Dreamy white David Austen garden roses and peonies were a lovely compliment to Ainslie’s gown.

Pink O”Hara garden roses and Pink Majolica spray roses for the bridesmaids.

Hydrangeas, roses and hot pink dahlias added a punch of colour on the guest tables, with a hint of rustic charm from the menu cards set into wooden frames.

A pink signature drink doing double duty as place cardholders.

Pink flip – flop fun!

Matt and Ainslie were such a pleasure to work with, and I love all of the details of their wedding day.  Many Thanks to Debra for the wonderful photographs!

Photography;  Debra Eby Photography

Fun details;  The Bride and Groom

We want to share of our love of locally grown flowers, and what better time than Valentine’s!   And by sharing your local love, you could win a bright, fresh bouquet of Ontario grown blooms for your Valentine! Maybe it’s the multitude of colourful gerberas, or the charm of a daisy or spray mum, the simplicity of tulips or freesia, or the burst of summer colour from sunflowers and dahlias.  Just by sharing your local love, you could win a romantic bouquet of gorgeous, locally grown blooms.

1) Leave a comment on this post, telling us what your fave local flower is, and why. (having a peek at some of our previous blog posts might give you some ideas)

2)Head over to our  Facebook page and “like” us.

3)Entries must be received by midnight, Friday February 10th On Saturday, the 11th, we’ll draw a random winner from the posts. You must comment and like us to be to be entered.

Delivery can be arranged in Kitchener or Waterloo only, or may be picked up at our studio

Flowers must be delivered or picked up on or before February 14th

The prize has no cash value, and no substitutions

Only one entry per person.

Good Luck!

Our fave? That’s a toughie,  because they’re all so wonderful!  But, one that seems to show up frequently in the studio is one that doesn’t look at all local!  It is in fact a tropical, but our amazing growers have perfected it right here.  It’s the anthurium, and because it lasts for so long, and comes in many great shades, even chocolate brown, we love it!  We’ve used it here, in a yummy shade of green, called “pistachio”. Thanks for visiting, and good luck to everyone!

Sanseveria, or Snake Plant

This will survive just about anything.  Likes to be ignored.  Shove it in a dark corner, or a sunny window, and it’s happy.  Throw a little water on it, when you think of it.  It’s slow growing, so re-potting isn’t a worry.  It can be easily divided into smaller plants, or stretched out into a window box for a more modern display.

Pothos

A popular plant for hanging baskets, but is nicer when kept compact, and can be purchased as a small plant and set on a desk or table.  There are several varieties, but the nicest, hippest one is limelight, a bright shade of lime green.  They tolerate sun and shade, and put up with a willy-nilly watering approach, and are great air cleaners.  Don’t be tempted to train it to go across the ceiling or window frames.  Please. Don’t.

Orchids

Yes, orchids.  Phalaenopsis, or the butterfly orchid is the most prevalent and is the easiest to care for.  And by care for, I mean ignore. Place in a bright spot, out of direct sun,  and ignore.  Sure, look at it and admire it’s elegant blooms, and marvel that they’ve lasted for 2 or 3 months, but please don’t over water it.  Orchids typically grow out of tree trunks, or anchor themselves to the side of a cliff, and take  moisture from the air, rather than their roots.

If you feel inclined to give lots of TLC, misting is best and  this can be done daily.  Orchids are usually double-potted, meaning they are planted in plastic grower pot, and then set into a more decorative one.  Hold the plant in the grower insert over the sink, and let the water run through, no more than once a week.  Usually, I don’t bother with that, and just dribble small amounts of water on top of the roots. Never let it sit in water, and always make sure that the moss or mulch it’s planted in is a little dry  between watering.  Be sure to purchase orchids from plant professionals who know how to take care of them.  Grocery stores and other mass retailers carry them at cheap prices, but the care they receive , length of time on the shelf, or how they are packed when you take them home can mean a dead orchid a week later.  Invest in the best and you’ll love your blooms for months.

There’s a pattern in the care tips of the plant suggestions;  don’t kill them with kindness.  Frankly, most plants die from over-watering, which causes the roots to rot,  rather than from under watering.  Improper lighting is also a factor.  Few plants can tolerate full, direct sun, so make sure they’re not getting a sunburn.

Plants to avoid

This is my hit list of problem plants.

Ivy

Any ivy. They are spider-mite magnets.  Without constant attention, and misting and watering, and removal of dead leaves, they quickly become a haven for the tiny web builders that suck the life out of plants, leaf  by leaf.

Deifenbachia

See ivy plants.

Planter baskets

A favourite for business gifts.  They usually contain ivy AND deifenbachia.   If you manage to find a planter that doesn’t contain these, chances are that the plants are still incompatible, and will slowly die, one by one.  If they manage to live for a few months, they will need to be separated and re-potted, as one of them will start to take over, and it will start look unruly and messy.  Send an orchid.

And now, if you’ll excuse, me, the pothos is winding it’s way toward the ceiling fixture, and needs to be stopped.

Blooms that say " Ta-Daaa!"

So, would you pay $12-$15 for a stem of amaryllis?  Before you gasp and say “I would never pay that for a single stem”, consider the size of the flowers, 10-12 inches across when fully open, and the longevity.   They are what I call  investment flowers.

Cheap flowers are readily available, and easy to buy.   Carnations and roses are packaged by the dozen, and are often the same price as our lovely amaryllis.  But do they have the same value or visual impact?  Those bunches of carnations and roses are often loss-leaders, and are almost always of a lower grade, meaning that the blooms are smaller, and the varieties are the most basic.  No stars here, just a cheap and cheerful mass, destined to be arranged hap hazzardly  with the filler greens that came with them.

Keep it Simple

Talking with everyday consumers and brides, a frequent comment is “but they’re expensive, aren’t they?”, usually in reference to a flower that is either exotic, such as an orchid, or something with a very large bloom, such as hydrangea.  Well, they may cost more per stem than another flower, but it takes several smaller flowers to make up the volume and impact of a single hydrangea.  For weddings, the look and longevity of a just a few, carefully used orchids  more than justify their cost, compared to the number of smaller, cheaper flowers that it will take to achieve the same size and beauty of bouquet. Having a dinner party?  You can try to make something out of a mixed bouquet, with a stem of this, and 2 stems of that, some sort of tall, pokey flower, and some airy, piddly fern,  or you can you use one or 2 hydrangeas for a simple, elegant effect.  Cut. Plop. Fabulous.     The same with a gorgeous stem of amaryllis, or a beautiful stem of orchids.

Dress to Impress

For my corporate clients, I will always suggest  a single over-sized, attention-getting  tropical flower, like a heliconia, paired with a chunky stem of bamboo, and a large, shiny leaf,  over several small flowers for maximum impact.  One 12- 15 inch stunner in red or orange beats out a few of this and that.  Hands down.  Lasts longer too.

I Hate Yellow Roses

At least I used to.  Maybe you’re not a fan either, of any roses.  Most people I know who say they don’t like roses, or that they don’t last very long, have only purchased or received  the everyday,  run of the mill types.  The ones usually carried by grocery stores, discount retailers, and old-school flower shops.  They are varieties that are plentiful, and are usually very basic colours.  When, and if, they open, they are smaller, and  not very interesting.  They are the “B” varieties,  and I’m not a fan of most of them.  These are not what I  use in weddings, or  sell to my customers, because they often have low petal counts and smaller heads,and so, once again, they have no impact, no “wow” factor.  I’d rather hear “oh my gosh, LOOK at that rose”, than, “oh, roses…”.  There are yellow roses to die for!  Large, ruffly blooms with hints of green or cherry red.  And the same for peach and pink varieties.  The rose, revisited.  Just a couple glamour beauties are far more stunning than a whole dozen of whatevers. And skip the baby’s breath.  Unless you have a whole bunch of it. In a single vase. But that’s another topic.

Oh, and the amaryllis?  It’s now day 16, and 3 out 4 blooms are still with me.  That’s what I call an investment flower.

Our venue, the Walper Hotel, had the fabulous grand piano, the absolute perfect setting  for our shoot.  Layering on the colours and textures, this was so much fun to put together!

Our photographer, Scott McQuarrie of  re:action photography, was amazing,  and captured all of the details perfectly.  We through lots of puzzles at him, and he was able to roll with them all.   I love working with great photographers, and seeing their insights into lighting and how objects will transform in photos.  The hanging cake, created by Chrissy Boon of  Too Nice to Slice, is the center piece of the shoot, and hangs dramatically over the scene.  These amazing cakes can be cut and served!

One of my favourite bouquets to create is a “Duchess” rose.  Layers and layers of rose petals are put together to make one stunning bloom.  This one is set in a long, pointed metal cone, wrapped at the top with a wide collar of black fringe.

The stationery, beautifully crafted in letterpress from James and Vinti of OOXX Invitations, is the perfect highlight to our theme.  I love the script, the beautiful garden roses, and the barren branches, with just a few thorns…

A deep purple ” Schwarzweld” calla, wired into a twiggy place card holder.

A pair of wire shoes to hold the bridesmaids bouquets.  And rose petals. LOTS of crimson rose petals.

Many thanks to Scott, Chrissie, Vinti and James for sharing your amazing talents!

In 1988, Marta Rodriquez produced a documentary on the carnation industry, “Love, Women and Flowers”, exposing the working conditions and pesticide use on Colombian Farms. I first saw it in 1992, and it was heart wrenching to think that those that supply our beautiful blooms could be treated so badly, and that there was no regard for their well being.  While the chemicals that were used on the farms were banned for use in Canada and the U.S., they were most likely produced here in the first place, then used without restraint by many unscrupulous farms. Even more alarming was the apathy I encountered from co-workers and peers in the flowers industry.  Very few seemed to show much concern, or felt that there was nothing that could be done.  Even corporations who had the power to affect buying practices, both on the florist and the consumer level, seemed to turn a deaf ear to the situation.

Thankfully, about 8 years ago, I came across the Veriflora Label, a certified sustainable grown labeling program for flowers and plants.   http://www.veriflora.com/ It ensures, through third party testing, fair labour practices, conservation of resources, ecosystem protection, as well as a high standard of quality.  FLP (Flower Label Program),  Floraverde and Max Havelaar are also labels having similar standards and test procedures.  Unfortunately, awareness of the labels, at both the retail and consumer levels, still seems to be quite low.  On holiday occasions, flowers get negative attention in the media, as interest groups point out the failings of the industry to deal with the on-going issues, but it seems few in the industry speak up and let consumers know that they have choices when they purchase flowers.

I market my studio as being “green”, or sustainable, which is what I prefer to call it. To me, sustainable has a more far-reaching meaning, and takes in more than just the typical reusing and recycling practices.  When talking about Flourish, I always state that the sources of my flowers are very important, mentioning Veriflora certified imports, the support of locally grown products, and the use of organic blooms when seasonally available.  People are generally quite interested, and surprised, both at finding out where flowers actually come from, and that there are often social and environmental concerns attached to something meant to bring joy and beauty.  In Canada, Veriflora labelled flowers are fairly easy to come by, but are not promoted at the wholesale level, and therefore, usually slip by retailers and likewise, consumers with no notice.  Locally grown blooms often suffer the same fate.

As more and more consumers begin to question the origins of their purchases, as well as the conditions in which they are produced, the floral industry needs to take initiative in addressing these concerns, preferably in a pro-active manner. 90% of all roses, 98% of carnations, and 95% of chrysanthemums sold in the US are imported from South America, with similar numbers in Canada. In Colombia alone, 60,000 workers, mostly women, are employed by Colombian flower farms, making up 25% of rural female employment there.  To ensure the well-being of these workers, as well as the land that the farms occupy, we need to pay more attention to the sources of our flowers, and be willing to pay a higher premium.

Larger corporations, such as FTD and Walmart, have started to offer and promote Fair Trade certified flowers, but it should be a part of the focus for small retailers as well. My outlook is that many small businesses together equal the impact of one larger company, and have the power to affect change, beginning in their own community.  The first steppingstone to becoming “eco-friendly” or “ green” is to ensure the sustainability of the products that we sell, and the rest of our practices should naturally follow, with the lives of our neighbours and the environment as our prime concern.

Suggested video on Fair Trade Flowers;

 
youtube.com/watch?v=2qnwaetG2Jo&…

youtube.com/watch?v=ox3fnj_SsNU&…

Remember that cold, rainy spring?  Southern Ontario had more than it’s share of March winds and April showers.  Then one day, the sun came out.  That was April 30th, Dana and Kyle’s wedding day.  It was the perfect day for a country small town wedding;  sun beaming, buds popping,  birds a chirping.  Hauser Hall in Heidelburg was the ideal setting, hosting both the  ceremony and reception.  With coordinating invites and menus beautifully crafted by Tracey from Little Details, and everything captured by the amazing Anne Edgar , the scene was pure loveliness.

Purple was the color of the day, with touches of spring green and cream.  Dana chose an assortment of season flowers, including locally grown tulips, lisianthus, freesia and anemones, all at their peak of loveliness.

Shades of spring;  anemones, velvety lisianthus, tulips, and  wonderfully scented freesias  nestled atop a bed of hydrangeas.

Mauve hyacinths and grasses for the boutonnieres.

Frilly two-toned lisianthus and mauve freesias made up the bridesmaids’ bouquets, the colors working beautifully with the wedding stationary. and the rich purple of the bridesmaids’ dresses.

A handsome lineup, flanked by trumpet vases filled with hydrangeas, stocks, and towering delphinium.

Dana was wonderful to work with, and it was such a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful day.

Beyond the flowers themselves, the choices about containers, arrangement styles and accent pieces can mean large amounts of chemicals, and waste headed to the landfill. A simple thought to keep in mind along the way is, where will piece this end up, a week, a month, or a year from now.

Here are some ideas to get started.

Choose locally grown or Fair Trade flowers

Favorite wedding flowers, such as roses, orchids and hydrangeas are almost always imported from other continents, and are grown under varying standards for labor and environmental practices. An informed florist will know which flowers require little or no pesticides, be familiar with countries having fair labor standards, and will use and promote flowers with Fair Trade, Eco-sensitive certification, such as Veriflora. Inquire which locally grown blooms are available, and whether there is access to those that are organically grown. Local greenhouses offer a good assortment of year-round flowers, as well as seasonal field crops that require less energy to grow.

Keep it real

Flowers are naturally beautiful, but they are often dyed or spray painted to match a bridesmaid dress or corporate logo. Insisting that no dyes or aerosol products, such as leaf shine, spray paint, or adhesives are used will not only reduce chemicals, but will ensure the flowers may be composted.
Fresh flowers or plants are much better than artificial stems that are produced in overseas factories, often under poor working conditions. Even though they may be used again, they will ultimately end up in a land fill, and will not bio-degrade.
Choose bouquets styles that don’t need a plastic holder, and opt for ceremony and reception arrangements styles that do not require floral foam, the unfriendly spongy material used as water source in many floral arrangements. Lower arrangements or collections of small containers and candle holder are ideal. Many accents, such as colored lights, are one-time use, or require batteries that are discarded after one use.

Rent whenever possible

Many florists will rent vases for ceremony and reception arrangements, and the containers are often high quality, made of glass or ceramic and will be used several times over. Choose center piece styles that can be hand-tied, and guests can simply lift them out of the container to take home. Candle holders are usually available to rent as well.

Remember, taking even small steps towards a greener lifestyle can make a big difference, all the difference in the world.

Photos;  organic peonies and veronica, Captured Soul Photography

Locally grown fall bounty, Two Tone Studios

Southern Ontario is blessed with a gorgeous array of flowers, with many choices at the height of wedding season.  Many are commercially grown, but there are lots available from organic growers, usually from late spring through early fall.  Smaller, organic farms often experiment with more unusual varieties and colours.

A list of some  popular locally grown flowers:

WINTER

• Amaryllis
• Mini Amaryllis
• Tulips
• Paper Whites

SPRING

• Tulips
• Iris
• Daffodils
• Sweet Peas
• Forsythia
• Pussy Willows
• Muscari
• Anemones
• Peonies
• Lilacs
• Lady’s Mantle
• Freesia
• Veronica

SUMMER

• Peonies
• Dahlias
• Delphinium
• Lilies
• Phlox
• Lisianthus
• Cosmos
• Zinnias
• Sunflowers
• Amaranthus
• Hydrangeas
• Celosias
• Calla lilies
• Stocks

FALL

• Amaranthus
• Kale
• Rose hips
• Fall mums
• Asters
• Mini pumpkins
• Celosias
• Dahlias
• Grains
• Grasses

Available year-round from Ontario Greenhouses;

• Gerbera daisies
• Lilies
• Mums
• Daisies
• Alstroemaria
• Anthurium

An amazing list!  With careful planning,and knowledgeable vendors, an event can easily feature the wonderful abundance from Ontario.  From food, to beer and wine, to the most beautiful flowers, we have it all, within 100miles!

I had the opportunity to spend a day with some old friends and peers  at a workshop directed by former World Champion floral designer,  Per Benjamin. Per, a designer from Sweden, gave us some new perspectives on colour, which will be  helpful when helping brides chose their flowers.  Our projects involved very intricate details, and  provided us with some very fresh approaches to both bridal and interior floral design.

My project , featuring a few of my favourite things;

Orchids, callas, gloriosas and roses are attached to a light weight heart, which has been covered with beautiful wools. An unusual, yet so romantic bride's bouquet!

The day was a welcome break from a hectic schedule of weddings and events, and a chance to share ideas and challenges with some fantastic designers.

But the highlight of this post is a very special group of people who are honoured each May.  Flourish has been making  the corsages and boutonnieres for the honourees for several years.  175 corsages isn’t a project most florists would care to take on, in fact, most would turn it  away.  However, having a special connection to the recipients of the corsages,  it is a project I take on very mindful of the special contribution they make in our community.

Every May, St Mary’s Hospital (Kitchener)  hosts a special dinner for its volunteers.  Being a former volunteer on the Festival of Trees committee, I have attended the dinner on several occasions.  Over a 5 year period, I co-ordinated the decorations for hundreds of Christmas trees, staged Kitchener City Hall with large theme displays,and  oversaw wreath-making bees, all with the help of several other volunteers.  My first invitation to the dinner came as a surprise as I didn’t really consider myself to be  part of the Volunteer Association.

Looking around at my fellow dinner guests, 2 things stood out.  1st, they were mostly women, 2nd, most of them were aged 60 -80. Yes, 80, with a few in the 90 range.  Any sense of smug accomplishment I had with my Festival of  Trees experience was put in it’s place with the dedication I saw in these individuals, many who on the front-lines of services crucial to our health care system.     These are the folks who greet you as you come into the hospital, who give you direction and a comforting smile as you await surgery, or news of a loved one’s condition.  They tirelessly raise funds for equipment and improvements to the hospital.

Awards are given out starting at 5 years of service.  This year, 31 individuals were honoured for a total of 420 years!!

For example, there’s Theresa, who is a greeter, who was recently honoured for 50 years of service, and Barb, a volunteer for 45 years, who helps staff the gift shop.  Then there’s Madeline, the founder of the gift shop, who has dedicated 41 years of  tireless commitment.  Other regular faces include Rose, another greeter, and also Harold, who shows up for 6am,  Bernice,  who distributes mail, a volunteer of 35 years and Vi, who at 93, still helps out at  fund raising events, and was always a fixture in the Angel Shop at the Festival of Trees.  Then there’s Jessie, who was present when the cornerstone of the original St. Mary’s Hospital was laid, and who was there to see the opening of the new addition in 2008.  She has been honoured with 50 years of dedication to the hospital. The Tim Horton’s is managed by 2 retirees, Martha and Fran.  Not a position usually taken up as a retirement pastime!

So, even though I whine about tired fingers, and the monotony of making 175 of the same little things, I make them as pretty and as special as possible.  My short span of discomfort is easily blown away by the scope of the commitment and contributions of each one of these volunteers.  Yes, May is always a month of learning.