Welcome back, readers! Although typically I struggle to decide which beautiful treasure to feature in the “a-z” posts, this week there was simply no dithering. ”O” is for orchid (in this case, the cymbidium orchid). This flower has many wonderful, versatile properties – it can appear feminine or masculine, fragile or sturdy. Designing with orchids…
Welcome back for another adventure in the floral alphabet! This week in A-Z, “N” is for the precious and lovely Nerine. Nerine, sometimes called a “spider lily,” is native to South Africa, although the bulb is now grown throughout the world. Nerine is in the same family as the perhaps more familiar winter-blooming amaryllis bulb….
Hello, flower fans! “M” is for magical coral pink hydrangea (that is really what the Dutch importer calls it!), an absolutely ethereal hue of hydrangea. This version of one of my all-time favorite blooms was too gorgeous to pass up at the market, so I fudged the letter “m” just a touch. One of the…
Greetings, sweet flower fans. April showers bring May . . . LILAC! Well, it starts to show up in April, but let’s not split hairs :) “L” is for lilac, people, and this extraordinary, abundant, fragrant bloom comes just in time as we emerge (finally? truly?) from this long winter. Syringa or “lilac” is actually…
Greetings from the flower alphabet think tank! This week, I thought to feature a quirky little bloom that is primarily used as an accompaniment in arrangements. “K” is for kangaroo paw! You can see the fuzzy paw-like flower above, nestled in among other friendly blooms. A native of Australia, the kangaroo paw got its name…
Hello, again! You may have noticed here at Flowers A–Z that I have some proclivities. For example, I have a genuine soft spot for fragrant florals. Also, I’ve never met a delicate, garden-y bloom I didn’t like. So if you present me with a feminine vine that smells amazing, I’m SOLD. That’s why for today’s post,…
Sometimes in life, things don’t come easy. You have to get creative, make it work, shape your own destiny . . . which is why this week’s A–Z post is “i” is for “Irene” parrot tulips! I know what you are thinking. You think I got all cute and decided not to feature a flower…
“If, of thy mortal goods, thou art bereft, And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left, Sell one and from the dole, Buy Hyacinths to feed the soul” — Saadi (12th Century Persian Poet) “H” is for hyacinth! These fragrant, bulbous flowering plants are a sure sign that spring is on…
The tender and delicate gloriosa lily was an irresistible choice for this Flowers A–Z post. Gloriosa have a range of native climates — from tropical Africa to Southeastern Asia — but as with so many flowers in this modern age, they have become fairly widely cultivated. In the wild, they can grow into a stubborn…
Greetings readers, and welcome back for another foray into the floral alphabet! For “f” I have opted to present freesia and fritillaria for your consideration. It is sometimes difficult to choose just one flower . . . and who says we have to, anyway! First, let’s focus on freesia. Freesia are lovely, fragrant blooms that…
Welcome back, Alphabet Florists! Just to mix it up a bit, I thought I would feature three different “e” flowers this week: echeveria (succulents), eryngium (thistle) and eustoma (lisianthus). Now, I grant you, I am bending the rules ever so slightly by using the Latin names for these relatively common blooms and plants and highlighting…
Hello, flower fans! For this round of Flowers A–Z, I have selected a delicate adornment, as opposed to a traditional bloom: dusty miller (senecio cineraria). The color and texture of dusty miller, with its silvery soft, felt-like leaves make the perfect complement to either muted or bold-hued flowers. Dusty miller is native to arid climates…
Welcome back, fans of flowers, the alphabet or perhaps both! Did you guess that the letter “c” would be for calla? The calla lily (or zantedeschia) is an elegant, noble flower from the family Araceae, which is native to southern Africa. Callas tend to flourish in warm climates and are primarily grown in California, Colombia, New…
Hello, lovely readers! This post for the letter “B” was such an easy call — the indomitable brassica. I am a huge fan of this gorgeous cabbage. Brassica gives you lots of bang for your buck, is strong and stabilizing in arrangements, looks sophisticated and unusual and kicks up the drama factor. Brassica is a broad…
Hello everyone! I’m starting a new series from my little flower corner called “Flowers A–Z.” This series will highlight a different individual flower in each post, arranged alphabetically. I will offer a few facts about the flower, review some of its basic properties and demonstrate design ideas. I think it will be great fun and…
[studio choo is taking today off, so i'm thrilled to welcome sarah at saipua back for another weeder's digest post!] Todays floral post is all about reptiles. Specifically frogs and snakes. Fritillaria meleagris (also known as a Snake Head Flower) is a little spring bulbous flower that arrives in March. It is a petite and…
As an apartment dweller, I feel crazied each spring with dreams of having a real proper outdoor garden. Sadly, it isn’t in the cards so I usually redouble my houseplant efforts. Instead of buying new houseplants to feed my addiction, Ipropagate the ones I already have. Pruning stimulates new growth and you end up with…
Hello! Are you prepared for the nuclear winter that might blow through your household on February 15th? Survive and prosper! Consider preventative options: 1. Box of chocolates? As in I don’t really know what you like, so here’s an assortment? There is a map on the back of the lid! You can pick the ones…
It’s around this time every January that I start hoarding new houseplants. I was able to resist rex begonias for months and months, but I caved this weekend and bought a few. Now for the real problem- I’m all out of terra cotta empties and bored of just about every other option. I’ve been picking…
Nicolette and I have been up to our ears teaching at the Little Flower School. Prerequisites abound. Geometry, for example; obviously REQUIRED. But we’re not talking about your average textbook Trig, we require advanced spherical trigonometry; and if you don’t know what that is, let’s just say it’s of utmost importance in the fields of…
