Flower School: Angelique Tulip

Angelique tulips are the perfect peony alternative!  

In a bouquet or arrangement they look so similar 

and they are much less expensive!  They are fragrant 

and fluffy just like peonies.

I've seen them come in soft pink and salmon pink.  

And they are just as pretty in real life!

You can learn more about them here & here.

{ Longfield Gardens    Pallen Smith    The French Tangerine }

Flower School: Orange Blossom

One of my favorite spring time flowers is Orange Blossom.  

It smells so sweet and citrusy.  I love it's small white blossoms 

and tiny green leaves.  It always looks so amazing 

sitting tall in a vase in my living room.

Orange Blossom represents good fortune so they 

tend to be a popular wedding flower.  They were used in abundance 

during the Victorian era in bridal crowns and bouquets.  

You can learn more here.

xo

{  mowielicious   Jenna Bechtholt   Lewis Miller Design   Lane Dittoe  }

Flower School: Winter Sage

 I love sage.  It makes a beautiful and aromatic fill 

to any bouquet, centerpiece, and wreath.

You can purchase Sage here.

{  1 Brides   2 Robins Nest   3 Smitten on Paper  }

Flower School: Holly Berry

Holly berries add that perfect pop of red to a classic winter wedding bouquet.  

They also make for beautiful centerpiece additions and cake decor.  

Holly is available year round and has a vase life of around eight days.

You can learn more here.

You can purchase holly berries here.

Happy Wednesday.

{   1.   2.   3.   4.   }

Flower School: Calamondin

This would be the perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece.  

The little oranges called Calamondin grow on trees 

and can be grown even in Washington.  The fruit is mostly 

used for aesthetics but it can be used in cakes and marmalades as well.  

Also in this bouquet: fringed tulips, ranunculus, roses, and sweet peas. 

{photos and floral found on McKenzie Powell}

Flower School: Hops

Hops have a near and dear place in my heart.  

My husband is a brewer at a local craft brewery in Seattle  

and the smell of hops will always remind me of my husband coming home 

from work in our first year of marriage.
We also incorporated hops into our own wedding.  

Hop season in Washington starts in mid-August and goes through September.  

Hops grow on vines best in moist climates.  

Their prime harvest is at the end of summer here in Washington.  

You can learn more about hops here.

Below are some of my favorite hop ideas (aside from beer).

This gorgeous hop arch.  So romantic!

I would love to find some hop vines and make this incredible wreath.

Pretty hop vine draped reception chandeliers

This and This are gorgeous bouquets with hops

You can purchase hops here

{Photos from Bohemian Bouquets & Ruffled}

Flower School: Leucadendron (Blushing Bride)

 

Leucadendron are such beautiful flowers for such a weird name.  

They also go by Blushing Bride.  They are eye catching and romantic.  

Leucadendron are related to Proteas which are full of color and can be huge!  

But we'll give Proteas their own post sometime soon.

{Photo Credit: Coriander Girl & United with Love}

Flower Class: Viburnum Berries

Today I want to share with you one of my favorite bouquet fills: Viburnum Berries.

The berries above add a touch of blue or purple and they help add a little depth and texture.

But they aren't always purple or blue because there are 150 different kinds of Viburnum Berries!

The purplish blue buds above grow in the Fall and can be found all over North America.

- This cozy Portland wedding is gorgeous and used lots of berries

- Beautiful coral colored berries

- Red & Orange Berries

- Green & Red (but not like Christmas) Berries

{Photos Above: 100 Layer Cake & Growing the Home Garden}

Flower School: Magnolia

One love that I have in life is for floral design.  If I could I would spend all day arranging and playing with flowers, texture, and color.  One type of post you will see often on ALP will be called Flower Lesson.  In these posts I will teach about a new kind of flower, type of design, or simply an arrangement that is just plain beautiful.

Today, lets talk Magnolias.  They are one of my favorite flowers.  They can make a statement whether you use the flower or the leaves or both.  Magnolias are in season during the Spring and Summer months.  They are most easily found in the South growing on trees.  They look gorgeous in a bouquet, or as a stand alone flower.

More Magnolia inspiration here, here, and here.

{photo by Lene Photography}