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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2006 19:54:49 GMT
An old workmate of mine (not for the first time) is going legal... On the scant evidence of our garden and my apparent keenness, she has asked if I could produce the flowers for the venue (yet to be decided) for the reception.
I have only ever grown sunflowers for "cut" flowers.
I could pore over my books for hours and still come to no serious conclusion - can any of you suggest some reliable varieties that I can raise from seed by the armful ready for next July or August (assuming she doesn't meet someone else in the meantime)?
DD.
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Post by isabella on Dec 1, 2006 20:16:20 GMT
Flowers that come to mind include Cosmos Larkspur Cornflowers Asters Zinnias Rudbeckias Tall growing Ageratum Heliotrope And Alchemilla mollis would be useful,too. The best plan would be to go for an English country garden feel to your arrangements where you could use whatever looked good on the day I am sure you will get loads more suggestions - I will keep thinking  Best Wishes Pam |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2006 15:36:37 GMT
"an English country garden feel" - I like the sound of that and could convince myself it's possible... thanks, I'll get to a GC during the week and start looking for seeds. Do all those listed happily become "vase material"? My knowledge of flowers is so lacking, but I know some just wilt as soon as they're cut...
DD
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Post by isabella on Dec 3, 2006 16:01:01 GMT
Of the list I gave
Cosmos,Larkspur and Cornflowers are Annuals and can be sown direct into the soil
Asters,Zinnias,Rudbeckias,Ageratum and Heliotrope are Half hardy annuals and should be sown under glass and planted out when the danger of frost has passed
Alchemilla is a Perennial and will come up year after year
I don't want to put a damper on your plans but exactly how many flowers are you being expected to produce? Will it be a very informal occasion?
It could be a little bit stressful trying to time everything to have lots of flowers ready on the day that you need them.
All the flowers mentioned are good for cutting.
Just had another thought - Sweet Peas!!
Best wishes Pam
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Post by 4pygmies on Dec 3, 2006 16:14:55 GMT
Good luck! As Isabella says the timing will be tricky. Maybe you could start by sowing some of the hardy annuals now in trays (so you know which is which). To get enough things flowering by July you'll have to grow quite a lot of each and successionally sow to make sure. Have you got much space Dillodaff? I did the same thing but with a much reduced list of flowers several years ago. To stop worrying about it, once they'd all germinated and were growing well in trays I handed them over to the bride so she had all the responsibilty of growing them on. Made me feel much better!
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Post by isabella on Dec 3, 2006 16:27:28 GMT
Whenever I do Wedding Flowers I always buy the basic flowers from a good supplier and then add whatever looks good on the day from my garden and a local garden centre that stocks a good range of flowers! Not quite so nerve-racking! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2006 11:01:57 GMT
4pigs/Isabella, thanks for the suggestions - I am lumbered: a) 'friend' lives in a flat and can't grow stuff, b) due to misplaced faith and a reasonably tidy garden, I am credited with being able to
- but the idea of bulking out my efforts with shop bought ones is reassuring...
DD
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