Cherry Blossoms Now!!

It is always difficult to predict the blooming of the cherry blossoms on the national mall, the current prediction for peak date is March 20th.  Florists have a little more leeway, we can force blooms early and get them from up north when the local ones are finished blooming.  This year blooms are coming early, more than 2 weeks earlier than last year. I used them earlier this week at an event at Rogue 24 and for an Architects photo shoot.  This coming weekend they will decorate a wedding at the Tabard Inn and another at Longview Gallery.  Because of the early heat, up and down the east coast I am concerned about availability for a couple of my mid-April brides–– luckily all sorts of other beautiful flowers will be available...enjoy them while they last!

Late February Flowers

I sent flowers to a friend this week and got to choose anything I wanted... no colors, budget or design plan to adhere to!  I arranged them in a two piece white egg-shaped vessel made for me by Middle Kingdom.  I filled half of the egg with Virginia anemones, French green ranunculus, New Jersey parrot tulips and the first hyacinths from a protected spot in my back garden–

Purple Flowers

Got in purple flowers for a sample, the client has seen them and now I am enjoying them.  Years ago a good friend of mine/talented designer who favors subtle colors and lush textures told me purple flowers act as a non-color in rooms she has designed... they just enhance.  I have embraced her advice and when going with color in flowers I often opt for purple.

Cut Cyclamen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photo Kate Headley

Although cyclamen plants have been in my world for ages I just recently discovered cut cylclamen.  They come in a wide variety of pinks and a pure white.  If handled correctly the blooms last for two weeks.  Right now the only source I know of is  Holland, I buy  them directly from my broker at the Dutch Flower Auction.

How to process cut cyclamen flowers:  cut the stem to the desired length, near the end of the stem, about 1/8 of an inch from the bottom, cut a 1/4 inch slit part way through the stem lengthwise and immediately place in water.

Flower Today at 1508

This February we are doing more cooking than flowers, looking ahead at the spring  calendar I know this balance will shift. Today there are some gorgeous blooms around here that returned from a photo shoot, others that are for a sample for a large June event.

John shot these this morning and wanted to share...

Mid-January Wedding Flowers

Just got these images back this morning.  Anemone, hyacinth, tulip, ranunculus, muscari... Ceremony at the Sidwell Friends Meetinghouse, followed by a celebration at the Women's Museum.  Bouquets and the second floor of the museum were filled with deep saturated color flowers,  the main floor was all silver and white blooms.  Thanks Paul Morse for the photos and Alexandra Kovach for putting it all together!

Helleborus

Winter through April one of my favorite flowers, helleborus are available.  Right now I am getting them through the Dutch auction in Holland, I can already see buds just starting to form on the plants in my garden and I will be able to get them from a favorite local flower farmer, Bob Wollam, in April and March....These are delicate flowers and generally only have a few day life span after they are picked but they are without a doubt worth it!  I used them as part of the centerpieces at a small wedding at the Tabard Inn yesterday.