Seasonality Series: Choosing a wedding date with particular flowers in mind
Engagement season is around the corner! If you’re recently engaged and have your heart set on having some specialty blooms, then you’re in the right place! Today on the blog I’ll be talking all about your favourite heirloom or specialty blooms and when Southern Ontario brides can expect to see them available. If you are a flower lover or you’ve always dreamed of having a particular heirloom bloom in memory of your grandmother, then thinking about flower seasonality might be an important factor for you to consider when choosing a date so read on below!
Amaryllis: November, December, January. I have super fond memories of amaryllis from my childhood. For many people amaryllis remind them of the holiday season but honestly, they come in more colours than Santa Red (white, mint green, coraly-orange, watermelon pink, deep burgundy, white and peachy-pink swirls…). They are large, gorgeous, trumpet shaped blooms with petals that have an iridescent shimmer. Swoon!
Peonies: November, December, January, May, June. Peonies are the ultimate romantic flower. In Southern Ontario they come into season in May and June but because of the globalized floral trade (What the heck is seasonality?) we can also take advantage of the southern hemisphere’s spring peonies. Three cheers for peonies in winter!!
Poppies: January to April. Poppies make my heart flutter. I can’t help but think of a new butterfly emerging from its chrysalis as their wrinkled petals emerge from the fuzzy green bud. The soft peach and corals, the bright and cheerful orange and reds are unparalleled.
Hellebore: January-March, August-October. Another favourite of mine, they are nicknamed Christmas Rose because they bloom with snow still on the ground. They come in muted to brighter greens, pinks, mauves and bring a delicate, earthy quality to any arrangement.
Magnolia: February-April. Spring! Magnolias have always signaled spring on the horizon. The large, formal blooms come in ivory or shades of pink with tinges of mauve. When they start to open in our Southern Ontario gardens it will be an instant reminder of your wedding day.
Spirea: March-beginning of June. Spirea is a gracefully arching blooming branch hung with clusters of tiny white blooms. They add a fairy-like quality to any arrangement lucky enough to receive them. An flower-friend of mine dreamt of doing an all-spirea wedding. I hope she makes that dream come true because it would be truly magical.
Lilac: April-May. In white, pink and shades of purple, lilac fills the air with sweetness so intoxicating it brings nostalgia for the warm days and cool nights of spring. I think this is why I always think of lilac as an old lady favourite – it turns us all into little old ladies who can’t help but reminisce about life’s most romantic moments.
Lily of the Valley: Mid-May to Mid-June. This too falls into the old lady favourite category for me. Sweet, petite and fleeting, these tiny, white, bell-shaped flowers are beyond precious. I have multiple patches of lily of the valley in my garden and would love to cut them for the right bride.
Japanese Anemone: September. Fall blooming Japanese anemones in pinks and whites are delicate and whimsical. I love them. So. Much. Since their season is *so* short it really is about enjoying them when you can. Truly a Buddhist meditation in flower form.
Dahlia: August to mid-October. Dahlias come in so many colours and vary in shape from tight round balls to water-lily-like blooms. These grow and bloom like crazy here in Southern Ontario and are a fall staple for me.
Pieris: August-October. Pieris is another childhood favourite of mine. This blooming branch has hanging clusters of bell-shaped white blooms that look quite a lot like little posies of lily of the valley. The bouncy texture of the blooms and deep green foliage is amazing in bouquets.
Finally, as a quick aside: If you’re getting engaged I fully support you popping the bubbly, blatantly gazing at your new token of commitment (blingy or not!) and revelling in this new and exciting stage of your relationship. I know you’ll likely have a slew of relatives and friends who are eager to find out if you’ve “set a date yet”. So please, don’t feel pressured to make a call on that until you’ve really gotten to bliss-out on your engagement!
Check back in for the next blog in the Seasonality Series for a more in depth discussion about locally grown flowers.