Flower Market: 1st week of December
AH, the floral markets are still thriving despite the insanely cold weather outside.
What’s Hot:
- Peony prices are continuing to drop, making some colors a very affordable choice right now, especially the Sarah Bernhardts!
- Those Hot Chocolate Calla Lillies we featured last week are also at fabulous prices right now!
- Tulips are finally around, although I haven’t seen too many of my all time favorite parrot and fringey tulips – those, I could design with forever! (despite the fact that they continue to grow ater cut – so exasperating! more on this on another post)
- Oriental lillies( which I am not a big fan of) are quite pretty right now, and prices are decent. I could see a tall glass vase with all white ones….
- LOVE Narcissus!!! the scent of those Paper whites just makes me smile! They are fabulous right now, and I am filling my office with them!
What’s not:
- Ranunculus from last week were tiny! Not so hot
- Got some garden spray roses in a beautiful ivory color, but it’s just not their time, they looked a bit small, and not as lush and stunning as in the summer. Buy with care.
Peonies in December!
AH, I love Peonies this time of year! Yes, they are flown in from South America, so they are not for those that are wanting local blooms. Yet for the girl who just has to have them for her wedding, Peonies are in full bloom right now in such growing regions as Chile, and prices have come down quite a bit. I am seeing great prices on Sarah Bernhardt Peonies (A very pretty pink for you pink lovers!) and Red Scarlet’s are in the medium range. Now mind you, they are still two to three times the price of a rose, but if you look at head size, and that undeniably romantic ruffly shape… yum. I see Crystal bowls filled full of Peonies, or huge Cylinder vases with Peonies bunched en masse. Even an antiqued urn, brimming over with white peonies, silver brasilia and white amaryllis….
photo via Touch of Nature
Photo via Brown
For those DIY’ers: Buy Peonies when they are still in bud shape. Yes, they are sooooo tempting and delicious when all ruffled out, but they won’t last very long! A nice loose bud (The super super tight ones sometimes won’t open) that is just beginning to open is perfect. If they aren’t opening fast enough, place them in a warm-ish room, and re-cut, then fill the container with WARM (not hot) water. This should make them pop quite quickly! on large events, where I’ve had a ton of peonies in various stages, I’ve been known to “flower sit” them! Seriously, the open ones in the cooler (where they’ll last at least for two weeks, I swear!), the budding ones in the studio, and the super tight ones that are crazy tight, in front of the heater (heh, it worked – but no promises!) 
image via bridgewatergardens
What are your favorite Peony-opening techniques?
What’s in Season now: Hot Chocolate Callas
Hot Chocolate Calla
picture via Mayesh
I LOVE these callas! In person, compared to a Schwarzwelder Calla, they seem a bit warmer, and less purple to me. SUPER hard to tell on a computer screen, and even when comparing in photos, since different light conditions really make a difference in the appearance of calla lilies in photos. A great hue when put with burgundies, or a range of red hues – fabulous for holiday weddings and events. Great pricing at some of the national wholesaler’s right now!
Seasonal Spotlight: Ilex Berries
Ilex, or Winterberry, is quite popular during the christmas holiday season, mostly due to it’s super bright shiny berries! Ilex is also sometimes called Winterberry Holly, as it is actually a deciduous (Leaves fall off in the winter) Holly! Personally, I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with Ilex, as the angles of it’s branches make it more difficult to form into bridal bouquets or shape into centerpieces. Often, the berries stop before the end of the branch, which is not my personal favorite look. Love the texture and shine, but the shape, not so much. That, and it’s pricey!! Brides, be aware that if you request this particular berry, the costs of your centerpieces or bouquets are likely to be higher than you might expect. However, there are many fabulous things about the mighty Ilex berry:
The shinyness of the berries are spectacular.
Ilex berries (after leaves have fallen off)
Ilex Berries with it’s deciduous leaves
Both images via Acorn Farms
Although Ilex berries are most known in their shiny red hue, they also come in Gold (“Winter Gold”, Photo F) and a yummy persimmon color (Orangey-red “Aurantiaca”, Photo H).
Different types of Ilex
Image via Spring Meadow Nursery
What CAN you do with these lustruous berries?
I for one think they’d make FABULOUS simple boutonierres. I could also totally see a winter bride holding a bouquet of various shades of red ilex, or for a color loving bride, mixes of yellow, orange and red. Simple yet unique. No fussy bows please, let these berries speak for themselves! (Then again, I’m rarely a fan of bows!) The also really work well as an accent with other flowers for a winter bride:
Here is a stunning bouquet of Anemones (also available right now) and Ilex berries. Note the cranberry garland cascading down – fabulous! (although I’d probably use hypericum berries instead – cranberries make me nervous with a white dress!) This bouquet is from Avi Adler and David Stark, their book To Have & To Hold: Magical Wedding Bouquets
Centerpieces with Ilex are most dramatic when they are used en masse (just the berries), but they can also be a fun accent.
Photo by: Gary Donihoo/F8 Studio |via Bellafloral of Dallas (yes, it’s another bella!)
Have you done anything fabulous with Ilex? If so, let us know!
Winter Buttonholes
I love this image captured by Tania from Azzura Photography…fabulous winter colors, don’t you think? The deep sexy plum purple of the Schwarzwalder Calla was perfectly offset by the Ruby Red Mokara Orchid, and balanced with a purple Heuchera leaf…
And since I speak German (I didn’t speak English until I was 12, after coming to the U.S.), I can tell you that “Schwarz” means Black !
What are some of your favorite winter blooms?
Flowers in Season – End of November
Ah, the weather is getting colder and colder, and with it, the flowers are changing…As November ends, here is what’s fresh and not so fresh:
Fresh & Thriving:
- PEONIES!!!! Yes, Peonies in November. Chile is just one of the few places we get these beauties from, and they are stunning! Inexpensive they are not, but for their large head-size and romantic ruffly look, nothing else compares. Best choices in terms of availability are Coral (my all time favorite) and the giant Red Charms. White and Light Pink are looking pretty good too!
- Anemones are stunning right now – simple and pretty, in bright and vibrant hues.
- Garden Roses – Still hanging in there, these again are quite spendy, but worth it for a bridal bouquet or a bride who simply has to have a romantic, rose-infused centerpiece.
- Cymidium Orchids are AMAZING right now! Chocolate brown, Orange, bright chartreuse green, burgundy…YUM!
- Mini Callas are as beautiful as always; with the season changes “Flame” and “Mango” (orange hues) are not as popular, with garnets, Schwarzwelder and blush gaining in demand (and therefore lessening in supply!)
What’s headed out:
Chocolate Cosmos, Dahlias, Hybrid Ranunculus (Bummer!)
Welcome to Bloom’s Blog!
We are so excited to bring you a blog from our new division, Bloom. For ten years our sister company, Bella Signature Design has been going strong as one of Seattle’s most innovative event design companies. Bella Signature’s Blog has been going for about a year, and offers fabulous insight into the event design world. Daniela, the creative director and owner of Bella Signature Design and Bloom, started Bloom as a way to differentiate her client’s needs: Bella Signature Design remains the luxury event design firm that it has become, including floral, lighting, draping, linens and complete event concept design. Bloom was created for clients who need only flowers to make their event hip and beautiful.
The focus of our blog? Flowers, flowers and more flowers! From what’s fresh today, to an inside look into the world of a floral designer, to occasional tips and tricks, Bloom’s Blog promises to be fun, hip and become a must-read for any floral designer, enthusiast or DIY bride.
Stay tuned, have fun, and don’t be afraid to tell us what you want to see and hear!
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