Specialty Gardening: growing flowers for a wedding!, 1 by warriorswisdomkathy

warriorswisdomkathy wrote:
wow green..great site with alot of info that can be used for home use.

Wonder...got some ideas for you...
1) go to Amazon.com, put in used garden books. You will find an array of material that is new and used (ranging in price from .01- almost list if new but many new are EXTREMLY cheap and sell for less than $1, just have to pay for postage (usually $3.99)..There will probably be many books on growing wedding flowers to arranging wedding flowers, as many do it yourself types. If you find a do-it-yourself type, they will give schedules of when to sow such and such or do cutting back of certain plants to have flowers and how many weeks it should take to have flowers blooming at the optimal time..remember you will need to cut and have them conditioned for a day or maybe a few before use...believe I know cuz I've done it from my garden.... I didn't have proper notice and it was a last minute thing.. Better to cut and condition first...I did where they came out at 6am for a wedding late afternoon and I had a bunch of wilting going on. You should also find out if all the flowers you want can actually be used...
2) (I will comment on those that I grow) Delph. wild form....are you referring to Larkspur which is an annual? or D. grandiflora? If Larkspur I have seed if needed...
Geums... have never used in bouquets personally so can't answer tho I do grow them..
Papaver F. I. L. is it an annual or perenn? If perenn when is the normal bloom time in Ca.? If annual can control a bit better as to when available if you find one of those charts I referred to above. Also all poppies need special treatment, (match or burning the tips so no wilting).
Antirhinum..Snaps, can be easy to control bloom cycle like I say find a chart. The main thing to advise you on these is cut back the plant close to the ground (not at the ground but find a low node)...you want to accomplish branching for optimal use.. Personally I love the rocket series as they are the tallest (great for church bouquets and even the brides bouquet.)...and there is a newer variety out there called 'Royal Wedding' which is also fragrant (most aren't) and is 36" and white.
Coreopsis tinctoria...wonderful and blooms it's little head off most of the season, great in the vase too
Cosmos..not grown the orange but have grown the 'Sensation mix', smell great, light and sweet, great in the vase also, pinch them when they are young to get the best branching. Can seed into the garden and will bloom the whole summer if deadheaded and reseed too. Great vase life also.
Sunflowers..again find out scheldule for so time...ie. count 8 wks back from date needed or whatever time length..see why I say a chart from one of those bools will come in handy.
Lathrus...Sweet Peas..look for chart again and make sure to condition...hint..when they begin blooming cut old bloom asap to get production of the vine going... you don't want them to shrival on the vine and then start to produce seed as it takes away or slows done further pod development....Can get a large packet from Home Depot for a great price...most are fragrant also..
I grow anchusa personally am thinking they are mid summer, not sure about vase life tho......

A few suggestions...Plant some Ammi visagna or Ammi majus, both are annual and would make great filler, like a baby's breath. These can aslo be put into dye to change their color (white), light fragrance. They make bouquets look absolutely etheral . Or if you have perennial Babies Breath...
Zinnas are a great cut flower and come in a range of heights and flower sizes...they are easy...

Ok other ideas which I have also used...(I did my daughter's wedding flowers and had no garden at the time). We contacted a local wholesaler and bought direct...getting all the things she wanted (many will seel to the public but you need to find them before you need them...take the bride on a tour of their coolers, (they usually have no problem with this if they sell to the public)....Grocery stores can also be a great option, maybe not for all the flowers but some that might be needed at the last minutes because of failure or not enough material..If you go this route...talk to the florist in the grocery store and ask if they can help you with ideas.. Talk to them in advance they may need the required order time to make sure they are fresh for you and the prices are usually great.....

When I found out I would be doing my daughter's wedding flowers I located a class that taught Wedding Floral, it was several weeks and we got to make acutal arrangement and bridal bouquet and corsages.... this class was actually taught by a florist in her store.....am thinking it was listed in an adult education type newpaper, or could try your local community college for a short course....And it's great info....I had a blast ...it was sooo much fun.... I wish I had pix I could show you but I did a great job cuz I got some great info from experts... Practice making bouquets, corsages and floral arrangements with what you can find that on the cheap...it's experience..you don't want to wait til the last minute. Remember play and have fun!!!!!! But pratice it makes a difference!! The supplies can be bought at Micheals, get the floral tape, wires, corsage pins, foam flower bricks on sale when possible and begin playing...If you can ask the bride to put alittle bit toward the learning process it helps... and then show her what your doing and get feed back...

Also check out your local library and even goodwill for books on the subject, G.W. sells for $1-3 ish. Some libraries have a used book section also , usually 0.50-$2... or check out what they have on the shelf... Don't let me scare you off from trying...I just attempting to inform you...the earlier you begin the better prepared you will be....And it's extremly gratifying when it works!!!!!
Pix is a bouquet I made afewyears ago and was sold at an auction for charity. The vase was bought at a thrift store for $1, great place for used vases, they have tons and sooo many sizes (also they have sales quite often for 1/2 price)
The mums , Babies Breath and Alstoemeria were bought at the grocery store for a few $$$. From the garden: Asters (purple) (was made in early fall just a week before frost), Miscanthus grass spikes, Golden Hops vine (wrapped around the miscanthus), Origanum Kents Beauty.. so see what you can accomplish and have fun playing...remember that most of all..but if serious get organized and figure out what you can do and have time for...if not find it somewhere on the cheap! Hope that helps!!!! Good Luck,,,Kathy.