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Flowers 101
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Flowers 101: Ranunculus
Ranunculus may be my favorite cut flowers of all time. In looks, they remind me of a cross between a poppy and a rose, but with a longer vase-life than the former and less pretension than the latter. These bulb perennials have bright yellow, red, orange, or white flowers (if white, they will have a yellow center).
Flowers 101: Alstroemeria
I love the gracefully awkward name of the alstroemeria flower, which is named after a Swedish baron named Clas Alströmer. This variety is one of my favorites to decorate with because of its long vase life. Buy a bunch when the buds are closed, and the blooms stay looking lovely for weeks.
Flowers 101: Lavender
The other day my sister told me how she had been to a wine tasting and they were giving away free bunches of lavender. I was incredibly jealous because 1) I didn't partake in the wine tasting and 2) I didn't have a fragrant bouquet of lavender in my room. Lavender or lavandula as it's scientifically known, is considered to be one of the most versatile flowers in the world and is used in everything from foods to medicines to aromatic/essential oils.
Flowers 101: Poppies
The scientific name Papaver, which translates to food or milk in Latin, refers to the milky fluid of the flower's pods. There are 120 species that belong to the Poppy family in a variety of vibrant shades like red, yellow and orange. They bloom in large numbers during summer, and prefer moist soil.
Flowers 101: Snapdragons
I've been eying the pretty blooms of snapdragons (scientific name of Antirrhinum) at all of the Farmer's Market flower booths. Native to the Mediterranean, the common name is taken from the fact that the flower's head resembles the face of a dragon snapping its jaw open and closed. There are a variety of species and the garden plant can grow in many colors.
Flowers 101: Delphinium
Pronounced del-FINNY-um, this flower derives its name from the dolphin shaped buds and is more commonly know as larkspur. Originally from China, there are now over 250 different species found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and the mountains of Africa. The flowers have five petals which grow together to form a hollow flower with a spur at the end.
Flowers 101: Stephanotis
Pronounced stef-an-O-tis, this pretty white bloom is more commonly known as Madagascar jasmine, a name derived from its origin of Madagascar. The trumpet shaped blossoms are traditional flowers for brides because the flower is the symbol for marital happiness. Stephanotis grows on long trailing stems that have dark green, leathery oval shaped leaves.
Flowers 101: Hydrangeas
I'm a huge fan of Barefoot Contessa and this week I thought I would feature her favorite flower - one she grows in her garden and uses frequently in her simple centerpieces and awesome arrangements - hydrangeas. There are over 70 species of hydrangeas and the flowers bloom from early spring to late autumn. They grow on shrubs in light shade/filtered sun and in moist soil.
Flowers 101: Calla Lily
Since so many of you expressed your unabashed love for calla lilies I thought it would be a fantastic flower to feature as the flower of the week. A very versatile flower, the calla lily is scientifically known as zantedeschia - a genus of 28 floral species native to South Africa that derives its name from a 19th century Italian botanist named Giovanni Zantedeschi. It consists of a funnel shape colored leaf that surrounds tiny flowers.Fabulous Floramor
I recently had a chance to sit down and talk to one of San Francisco's top floral designers, Laura Little of Floramor Studios, about flowers, weddings, and upcoming trends. Laura has a rich passion for the beauty of nature and a grand respect for fine arts that is reflected in all of her arrangements. Established in 1984, Laura and her team have been working with brides non-stop for the past 22 years and have orchestrated the design concept for over 3000 events.
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