Zinnia Bouquets in Peach and Coral and Lavender and Plum

Spring lingered a little longer than usual this year, but with the typical humidity of the Deep South streaming in over these last couple of weeks, I think it has finally given way to summer.

This is a transition time in the flower garden. Snapdragons, Feverfew, Yarrow and Queen Ann's Lace are some late spring bloomers that will persist through June. Zinnias, gomphrena, and celosia are just starting up and will crank out blooms through frost. Dahlias are also starting up as well, but won't hit their stride until fall.

So as the weather heats up, I thought it would be a great time to work up some bouquets with summer offerings.

Open-face Chantilly snapdragons and zinnias in soft yellows, peach, salmon and pink are paired with white feverfew and Queen Ann's Lace. It's a very popular color palette this year!

The next bouquet features hydrangea, clematis, zinnia, marble arch salvia, chocolate cosmos and catmint in lavender, purple, plum, and pink with touches of white double flowered feverfew.

The best part of all is having my daughter, Judy, agree to help me out, and hold the bouquets for me. I tell her it's good practice...

She just laughs!

Poppies and Peonies for May Weddings

This is the second year for poppies at Springwell Gardens. They have been blooming since late April in delicate hues of pale yellow, salmon, peach and light pink. Their beauty is fleeting... As May gives way to June, their bloom season appears to be over.

They made an appearance in Taylor and Grant's reception centerpiece designs and also in her bouquet.
Here they are paired with white peonies from the garden (also a May bloomer), wild grasses, Chantilly snapdragons and yellow flower stems from kale. 

Yes, May is their month to bloom. Seeds were sown last fall, and the seedlings were given some winter protection in one of the caterpillar tunnels.
Since they are not fond of heat, I plan to give them a spot with some more afternoon shade. Hopefully I will be able to coax them to linger a little bit into June. It would be great to offer them to both May and June brides next year!

Lovely Lavender, Ivory and Green for Lindsey and Doug's Wedding

You just couldn't ask for a more beautiful day for your wedding than last Saturday. Blue skies with perfect daytime temps in the 70's, and a gorgeous outdoor setting at  The Barn at Valhalla...

I am sure that Lindsey and Doug were thrilled, but I am also sure that no matter what the weather, they would have been thrilled, because it was their wedding day!
I met them both last September. It was great to have his input on the floral designs. Lindsey wanted a soft color palette in white, ivory, lavender, and green, and Doug had opinions about the containers for the reception designs. Together they came up with some beautiful ideas.

Flowers included Florigene carnations in two shades of lavender, oodles of white hydrangeas, lavender stock, and ivory Majolica spray roses, and for Lindsey's bouquet white freesia and peonies.

 

Yes, it was a beautiful day for a wedding, and now a new season begins...

Praying God's blessing as you two begin lives together as husband and wife!

More Pictures from Katey and Matt's Wedding

Just wanted to share a little peak of some of the wonderful images taken by Rebecca of Rebecca Ames Photography from Katey and Matt's wedding last month at The Umstead.

To see the rest of her beautiful work that captures this sweet and intimate wedding check out her blog at: Katey & Matt: Married!!!

Corals, Peaches and Soft Yellows for Taylor and Grant's Wedding

Love, love, love this color palette!!! It's so fresh and so perfect for a mid May wedding.

And such a lovely setting... Snipes Farm in the spring time... Thankfully the rains held off, and everything looked wonderful for Taylor and Grant's outdoor ceremony yesterday.

I met with Taylor and her Mom, Tammy, last fall around State Fair time. We talked flowers and colors for a while, and then they set off for the State fair with their family. In the next few weeks the color and flower choices were firmed up. Some of Taylor's favorites- baby's breath, garden roses or peonies and soft green succulents. She wanted her bridesmaids to carry all white bouquets to set off their seafoam green dresses and for her bouquet she wanted corals, peaches, and pale yellows, oh yes, and succulents!

This is when I start to think about what can I grow that will be in that color palette. My first thought was zinnias in corals and salmons, (this year it just wasn't meant to be- too cool in March and April!). But there is always something else and I was so excited that I had also mentioned poppies- they came through beautifully.
Taylor decided to use small pails filled with white hydrangeas and coral and peach roses and spray roses to adorn the aisle chairs. She and her sister decorated each pail with burlap ribbon accented with a single white  flower.

Tables for the reception were fitted with burlap runners and a collection of flower filled bottles and votives. Flowers from the garden included poppies, a small gathering of late blooming ranunculus, Chantilly snapdragons, and yellow flower stems from garden kale.

Lots of love went into the decorations... Tammy created a beautiful wall of flowers with bottles and zinnias (I would love to get to know her source!)...

I can't wait to hear all the wonderful details.As Sandy and I were leaving, a joyful crowd was gathering to celebrate a wedding.

And today there is a newly married couple! Taylor and Grant, praying God's blessing for  you as you begin your lives together!!!

Something Different from The Garden for Lauren and Chris

Something Different...

There was no doubt about it! When I first met with Lauren and her sister, Meredith, and mom, Tamara, I knew we were definitely talking about something very different for wedding flowers, and I loved it! This 2012 September wedding would feature designs that reflected Lauren's love of baking and cooking, so the focus would be on fresh herbs and vegetables and fruit, oh yeah, and a few flowers too...

 So in July I started some veggie seeds in the garden- things I had checked on at the Farmer's Market and thought might not be available in September-purple hulled okra and patty pan squash to be exact. The okra did GREAT, the patty pan squash- not so well... But the Raleigh Farmer's Market came through at wedding time. I not only found Patty Pan squash, but several varieties of petite eggplants and peppers.

Then back to my garden beds for LOTS of herbs like Rosemary and African Blue Basil, Scented Geraniums and Garlic Chives flowers and frilly dark Perilla, and then flowers such as yellow Butterfly bush, purple gomphrena, and Opopeo amaranth, and purple pods from hyacinth bean vines.

Other floral elements like Queen Ann's Lace, green millet, yellow freesia and kangaroo paws came from the wholesaler.

It was so exciting to see the look come together!
Below are some beautiful pictures taken at the wedding by Erica Serrano. Be sure to visit her blog at Erica Serrano Photography to see more pics- especially some great shots of the fabulous desserts created by the bride herself the day before the wedding!!!

Lauren and Chris, I am so happy for you both!!!

Cerinthe- a New Flower for Springwell Gardens

I love following flower blogs... One of my favorites is Erin Benzakein's Floret Flower Farm. Last spring she  featured a lovely flower that was new to me- Cerinthe. It's an interesting plant in the garden with its arching succulent-like stems that hold pendulous purple bells. The coloring on the leaves is striking too with overtones of peacock blue and green.

 I searched for the seeds- found them through Renee's Garden. And I am so glad that I did! So I started the seeds last fall, moved seedlings to some of my mini hoops for the winter, and starting harvesting flowers last month.
They made their first appearance in Allison's lavender, purple and plum bouquet....

And here they are featured with Angelique Tulips, wood hyacinth, white and pink ranunculus,

 rose and white anemones, and Solomon's Seal

They have definitely found a new home in my gardens. And I think they will find their way into floral wedding designs for 2014!