Flower Feature: Dahlias

Dahlia at Lalbagh Flower Show via Wikipedia

Purple Dahlia Bouquet via Deer Pearl Flowers

Full-bodied and bright, dahlias are all about the drama. While you may think you’ve seen one dahlia, you’ve seen them all, the term ‘dahlia’ actually applies to 42 species and over two thousand sub-varieties and hybrids. From the exotic Firework dahlia, whose petals stand strong and stoic, to the Bitsy dahlia, whose inner petals cloak their center and softly extend outward layer after layer, the endless variations in size, color, and texture are mind-blowing.

: Dahlias via University of South Florida

: Multi-colored Dahlia via Holi Coffee

: Dahlia via Hub Pages

: Dahlia at Lalbagh Flower Show via Wikipedia

: Rounded Dahlias via Img Stocks

Why so many blooms under one umbrella? It all began in 1789, when botanical explorers traveled to Mexico and collected dahlias from their native land. The original Mexican dahlia spread about 2 inches across with a single set of petals and a central disk or head, similar to a sunflower. The species was transported to Madrid, where horticultural growers discovered dahlias to be natural and eager hybridizers, and soon dahlias were readily adopting many different colors and sizes.
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Anemones / Kristen & Dave / New York Botanical Gardens / Chad David Kraus Photography

Planning & Inspiration

Flower Feature: Anemones

by admin

These charming, vibrant blooms with their signature black center derive their name from the same Greek word meaning “the wind’s daughter.”

Anemones / Kristen & Dave / New York Botanical Garden / Chad David Kraus Photography

Anemones open in the day and close up at night, a unique trait that played a symbolic role in the Greek myth of Aphrodite and her lover Adonis, a mortal. The story goes that the two lovers would go hunting together in the woods, Adonis chasing game on foot and Aphrodite trailing behind him in her swan-driven chariot. Aphrodite’s ex-lover Aries soon grew jealous of their bond, and while Adonis was out hunting alone, his rival disguised himself as a boar and brutally attacked Adonis with his tusks. While Adonis fought for his life, he was no match for a god and fell to his death on the forest floor.
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Planning & Inspiration

A Rose By Any Other Name

by admin

With their versatility, deep-rooted symbolism and timeless appeal, roses are the perfect emblem of love to grace any wedding décor. Our obsession with roses dates back to Ancient Rome, when roses were used to symbolize devotion to Venus, the goddess of love, beauty, and desire. The rose is the official flower of the United States, the United Kingdom, and even New York. Fossil evidence teaches us roses are over 35 million years old, with 150 species naturally growing across the Northern Hemisphere. It wasn’t until the late eighteenth century that we began to breed roses and create thousands of hybrids in a wide range of colors and shapes.
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Planning & Inspiration

Types of Wedding Flowers, Part 2

by Elianna Phelps

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful week. We have had a great response to our photos of common types of wedding flowers that we posted the other week and wanted to follow up with some additional information on each type of flower, with some fun facts! Enjoy!

Flower: Manzanita branches

Common names:

Colors: natural red, sandblasted, and assorted spray painted colors.

Natural season: dried, year round.

Fun Fact: There are 106 species of manzanita branches.

Flower: Anemone

Common names: wind poppy, wind flower, and lily of the field.

Colors: white, pink, red, mauve, burgundy, red, and purple.

Natural season: autumn and spring.

Fun Fact: the name anemone is derived from the Greek word for wind anemos, hence it’s nickname, the wind flower. Read More

Planning & Inspiration

Types of Wedding Flowers

by Elianna Phelps

Sometimes it is hard to share your vision of your wedding flower design ideas with your florist without knowing the names of any flowers. Here is a basic guide to common wedding flowers, so that you can get an idea of the shapes and textures you prefer!

Calla Lilies