Hi flower lovers,
I'm late with what was supposed to be last week's #APRflowerEd BUT it'll mean you get two this week! :) We're in week 9 apparently of lockdown. I thought it was week 8 but each week rolls into the other now. I want to laugh and cry at the same time haha. Anyway, enough about me.
We really do have some beautiful flowers in Winter! I'm starting to grow some of my own flowers and it has been half successful and half a learning curve ~ all a learning experience however. I've been sharing on my Insta stories some of my Rodanthe that I've successfully grown from seed. I've read that you can potentially grow them almost any time of the year and so I'm going to give it ago, but otherwise I'll have to stick to Autumn sowing, which is when I started.
You can tap on the image below or click the link here to watch my YouTube viddy. You can also keep scrolling to read a little bit about Magnolia, Pansies, Blushing Bride, Berzelia and Phylica.
What flowers are in season?
Magnolia
You may be seeing them blossom in your own backyard or in your neighbourhood. There are many different species, each with a distinctive look. They can also be used as a cut flower and are particularly beautiful in gift bouquets and vase arrangements because of their wild shapes and negative space.
Pansy
All Pansies are Violas, but not all Violas are Pansies. A good rule of thumb, although I'm not sure if this works for every Pansy/Viola, but four petals pointing upward and one pointing down is a Pansy; three petals pointing down and two pointing up are Violas. Rare to see as a cut flower at our markets but you can definitely use them for smaller designs and even for table arrangements in its potted plant form. Floret flower has successfully grown longer stemmed Pansies and Violas and they are stunning! It's a great for pressing and you have so many colours to choose from.
Blushing Bride
A South African beauty related to Proteas. When they open, they have a similar fluffy centre to Proteas. They also have a long vase life of about 2 weeks and can be dried. They're excellent in any arrangement and design but particularly if you're after that wildflower or native look. The colours are whites and pinks.
Berzelia
Another South African gem, which is a really interesting and unique shrub with lots of round bulbs on a stem. They definitely add interest to designs because of the way they look. They also have a an excellent vase life—between 2-3 weeks—and can be dried. You can use the stems individually and also wire bits for things like buttonholes.
Phylica
A beautiful South African foliage (that flowers in Spring) with an excellent vase life of between 10-14 days. It's a favourite of mine to dry and use in my everlasting arrangements. But it's also a little on the expensive side for what you get. So use it with caution haha. They're great in any design including for weddings and gift bouquets, especially if you're trying to achieve that wildflower/native look.
Thank you to all of those who've been spreading love and using my little business to do that. I'm still doing contactless deliveries and wearing a mask. Big love to you all.
xo rose