Patriotic Posies

Are you throwing a bash for the 4th? Don't forget the flowers! You can go well beyond the usual mason jar of white daisies and really show some creativity this year. Here are some fun ideas for you-and I guarantee that flowers will make your event more special!







Using permanent botanicals is an option. This cute red lantern makes an unexpected container.











And adding flags to this hanging basket arrangement adds a patriotic touch without being over the top.









This pinwheel centerpiece is gorgeous. The red Geranium and white Hydrangea are stunning together, and the red striped container ties it all together. What fun!










A wreath is appropriate anywhere. This dried wreath incorporates varying shades of blue, and with the addition of herbs, is fragrant, too!





3 colors of Hydrangea, a triple-tier basket, a bit of moss, and voila! A stunning centerpiece in just a few minutes!












I love how this gardener has incorporated a weathered chair into this still life of Iris, Poppies and Peonies, all blooming at the same time.




And how's this for a patriotic yard? Love it!













You may also enjoy this past post:
http://bloomersfloristwilmington.blogspot.com/2009/05/feeling-blue.html

Need Red, White or Blue flowers? Bloomers can fill the bill!
Give us a call any time. 910-815-8585

Art in Bloom

Art museums are always on the lookout for an event that will prove to be a successful fundraising event. One of the most popular is usually called something along the lines of "Art in Bloom", where local gardening groups are invited to design a floral arrangement to compliment a particular piece of art, be it a painting or a sculpture. This may sound like a fairly simple exercise, but as you'll see here, the outcomes are as varied as the art itself!

This design (above) is very successful. The designer has extracted the two strongest parts of this artwork: shape and color, and then interpreted both with flowers. Well done!

This next example is very pleasing. As in the artwork itself, the colors are soft and muted. The most powerful element of the painting is the waterfall, and this designer chose white Orchids to successfully interpret the color and movement. Curly willow, Kangaroo Paw and ferns add to the rhythm.

This large-scale design is very daring. The designer has chosen to interpret the set of woodcuts behind it very simply...in fact, only 2 floral elements are present. The unifying piece is the aluminum banding holding the grasses in place. A very unique and successful design.

This next exhibit is perhaps more expected and literal. The designer focuses on the hat in the painting, and rather than interpret it in flowers, she added in an actual hat, accompanied by blue fabric. She also brought in seashells as a nod to the painting's location at the shore.
The assortment of flowers seems a bit random.

This final design is stunning...the simplicity of the artwork is interpreted in the strong linear placement of the flowers. This designer chose Gladiolus, placed at sharp angles. And notice the cube of Daisy Mums placed to the right, echoing the white space in the art. Very effective.

You may not have an art museum you'd like to decorate, but Bloomers can design something wonderful for your next event!

Floral Beer for Dad

Father's Day is right around the corner. What to give Dad this year?
Not another tie, I hope!
As a florist, I would of course advocate for a beautiful floral arrangement, but failing that, consider a gift of floral beers. Most beers are crafted primarily from hops, which are the flower clusters of the hop plant. Prior to their widespread use around the 11th century, bitter herbs and flowers such as marigold, heather, ground ivy and dandelion were used for flavoring.
Today, brewers the world over are using flowers in new and unexpected
combinations to craft their beer.

The Southampton Brewery on Long Island crafts a tart beer with a blend of chamomile, rose hips, marigold and lavender. Named "Cuvee des Fleurs" which appropriately enough means "Vintage of the Flowers", it brings to mind a lovely summer meadow!

Scotland is famous for heather, and Williams Bros. Brewing has produced an anniversary ale in honor of it's 20th birthday, called Fraoch Ale. "Fraoch" is Gaelic for heather, and these brewers add the heather flowers to the boiling malt, resulting in a spicy, herbal flavor.

Delaware's Dogfish Head brewery has taken a cue from China,
reinterpreting a 9000 year old beverage made from chrysanthemums and wildflower honey.
The resulting Chateau Jiahu is sweet and complex.

While Bloomers does not sell beer, we do have lots of ideas for flowers for Dad.
Try sending a gorgeous custom-made bouquet, guaranteed to delight!

June is National Rose Month

If you are one of those people who feels there needs to be a reason to give roses, then look no further than National Rose Month!

Roses have always represented beauty and love, but there is other symbolism associated with them, and not just the red roses. White roses are linked to the Virgin Mary, who was known as 'the rose without thorns". White roses also are associated with death, but more commonly today stand for purity and innocence.






When giving or sending a gift of roses, people generally think of the traditional "dozen in a vase":
12 roses, accented with greens and baby's breath, with a bow around the neck of the vase. While this can be lovely when done properly, there are many more options available now. When talking with your florist, ask what she can do to make that dozen new and fresh! This arrangement (left) is stunning: an interesting use of leaves and greens, a modern container, all to highlight the gorgeous roses!



To mark National Rose Month for yourself, why not plant a new rose bush in your garden?












Or send yourself a gorgeous rose bouquet in an interesting color, such as lavender or the beautiful bi-colors we have available to us now.

Take roses to an elderly friend or neighbor who doesn't get out much. Such a simple gesture can mean so much to someone!




If you enjoyed this post, you may also like this past BloomersBlog posting:

http://bloomersfloristwilmington.blogspot.com/2009/01/extreme-roses.html