Jewel Tone Flowers for Summer and Fall Weddings

Some of the garden beds are slowing down, but there are still flowers for gathering into lovely bouquets. Lots of jewel tone colors and spiky flowers show up in late summer.

They include very fragrant African Blue Basil

Feathery soft wheat celosia,

and Black and Blue Salvia

Other flowers in this bouquet include zinnias, dahlias, sedum, crested celosia, and gomphrena. Perilla provides both flower spikes and rich aubergine foliage. These are all great choices for brides who desire locally grown flowers for their late summer and fall weddings.

This October there should also be a small showing of chrysanthemums, and for next year I am planning to have several varieties of floribunda roses to offer as well. Many will be in rich jewel tones, but I am planning to have some soft blush and peachy colors as well!

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Perilla Adds Rich Dark Notes to Wedding Flowers

Looking for a unique accent for your wedding flowers? Check out perilla!

It is a staple in the flower borders at Springwell Gardens from June through October, and the frilly leaves add rich hues that vary from almost irridescent ebony to chocolate-burgundy that complement both blush and jewel tone floral palettes. 

In late September the plant is covered with pink flower spikes that quickly turn to green. These add great texture to autumn designs, and can later provide you with seeds for plants of your own. 

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Rich Aubergine Perilla Adds Lovely Contrast to Summer Bouquets

Let me introduce you to Perilla frutescens. 

It's an interesting plant in the garden beds at Springwell Gardens. But what's really great  is how the leaves of this sultry, dark beauty set off a bouquet or centerpiece design with their delicate shape and subtle licorice fragrance.

 

Perilla frutescens is an annual plant that readily reseeds. In addition to its interesting dark foliage, it also produces delicate pink flower spires in September. If you let these flowers dry on the stems, the seeds will just fall to the ground and  you have plants for years to come.

I have been using it for several years now in my summer and fall floral designs. 

And look forward to adding it again in 2014!

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Summery Pink Dahlia and Zinnia Bouquet

Summer is in full swing here in North Carolina, and the flowers are coming!

June blooms from the garden included LOTS of shades of pinks, reds and wines- lavender pink dahlias, pale pink Summer Phlox, Queen Red Lime Zinnias and wine colored Bee Balm with cherry red caps....
and gorgeous raspberry pink heads of hydrangeas with ruffled leaves of aubergine perilla peeking out between the flowers. The finishing touch is a lovely wrap of ribbons with scallop edged tails!

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