Spring's Beauties

A fully opened Ranunculus.  I could look at this beautiful flower all day.

Pink Charming Unique Roses, pink Hyacinths and pink & white Majolika Spray Roses.

The tulip Magnolia that grows in our patio area.  Nature's perfection.

Spring Weddings

Yesterday we had our first outdoor wedding of the season at Regent's Glen in York.  It's a beautiful formal garden setting with a reflecting pond in the center.  It was a gloomy day and threatened rain at ceremony time, but Michelle and Robby seemed so happy and stress-free, as though the weather really didn't matter-they were getting married! 

 The colors of the day were black, white and chartruese.

The bride's bouquet was white Freesia, white Tulips and white Lisianthus. A heavenly fragrance.

 Bridesmaids wore beautiful black dresses and carried chartruese bouquets of

                                          Green Tea Roses and mini green Hydrangea.

Centerpieces in black tulip vases with white Hydrangea, green Spider Mums and green Athos poms.

                             Green paper lanterns were strung like pearls and hung from the tent ceiling.

Head table centerpiece with Bells of Ireland, Hydrangea, Freesia, Tulips, Poms and varigated Lily Grass and Aspidestra.

                                                     Wheat Grass for the Escort Cards

Freesia and Lilies of the Valley from my own garden.

Love these Free Spirit Roses with pink Ranunculus, yellow Tulips and white Freesia.

Next week:  Hershey Country Club.

Don't Eat This Easter Egg!

 Can you believe the couple from this week's wedding told me to give away all their reception flowers?   So friends and neighbors will have beautiful flowers on their Easter dinner tables. What can I do with all the fragrant light pink Hyacinths?......hmmm.....Here's what I came up with.  Smells delicious -without the fat or calories.
                                                       Have a Happy, Hope-full Easter.

Design Show Favorites

To flower lovers this is breathtaking!  At first glance I thought it was a Begonia. With a  closer look I knew it was a Hydrangea. It's a' Japanese' Hydrangea. Yes, they're really grown in Japan and shipped to the US.  They're only available for about two weeks a year and are very, very expensive; but if I were a bride again I would have to have at least one of them in my bouquet.

                                         .........and some of these Helleborus

                                                 and a few of these gorgeous Dutch Peonies

                                                       and definitely these Coral Double Tulips

                                                                  some of these  Lisianthus

                                                      and lots of purple Fringed Tulips

                                          a few more of these Coral Double Tulips- they're just so amazing,

         Oh my! It might just end up as big as this bride's bouquet ~  I wouldn't be able to carry it!  Good thing I'm already married :). 
                                Wedding season is about to begin.  Happy Easter everyone!

Longing for Spring

Will it ever come?  Little signs of spring are in my garden, but it sure doesn't feel like it.  Hyacinths, Peonies and Hellebores are peeking up through the dirt.  I am sooo ready for the yard work; that's how weary of winter I feel!  I decided to take a short break from writing proposals and look through my files of flower pictures to make myself happy on this rainy, cold day.  Here are a few from the past that I've been saving for such a time as this.

 A floral pot-pourri ...................

Photo by Brooke Courtney Photography

So I spent a day cleaning, organizing, ordering supplies and anticipating the new wedding season.  Even though I was cleaning I was in my happy place back in the flower shop.  I'm looking forward to a design show this weekend in NJ where my need for a flower- fix will be fulfilled until my first spring wedding.

Flowers for Showers

The Baby Shower Theme for Lindsay was Rubber Duckies. Of course we needed flowers for the centerpiece at the buffet, so I sculpted floral foam to make a duck using yellow Cushion Poms.  The duckie's beak was made of craft store foam sun visors. This little duckie sat in a baby swimming pool filled with ice, party food and drinks.

Amy's Baby Shower Theme was 'Puppies'. I used floral foam iglus and sculpted foam.

  White cushion poms, ribbon, button eyes and a pacifier make up this little pup.  One for each table, for take home game prizes. Now that's a lot of flower puppies!

Jessie was given a few bridal showers; one of which was a 'Lingerie' Shower.  So again I sculpted a few pieces of floral foam to create a bustier.  It's made of Roses, Spray Roses, Button Poms, Mini Carnations and Hydrangeas.

                                                 These cute  invitations were handmade by Amy. 

  At another bridal shower for Jessie I set up  a 'Flower Bar'.  Somewhat like a Candy Bar at a wedding.
  A beautiful table full of a large variety of vases filled with all kinds and colors of flowers.  We gave each guest a flower sleeve and said " Now make yourself a beautiful bouquet to take home with you".  That was a huge hit!  Everyone's bouquet looked a little different.  They loved making their own take -away gift!
 
Now we have another very important shower to plan.........Jessie's Baby Shower!  She and Doug are expecting their first son in July.  Three daughters giving us three grandsons..... Yahoooooooo!
                    So now I need to come up with another idea!  I will post the details later.........
WEDDING SEASON WILL SOON BEGIN AND WE'RE GETTIN' READY! Bring it On!

Wedding of the Year 2010

This is Katie and Jason.  Aren't they adorable?

This is Katie and Jason's cake topper.

Can you believe this is made of paper??

Here are close- ups.

The details of the wedding are even at the base of this incredible cake top.
The artist is Katie's bridesmaid.  Her name is Alissa Johnson.
Contact information:  alissa.johnson@gmail.com
Please email her and tell what an incredible piece of wedding art she has made!!
She may even make one for you!

The vintage books, mason jars, crocks and such that decorated the guest tables...........

Jason's Boutt.

Katie's Bouquet

Bridesmaids bouquets

The beautiful photography is by Wren and Field Photography  This picture is my very favorite!

This beautiful bride, Katie McMenamin, from Philadelphia is a talented wedding photographer herself. 

 Her wedding, engagement and kid's photography is so beautiful too!

Please check out these websites and blog- it will surely make you smile.

Some of the  images were posted earlier and were taken by my daughter Jessie.  Just a little re-cap so you can see why this wedding is my choice for " Wedding of the Year".  It's the personal little touches that were so lovingly handmade by her family and friends.  It was Katie and Jason's personalities that I enjoyed so much, and of course the seriously remarkable cake topper that has completely blown me away! 

To all the wonderful couples that we have done wedding flowers for in 2010,
 I must say that each of you hold a special place in my heart, and I loved doing each one of your weddings.
                                       Thank you, thank you for one terrific wedding season!
  Now on to a New Year and we're really getting excited for what we will be doing for all the couples we've  met, and are yet to meet.  I hope my blog inspires you!