Dahlia… May 10, 2009

Whorton Blue Streak

Anemone Dahlia

Decorative Dahlia

Dahlia

Lilac Time

Ball Dahlia

Cactus Dahlia

Pompon Dahlia

Dahlia bouquet

One of the most spectacular and dynamic flowers out there is the Dahlia. Native to Mexico, Dahlias were used by the Aztecs for everything from food to smoke pipes. After they were discovered growing on the sandy hills of Mexico, they were returned to Spain and Belgium where a long history of hybridization has created many types of Dahlias we see today. As there are numerous types of Dahlia ranging in size from 5 cm to 30 cm (the ‘dinner plate’), so there are several groups as well-  each group with its own fantastic bloom and history.  

 

For this flower we’ll list the most popular groups:

                Decorative Dahlia

                Ball Dahlia

                Pompon Dahlia

                Cactus & Semi-Cactus Dahlia

 

As I mentioned before, this flower is both spectacular and dynamic in that there are so many variations and colors that makes this bloom perfect as a focal point or as accents in any arrangement. Whether you’re looking for a casual rustic or garden wedding; or an elegant outdoor fête, this flower works well in either setting!

Daffodils… May 10, 2009

Jonquil Daffodil

Yellow Daffodil

Chinese Sacred Lily

Trumpet Daffodil

Narcissus

Yellow Daffodil

Spanish Daffodil

soft, subtle yellow and white

Go bold! Go Yellow!

I. Love. Daffodils. They’re one of those garden variety flowers that everyone sort of passes on and takes for granted (guilty); but when you actually take the time to look at their vibrant white or yellow blooms and appreciate their happy shape and color,  it sort of lifts their status just a bit. Daffodils and Narcissus are essentially the same and are native to the Mediterranean and Middle East, as well as Asia- most notoriously China- and have 2 very different symbolic meanings to the western and eastern cultures. In the west, the Narcissus flower symbolizes vanity and narcissism as the old Greek legend of the flower sprung from the young Narcissus who couldn’t get enough of his own reflection and drowned (or starved to death, depending on which version you follow) in a pond. Conversely, the Chinese use this flower as a symbol of wealth and good fortune and, as such, Daffodils are a big part of the Chinese New Year celebrations.  Either way you take it, the Daffodil is a prominent bloom that will work in any number of arrangements or bouquets.

 

Here are some flowers we all know well:

                Narcissus jonquilla – Jonquil (in the southern US) or White Daffodil

                Narcissus papyraceus – Paperwhite Narcissus

                Narcissus tazetta – Chinese Sacred Lily

                Narcissus pseudonarcissus – Daffodil

 

For their color alone, Daffodils make excellent spring  bouquets. If you are really into yellow, don’t be afraid of going with a solo bloom bouquet- just be sure to own it and make it a full bunch. There are so many possible combinations of flowers that it’s nearly impossible to pick just one. However, there are 2 color combinations to focus on that may make it easier… for a more subtle arrangement, go for similar colors such as white, other yellows, or oranges… for a super fun colorful bouquet, bring on those stark pinks, purples, reds, peaches, and greens!

Cosmos… May 7, 2009

Chocolate Cosmos

Yellow Cosmos

Cosmos

White Cosmos

Ulama Raja

field of Cosmos

Yellow Cosmos

Cosmos vase

paper trumpet bouquet

The Greeks gave us a word for complete harmony and order – cosmos (κόσμος). Gardening Spanish priests named us a cute little flower with perfect petals centered on a bright, bulbous center– Cosmos.  Texas gave us the perfect conditions for the Cosmos flower to grow – harsh. This is, yet, another great flower that grows extremely well as a wildflower in dry, arid, scrubby heat. These flowers are probably the easiest and quickest to grow successfully and are therefore a frugal choice for brides on a budget. The Cosmos is quite similar to the Anemone in appearance and would, again, make for a great wildflower arrangement.

 

Here are some common Cosmos:

                Cosmos Sulphureus – Yellow Cosmos

                Cosmos Atrosanguineus – Chocolate Cosmos (actually has a chocolatey scent!)

                Cosmos Bippinatus – Cosmos a.k.a Mexican Aster

                Cosmos Caudatus – Ulam Raja (an herb known to improve blood circulation)

 

This is yet another great filler or accent flower. I’ve seen this mixed with Gerberas, Sunflowers, and Hydrangeas in awesome summer bouquets. As a solo bouquet, try bunching together and loosely wrapping in a newspaper trumpet with twine or thick embroidery yarn – a perfect touch to casual summer evenings!

Calla Lily… May 6, 2009

Pink Calla

Yellow Calla

White Calla

Amethyst Calla

Multi-colored bunch

Vibrant Fall Call bouquet

don’t forget the guys!

perfect for autumn weddings!

great deep winter hue!

Aaaaahhhh the Calla Lily… one of my personal faves (I have many). I could truly wax poetic about this dramaticly gorgeous  flower; but for sanity’s sake, I won’t. You’re welcome . The Calla Lily’s smooth, sophisticated swirl, in any color, gives me visions of the perfect dress. I can’t help but imagine a flowy, silk calla dress… does one exist or shall I get the scissors ready? This favorite of artist Diego Rivera is actually considered a weed in many parts of the world; yet is a favorite for weddings as they signify magnificence and beauty –go figure- and runs the spectrum of both bold and soft colors. It is also interesting to note (in an FYI sort of way) that this flower, in its entirety, is highly toxic and is capable of killing livestock and children.

 

Famous Callas (are technically not lilies):

                Zantedeschia Aethiopica – Arum Lily

                Zantedeschia Rehmanii – Pink Arum/Calla

                Zantedeschia Elliottiana – Yellow Calla

 

I have seen these flowers in any number of arrangements and bouquets. The Calla’s dramatic colors are striking whether a single color is bunched together or mixed with different colored Peonies and Apple Blossom (just to name 2). I’ve also seen them as a single flower standing upright in a tall, square vase surrounded by tealights and beads. Gorgeous!

Aster… May 5, 2009

Summer Aster

New England Aster

China Aster

Alpine Aster

Goldilocks Aster

Blue Aster

Pink Aster

Aster mix bouquet

Aster bouquet

Here comes the Aster. This dainty, daisy like flower is the perfect fall touch. It comes in a variety of fresh hues –that aren’t orange- that really make an autumn bouquet or arrangement stand out. Asters are great as fillers or accent flowers because of their showy spray of petals and bright yellow center. They can be found growing wild or in gardens across North America, Europe, and Asia and are huge bird, bee, and butterfly targets for their fragrance and bright color.

 

Popular Aster blooms:

                Aster Alpinus – Alpine Aster

                Aster Linosyris – Goldilocks Aster

                Aster Novae-Angliae – New England Aster

                Callistephus Aster – China Aster

 

If you’re on a budget or are going for something simple and cute for picnics and other low-key outdoor events, Asters are perfect! I’ve used small bunches of Aster along with several different types of wildflower placed in an old Crush (or Coke) bottle with twine wrapped necks.

Anemone… May 3, 2009

Pasque Flower

Buttercup Anemone

Japanese Anemone

Blue Anemone

Buttercup Anemone

Mountain Anemone

Japanese Anemone

Pink Anemone

Windflowers in Bouquet

 Today’s a good day to highlight the Anemone… a gray, simple day staring out the window at little pops of color in the fields below. The Anemone is commonly seen growing wild throughout North America, as well as Europe and Japan – the most popular variety being the autumn-blooming Japanese Anemone. Poppy-like in appearance, the Windflower (as they are generally referred to) can grow quite tall with only a single bloom per stem. There are over 100 different species of Anemone and they are, essentially, herbs that have been used to treat cramps (yes, menstrual) and emotional distress. Windflowers are great as filler for both bouquets and arrangements.

 

Some commonly used varieties are:

                Anemone Hupehensis – Japanese Anemone

                Anemone Ranunculoides – Buttercup Anemone

                Anemone Pulsatilla – Pasque Flower

                Anemone Sylvestris – Snowdrop Windflower

 

These are considered wildflowers and are great when mixed with similar blooms in a summer wildflower bouquet or as a simple bunch -en masse- in a mason jar or small tin vase. I mostly associate this flower with a more ‘woodsy’ or ‘earthy’ vibe which looks great when used in garlands or placed in hay for a touch of femininity in Western themed events!

Amaryllis (and Hippeastrum hybrid varieties)… May 2, 2009

Butterfly Amaryllis

Mrs. Garfield

Mexican Lily

Evergreen Lily

Amaryllis

Amaryllis

Amaryllis

hand-tied nosegay with Amaryllis

mixed bouquet with Amaryllis

We’ll group the Amaryllis with the Hippeastrum “Horse Star” for day 2 of Flower Power May Mania… :)  Even though they’re generally lumped and sold as one and the same, they are actually different; the Hippeastrum variety is a hybrid of the true Amaryllis. These tropical flowers are known for their large, vibrant blooms that sprout atop a single stalk stem with 2 – 5 blooms clumped together, as well as their hardiness and ability to sometimes hold a healthy bloom for weeks.

Most Amaryllis are native to South and Central America, and the Caribbean islands (most notably Barbados); but also have origins in the rocky southwest region of Africa near the Cape (Belladonna Lily). A majority of Amaryllis we see in the market today have a complex genetic background with a 300 year history of hybridization-  some rather spectacular varieties resulted with large red, white, and pink blooms. The process of propagating such beautiful flowers is slow and meticulous and is generally the reason for the considerable cost to those of us who can’t get enough of ‘em.

 

Some popular variations are:

                Hippeastrum Reginae – Mexican Lily

                Hippeastrum Papilio – Butterfly Amaryllis

                Hippeastrum Reticulatum – Mrs. Garfield

                Hippeastrum Mandonii – Evergreen Lily

 

I have seen many a lily (Amaryllis, that is) as a single, bold centerpiece for both dramatic and simple affairs. It’s such a unique, yet diverse, bloom that it can be bunched with other flowers for an elegant bouquet, or by itself as a simple floral statement. Either way you choose to run with it, be prepared to pay for it!

Alstroemeria… May 2, 2009

Alstroemeria Aura

Alstroemeria Caryophyllacea

Alstroemeria Haemantha

Alstroemeria Ligtu

Fuschia

Bright yellow lily

vibrant orangey yellow

nice pop of color

inexpensive color options!

The Alstroemeria, commonly known as the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, is a cute little lily that comes in a range of hues (orange, pink, rose, purple, red, white, and salmon just to name a few) and has a fairly long lasting bloom- good for up to two weeks in the everyday vase. They are indigenous to South America and generally grow in the cool, mountainous regions of the Andes; however, most modern day hybrid blooms (and colors) are created in labs. Alstroemerias tend to be late spring/early summer bloomers, but are widely used in year round arrangements.

 

Some common varieties of Alstroemeria are:

                Aurea – Lily of the Incas  

                Caryophyllacea – Brazilian Lily

                Haemantha – Purplespot Parrot Lily

                Ligtu – Lily of the Nile

 

I personally like these flowers as they are an inexpensive option for adding a touch of the tropics to casual décor. I’ve used the individual blooms (plucked straight from the stem) to dress a tea light setting for a Caribbean themed event. It looked great and it saved money for more important things… like wine and dessert!

Flower Power… May 2, 2009

After much contemplation, grouping, organizing, and REorganizing… Voilà la Fête has decided to present its featured flowers alphabetically. There are so many different varieties, colors, and uses; we’ll explore the bounty of blooms from an educational standpoint. Our goal is to empower you with confidence to hit that florist and own your newfound knowledge. You know what you want and now you’ll know what it’s called !

Enjoy!

April showers bring May flowers… April 30, 2009

 Wow! I can’t believe April is over. I swear I just celebrated New Year’s? And it certainly ended with a bang, too. Literally. A single, alarming clap of thunder that freaked me out a little more than I’d like to admit made that one last snoozer totally unnecessary. However, it was still next to impossible to actually get out of bed with the sound of rain hitting the window.

 

Snooze.

 

When I finally got the muscle and rallied the troops, I still had to figure out how I’d make it to the car with a 3 year old who didn’t want to walk, an 18 month old who couldn’t, 2 bags, a purse and no umbrella. But just then, it all stopped. Not only did it stop, the clouds broke, the sun was shining and everything was perfectly clear and… wait for it… NOT humid (with an ‘h’ not a ‘yoo’)! It was like a scene from a movie and absolutely gorgeous. And shiny. Everything was vibrant… the new(ish) Spring green on the trees; the grass; my cute little pink flowers that are actually weeds; the red robin who gets freaked out every time we pass the bird feeder even though he sees us coming. Everything was bold and bright and beautiful. And while we made it outside without getting caught in the down poor, we still got wet as a certain 3 year old discovered the one mud puddle next to our car.

 

Awesome.

 

The drive into work was a bit slow with all the blinking lights, but I didn’t really mind. I couldn’t help but notice every color of every single flower on every single bush or tree or garden I passed along the way. It made me think of the old saying “April showers bring May flowers” and how VERY true that is! We’re smack in the middle of spring and this morning certainly highlighted that.

 

Which is why I thought to highlight a topic that we can never know too much about… Flowers! Sure many of us know what we like and what looks pretty and perhaps we know a little more than Roses and Hydrangeas, but there are some who are probably embarrassed that they don’t really know what a Delphinium or Ranunculus is- especially when it comes to picking a table setting or bouquet. There are so many varieties of flowers and hybrids and colors that it’s almost overwhelming trying to select that perfect blend that’s truly bold, bright, and beautiful.

 

So we bid adieu to April and welcome May in all her May-ness and gift you with 31 days of flowers! Learn flower types, names, varieties, meaning, and much more all month long! If you have questions or suggestions, definitely let us know… we’re all ears!

Hope you enjoy!