-5 hours of sunlight. In our area (Raleigh, NC), they will benefit from  a little shade during the hottest part of the day. 

I like to keep the different varieties separated because some are more vigorous than others and will overtake the pot or area where they are planted.  The echeveria will need to come indoors and be placed near a bright sunny window once the temperatures get cold since it is not winter hardy.  Be sure that all plants are provided a well drained planting area as wet soils will cause them to rot. 

Send me an email if you have any questions!

Jewel Tone Flowers for Summer and Fall Weddings

Some of the garden beds are slowing down, but there are still flowers for gathering into lovely bouquets. Lots of jewel tone colors and spiky flowers show up in late summer.

They include very fragrant African Blue Basil

Feathery soft wheat celosia,

and Black and Blue Salvia

Other flowers in this bouquet include zinnias, dahlias, sedum, crested celosia, and gomphrena. Perilla provides both flower spikes and rich aubergine foliage. These are all great choices for brides who desire locally grown flowers for their late summer and fall weddings.

This October there should also be a small showing of chrysanthemums, and for next year I am planning to have several varieties of floribunda roses to offer as well. Many will be in rich jewel tones, but I am planning to have some soft blush and peachy colors as well!

Poppies Make a Statement in Springtime Bouquets

September is the month for getting ready for next spring's flowers. Seeds have been ordered and in the next week or two I will start sowing. And poppies will be some of the first to go in. It has been great to have these flowers to offer to offer to brides for both spring bouquet and centerpiece designs.

Delicate blooms should start appearing around the second week of April.

I grow Icelandic poppies in a mixture called "Meadow Pastels". It comes in soft shades of pink, peach, yellow, ivory and white, with some of the stronger yellows and oranges as well.

They really grab your attention whether in a bouquet, or a simple arrangement for the table. And they should look stunning for the upcoming weddings in April and May.