Summer Bouquets

Ah, the colors!  Soft pastels of spring are transforming into summer's brighter hues.  One of the things I love most about working with flowers from the gardens is they are always changing. Lilies are a staple of the Butternut Gardens flowers throughout the growing season, but I mix things up by growing different colors and types from March to October.  This golden yellow sure sparkles with some of our early summer beauties.  

Here we see a wonderful double white shasta daisy, along with bright pink dianthus and the beautiful deep purple drumstick allium nestled against the lily. Peachy yarrow, stock and snapdragon add filler and spiky accents respectively, while several of the early zinnias lend a nice accent. 

Here's another view.

Can't you just imagine all those bright green lily buds popping open!

The snapdragon variety in the foreground is called 'Apple blossom.' A real winner with its perfect white and pink bicolor florets!

One of the best parts of early summer is being able to combine some of the best of the late spring pastels, like the feathery soft pink astilbe in this one, with the magnificent summer flowers such as this soft, periwinkle blue ageratum and this stunning green-eyed Black-eyed Susan, called 'Prairie Sun.'  This year seems to be a particularly good year for both.  

In this close-up you can also spot the bright pink dianthus and the peachy yarrow again. The Ageratum will continue to bloom its heart out well past summer, all the way to frost.  Oh the bouquets it will make! At the end of the season, I'll give you the numbers on how many cuts I got.  For now, I am just trying to keep up!

Lovely summer colors at the Farmers' Market.

So, what do you think of this lineup at the New Canaan, CT Farmers' Market?

It is such fun seeing all the colors of the seasonally-changing bouquets en masse.  

Boy, do I feel spoiled getting to play with all these beauties every day.  

Hard work?  Of course!

So, these seem to be perfect flowers for mason jars and weddings looking for summer elegance on the farm tables.

I thought you might like to see "splendor in the grass" with these lovelies.  So fun to have a few of those striking blue delphinium to add a spark here and there.

And I bet you would love to join the party when they hit the table.

Mason jars full of gorgeous blossoms look great on burlap or on linens with burlap runners.

Setting up for an outdoor rustic chic summer event.  These beauties add such a perfect touch.  

Colorful.

Beautiful.

Distinctly interesting.

So many different blossoms to catch your interest while you are dining and conversing.

A Wedding with Coral Peonies and Sherbet Palette

Coral peonies, vibrant tulips, and soft astilbe make a smashing bouquet.

One of the first questions Danya asked was, "Do you grow coral peonies?'

Coral was going to be her color. Then, coral metamorphosed into sherbet colors, and, wow, what a fabulous combination it became.  

Nearly a year later, coral and sherbet were absolutely smashing.  

Pew flowers add a beautiful touch.

Congratulations Danya and Steve. I loved working with you and your families, watching your wedding plans evolve into a lovely ceremony at Greens Farms Congregational Church and a heavenly reception in your Westport home. Every detail was driven by love for a very happy occasion.

Pew flowers graced several of the pew ends along the church's two aisles. Yes, two aisles.  It is quite an interesting and beautiful church. The church grounds are absolutely stunning as well.

From the start, the big question was, "How will coral blend (or not blend) with the red fabric seating and carpeting?"

I'd say it worked quite nicely!

Two aisles, of course, necessitated two matching altar pieces.

Both lovely.

Flowers arriving at a reception create such an overwhelming and awesome blossom of color!

Wow!

Here are Danya's and Steve's flowers making their grand entrance. 

Mercury pedestal vases and mercury juleps were an awesome combination.

Just love the elegance of mercury glass! Did anyone say, "Sherbet?" Yum.

Mercury glass pedestal vases looked great.

Can't imagine anything nicer than working with all of these amazingly beautiful blooms. 

And, did I tell you, stock has the most amazing fragrance?

Mercury glass juleps paired wonderfully with the pedestal vases.

A lovely setting for a late May wedding.

Now, the finished look. Gorgeous with a beautiful, delicate, white runner gracing the farm tables, and light linens atop the round tables. 

Couldn't have been nicer.

Here's a look at a pedestal on the round tables from overhead.

Love the choice of table runners and linens.

If I were the bride, this is where I would like to sit!

Of course, the groom would have to sit very close by!

Every wedding is so personal and unique. When people say, " It is your special day," there is great truth in the words.  

Do flowers make the cake?

New to me was working flowers into a "deconstructed" cake - three separated layers and using 'cake vases" on each of the cakes.  Thank you, Danya, for introducing me to something new.  Instead of inserting flowers directly into the cakes, or into frosting on the cakes, a cake vase sits atop the cake and one inserts flowers into the plastic vase.  

This is actually the smallest of the cakes, and the cake vase certainly allowed for a wonderful display of blossoms and color.

At the end of the day, I must say, I loved sitting in the kitchen and talking flowers with out-of-town family members while putting the flowers on the cakes.  I loved creating a floral wreath for the little one in the family. I loved working coral peonies into an awesome sherbet palette. 

Congratulations Danya and Steve. A beautiful wedding it was! I thoroughly enjoyed working with you and your families. Love always!

Spring Weddings....sigh

Peonies, of course, are superstars in spring weddings. Stock and Iris make them shine. Congratulations to Lis and Russell. Thanks for trusting me with your flowers on your special day at Fox Hill Inn.  I sure had fun putting them all together!

Photo Mike Evans of CT Photo Group

Loved the simple elegance of the bridal bouquet, with long string of pearls.  

Photo Mike Evans of CT Photo Group

Attendants carried posies individualized for the amazingly beautiful hues of each gown.

Photo Mike Evans of CT Photo Group

Two rows of shepherds hooks framed the ceremony. Soft pink peonies, lavender, cream, and pink stock, and lovely purple iris shined.

A very dear way to showcase the ceremony, which took place in front of Fox Hill Inn's dramatic fountain. Rose petals lined the outdoor aisle.

Photo Mike Evans of CT Photo Group

A wrought iron urn graced with peonies welcomed guest into the Inn. Feathery Astilbe added a dreamy softness.

Curly willow branches leant their artistic magic. Dusty rose petals and votives graced the mosaic table.

Dining tables also showcased the lovely spring palette of dusty rose, heavenly pink, irresistible lavender and soft creamy yellow.

Centerpieces in mercury glass pedestal vases were spectacular to create.

Lily of the Valley offered a fragrant finishing touch.

Loved the wine bottles the bridal party used for numbering the tables.

All in all a very nice evening for a wonderful couple and their families and friends.

Thanks to Lis and Peggie, for sharing a lovely cup of tea together and making floral planning such a fun, exciting, and pleasant experience.  Thanks also to Patty Finnigan, General Manager of Fox Hill Inn and to Ewa Ojarovska, Event and Hospitality Consultant extraordinaire of Epicurean Worldwide. Love your photos, Mike Evans, of CT Photo Group.