What you need to know about "Seasonal Flowers"

More than once a week I get a call from a bride looking for "seasonal flowers," hoping to be able to save money on her overall flower budget. Every time I field this question, I answer with saying, "Other than peonies, lilacs, and lily of the valley, there really is no such thing as "seasonal flowers." More and more resources on-line and in print tell brides to pick blooms in season in order to be budget conscious. I am here to set the record straight on flowers. Florists get their flowers from all over the world, many from South America and Holland. These blossoms include some of the most popular flowers available: roses, hydrangea, calla lilies, tulips etc. We don't pick our own hydrangea in someone's backyard in Maine to get them when they're blooming "in season." These flower farms grow specific types of blossoms for extended longevity and consistency. I suppose while I'm on this rant I should also say that there are some flowers that florists give a bad name concerning price. Here's another record to get straight: Orchids are not THAT expensive. Sure, they're more expensive than carnations and button poms, and for their size they're more expensive than hydrangea per blossom, but they are very reasonable to work with in select floral arrangements and add a great texture as well. Here are some photos of individual flowers and if they have a particular season I've mentioned it... Otherwise you have free reign on all of these throughout the year.

Hydrangea- all year, depending on color. Antique Green is available in the fall when the nights get cooler, although you can get a hold of it in the spring when it's a light pink and green combo which is also beautiful. The periwinkles, purples and hot pinks are great in the summer, but are available for the most part, year round.. Mini green and regular green shouldn't be a problem either. Photos from Sierra Flower Finder

Blue Hydrangea

Hot Pink Hydrangea

Antique Green Hydrangea

White Hydrangea

Light Blue Hydrangea

Roses- I know some brides don't like roses because they think everyone uses them, which is true for a very valid reason. Roses come in almost every color imaginable and they also come in different forms- traditional, spray, garden. They're a great way to add a specific color without breaking the bank... here are a few of our favorites.

Dark Milva

Black Magic

Amnesia

Esperance

Marjolik Spray Rose

Garden Rose

Peonies are bride's FAVORITE flowers.. we think they're really beautiful, full of fragrance and texture. The downside is they are available at a reasonable price from May to Mid-June... you can get them earlier and later in the year but their per stem price can sometimes triple or worse.

White Peonies

Light Pink Peonies


Hot Pink Peonies

Coral Peonies


Red Peonies


Orchids: There are a lot of different types of orchids: cymbidiums, dendrobiums, mokaras, vandas, plus many others...they work really well out of water, by the full stem, or the individual blossom. Here are a few of our favorites we work with all summer long.

Cymbidium Orchids



Dendrobium Orchids



Mokara Orchids





Vanda Orchids are some of the most expensive orchids, so we only suggest them if you want that really purple/blue color. Definitely a splurge item here.