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Garden Gate:  Calling all flower girls.....  |
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Forrester Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
703 Posts
Ann
Belmont
MI
USA
703 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 29 2006 : 1:20:34 PM
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The seed catalogs are rolling in, I'm making plans for this year's garden and farmer's market, and I just got a call to arrange flowers for the 4th wedding so far this year. I'm wondering what cut flowers some of you have come across that you think are a "must have" in the garden and last great in bouquets. Isn't this such a fun time of year to pour thru the catalogs? Also wondering, what are your favorite catalogs to order thru?
Ann
http://annforrester.tohe.com |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2006 : 2:08:08 PM
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My favorites are - lilies (both Asian and large ones like Star Gazer), foxglove, roses, tulips, delphiniums, Gerber daisies, lavender, lily of the valley and butterfly bush. All of these are great in bouquets and beautiful in the garden. I could probably go on, but the list would be huge. I like to order from Wayside Gardens, White Flower Farm, Heirloom
Bulb company and Burpee Seed.
Anne in Portland
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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westernhorse51
True Blue Farmgirl
1681 Posts
michele
farmingdale
n.j.
USA
1681 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2006 : 5:53:06 PM
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I love daisies, foxglove, roses are a must & many others. I love all the old-time flowers mixed w/ babybreath. Lilacs & phlox together are great w/ b/breath.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2006 : 6:16:05 PM
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Oh boy, I could go on and on forever! I did make some bridesmaids bouquets this summer though from pastel colored statice mixed with lavender-colored latifolia. You could also use baby's breath. I saw a pic of a country style wedding where all the tables had checkered tablecloths and sunflowers mixed with blue bachelor buttons...t'was gorgeous.
Come to think of it, I don't think there's a flower I don't like...
Di |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2006 : 6:55:14 PM
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I love love love sweet peas. They grew really well where I lived on the central coast of Calif and I never stop trying to grow them here..not alot of luck yet...but I won't stop!!! I love the Old Spice variety best of all but plant all different types in alot of places. I love sunflowers, cosmos and lavender and morning glories too...although I keep those away from the garden. One time years ago I made the mistake of having a beautiful twig arbor bench in the middle of my garden and planted morning glories (heavenly blues) to grow over it and grow they did...and took over the garden. I fought them until I moved from there 4 years later. Now I keep them safly somewhere far away from the veggies!!
I like violas..johnny jump ups have such happy faces..so I plant them and allysum everywhere too..with good luck here!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Luzy
True Blue Farmgirl
922 Posts
Luanne
Pueblo
Colorado
USA
922 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2006 : 7:06:10 PM
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I love cosmos, iris, sunflowers, zennias and dahlias. There's more to my list, but those are my favorite cut flowers. My absolute favorite flower is Lisianthis (sp?), but I've never seen it offered in any catalogs. Must be hard one to raise. Does anyone know this flower?
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May I always be the kind of person my dog thinks I am. |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2006 : 7:37:45 PM
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gosh, I love all types of flowers....
but if I'm looking for flowers that can last for a while in a vase I choose gladiolas(don't you just love the name? it's something that is "glad" all the time..smiles)then of course roses..the big english style types tend to be long lasting from what I have found..then of course a gerbera lasts for quite a while.Another stunner is gloriosa daisies and gloriosa lilies.And for an unusual but fragrant filler..rosemary cut fresh always has a pleasing scent.I'll sometimes cut pieces off of the Leyland Cypress too as filler.I like just about any kind of flower really.I find that zinnias make very nice mini vase fillers(in those tiny bud type vases ...like what crocus bulbs are forced in)
Last Spring I bought alot of things from Park Seed and was quite pleased in how they shipped the items and the growth results/bloom results on the items.
I certainly intend to purchase some roses again this Spring/summer from them as well.
I love flowers so much that I think I should have been a horticulturist or something. ...smiles.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
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horse
True Blue Farmgirl
371 Posts
laura
pontotoc
mississippi
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - Dec 30 2006 : 06:32:45 AM
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I agree with all of you. I love any kind of flower. I don't order flowers from catalogs. If I buy any I get them from Scruggs and farm and lawn store. I mainly get flowers from other people. My main flower is sunflowers. I love all wild flowers so that's what I try to have. I do have some cuttings that come back every year that was my great grandmothers.( that woman looked just like granny on the b-hillbillys) . I really prefer cuttings from people.
Laura
3 barrels, 2 hearts, 1 passion
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abbasgurl
True Blue Farmgirl
1262 Posts
Rhonda
USA
1262 Posts |
Posted - Jan 01 2007 : 9:08:03 PM
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Ann,
I have done flowers for several weddings over the years. The one I remember best was on a scorching summer day 100+ degrees! I made sure I cut EVERY stem under water and then hardened the flowers off in buckets overnight. Anything that looks wilted in the morning got thrown out. We did not lose ONE bloom-even with no airconditioning! I have a recipe for the solution I use if you need it, but I am thinking you have done this before and know what you are doing! 
I will try to remember some of what has worked best for me.
Hydrangea-great filler and sturdy, these are great in large urns or where you need volume.
Cosmos-many varieties
Bells of Ireland
Daisys-many varieties
Zinnia
yarrows-gold and pink
Love in a Mist-Nigella
Lily- I like daylilies picked just before they open so they open on the day of the wedding. Some unopened blooms are nice too.
Sunflower
English roses
Russian Sage
Butterfly Bush
Snapdragons-tall stems work best
Hostas-the leaves and the small purple blossom both work really well. I made one bride's bouquet completely our of hostas and it was fabulous!
You can use vinca (sp?) vine or ivys for trailing.
Some thymes and oreganos work well for this too if the plants are allowed to grow tall.
Baby's breath is pretty, but maybe a bit overdone? Depends on the Bride. 
Now the thing I like to do best, especially for informal weddings, is to pick lots of herbs for filler. Things like Sage, Rosemary, Atemesias of all kinds, Chive blossoms, Boxwood, Persian Catnip, etc.
Next I head along the roadside to pick Queen Anne's Lace, White yarrow (or whatever pretty thing grows in your area). I also make sure to pick flowers and plants in all stages of growth just like you'd find in nature.
I'll ponder this some more & see what else I remember.
Rhonda
I'm a one girl revolution. |
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Forrester Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
703 Posts
Ann
Belmont
MI
USA
703 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2007 : 08:25:53 AM
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Rhonda - Your list sounds like mine. I love using hostas and herbs too! My love in a mist never seems to last as long as I think that it should. Even the pod is pretty though. One wedding last year, I used wild sweet peas to trail on an arch - along with other flowers. I love delphinium and sweet william too. Thanks for all of the great comments.
Ann
http://annforrester.tohe.com |
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Garden Gate: Calling all flower girls..... |
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Calling all flower girls.....
