Our top 10 summer flowers - the floral equivalent to our summer soundtrack at Green Parlour.
We are completely spoilt at this time of year, so many gorgeous blooms available and so many delicious varieties. Although my heart lies in Spring, I have to admit my heart flutters slightly when I start to think about vases filled with delphiniums, the scent of flowering mint!
Each of the above flowers has a special place in my heart. I know there are a few marmite flowers on there, dahlias in particular seem to have a bad rep, but I cant understand how people don't fall for them in all there multicoloured glory. I'll have them over sunflowers any day of the week.
Scabious and later on in the season their gorgeous seed pod heads, are perfect for a summer wedding with a country vibe. Fill a jug with seeded grass and scabiosa for a lovely addition to your table.
Hydrangeas with their brash bold heads work perfectly in a vase on their own. I may even go as far to say that they are my favourite flower of all time. A bold statement from a florist!
I love the simplicity of the glass cylinder vase, perfect for a pretty hand tied arrangement of flowers. Everyone gets worried about arranging in vases, we can arrange a bouquet in any vase you have lying about the house. Pop one into the shop for some expert advise on what would bring your vase to life.
Whats your favourite summer flower?
xx
Nathalie and Neil tied the knot at The Aviator in Farnborough. If you haven't visited this hotel before, you must! Its absolutely stunning, with unusual views across the airfield!
Nathalie wanted to blend the formal surroundings with a more relaxed country vibe throughout the bouquets and venue flowers. I think its a look that really works, especially when the ceremony took place within a picturesque old church.
Nathalie was keen to have lots of scent in her bouquet, and we focused on the amazing scented and flowering herbs that are available throughout July, August and September. Flowering mint is a complete favourite of mine and a scent I find incredibly calming, perfect for a bridal bouquet.
After setting up our wedding flowers at The Aviator we managed to sneak a few snaps of the amazing staircase that runs over all 4 floors of the hotel. What an amazing view!
Stealing ten minutes with a coffee - a much needed aid to post-Valentine's Day recovery, and I thought I'd share a little snap shot to remind us what lies ahead... yes I mean Summer! I know, we've Spring to come in between but I'm an optimist!
In the midst of the busy-ness that engulfs Green Parlour on v-day as we refer to it 'in the trade' we had some pretty Pinks dotted throughout the shop lodged in these lovely zinc containers. I love them and just looking at them makes me happy!
Updating the chalk boards is on our 'to do' list today! Valentine's is so last season, it's Mother's Day next don't you know! Peeping it's head around the corner - Mothering Sunday falls on the 10th March this year- three weeks away tomorrow! Ahh... where does the time go!
As a treat for all my hard work this week, tomorrow I will assign the day to be spent in garden. There's nothing quite like the first day you spend in the garden. It looked positively pretty in the snow until it melted! And I feel quite inspired with all our new 'Burgeon and Ball' goodies we had delivered in to the shop, I might even buy myself some new Gardening Gloves for the occasion. ...Something about a new broom sweeping clean - does that translate into new gloves - greener fingers?? I do hope so!
Zoë first contacted us almost a year ago to start thinking about the flowers for her wedding taking place in The Black Barn, Rushall Farm. The barn is stunning, set in the middle of the Berkshire countryside with fields as far as you can see. With this stunning backdrop, we took full inspiration from the barns surroundings when designing the bridal bouquet and table centres for the wedding.
Zoë's wedding bouquet was filled with English grown roses, scented stocks, sweet peas, lisianthus and hints of scented Baby Blue eucalyptus, it certainly smelt amazing!
Collections of old glass jars filled the long banqueting tables in The Black Barn, each filled with a miniature hand-tie of flowers. Queen Anne's Lace is complimented with scented stocks, English grown roses, garden sedum, alchemilla mollis, eucalyptus, mint and agapanthus to create these wild, garden inspired wedding table centres.
The final touches involved winding ivy and fairy lights around the rustic centre pillars in the barn.
Gorgeous
Learn professional flower arranging in our summer 2011 flower schools.
We have finally announced our new season of flower schools, we are running a selection of day courses, evening courses and half day courses, designed to teach you how to arrange in the gorgeous Green Parlour style. Anyone can take part, budding amateur to professional florist wanting some fresh inspiration.
Flowers and home-made cakes are provided in abundance, as well as some gorgeous containers and all the know-how you need.
Our flower school is run from our flower shop in Pangbourne, Reading in small informal groups.
Its going to be a giggle.
This one day course gives you an insight into how to arrange the flowers we love. Suitable for all abilities, this course will teach you how to make one of our signature hand-tied bouquets, a beautiful vase display and learn how to use small vases. The price includes all flowers and containers, refreshments and cake, lunch with a glass of sparkling wine. You also receive a discount card valid for 6 months on all flower purchases and a pair of professional floristry scissors. Please book in advance as places are limited.
This half day course gives you all the knowledge to produce one of our signature hand-tied bouquets within a beautiful glass vase. We will give advice on how to combine flowers and colours to create the perfect floral arrangement. Price includes all flowers and containers, a pair of professional floristry scissors, refreshments and cake. Please book in advance as places are limited.
This evening course teaches you how to make a table centre for the home using a selection of glass vases and containers. We will give advice on how to combine flowers and colours to create the perfect floral arrangement. Price includes all flowers and containers, a pair of professional floristry scissors, a glass of sparkling wine and cake. Please book in advance as places are limited.
We are actually in love with this bridal bouquet we created this week! As much as we love roses, its so lovely to play with hedgerow texture, allowing us to create this gorgeous relaxed country bridal bouquet - designed to feel as if it has been gathered from the meadow on the way to the church. Filled to the brim with ammi majus and daucus carota, flowering clematis, scented eucalyptus and secured with an antique lace trim, this bouquet is perfect for a country inspired bride.
Miniature lace detailing on the Groom's buttonhole of flowering clematis, viburnum berries and eucalyptus ... perfect!
Large mismatched jam jars finished with antique lace detailing to match the bridal bouquet adorn the centre of the tables.
