Types Of Flowers For Weddings

Okay so you have booked the church or registry office, booked the venue, found the perfect wedding dress, sorted the invitations and the bridesmaids dresses so what next? What types of flowers are you going to have?

What are you prepared to pay for the flowers? As we all know real flowers are very costly from a florist. First we need to consider what type of wedding it is, if it is the traditional white wedding then there are many types of flowers that you can consider.

What are you going to decorate with your flowers? The Church?, receptions?, buttonholes? Corsage? And maybe even the cake.

The time of year needs to be considered also as real flowers obviously only bloom at certain times of the year although with imports some of this can be addressed. The color also needs to be considered so that the types of flowers we choose blends with the wedding dress and bridesmaids outfits.

If it is a spring wedding there are many types of flowers that we can choose from, tulips come in many colors and form, daffodils always look so cheerful and sunny especially as table decorations. Roses are especially delightful as they come in so many colors and you have the added bonus of beautiful scent.

Another option for the types of flowers that you use could be silk flowers which are so realistic that you can not tell the difference from the real ones, these come in all sizes, shapes and colors although obviously no scent.

The cost of these is not much different to real flowers but with the vast array you see in shops you may be able to cut the cost by purchasing a few at a time in different places. The advantage for using these types of flowers is that they can be chosen and ordered in advance of the wedding with no problem of the flowers wilting.

With these types of flowers you can have whatever you want as they are not seasonal unlike real flowers. They can be used for decorating the tables and the wedding cake as they will not spoil or mark the cake, or drop pollen. The added advantage with these types of flowers is that they can be kept after the wedding to serve as a reminder of the perfect day.

You can now also but freeze dries flowers which may be an option for scattering over the tables or the cake at the reception venue. So whatever you choose there is plenty out there and a mixture of the different types is always available to you





By Vicki Churchill

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Summer Flowers It's All About Planning

Summer is a wonderful time for flowers, yet many gardens start to look bare of color or simply wilt when the summer heat strikes. That's because gardeners often plant for a spring flush. Those flowers that bloom in spring fade off by summer because the extra heat does not suit them.

Yet there are many beautiful blooms that come into their own with that extra summer heat, so adding these to your planting will keep your garden looking a riot of color throughout summer. Both annuals and perennials bloom beautifully in the summer heat so choose some of each.

Annuals must be planted every year as their name suggests. They are usually only good for one season, so require a bit more work. But occasionally you will get an annual to come up the second year. Sunflowers, cosmos, salvia and marigolds are favorite annuals for summer flowers. Snow in summer; coxcomb and the globe amaranth are three less common flowers that thrive in the heat of summer, while angelonia, perilla and the sun coleus also make good choices.

Perennials are those plants that last for more than one season. Some last for two years, while other types last for several years - or are permanent. If you choose perennials with a long blooming season you will get more enjoyment out of them. Not all perennials are as showy as annuals, but some, like azaleas are a mass of bloom, albeit for a short period of a few weeks.

Longer blooming perennials include Astilbe, purple coneflower, Gaillardia, Rudbeckia and various daylilies - but there are many more. Many times you can cut perennials back after the first bloom and they will bloom again. Tradescantia, perennial geraniums, salvias and veronicas will do this.

If you have a fence or trellis to cover, you could add some of those fantastic flowering vines for lush summer flowers. Black-eyed Susie with its cheerful orange flowers and jet black eyes will brighten up any garden, while the blue/mauve trumpets of the morning glory vine add a lovely blue haze. The night blooming moonflower will fill your garden with a glorious fragrance - there are many more to delight the heart of every gardener.

Bulbs need a whole book to describe their many delights. Dahlias come in all shapes, sizes and colors, from tiny, neat-pedaled balls to huge, shaggy flower heads and everything in between. They are hardy too; so don't pass up a chance to pop a dahlia tuber into your garden. Cannas, gladiolus and tuberose love sunny spots.



By Hans Dekker

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Spring Blooming Chinese Trees With Purple Flowers

One of the most exciting times of the year is spring. When spring arrives, there is a sense of excitement in the air; the birds sing the most harmonious song, the sun warms the earth, and everything is alive with color as the flowers show off their beautiful array of delicate petals. Could a springtime morning get any more wonderful? Yes it can! The perfect addition to any garden would most definitely be spring blooming Chinese trees with purple flowers.

If you welcome one of these gorgeous trees into your yard or your garden, it will add that special something that can not be described with words; it is something you will feel with all of your senses as they are awakened by the lovely purple blossoms. The birds will feel invited to make their nests there; they will treat you to music every morning. The butterflies will be attracted by the beautiful colors, and will come to flutter and dance while you observe their flight.

The color purple, in many countries represents royalty; in some Asian countries, it represents romance and love. When you plant a spring blooming Chinese tree with purple flowers, you will be adding a touch of romance and at the same time the atmosphere will be like that of a garden at a royal palace in a distant, exotic land. How nice it will be to sit in the evening under the moon in your garden, and forget all the stress of the day; or to enjoy your morning cup of coffee under the shade of your tree as you listen to the song of the birds. If you throw a garden party, your guests will feel like they are far away from everyday life as they enjoy the atmosphere that surrounds them.

You will often find yourself inspired while admiring the intricate detail of the purple petals on each spring blossom of your spring blooming Chinese tree with purple flowers.You will begin to appreciate the beauty of nature. You will find that you are able to slow down and relax.You will have something that you will be able to enjoy, again and again, year after year. You will watch it grow, and you will never grow weary of the excitement of spotting the first blossom of spring on the delicate branches. You will also be leaving a gift of beauty for future generations to enjoy.

This year, when you turn to your gardening chores; don't forget to include the planting of your spring blooming Chinese tree with purple flowers on your o do list. Don't put it off until a later date. The sooner you plant it, the sooner you can start to enjoy your garden in a way you never have before.



By Ian Pennington

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Rose Classes A Guide to Different Types of Roses

Buying a rose can be confusing: they come in so many different shapes and sizes! There are several different types, or classes, of roses. These classes can be broadly divided into two categories: modern and antique. Knowing which a rose's class can help you choose one that is appropriate for your location and climate.Modern classes of rosesModern roses are roses whose class was created after 1867. Modern roses include Hybrid Teas, Grandifloras, Floribundas, Polyanthas, Modern Shrubs, and Large-Flowered Climbers. These types come in variety of bright colors and are usually found in multi-petaled forms.Hybrid Teas are the most popular type of roses and are the ones that most people think of when they imagine a rose. Prone to diseases, these roses usually consist of large multi-petaled blooms opening from pointed buds atop thick, thorny, and often bare stems. These bushes are usually 3 to 6 feet tall, and the long stems make them ideal for use as florist's roses. Chrysler Imperial and Peace are both Hybrid Teas. The class Grandiflora is only used in the U.S.: it refers to tall Hybrid Teas (over 5 feet) like Queen Elizabeth. Floribundas are small (2 to 5 foot) shrubby roses used for hedges. Floribundas include roses like Iceberg and Nearly Wild (a single-petaled variety.) These roses are less valuable as cut flowers than Hybrid Teas, but more appropriate for landscaping. Polyanthas are the parents of Floribundas. Most popular in the early part of the twentieth century, these are smaller (1 to 4 foot) shrubs with small, full blooms. Usually found in pastel colors, this class of roses includes the Fairy and Dick Koster.

Modern Shrub roses is a catch-all class that includes English shrub roses, Kordes, and Buck roses. Coming in a variety of colors and forms, these roses work well as landscape shrubs. Knockout and Austin roses are examples of Modern Shrub roses. Large-flowered Climbers are climbing roses that have blooms similar to Hybrid Teas. American Beauty, New Dawn, and Don Juan are all Large-flowered Climbers. Antique or Old-Garden rosesUnlike Modern roses' bright colors, older classes of roses tend to be in found in less variety of colors. The most common classes of antique roses are Chinas, Teas, Noisettes, Bourbons, Albas, Hybrid Perpetuals, Damasks, and Ramblers. Chinas, Teas, and Noisettes do best in warmer climates. Chinas are usually small (3 to 5 foot), twiggy shrubs with a plethora of small blooms. They tend to bloom almost constantly, have very little fragrance, and some blooms change color as the age. Old Blush, Martha Gonzales, and Mutabilis are examples of Chinas (Mutabilis is one of the few Chinas that gets big-over 12 feet!) Teas are the parents of modern Hybrid Teas. The blooms are similar, but the stems are very thin, they are less cold-hardy, and the bushes are less susceptible to diseases. Tea bushes exhibit a beautiful vase-shape and are taller than Chinas (5 to 7 feet.) Safrano, Mrs. Dudley Cross, and Duchess de Brabant (Teddy Roosevelt's favorite) are all examples of Tea roses. Noisettes, despite their French name, were first grown in America, and are the first and most famous American class of rose. Noisettes are tall, have few thorns, and have flexible canes that can be trained as climbers. Madame Alfred Carriere and Champney's Pink Cluster are examples of Noisettes. Bourbons and Hybrid Perpetuals are antiques that are suitable for either warm or cool climates. Bourbons are tall (5 to 8 foot) dense shrubs with full blooms usually pink or red or striped. Bourbons are famous for their fragrance! Great Western, Souvenir de la Malmaison (sometimes said to be one of the most fragrant roses ever), and Zephrine Drouhin (usually trained as a climber) are good examples of Bourbon roses. Hybrid Perpetuals are very similar to Grandifloras. The shrubs are tall (4 to 7 foot) and upright with thick canes (appropriate for cutting.) The blooms on Hybrid Perpetuals are huge (some up to 7 inches across!), old-fashioned cabbage-type blossoms. Hybrid Perpetuals were crossed with Teas to create Hybrid Teas, which exhibit Tea-type blossoms on a Hybrid Perpetual-type shrub. General Jaqueminot and Paul Neyron (maybe the largest rose bloom ever) are examples of Hybrid Perpetuals. Albas, Damasks, and Old European classes do best where it's cooler, so I do not have much experience with them. These roses usually bloom only once or twice a year. Albas are tall (4 to 6 foot) shrubs with light color blooms. Celestial is an examples of Albas. Damasks are incredibly fragrant. In fact, they are the roses that rose oil is distilled from. They are farmed in Eastern Europe for this purpose. Autumn Damask and York & Lancaster are Damask roses. Rambler is a catch-all class for large old-fashioned climbing roses and can sometimes include Species climbers. Mermaid is a species rambler, and it's thorny canes can reach 25 feet! Lady Bank's canes can be 30 or more feet long, and the largest rose in the world is a Lady Banks rose. Most Ramblers are between 12 and 20 feet tall. Ghislane de Feligonde and American Pillar are two of my favorite Ramblers. There are many other types of roses, for example: Rugosas, Hybrid Musks, Mosses, and Species roses. Hopefully one of these types of roses will be suitable for any garden.

By Vicky Harper

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Popular Types of Orchids

These beautiful flowers are the center of many legends and grow wherever it is tropical and beautiful. Being aerial plants, these flowers usually grow off the ground attached to trees, rocks, or other vegetation. There are thousands of orchid species in an equal number of colors, fragrances, and blooms.As orchid enthusiasts continue to experiment and cross-pollinate their plants, the variations in the flowers become mind-boggling. Let's look at the three most well-known orchid species.DendrobiumThese are one of the most popular species because of their wide range of color and geographically spread-out avialability. Growing primarily in Asia and the Philippines, these species of orchid can be found in New Zealand, Australia, and New Guinea as well. Their colors range the spectrum from pure white to dark purple to sunny yellow. Many hybrid versions of the dendrobium exist as hobbyists continue to work them into even more variety.CattleyaAn extravagant orchid species, the Cattleya is beautiful and grows in South America and Asia and a handful of points between. They generally bloom in small groups of one to eight flowers per season and have a wide range of colors from white to deep purple and even yellows and reds. The Cattleya is a spreading plant and thus requires some room to grow and has artful stems and leaves to match the beautiful blooms it produces.

VandaThese are somewhat strange-looking plants with very exotic flowers. One of the most easily recognized types of orchid, this plant is famous for its singular stalks which sprout very few leaves, each of which will contain a flower at its base. Most stalks will have five to twenty blooms and are a rare combination of stark simplicity and beautiful, extravagant color. This species is found all over the tropics, from the Philippines to Indonesia and on continents like India, Asia, and even on the Himalayas. Revered in many cultures as a symbol of the gods, this orchid is often grown as a centerpiece in gardens throughout the world.When it comes to orchids, there are literally tens of thousands of individual species to choose from. The three mentioned here are merely the most common genres of this hugely popular tropical flower. Orchid-growing as a task is a challenge for most enthusiasts because of the specific climate requirements these beauties require, but it is a rewarding endeavor that they accomplish with love. Most large nurseries, flower shops, and other plant outlets will have some orchid species available for you to showcase in your home. By Thomas Fyrd

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Local Florists

Florists have noticed a rapid growth in the flower industry as the demand for the same has increased over a period of time. Local florists can be found in and around residential and commercial areas. Some of the local florists acquire training in the field of floristry from schools and academies. They are certified and can either work for major floral designers or set up their own shops. Many florists are local residents of the city or town and hence, prefer to start their business in the same neighborhood.Residents prefer to order flowers from the local florists as they have direct contact, are much approachable and cheaper than international florists. The customers can choose the types of flowers, the colors, and the designs that suit their requirements the best. Since the local florists enable direct contact with customers, they can be precisely explained about the occasion personally. Customers who are unaware about the different types of flowers and their arrangements for particular occasions, the local florists guide them. They also educate customers about the different meanings of flowers and the significance of their colors.The local florists get orders directly from the customers, which prove to be more beneficial and profitable as compared to getting orders from a flower-booking agency. Local florists do not charge for local delivery of flowers, and provide the customers with the services worth the money they pay thus, building their reputation in the market. They maintain good customer relationships because local florists are more personal in their dealings. This helps them in expanding their business and extending their networks to other towns.

The popularity of the local florists is usually spread through word-of-mouth. Some local florists also advertise their business on the Internet so that more potential customers become aware of them. The websites offer details on the location of the florists, their services, charges, types of flowers and bouquets they hoard up and their individual contact numbers in case of further assistance. By Seth Miller

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