Orchids.  There are several types that are available.  This flower gets a bad name because people think they are VERY expensive.  This is a false thought.  Because transportation and growing costs have become more efficient the cost is very doable.

Not only is the price reasonable, orchid last a very long time.  Orchids have waxy coats to keep the water in the petals; this adaptation is due to living in a very humid climate.

Cymbidiums, dendrobiums, oncidiums and mokaras are the four most widely used types in the floral world.   All these come in a variety of colors.  So there is something for every bride or event. 

 Cymbidium orchids, peach roses and wax flower.  The textures are beautiful together.

 Purple dendrobium orchids make lovely cake decorations

 Bloomin' Thyme Design:  Burgundy cymbidium orchids, green spider mums, red roses, brussel sprouts, purple hydrangea, and blue delphinium. Jewel tone galore.

 Green cymbidium bouquet with yellow wire accent.

 Oncidium orchid bouquet with horsetail and a monestra leaf.

Purple dendrobium bouquet.  Very tropical.

Ode to a Rose.  You either love them or hate them!  With so many colors how could you hate them?  I don’t think too many people love the traditional red rose bud with babies breath.  But red roses can be beautiful if you just arrange them the right way.

Roses are grown in Florida, California, Columbia, Ecuador and several other South American countries.  Yes, they are grown in America, but they seem to do the best in the climates South of here.   Because of the bug infestations they are sprayed with pesticides to keep perfect form.  If they weren’t sprayed we wouldn’t have them.

Roses used to be rather inexpensive, but with the increasing cost for transportation and production roses are definitely a mid priced flower. 

 Bloomin' Thyme Design: all jewel tones- roses, hypericum berries, stock, dendrobium orchids, cymbidium orchids and lisianthus.

 Bloomin' Thyme Design: Esperanza roses, hypericum berries, lisianthus and bear grass orbs.

 Bloomin' Thyme Design: Yellow roses, curly kale, yellow tulips collared in a yellow netting and contained with horsetail.

 Red rose bouquet with gems.  Like velvet!

 Simple and clean.  Pink open roses do the trick.

Green roses with a European Flare. 

Pincusion Protea . They add lots of texture and depth to any arrangement.  Even if you were not looking for a tropical feeling to your wedding or event these cute little guys can be mixed in with roses and callas.

Protea are very long lasting.  In fact they will probably dry right in your arrangement.  Their “petals” are a very waxy stem and create the “pincushion” or urchin. 

I love mixing the unexpected in with the traditional.  A true floral designer has a vision after just hearing the color scheme and venue!  Plus being able to take inspiration from what a bride provides is an absolute must!

 Bloomin' Thyme Design: Orange pincushion protea, peacock feather balls and horsetail with black accents.

 Bloomin' Thyme Design: Pincushion protea, green cymbidium orchids, artichokes, privet berreis, red roses, peacock feathers and accent greenery.

 Yellow pincushion protea, blue hyacinth, hypericum berries, and kale.







 

 Both stunning with pincushioin protea, calla lilies, ginger and fern curls.  Bottom: circus roses, calla lilies, protea, cymbidium, and safari sunset.

Bloomin' Thyme Design: Bells of Ireland, gerbera daisies, roses, protea and curly willow with mixed greenery.  Presented on a glass riser.

How fun is it to learn about flowers and their neat characteristics.
Sunflowers are very bright and fun and a great way to start the beginning of summer. I am working with a bride right now that wants simplicity, and we are going to achieve that with sunflowers. 

With their large heads there is plenty of color and show for your bridal budget!  Just a couple will replace the need for lots of smaller faced flowers. You can make them garden like where they grow in nature or dress them up and make more of an elegant statement.

 Pretty sunflowers in a field.

 Stunning altar or mantle piece with sunflowers.

 Simple table arrangements.

 Lots and lots of sunflowers.

Bloomin' Thyme Design:  Sunflowers, gerbera daisies, hypericum berries and black accents.

Freesia—What a beautiful scent and flower!

A flower that is soft and feminine just like your special day should make you feel. 

The bridal bouquet, nosegay, was actually started because humans did not bathe very often so the bride would carry a very small bouquet of flowers in front of her nose to ward off unpleasant smells.  The freesia would have been perfect, but was not easily found in the European countries.  They did carry herbs and orange blossoms though, these were easily enough to find.

Freesia comes in lavender, yellow, white, and orange. 

It is dainty enough for the bride, but sturdy enough for a boutonniere as well.

 White freesia bouquet.  Simple and sweet.

 White roses, freesia, double tulips.  Greenery to include asparagus fern and tropical leaves.

 White freesia boutonniere.

Nosegay of white freesia with beautifully wrapped stems.

Gladiolus.  What a pretty flower that gets a bad rap because it is used a lot in funeral work.  Talk about bang for your buck though! 

It grows in almost every color you can think of, with a nice thick stem so it will stand very tall and present lots of color. 

Growing habits. If you want to try it in your own yard, check the planting zones and go for it.  Gladioli are perennials so you will have a beautiful flower every year.  It is a member of the iris family so it grows similarly with several stalks arising from the same corm (tuber/root like) with two large “leaves” on either side.  The spike can grow over 3 feet easily with flowers just on one side of the stalk.

Easily purchased at the local store and cut on the diagonal and plopped into a tall vase for a great centerpiece or buffet piece.

Bloomin' Thyme Design:  Gladioli blooms arranged into a beautiful little bouquet. 

 Bloomin' Thyme Design: Gladioli dropped into a vase for a buffet piece

Altar piece with all glads

Fun and contemporary twist with orchids, tropical leaves and glads.

Hydrangea

Hydrangea Mania.  If you are in the South, they are in bloom EVERYWHERE and just beginning to lose their luster.  But you shouldn’t be too disappointed they “antique” themselves just by hanging on the bush.   All you need to do is take your pair of pruners, scissors or knife and go cut them.  You too can have the beautiful dried arrangement in the house for the rest of the season.

Hydrangeas come in lots of colors: blue, pink, purple, white, green and the beautiful antique colors in the fall. You can use them mounded together or by themselves because they are so large, usually. They need lots of water so if you are trying to put them in a boutonniere there is a little vile you can get to put water in, but I haven’t seen the best results after a long day of photos at the wedding. You can always have a couple extra made for the groom and keep changing them if that is exactly what you want though.

Send me any questions you have on hydrangea, there is a lot more to know but those are the bridal basics!

Here are some inspiration photos for all you hydrangea photos.

 Bloomin' Thyme Design: Hydrangea, blue delphinum and hosta leaves

 Green hydrangea and bright colored roses.

 Simple blue hydrangea arrangement in simple square vase.

Contemporary flare with simple hydrangea and tropical leaves.