| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Unusual Farm Chick |
Posted - Dec 03 2011 : 04:43:58 AM
I am bridesmaid & official "help me plan the wedding" girl for my best friend. Since I am "the gardener", I suggested we grow her flowers being this is a down to earth, Natural, semi{!} casual outdoor wedding planned for the last week in June 2013.
This gives us enough time to do some trial & error in the garden of 2012.
She wants DARK purple flowers as well as GREEN flowers for the bouquets.
I believe she will be going with my highly suggested perfect timing for blooms Sweet peas with the frill edges BUT I seem to be in a rut seeking out green petal flowers that will be ready at that time.
I am zone 5/6 border with you never know what will happen spring weather.
I LOVE the bells of ireland with the sweet peas BUT they do not bloom for 90-100 days and that is starting them in 50 degree soil {just can not get it to be perfectly timed even with a cold frame use}.
I thought about Green petal zinnias. {I have been adoring the sweet Peas over at reneesgarden.com} While at the site they had a green envy zinnia but it kinda has a yellow green hue to it.
Any input on a some different more green color zinnia variety?
Any other input/ideas for a green petal flower I can grow that would be ready by that time?
We would prefer NOT to purchase flowers if at all possible and if I have to chat up the florist in town I will, but, we are trying to keep this local grown & natural.
I truly appreciate any help you can give me on this. The planning has become so much fun since we are so similar in our likes and visions.
It would be almost eery if we didnt find it a blessing to have found someone so sister like. |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Unusual Farm Chick |
Posted - Dec 21 2011 : 07:00:54 AM
graciegreeneyes~ She actually did like the artichokes but we both knew they would be harder to grow/locate then the sweet peas. lol. I too LOVE the hats & fell they "make" the outfit.
The hats which I was not sure if the guys would like- were a BIG hit! His friends had stopped in while I was there and they were already planning a Hat shopping trip when he showed them the few examples including the one above of the grooms party! The groom actually is leaning towards him in the vest look with the rest in suspenders. They already wear & have hats like that, so depending on what pants/ties they decide, they may just go ahead & use what they have. I was overjoyed by their excitement. Truly a most fun & rewarding
project. |
| graciegreeneyes |
Posted - Dec 21 2011 : 06:49:18 AM
I love the bouquet with the artichokes Tammie - what an amazing project to take on! And for the record I think the hats look great.
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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| Unusual Farm Chick |
Posted - Dec 21 2011 : 04:25:59 AM
Thank you. I shared the rough scrap notebook I made up with the initial ideas and both Bride & Groom LOVED it. She fell for the dark purple sweet peas {regal robe variety from renees garden}and for the hypericium green berries instead of green flowers. She was not a fan for the mini mum look of the green flowers I found. We have a wholesale location in Cleveland which I can buy florals from instead of an expensive florist cost.
I am whipping up some Hypertufa containers of which we will have Moss growing in. LOTS of these in low & large bowl shapes as well as trough shape. Adding Succulants {purple rosette style ones} and glass votive candle holders placed INTO the centers of the moss containers.
This is to help you visualize the troughs before adding candles & succulents:
I know I will be back to post another subject, inquiring of help on growing the moss in these PLUS asking if anyone would have purple rosette succulents they could share some babies or cuttings from. I have LOTS of moss growing in the soil of the surrounding woods. I plan to dig wide around and deep so I do no change their soil type while in the troughs/bowls.
In the individual dining canopy area, we are adding sheer curtains {I get them for $1 a panel at the thrift store} on the exterior sides and hanging grapevine chandeliers similar to this but with weathered chains and glass votive holder. Wild grass seed heads, bits of moss & those sweet peas delicately arranged & tucked into spots:
And this one is not much to do with Plants or growing BUT, how could I not share the creme de la creme of the cake area? I am making a Log cake stand like this one. Using Ferns to surround it and we found wooden peg top bride & groom to adorn it.
I have a MASSIVE pile of hard wood logs outback & a chainsaw I like to play with.
The best part is the cake stand could be left out in the home after the wedding. Use as a plant stand or other earthy element decor.
Seeing the two of them SO excited and gushing over the ideas PLUS they were amazed I could come up with so much that is EXACTLY what they wanted {AND still be classy on a box wine budget}
I plan to do tutorials on my blog with each of the projects for others who may also be on the search for inexpensive, earthy with a vintage twist, woodland wedding help. 
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| rough start farmgirl |
Posted - Dec 14 2011 : 10:45:33 PM
I don't have any input, but I wanted to tell you that the combination sounds beautiful.
marianne |
| Unusual Farm Chick |
Posted - Dec 10 2011 : 05:08:18 AM
I did find a slight alternative for her to consider but am having a hard time on acquiring info if and WHEN they will produce small heads...The purple artichoke! I saw this bouquet and instantly knew I had to find out more information.
So if she decides to go away from sweet peas as her purple, I am looking into long lasting bouquets due to the heat of Late June.
Ornamental kale & young artichoke buds like the photo. Both come in the colors she wants.
What do you think? Oh I simply must contact Emily at baker Creek. I recieved my catalog the other day and see they carry a purple artichoke Violet De provence. Trying to find more growing info on them before I show the above picture to my friend. Living in the Akron Ohio area may not be suited to growing them with ease and no idea when buds would and if they would coincide with late June (of 2013 of course}. |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Dec 08 2011 : 06:45:53 AM
Those fellows in suspenders reminds me of a photo of my grandfather and grandmother.
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
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| Unusual Farm Chick |
Posted - Dec 08 2011 : 05:16:52 AM
Thank you ladies! So many wonderful ideas & input. We had a comp issue so have not been able to get on here until now.
I will go through all the great suggestions with an online search for climate accommodation/bloom time & grab some pictures from online to print out & share with her in the "planning & Inspiration" book I am compiling for her. She seemed rather excited to see the gourmet looking s'mores favors I found- it's a weekend wedding event where guests will be "camping" being it is 2 1/2 hrs to her mom's farm. I have found so many amazing inspirations on the net for making guests comfortable as well. I foresee a very long week before the event getting everything set up but well worth it to insure the dream she has visioned comes to life. It's not fancy or over the top but a combination of casual and classy. I'm hoping to talk her & the groom into the guys wearing something like this- I totally see them wearing the suspenders but not sure on the hats.lol..jpg) |
| soapmommy60543 |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 06:56:29 AM
Try contacting Emily at Baker Creek Seeds - she's a farmgirl, and I know they have several different flowers that are green. My daughter is a flower gardener, and she uses Baker Creek Seeds all the time for her flowers.
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 kiddos, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Avoid soil depravation and get your dirt on! Start a garden in your own backyard...
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker) and Twitter (@sphomemaker)
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| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 06:46:34 AM
Bells of Ireland, Hellebore....it floats.
“It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.”-Charlie Brown |
| StrawHouseRanch |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 06:11:14 AM
I just saw the most interesting green honeysuckle plants in my new High Country Gardens Catalog. It would make a gorgeous trailing floral vine in a bouquet!
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/68321/
( I think they got the description wrong in the online catalog, but the printed catalog has the full description of the origin of this heirloom plant.)
Paula
Farmgirl Sister #3090
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a Gift.
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| Hoosiermom |
Posted - Dec 03 2011 : 4:19:32 PM
I have seen the green Rudebeckia & green Gladiolus...they would be great! I live in Indiana, so we are in zone 5 also, so I'm thinking the Rudebeckia won't bloom until July...not sure, but you could maybe force the Gladiola bulbs & get them blooming in time. Make sure when the time comes to post pics of the flowers...sounds neat. |
| edlund33 |
Posted - Dec 03 2011 : 08:58:20 AM
Tammie, what a fun idea! There is a book you might want to check out called "Green Flowers- Unexpected Beauty for Garden and Vase" by Alison Hoblyn.
I'm not familiar with your weather and growing conditions in June, but here are some possibilities that have green flowers or the flowers have a greenish hue when they first open. Echinacea/Coneflower, Rudbeckia/Coneflower, Helleborus/Lenten Rose, Euphorbia/Spurge, Hemerocallis/Daylily, Orchids, Gladiolus/Gladiolus, Hydrangea/Hydrangea, Zantedescia/Calla Lily. I have also seen Dahlias with a slight greenish color.
Hope this helps!
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
