Hello!
I am getting married next year (eek!) and am trying to figure out the most green, and cheapest, way of doing so. It occurred to me that I could grow my own bouquet and possibly some of the table decorations and other flowers.
I'm not a flower expert and would really appreciate suggestions for flowers that will be:
1. easy to grow (soil is fairly good if a bit heavy, I'm in Notts)
2. likely to last at least 24 hours once cut and stuck into some wet moss etc
3. attractive and appropriate in a weddingy situation
4. preferably purple/mauve/blue and/or have nice greeny-grey foliage and reasonably long stems
5. blooming in May or thereabouts
Is there such a flower?? Or should I do myself a nice bunch of PSB instead?
Thank you for any help!
:)
May is a difficult time of the year here in the UK.
The situation is you are at the transition between Spring and Summer, meaning that Spring flowers are virtually over and summer has not quite begun.
The other thing is; will we have a long or short winter next year? because this is the biggest factor to what will be in flower.
Having said that there are a few things that might be about such as these which I had in flower last May.
A word of warning I wouldn't guarantee that YOU would have them in flower then, simply because each of the plants I have pictured here have been in my garden a long time and are well established.
But at least they are food (flowers) for thought.
Muscari
(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Muscari/Muscari.JPG)
Polyanthus
(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Primula/Primula%20vulgaris.JPG)
Wallflower;
(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Cherianthus/Cheiranthus%202.jpg)
Tulips;
(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Tulip/Tulips/Shirley.JPG)
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/RedTulips-3.jpg)
Hellebors;
(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Hellebore/Hellebore.JPG)
Digitalis/Foxglove;
(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Digitalis/Digitalis.JPG)
Jasmine;
(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Jasmine/Jasmine%201.jpg)
Oriental Poppy;
(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Poppy/Oriental%20poppy-.jpg)
Clematis montana
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/Clematismontana1.jpg)
Auricula;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/Auricula-1.jpg)
Aquilegia;
(http://[img]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/Aquilegia.jpg)[/img]
Berberis;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/Berberis1.jpg)
Bluebells;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/Bluebell.jpg)
Apple blossom;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/AppleBlossom.jpg)
Pear blossom;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/PearBlossom.jpg)
Winter pansy;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/Pansy.jpg)
Euphorbia;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/Euphorbia.jpg)
Alyssum saxatile;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/Alyssumsaxatile1.jpg)
Convalaria (Lily of the Valley)
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/Convallaria.jpg)
Dicentra;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/Dicentraspectablis2.jpg)
Skimmia;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May/Skimmia.jpg)
what beautiful pictures
Yes, I agree with debster, beautiful pictures, but your bluebells are spanish, rather than the local variety. ;D
valmarg
I got married last February, and I greened up (and padded out) the floral decorations by collecting a lot of ivy ahead of time. I just went round my neighbourhood, brazenly clipping it from walls and fences, and had about 3 buckets of it to contribute to the displays. :D
Of course, that might be a bit gothic for some tastes...
Something that didn't occur to me then, but does now, is how about using bedding plants as table flowers? You could buy large trays of primulae or pansies, pot them up, wrap pretty paper and ribbons round them, voila. You could give them away as favours afterwards, or plant them out in your own garden.
I used tin cans to put the table flowers in wrapped in pretty paper with ribbons around. For a few larger displays, I bought large plastic cylindrical tubs for a quid or two each - & decorated them with paper. They served a 2nd purpose when we had loooooooooads of curry left from the reception and took plenty home in the tubs!
A friend went to Columbia Road market for me on the morning of the reception, and spent about 60 quid on flowers for the decor - mostly whites and pinks, including freesias and some roses but I really can't remember what else, I do wish someone had taken good pics of the flowers!
I have loads of "spanish" bluebells if you need some!! ;D
By the way, May blossom (hawthorn) is supposed to be unlucky to bring indoors. But if I'd got married in May, I think I would have ignored that, as I love it - I don't know how well it lasts when cut, though.
Do you live in an area where you could collect blossom? What else is out, at that time?
Allotmenteers, May is the busy month!! ;D
*Columbia Road Market = famous flower market near Brick Lane in East London.
Quote from: hellohelenhere on January 13, 2009, 23:18:48
By the way, May blossom (hawthorn) is supposed to be unlucky to bring indoors. But if I'd got married in May, I think I would have ignored that, as I love it - I don't know how well it lasts when cut, though.
Do you live in an area where you could collect blossom? What else is out, at that time?
I wouldn't want to go into a room which contained hawthorn blossom. It can smell pretty nasty. I think I remember hearing that it's a smell some (lucky) people can't detect. :'(
I'm not very good at growing flowers, but my mum does a lot of flower arranging and has taught me a bit. You can save a huge amount if you can provide greenery from your garden - leaves of different sizes, shapes and colours, either singly or small sprays. When you do your flower displays, put the greenery in first and spread it out. Then you won't actually need that many flowers. It might be worth doing some small test runs this May to see how they look.
If you plunge the cut flowers immediately into deep water (cut 1/2inch off the ends first) for 24 hours, and recut the ends when you use them, they will last longer. The flowers we had for Christmas have only just died, and the leaves are all still green.
Sally
Ah, I didn't know that about hawthorn blossom! :-[
Brilliant tips - thankyou very much!
I really like the ivy idea and the suggestion of starting with foliage and then adding flowers. And I already have Spanish bluebells on the allotment which would be perfect! I'll try putting in some white/mauve/purple tulip bulbs end of this year and see what comes up. Come to think of it, rosemary flowers around that time and is blue and smells nice too.
And thankyou for the flower arranging tips - I've heard that putting them in lemonade or tonic water makes them last longer too - do you know if this is true?
Some friends of mine had little bedding plants in pots as favours/table decs at their wedding and they looked great so may well do this. I will also have a Plan B just in case (local market is pretty good)
Fab! That's the flowers done. Now just got to sort out the rest if it. :o
Whilst I assume you are getting married next year, ie 2010, you do not state what time of year/month. If you could let us know, we could be a bit more specific.
valmarg
Quote from: saddad on January 13, 2009, 23:13:18
I have loads of "spanish" bluebells if you need some!! ;D
From a previous thread I understood you were offering Levi english bluebells, rather than spanish. ???
valmarg
No I'm fairly certain they are "Spanish" sorry for any confusion... :-[
If it is for a spring wedding i would most certainly go for HELLEBORES, LILY OF THE VALLEY, LOTS OF VARIGATED IVY ALSO THE PLAIN IVY,FOR THE HELLEBORES, as a trained florist, may i suggest that you look in the hedgerows for COW PARSLEY, it looks amazing mixed with LILAC if you know anyone who has a tree, i did this for the church when my son got married & the vicar approved the hedgerow, gathering!!! :P. Rosebud. ;D
Lily of the Valley would be lovely :)
How about finding someone with a eucalyptus tree and cutting some whippy bits off, it looks smashing in a bouquet especially if some bits are long. the type with round leaves with the stem that kind of goes through them would look amazing
Have you thought about using blue Lobelia growing in pots for table decorations, with the pots wrapped in a single colour tissue paper and tied with raffia.
We saw these used as table centre decorations when we were in Germany on holiday last May and they looked lovely.
I didn't get on very well with tulips when I tried to use them. Mine were very floppy. Also, the stems keep growing in water, so the heads all ended up stuck too far out.
For some really simple ideas for table decorations, it might be worth seeing if your local library has got Judith Blacklock's flower recipe books. There is one for each season, and they are really easy to follow (I know this, because I can manage it ??? )
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Judith-Blacklocks-Flower-Recipes-Spring/dp/0955239125
Sally
thankyou, yet more good ideas!
we haven't fixed a definite date yet but are thinking latish May 2010. Hence the need for flowers that are around then!
I love Lily of the Valley so that's definitely going on the list. Also Eucalyptus and lilac, and Cow Parsley too... maybe not all in the same bouquet....
I think tulips are worth a shot if they're still flowering in May - hopefully they won't grow too much in the course of a day! I reckon I can prop them up with something else or use tall vases or something.
Ooh - getting quite excited now. Is it wrong to be more excited by the prospect of sorting out the flowers than the dress, which is already seeming like a nightmare?
Thanks again :) :) :)
If you go with the rosemary and Ivy I have loads and am quite near to you I think (Notts NW?). Can't guarantee the flowering though will ask him upstairs!!
Don't leave the dress too late - I got married 3 years ago and started looking for mine 6 months out - I was told by a lot of places I was cutting it fine since they have to order them , then there are fittings/alterations etc. It takes a few months!
To treat tulips the day before CUT THEM A QUARTER OF AN INCH SHORTER THAN NEEDED ON THE DAY, THEN ABOUT HALF AN INCH FROM THE FLOWER HEAD STICK A SHARP PIN IN THEM WRAP IN PAPER & PUT IN WATER IN A VERY COOL PLACE. this will help to make them last & open on the day.
FORGOT TO SAY CUT THE STEMS AT 45 DEGREES.
Why not try some tulips this year to see what you think when you have done this, i have to say pale pink tulips do seem to go over much quicker than any other colour. Sticking the pin in makes them stand up straight for days ;D ;D it would make me stand up straight to :o ;D ;D
Hi Heres two of my may favorates along side tulips which would be great
try anemones, these flower at an exact point after planting so you can fix the planting date to your wedding and hopefully flowers on time they last very well after being cut.
Then theres the lovely smelling and fabulously old fashinoned sweet william. smell great and you can so them the autumn before so you have big plants all ready for may.
happy days ahead
good luck
sunloving
Late May. I'm not sure, but the others on this site will put me right, but I would have thought you would have had time to buy seed and grow sweet peas. I've grown them for years, but I can't remember exactly when they flower ??? ???
valmarg
thankyou all once again
I'm going to have a trial run this year and see what I can get to flower at the right time. So far I have got seeds/bulbs for sweet peas, gypsophylla, lily of the valley, nigella, forget me nots and some exotic looking blue poppies which i couldn't resist. Good old Wilkos.
I think tulips will be over by then so not going to bother with these after all, but may also try anemones and sweet william, plus rosemary, ivy and cow parsley. Roll on May so I can see what I've got to play with!
I have always cut my first sweetpeas in the 3rd week of May these are from seed sown on the 8th October, there are several varieties of narcissi (daffodils) that bloom late and would still be good during the first 2 weeks of May. Our son got married last year in August and wanted sweetpeas so I had a lot of layering to do to keep them flowering from May till August but it worked.
Hi Electic landlady
I looked it up and its 13 -14 weeks from planting to flowers in an ordinary temp regime outside for de caen anemones.
So if you planted them in jan they should be in flower in may with a bit of tinkering.
I bought a pack of 500 from peter nyssen for about 8 pounds they were brilliant last year. but you can also get single colour packs.
good luck
sunlovingx