Saturday, 31 March 2012

Our Couples - Megan and Jonathan

No other couple to date has so embraced their color theme like these two. Vibrant fuchsia pink and midnight black created a tremendous impact that perfectly reflected this couple. The bouquets and boutonnieres featured pink spotted feathers and black marabou and spider Dahlia's.

Wedding Planner: Inspired Occasions
Photographer: TLaw Photography



 Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.






Thursday, 29 March 2012

Fourth In Our Series On Color - Pink

I would never have considered myself as a pink person, I typically lean towards warm earth colors, but there is just something about a delicate soft pink flower or a bold in your face fuchsia bloom that makes me smile. It is the second most popular wedding flower color after white due to its' incredibly wide range of flower choices and bloom color. Now while there may be more pink flowers than the ones shown here, these are the one I have found to be most reliable and hardy.  One of the flowers that offers the broadest range of pink shades is the Gerbera, I show here a hot pink and a light pink, but they come in dark rich pomegranate pinks to the palest blush pinks and everything in between. The choice is incredible.  As for the other flowers some are seasonal. In the Spring  - Tulips, Hyacinth and Nerine Lilies show up, then as we move into late Spring the Peony's, Boronia and  Heather arrive. When Summer is in full bloom so are -  Aster Matsumoto, Gladiola, Veronica, Larkspur, Sedum, Astilbe and Celosia. All the other pink flowers are available year round. Because of the color choice available pink flowers can accent most any theme, soft and pretty for a vintage  look to bright and punchy for a rock and roll glam look.  Pink, Pink, Pink there is a reason it is so popular.



Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Our Couples - Candace and Ryan

This couple wanted an Eco Chic wedding that actually was very ecologically sound. All flowers and greenery used were grown in BC. Even the finishing of the bouquet which would typically have been satin ribbon was changed. We used a plant based material that had been ecologically dyed to wrap all her bouquets and to tie the men's boutonnieres together. A wedding with a conscious and done with style!



  Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.














Sunday, 25 March 2012

Third In Our Series On Color - Green

Ahh Green, there is nothing quite like it to evoke the feeling of something fresh and crisp. Green has been a rising trend and for good reason. Some of the flowers that are available in green are not available in any other color thus giving  a feeling of exclusiveness. Another great thing about the family of green flowers is the texture that is available. These different textures can help to enforce certain themes you may be considering. For example the soft and delicate Alchemillia plays up a vintage theme, while the richly textured Celosia accents an exotic marketplace vibe and the sleek lines of the Green Goddess Calla are the perfect accessory to a contemporary wedding.

Another plus for green flowers is that most are available all year long. The only exceptions are Celosia, Hanging Amaranthus, Buplerum and Alchemillia, these are only available from late Spring through to early Fall.  So think of adding a bit of green to your wedding, you will be happy that you did.



  Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Thursday, 22 March 2012

Our Couples - Katie and Sean

I love it when a Bride comes in an knows exactly what she wants!!1 Katie knew what she was looking for right down to the  number of stems of flowers . It was great! She knew the look that they were going for and had thought alot about it. The planning all came together and her bouquets suited their personality and style perfectly.

Photographer: Lime Light Photography

Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.





Monday, 19 March 2012

Second in our series on color - Purple


So last time I talked about Blue flowers and this week I will broaden that color palette and introduce some gorgeous purple flowers. In the purple family colors can range from misty pale lavender, to pinky mauve, to true royal purple to inky black and plumy purple, so creating an all purple bouquet or adding purple accents to your wedding is fairly easy to do. I have not mentioned all the purple flowers available as my focus is on sturdy flowers that can withstand a busy wedding day and still look fabulous!  Again, as with blue flowers, some of the flowers in the purple family are seasonal.  Flowers such as Anemones and Agapathus are at there best in the Spring, while Veronica, Phlox, Allium and Stocks are at their best in late Spring and early Summer. Finally the late Summer Gladiola and Echinops are stunning. While some of the above mentioned flowers are available outside of the seasons mentioned, they are at their prime during the specified season. One flower that is great in all the massed designs that we are seeing this year is the Carnation. Now, I know, Carnations seem so 1980's, but the new Moon Series variety in deep dark blacky purple is nothing short of stunning. Massed together to form a big ball or unique head table piece, they loose the old fashioned vibe and become trendy and unique. The key is grouping them together in large numbers and keeping them stmes short so you just see their gorgeous heads.  For all the purple lovers out there, embrace your color scheme and get some help from Mother Nature. 


  Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Sunday, 18 March 2012

Our Couples - Kendra and Geoff

Purple was Kendra and Geoff's color and her unique bouquet really showed it off. Her bouquet featured Moon Series blackish purple Carnations as the base, Then we added Picasso posy Callas and individually wired Mokara blooms scattered on top and threaded onto thin silver wire to create a cascading look.

Photographer: Edward Ross Photography


 Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.







Thursday, 15 March 2012

First in our new series on color - Blue

When planning a wedding there are so many choices to make and one of the hardest can be a color scheme for the wedding. But once a color scheme has been chosen then you can really get going and things will start to fall into place. Something to keep in mind is the color availability of flowers, not all flowers come in all colors and some colors are harder to find in nature than others.

Blue is one of them. For a true blue flower you are limited to a few stems, but if you broaden your scheme a bit the color palette has a few other choices. For those of us  here in Calgary the blue flowers available are shown below, however, not all are available all year long. Brodiea and Cornflower are available in the late Summer, while Hyacinth is available in the early Spring. The remaining flowers such as Hydrangea, Delphinium and Iris are available all year long but the shade of color may be slightly different depending on the season. Beware of dyed blue roses and orchids as they not only don't look natural but dye can come off on your hands or worse still on your dress if the blooms get crushed slightly or rubbed the wrong way.  Stay clear of these for your bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages. You can introduce them into your ceremony or reception pieces, but our preference is to use some of the naturally blue flowers below or punch up the blue color with fun accessories like beads, gems, pins or ribbon. So for all the Brides out there that love blue - relax, it's doable, just be a bit flexible with your florist and they can put together something stunning in blue!




 Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Our Couples - Carol and Vincent - September 10

The rich fall tones, chosen by Carol and Vincent were perfect for this early September wedding. I love how the Bridesmaids coral colored dresses were a welcome change from the typical darker toned dresses chosen for a Fall wedding and really added a bright pop of color. The bouquets of Circus and Freedom Roses were accented with Hypericum Berries and for Carol's bouquet a few blooms of White Cymbidium Orchid and orange Posy Callas.

Photographer: C Koop Photography






   Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com

Saturday, 10 March 2012

Our Couples - SueEllen and Cory

SueEllen and Cory wanted a very classic and elegant wedding and the all ivory flowers for the wedding party helped to pull this theme together. For the reception hits of purple were added for a touch of color.Vendella Roses and crystal centered Stephanotis combined to create the Brides bouquet.






Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Tuesday, 6 March 2012

Our Final Guide in Our 3 Part Series on Orchid Care - Oncidiums

This varied group of orchids includes plants from any environments, some come from hot and dry areas while other grow in less severe conditions.

LIGHT

Most Oncidium thrive with one to several hours of sunlight a day. Generally thicker leaved plants can stand more light. In the home, east, shaded south and east windows are ideal.

TEMPERATURE

Temperatures for Oncididum should usually be 55-60F at night and range from 80 -85F or more during the day. Although higher temperatures force faster vegetative growth, higher humidity and air movement must accompany higher temperatures, the recommended maximum being 100F.

WATER

Generally plants with large fleshy roots and/or leaves need less frequent watering than thin leaved and/or rooted plants.  Plants should be thoroughly watered and not watered again until nearly dry through the pot. In the heat of summer in a dry climate like Calgary, this may be every few days and in the winter here, it may even be every 10 days. Also the type of potting media will determine the frequency of watering. Pots with moss generally take longer to dry out than plants potted in bark. Water only in the morning so the leaves are dry by nightfall to avoid rot from occurring on the leaves.

HUMIDITY

Oncidium require humidity between 30-60%. In the home, set the plants on trays of gravel, partially filled with water so that the pot never sits in water or have a humidifier in the room. Mist the plant in dry climates or during dry weather in the morning only. Misting is not required for fleshy leaved types.

FERTILIZER

Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen (grow fertilizer) from about March to September and a fertilizer high in phosphorus (bloom fertilizer) the rest of the year. When in active growth plants need fertilizer every 2 weeks and when not growing, once a month. Thorough flushing with clear water every month is recommended to prevent build-up of fertilizer salts.

POTTING
This is best done in the Spring after blooming.  Potting is usually done every 1 – 3 years. Mature plants can grow in the same pot until the potting medium starts to decompose, usually in 2 years. Root rot occurs if plants are left in a soggy medium. A fine grade potting medium is usually used for fine rooted plants and coarser mixes with large rooted plants. To re-pot, remove the entire old medium from the roots, trim soft/rotted roots and spread the remaining roots over a cone shape of medium in the bottom if a new pot. Fill the rest of the pot with medium, working it through the roots, so that the junction of the roots and the stem is at the top of the medium. Keep plant shaded and humid , but drier in the pot, for several weeks, to promote new root growth.


  Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.

Sunday, 4 March 2012

Paphiopedilum - Care Instructions - Second in our series on Orchid Care

Paphiopedilum, or slipper orchids, originate from the jungles of the Far East and Indonesia. They are semi-terrestrial, growing in humus and other material on the forest floor, on cliffs in pockets and occasionally in trees.

LIGHT

Most Paphiopedilum prefer shady conditions. In the home, east, shaded south and east windows are ideal.

TEMPERATURE

Temperatures of the Paphiopedilum vary considerably, but most are separated by the warm growing mottled leaf group and the cool growing green leaf types. Warm types prefer 60-65F at night and 75-80F or more during in the day, cool types prefer 50-60F at night and 75-80Fduring the day.  Although higher temperatures force faster vegetative growth, higher humidity and air movement must accompany higher temperatures, the recommended maximum being 100F

WATER

Water must be available to the roots constantly, since they have no pseudbulbs, and therefore store most of their water in their leaves. They need a moist medium – never soggy, but never dry either. Water once or twice a week and water only in the morning so the leaves are dry by nightfall to avoid rot from occurring on the leaves.

HUMIDITY

Paphiopedilum require humidity between 40-50%. In the home, set the plants on trays of gravel, partially filled with water so that the pot never sits in water or have a humidifier in the room. Mist the plant in dry climates or during dry weather in the morning only.

FERTILIZER

Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen (grow fertilizer) from about March to September and a fertilizer high in phosphorus (bloom fertilizer) the rest of the year. When in active growth plants need fertilizer every 2 weeks and when not growing, once a month. Thorough flushing with clear water every month is recommended to prevent build-up of fertilizer salts.

POTTING

This is best done in the Spring after blooming.  Potting is usually done every 1 – 3 years. Mature plants can grow in the same pot until the potting medium starts to decompose, usually in 2 years. Root rot occurs if plants are left in a soggy medium. A fine grade potting medium is usually used for fine rooted plants and coarser mixes with large rooted plants. To re-pot, remove the entire old medium from the roots, trim soft/rotted roots and spread the remaining roots over a handful of medium in the bottom if a new pot. Fill the rest of the pot with medium, working it through the roots, so that the junction of the roots and the stem is buried ½” in the center of the pot. Keep plant shaded and humid, but drier in the pot, for several weeks, to promote new root growth.  Do not over pot the average plant should have a 4-6” pot.




 Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com

Friday, 2 March 2012

Phalaenopsis Orchids Care - First in a series about Orchid care

Phalaenopsis, the moth orchid, is one of the best orchids for growing in the home and is also a favourite with greenhouse growers. Well-grown plants will flower for up to 6months!

LIGHT

Is easy to provide for Phalaenopsis, they grow easily in a bright window with little or no direct sun. An east window is ideal in the home; shaded south facing or west window are acceptable.

TEMPERATURE

Temperatures for Phalaenopsis should usually be above 60F at night and range from 70 -85F or more during the day. Although higher temperatures force faster vegetative growth, higher humidity and air movement must accompany higher temperatures, the recommended maximum being 95F. Night temperatures to 55F are desirable for several weeks in the fall in order to initiate flower spikes. Extreme fluctuating temperatures can cause buds to drop.

WATER

This is especially critical for Phalaenopsis, because they have no major water storing organs other than their leaves, they must never completely dry out. Plants should be thoroughly watered and not watered again until nearly dry through the pot. In the heat of summer in a dry climate like Calgary, this may be every few days and in the winter here, it may even be every 10 days. Also the type of potting media will determine the frequency of watering. Pots with moss generally take longer to dry out than plants potted in bark. Water only in the morning so the leaves are dry by nightfall to avoid rot from occurring on the leaves.

HUMIDITY

This is important to the Phalaenopsis the recommended humidity is 50-80%. In the home, set the plants on trays of gravel, partially filled with water so that the pot never sits in water or have a humidifier in the room. Mist the plant in dry climates or during dry weather in the morning only.

FERTILIZER

Use a fertilizer high in nitrogen (grow fertilizer) from about March to September and a fertilizer high in phosphorus (bloom fertilizer) the rest of the year. When in active growth plants need fertilizer every 2 weeks and when not growing, once a month. Thorough flushing with clear water every month is recommended to prevent build-up of fertilizer salts.

POTTING

This is best done in the Spring after blooming.  Potting is usually done every 1 – 3 years. Mature plants can grow in the same pot until the potting medium starts to decompose, usually in 2 years. Root rot occurs if plants are left in a soggy medium. To re-pot, remove the entire old medium from the roots, trim soft/rotted roots and spread the remaining roots over a handful of medium in the bottom if a new pot. Fill the rest of the pot with medium, working it through the roots, so that the junction of the roots and the stem is at the top of the medium. Keep plant shaded and humid, but drier in the pot, for several weeks, to promote new root growth.


 Blog created by Modern Petals - Your local Calgary Florist. We specialize in unique and creative everyday and wedding floral design. Check out our site at www.modernpetals.com.