Find Your Local Florist:Everything you want to know about flowers!
Each year on the first Sunday after Labor Day, we celebrate some very special people in our lives: our grandparents! This year, Grandparents Day falls on Sunday, September 11th, and it’s the perfect time to show your grandparents some love and let them know you’re thinking of them! [Read more…]
Can you believe it’s 2012 already? Ring in the new year with Silver Bells — our featured arrangement for January! This beautiful arrangement features flowers in winter colors, accented with unique silver leaves and ornaments.
Everyone’s favorite Gerbera daisies are front and center, reminding us spring is on it’s way! Blue delphiniums really shine when paired with white and silver. Blue flowers are a rare treat, and delphiniums are one of the few naturally blue flowers. Another rare treat featured in this January arrangement, are the uncommon star of Bethlehem flowers. Altogether, Silver Bells shares winter bliss with everyone! [Read more…]
RED is ROSESWhen we think roses, our mind almost instantly pictures RED! Red roses are synonymous with passion, and what better emotion captures feelings during the celebration of the birth of our great nation?
Add roses to your 4th of July decor, either mixed with other flowers, or all on their own. Red roses are strong, proud flowers and look impressive no matter how they are used.
BLUE is LARKSPURLarkspur, or delphinium is the official flower for July, and it’s true-blue variation is perfect for our 4th of July list! The delicate blue spurs of this flower stalk are some of the richest blues you’ll find in the flower world.
You can pair larkspur to compliment your flower mix, or use them alone as a true-blue stunner. As you can see by the arrangement to the right, larkspur looks absolutely gorgeous when paired with white flowers.
WHITE is LILIESThe lily is definitely a favorite among garden flowers, and flowers in general. Everyone loves the giant blooms. White lilies are perfect for our theme, (although we almost picked calla lilies!)
Lilies made the list because their star-like blooms make the perfect Fourth of July flowers. They also remind us of bursting fireworks! Again, they look stunning on their own, but mix them with other flowers and you’ve got a fantastic flower display!
Why not take all 3 of our favorite red, white and blue flowers and create a perfect flower bouquet for the Fourth!? I can see it now: the tall larkspur shooting out of the base of red roses and white lilies. Who wouldn’t want it as their 4th of July centerpiece?
Contact your local florist and see just what all they’ve got in mind for the 4th! Find your own favorite red, white and blue flowers!
This month’s favorite flower color is aquamarine. This year, we are spotlighting unique flower colors for you to use in custom flower arrangements, wedding bouquets, centerpieces and anywhere else you might need great-looking flowers. To make the chosen colors a little more interesting, we are starting with birthstone colors. Last month’s was amethyst, and this month it’s aquamarine, or light blue. (Click here for all of our color of the month posts)
Aquamarine is the bluish-green variety of the mineral beryl. The name beryl comes from the Green, beryllos which means to a “precious blue-green color-of-sea-water stone.” We often see aquamarine used in jewelry and it is the birthstone for March.
When creating a color palette for your flower arrangement or wedding bouquet, choose analogous colors to aquamarine, meaning next to it on the color wheel. These include a mixture of blues and light purples, excellent for pale blue flower arrangements.. Aquamarine’s complement color is a dusty, antique pink — a great accent to your light blue flowers! The tetrad colors of aquamarine are also easily incorporated into floral designs. The complimentary colors of aquamarine give this hue a surprisingly-rustic mood. Keep these colors in mind when creating your next aquamarine or light blue flower arrangement or color palette.
The following guide are a collection of very unique, aquamarine/light blue colored flowers available from your local florists. This guide focuses on light blue flowers you might not think of!
This is a great flower guide for brides looking for unique color palettes and unusual flowers for their wedding. [Read more…]
Ask the Expert: Blue Orchid arrangements
My daughter is getting married May 7th, 2011. She wants to use Blue Orchids in her floral arrangements, her colors are Navy Blue, White and a touch of silver.(winter in May) What other flowers could you suggest for the bridal bouquet and brides maids bouquets? Thanks for your help! Shelly
Flower Shop Network Flower Expert Reply:
I personally don’t know of a naturally occurring blue orchid. The most commonly used ‘blue orchid’ is the blue Dendrobium, however it is actually a Purple Bombay Dendrobium dyed blue. This flower is more of a purplish-blue color rather than your desired navy. (See picture to the left.) I’ve also seen Misteen Dendrobium dyed blue. This flower is a white orchid with light-pink tipped petals; when dyed blue, it still has hints of purple.
Florists also have the option to use a special floral spray paint and can make your flowers the perfect color for you! This is definitely best left to the professionals as it is very hard to achieve a natural look.
Because blue orchids are dyed, achieving a navy blue orchid might be difficult. Another option would be to use white orchids and navy blue accent flowers.
Some great blue flowers include:
If you still aren’t able to find the navy you are looking for, you might consider using it in other ways, such as feathers, ribbon, wire or crystals. Get with your local florist about this and she will be able to design something fabulous!
For more great ideas, check out our sister site, Wedding And Party Network’s bridal bouquet gallery.
This post is brought to you by local Springfield IL florists.
Not in Springfield? Don’t worry, use Flower Shop Network’s directory of real local florists to find a florist near you!
Ask the Expert: Lovely perennial, but what is it?
Springs up in May, has cosmos like stem and leaves and corn flower type flower. It blooms first as white then gradually turns to a dark blue flower. Sharon
Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
The flowering plant is a Nigella damascena. It is commonly referred to as Love-in-a-Mist or Devil-in-a-Bush. Although it blooms in U.S. gardens in the late spring though summer, florists can use this flower in arrangements year-round. Because of its light and airy quality as well as its blue color, florist use it as a rare blue element in garden style arrangements. Beside the blue flowers, Nigella can also come in pink, white and yellow. Diseases and pest rarly bother this plant and it comes up from seed fairly easy given the right conditions.
Greenville Florists are proud to bring you this flower identification.
Ask the Expert: what kind of flower is this
I have no idea what kind of flower this is. The flower had not bloomed in the past few years. I live in upstate SC and this plant is always green and never dies even in the winter it still had very bright green leaves. I cannot identify it. Melissa
Plant Expert Reply:
Since I can’t tell by the picture the true structure of the plant and it’s foliage, I am basing my identification on the bloom only. I believe the plant you have is an Agapanthus (African Blue Lily). However, I’m not sure which type of Agapanthus it is.
Agapanthus is a genus of about 10 vigorous perennial species, some of which are evergreen. They are clump forming with large strap-shaped leaves. Agapanthus needs fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Full-sun is required for good summer blooming.
Your blooming issues could be lack of sunlight, phosphorus deficiency, or the plant could be buried too deep. A change in any of these conditions could stimulate blooming.
This flower identification question wsa brought to you by local South Carolina Florists
Passionflower - Passiflora
Ask the Expert: What kind of flower is this one found in Florida?
This flower is strange. I have never seen it before… Dereck
Plant Expert Reply:
What you have is a blue passionflower (Passiflora caerulea). It is a twining vine that can grow 30ft in length. Passionflower is evergreen in tropical climates. Although it will survive in areas where the winters are cool, the vine will become deciduous. They will produce a fruit that is edible. Passionflowers are wonderful additions to butterfly gardens since they are exclusive hosts for numerous species of Heliconian butterflies.
This flower identification was brought to by real local florists across the United States and Canada.
Ask the Expert: Which flowers for my wedding?
Our colors are chocolate brown, baby blue, and ivory/creme. We are getting married outside in a beautiful almost garden type area towards the end of November, so I was wondering what baby blue or creme colored flowers would be best to use? Jordon
Plant Expert Blog:
Finding true blue flowers anytime of year can be a job. Finding baby blue flowers can be even a little more difficult. Don’t worry, I have a suggestion. Try light blue delphinium. It is a gorgeous flower with multiple blooms per stem. Delphinium is a flower that is at home in the garden as well as formal arrangements. So, it will be a perfect choice for your fall wedding. I suggest pairing it with ivory Gerberas. A bouquet with these flowers will give you a romantic garden feel.
Of course, there are other blue flower options available. Agapanthus is a beautiful ball of blooms that is very versatile and can be used as a focal flower in your wedding bouquet and reception flowers. Hydrangeas or light blue iris are fantastic choices. In fact I have seen a beautiful bouquet that contained iris and white flowers.
You have a few blue accent flower choices as well – Asters, centaurea, campanula, limonium, forget-me-not, and scabiosa.
Cream or ivory flowers are easy to find. My suggestions would be gerberas, roses, agapanthus, orchids, calla lily, alstroemeria, or snapdragons.
The best advise I can give you is to look through Wedding and Party Network’s photo galley under wedding flowers and wedding bouquets. See what styles you like, then discuss with your local florist which of my wedding flower suggestions will give you the look you desire. The florist may have a few ideas of there own.
Good luck and keep me posted. Maybe I’ll see your wedding flowers in the WPN photo gallery in November.
Ask the Expert: November/December flowers
I’d really like a bouquet with blue hydrangea and a couple white cabbage roses mixed in, but I think hydrangea will be out of season in late Nov, early Dec. Is there another blue flower I could substitute?
Thank you!
Amy
Plant Expert Reply:
You’ll be glad to know hydrangeas are available to florists year round. So you won’t need to subsititue another flower for hydrangea blooms in your wedding bouquet.
Although hydrangeas are used mostly in spring (March, April, May) and summer (June, July, August), we are seeing a rise in hydrangeas use in fall weddings (September, October, November). Winter brides (December, January, February) often use hydrangea blooms when they want a large white bloom. This beautiful bloom is a wonderful wedding flower choice.
If you still need ideas for blue wedding flowers let me know.
