Sweet Somethings: How to Pick Your Special Flower
Mother Nature is a girl’s best friend when it comes to selecting the perfect flowers for a wedding. Just open your eyes – and the window
By Bev Bennett
CTW Features
Fragrant lilies-of-the-valley practically ring in spring weddings with their delicate bell shapes. Sunflowers, a riot of yellow and orange, rival the brightest summer day with their bold colors.
Different seasons, different flowers
Thanks to international flower markets, it’s possible to buy almost any flower at any time of the year. Still, you’ll still get the best quality, price and variety if you choose blossoms according to your local season, say the experts.
“Flowers are available at any time from Holland, South America, California or through hot-house growers,” says Jennifer Grace, owner of A New Leaf, Springfield, Mo.
“But it helps to get flowers in [your local growing] season because they’re larger and stronger,” says Grace, who specializes in unique stems, such as hyacinths and stars of Bethlehem.
You’ll also appreciate that certain flowers are associated with certain times of the year.
“Although I can get sunflowers at other times of the year, they’re not as beautiful as they are during the summer. And they don’t fit in at other times of the year; they look inappropriate,” Grace says.
Of course, some seasons may be better suited for a floral display than others.
Spring is an optimal time for bulb flowers, such as tulips and daffodils, and for budding branches, including pussy willow. Summer and fall also deliver a rich bouquet of colors.
Winter, however, requires more imagination.
During cold weather months Grace works evergreens and pinecones into centerpieces. Deep colors such as claret and forest green are popular this time of the year. And, despite the expense, brides turn to white roses, lilies and gardenias for winter bouquets, she says.
