Flower ideas for a June 23rd wedding

My daughter is having her wedding ceremony and reception in our backyard June 23rd, 2012. Thank goodness I have one growing season to experiment! She would like her colors to be white to creamy white to light, light yellow and green. I've got numerous perennials already planted throughout the yard, but will gladly add more (even though I realize they won't be at their best the until the year after the wedding) and I am planning on going crazy with annuals. My question, after that long introduction is...when a plant description says it will bloom "late spring" or "early summer" are they referring to the actual end of spring /beginning of summer as June 22? If anyone has any suggestions for both annuals and perennials that will be in bloom around June 23rd in her colors, it would be greatly appreciated. It seems most of my perennials hit their peak in either early spring or mid July, so I need some things for mid growing season. And the annuals I plant don't seem to look their best until the really hot, humid weather sets in either.

She would love to have calla lilies in her bouquet, but will they be in bloom at that time? We plan on using hanging baskets of a creamy or light yellow trailing petunia (if there is such a thing) for hanging baskets at the ends of the "pews" at the ceremony. Does anyone have any suggestions on what variety would be best or how / when to start them from seed? (I have adequate growing facilities to start from seed.)

You may like the Calibrachoa (million bells) which comes in both soft yellow and white. It is an annual and looks lovely in hanging baskets.

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/annual/calibrachoa/

White cosmos, phlox and begonias are all June blooming annuals you could start from seed.. Calla lilies start blooming around May and depending on conditions, etc bloom through September. You would probably do best getting those from a florist. For a lovely trailing filler plant look at Helichrysum petiolare ( licorice plant), especially the cultivar 'Limelight'

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54311/

Also for a delicate airy plant, Euphorbia graminea (euphorbia Diamond Frost)
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/104966/

Thank you for your ideas. I will check out mail order sites for the Million Bells. I have tried them before, but they got kid of leggy on me and didn't flower very well. Should I allow them to get to a certain length, then begin snipping of the ends so they get bushier? I probably didn't fertilize them like I should have either.

I actually had the Limelight" last year and loved it! Could I have taken cuttings from that so I wouldn't have to start over this year? If so, could you explain how to do that, or is that for another forum? I also had several euphorbia also last year, but it was the one with "blush' in the name. It too, was gorgeous. I will definitely try to get those. Do you mean perennial phlox? Is there an annual one? If so, are they as prone to powdery mildew as the perennials. Mine phlox one particular bed (closest to the ceremony site of course!) are plagued with it and I've tried everything to stop it. I may just have to dig them out and replace with a different variety. Or is the mildew in the soil? Should I not plant anything prone to powdery mildew there? Last year I planted 3 new, white perennial phlox in a different bed (I can't think of the name of them right now), they may have been a dwarf variety, but last year they did not have any mildew problems. I will also do a little research on the cosmos. I've never tried those before. Thank goodness I have a year to experiment!

I was afraid that was going to be the case with the calla lilies.

Thanks again for all your good ideas. I am going to start seed hunting now!

All good/great ideas by themoonhowl.

I'll add that spring/late spring, etc. all depends on where you live and how the seller wants the plant to appear to bloom. I've bought lilies that said September blooming that were in full bloom July 7th.

The calla lilies for my wedding bouquet came from a florist. It's not the day to take chances!

Phlox and mildew go hand in hand. Look for the white phlox named 'David'. It's your best bet though it's a perennial and not an annual.

Love that Euphorbia 'Breathless', themoonhowl! It seems ideal for a bride.

The Euphorbias have a fantasy, princess air to them....grin. I have callas growing here but still purchased them for my daughter's bouquet.You won't have to worry about insect damage, rain spotting the blooms or nature and the plants not cooperating. I would suggest, since you have the time, that you check out your local nurseries and see what is available between now and June of this year. That will help give you an idea of what you might want, what bedding plants are available and what plants you can start from seed to co-incide with your wedding date. Also, see what perennials you like that you could plant this year for blooms next year. I have a Diamond frost Euphorbia that is 4 years old , I bring it into the green house each winter. You could start them now and over winter them for next year in a bright sunny window.
http://www.projo.com/home/content/lh_new_euphorbias_06-20-10_Q8H93NV_v7.4a031c0.html

Here is some good info on powdery mildew prevention and treatment

http://www.ehow.com/way_5195533_powdery-mildew-treatment.html

I would strongly suggest lilies for the wedding. The real bulb lilies. If you plant them this year, they should be on the proper schedule for next year.

You're in a colder zone than we are, but I thing Asiatic lilies should bloom around the right time. Judith at The Lily Garden would be glad to help you find out which ones will bloom at the appropriate time.

http://www.thelilygarden.com/

And they come in creamy white, and light yellow.

My daughter was married in our garden in early June. Our lilies were just starting to open, but not quite, and my husband went around that morning and popped them open. It was gorgeous.

I am so thankful for all of your great ideas. My future son-in-law mentioned using lilies, so I will be sure to check in with Judith and maybe purchase several varieties to stage the blooming in phases in hopes that something will be blooming. The landscaper / nurseryman in the neighboring town and I are now on a first name basis, and I have thought of asking him if I can place a (rather large) order for specific annual plants when he orders his for the season. Thanks for the site about the powdery mildew. I will definitely check that out also. I will certainly NOT have a problem hanging out at nurseries checking to see what's available. It seems I can't pass one by without buying something. It's a good thing I have a large back yard! Well, my daughter and I are off to the local bridal show! Thanks again for all your help everyone.

Best wishes, and don't let it stress you out. The fact your daughter wants the wedding in your garden means she will be accepting of what you do. She's not expecting Tivoli gardens, so just do what you can and be satisfied with it.

Be sure to come back and show pictures!

Yes, do let us know how things progress and of course if ya have any more questions. Congratulations to the young couple.

I agree that asiatic lilies are the way to go, and the orientals generally bloom later. Be aware that "late spring/early summer" may be more a function of your zone and climate conditions.

Get them in as soon as the ground is workable, making sure they have good drainage. Whatever they produce for you this year will be even stronger next year. Weather has a mind of its own, and so do flowers. Last summer it was unseasonably hot, and the oriental lilies that usually bloom beginning around the 3rd week of July and bloom for 4 weeks were badly affected. They started blooming beginning of July and were done by the first week in August.

If you can start callas (zantedeschias) indoors, that might be a good experiment. They do not winter here in CT, and aside from good intentions, I never remember to pull them to winter in the garage, so I buy new bulbs every year. My visit to Costco on Friday emptied my pockets and brought lots of bulbs.

You may also find some pretty iris and clematis. This pretty flower, grown in container is a peruvian daffodil (related to amaryllis) and is very decorative.

If a little pink or red should creep in, she'll probably love it.

Cathy 166, I had forgotten about the fact that I ordered some callas to experiment with. I will be able to start them indoors because I have plenty of room - 15 feet of southern facing windows and an environment that I can regulate the temperature of easily. I've given up the idea of using them for her bouquet, but maybe for other arrangements if they do well enough. They have not arrived yet. Should I pot them up as soon as they arrive or should they go in the frig for a period and plant them at a certain time, since I'm trying to see if they'll bloom around the 20th of June. When is it okay to put them outside?
Thanks

While you may get more than flower per bulb, you cannot count on it. That's something you'll learn when you inspect the bulb and put only one in a pot. I think I get about 3 or 4, but I'm not really certain. You'll need to check the eyes or sprouts. Callas often have very pretty leaves as well.

If I were you, I'd pot them up in waves, and I would not think you'd have to keep them exceptionally warm if you want to somewhat imitate your climate. I'd pot some up now, some more in 2 weeks and so forth, being sure to label them. If you can figure out the control, you will be perfect for next June.

This photo was taken 6/19/2010. The blooms stay lovely for a couple of weeks at least. We had really screwy weather last year with a lot of extreme heat. I still think that generally they bloom when they want to. Callas are such easy plants.

Gosh where in Ia is a zone 4, would have thought a z5 for sure, am formerly from S.D. and is north and still a zone 5. Anyway, hi, Kathy here in z5 Colorado (eastern plains, 6900ft). Oh my do I have a list for you, (lol). Ever grown from seed before, if you have or are willing to try got scads of goodies for ya. Even have seeds of a bunch of these, only prob is some are mixes with other colors (pinks, purples, lavenders) Anyway let me know if I can help, have a thread in Rocky Mt gardening , look for my screen name and click if interested in all the goodies I'm now growing from seed. Have a list for you, are you ready? (And yes I have grown all of these before or are staples in my current garden) Dianthus,many, favorite is X Loveliness, very fragrant and blooms all summer been growing for approx 10 years just now available in US last 2 years. Aquilegea alba; Valariana officinalis , very fragrant and wonderful in bouquets. Malvas, Alceas, Delphinium, Galahad; also dwarf delphs bloom all summer but in a mix with blue and pink. Veronicastrum virginicum, is a tall relative of veronica also which has white, spicata sightseeing variety has white and blooms late spring -frost. Another all season great one is Salvia nemerosa (I think, blooms same as veronica about same height 24-28"). Verbascum phoenicium (have seeds and plants). Antirrhinum (snapdragon) called "The Bride", fragrant. Campanula: persicifolia, glomerata,can't remember the botanical of the clips series, also in white. Nicotiana: sylvestris, sandersae, both are extreeeeemly eve. fragrant, have seed and maybe extra plants if intrested in paying for shipping costs. Sandersae reseeds every year, this one I have is a mix but white is available, order these from catalog if fragrance is wanted as those if and when available from nurseries is usually non fragrant, will give catalog info at end. Asclepias,incarnata-Ice Ballet; Daucus carota; Hemeracallis; Lillium ( ?) Lancer,asiatics, trumpets, tigers, trumpets are very fragrant, asiatics drop seed and also multiply by babies on stem just below ground, tigers drop seed from leaf axile and from stem just below ground. Yarrow, The Pearl also millifolium; Osteospurmum both annual and perennial. Gypsophilla; paniculata, also in an annual form Covent Garden. Papaver perennial and annual. Anthemis. Scabiosa perennial. Centaurea: montana alba, mochatas The Bride (fragrant). Digitalis: annual perennial and biennial. Dicentra formosa (all summer). Geranium perennial. Chrysanthemum (Daisies) several bloom late spring up to frost, singles and doubles in heights from 8" to 48". Iberis snowflake, also in annual form. Monarda didyama. Tiarella cordifolia. Zinnia, from 6" to 36". Cosmos, single and doubles. Lavatera (small hollyhock type flower). Maigold, short to tall 36". Datura metaloides, evening fragrance. Zaluzianskya, Night Phlox,eve fragrance. Ammi, Graceland. Scabiosa. Alyssum, annual is very fragrant, can start from seed in the garden and will return next spring, yummm very fragrant en mass. Catanche (cupids Dart). Valariana officinalis, very fragrant. Dictamnous Alba. Heiotrope. Reseda oderata, not the prettiest but soooo fragrant and reseeds itself in the garden, is the plant Josephine referred to as mignonette, love it. Asperula c. is lt blue but reseeds and is fragrant. Poppies, both perennial and annual. Hope this helps, just a few off the top of my head, there probably are scads more. Let me know if I can help, you still have time to grow from seed yet and is easy and alot less $$$$$$$$. If intrested in growing from seed indoors to start is easy will help with any info, I use a shop light ($12& $2-4 for the bulbs.)Most of the plants I listed need to be started indoors. Be glad to help any way I can, plants or seeds, just pay postage. Almost forgot catalogs (also many have web sites). Park seeds. Thompsen & Morgan Seeds, love this catalog has much info on starting each variety, very useful catalog, get even if ordering online. Select Seeds, wonderful tons and tons of annuals and some perenns. Good luck. Kathy P.S. Am doing wedding flowers from my garden this june, got my fingers crossed, hoping the weather behaves. By the way what time of day is wedding, some flowers are fragrant in the evening, also verbascum drop their heads and sorta close up after noonish unless cloudy. Funny how plants are finicky. Lol.

Kathy, Wow! What a list! Thank you! I'll check your info. out on the other forum. I have grown from seed before, and have had pretty good luck with it. I have purchased some seed already, but my "green house" area isn't quite ready yet, so they are still in the package. I'm dying to get them going. My daughter wanted me to try trailing petunias to put in hanging baskets on shepherd's hooks at the end of the "pews", so I bought several different varieties ranging from white to yellow to see which she prefers. I also bought white begonia seeds - the double flowering kind whose name I can't think of right now- because I do have quite a bit of shade around the yard. And Lavatera, Tiny Tim Alyssum, and double white cosmos. I'm hoping to be able to start to seed next weekend. I would welcome any seeds. I'll go through the list and let you know which ones I'm interested in. When I get back to you with the list, can you tell me if I can gather seeds from them this year to start next year, or if they don't grow true from seed? Or are most of them perennial? I've also ordered several asiatic lilies to try. It's a good thing my backyard is 5 plus acres! I'll be digging up the sod to create several new beds just to put all my experiments in!

Tentatively, the wedding has been set for 4:00 p.m.

The shoplight you use...how many bulbs? 2? 4?

The zone thing is really strange. Some sites tell me I'm zone 5, others say zone 4. When I signed up for this site, it showed up as zone 4b, so I'm going with that. We are about 40 miles west of the Mississippi River in Northeastern Iowa.

Thanks again, and I'll get back to you, but it may be a day or two.
wd

wd..... zone is determined by lowest winter temps, (-20) is a zone 5ish. The shop light requires 2 bulbs; keep light close that way no stretching. Also if late afternoon wedding which 4pm is considered as, the nicotiana starts to perk up at that time and the fragrance begins, getting stronger as the evening progresses and goes to next morning. Try some up close to the house or somewhere they could be enjoyed from an open window over night. The hawk moths frequent these flowers all night, love to go in the garden about 10pm and watch them flit about while enjoying the fragrant evening. Also 1 other pointer, truely petunias should be started in January under lights, gosh they are slow (lol), can still give them a try since this is experiment year. lol. If you might be intrested in any seed let me know as soon as you can so can get them to you, especially the perenns., new perenns might not bloom til 2nd season will give you a better idea when you let me know what you would like, also might have some babies from the garden could pass along, let me know if anything from my list in rocky mountain gardening might be interesting if I have some in the garden could share instead of new seedlings. Also Datura metaloides and Zaluzianskya c. are evening fragrant. Good luck, Kathy

Here are the ones that I'm interested in. Not sure which ones you have (without looking back at the other forum). Galahad, saponaria occcymoides, zaluzianskya, anthemis, antirrhinum (was that the Royal Bride?), and campanula glomerata.

Thanks

Just to let you know I don't have all these at the moment, Zaluzianskya is available from Select Seeds.com. Antirrhinum (snap dragons), The Bride" available from Thompsen & Morgan Seeds or T&m.com. Am growing delph "Galahad", will share in May when ready to go outside. Also don't have Campanula glomerata in this garden but am growing campanula persicifolia Alba from seed. Just make sure to remind me as May approaches, sorry I get so many things happening this spring need a big string to tie to my finger.(lol). Go through list when you have time and could d-mail me. Will be digging anthemis from my daughter's garden this spring.

Here are some articles from the Iowa Extension Office on what grows well in Iowa.
Iowa state extension office publication on growing plants in containers. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/RG301.pdf

Zinnias are easy to grow from seed. They bloom nonstop. You will have to dead head them Burpee’s has several white zinnias (Profusion White Hybrid, White Wedding) and a green (Tequila Lime). I have not tried either of the larger zinnias yet. Profusions are small but bloom nonstop. Iowa state extension office publication on growing zinnias. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/RG324.pdf

Iowa state extension office publication on growing vines. Mandeville vines come in white and grow well in pots. Be sure to get the kind that wraps around. Some of the newer varieties are not as good at wrapping around the trellis. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/RG317.pdf

Alyssum, Snow Princess. Used this in a hanging basket last year and loved it. http://www.provenwinners.com/plants/detail.cfm?photoID=9316

Night scented tobacco (Nicotiana) is also white and does well in my garden. Caution on the tobacco is that its leaves are sticky and so they catch bugs. They do rinse off with water. There are also green blooming Nicotiana.

Here is a list of annuals and perennials (container and ground) plants that do well in Kansas. We are sort of close to where you are. There are pictures on-line of what they look like. I have yet to have anything off the list fail to do well in my yard. http://www.prairiestarflowers.com/

BTW - Might want to think about your planting plan in regard to any issues with bees and bug

I am new to this site, so not sure where you are. I am a florist and I know lilies and calle lilies seem to be available all summer. Lizianthus would be beautiful too, although maybe a little early. They do come in white, greenish & ivory tones. Here's a simple calle lily bride & attendant bouquet. http://www.petalpeopleflorist.com/