hoop bouquet

Definition:

The flower hoop bridal bouquet makes an impact without using a large amount of flowers. The florist makes this wedding flower arrangement by attaching flowers and greenery to a hoop or wreath with wire, and finishing the piece with ribbons.

The flower hoop bridal bouquet is an arrangement that suggests movement and flow, and is well suited to garden or beach weddings. Brides that choose the hoop bridal bouquet style usually wear wedding gowns with simple lines and spare embellishments.

A fun way to coordinate a flower hoop bridal bouquet with the bridesmaids’ flowers is to create smaller versions of the bridal bouquet for the bridesmaids to wear as floral hair crowns.

botrytis

Botrytis blight is a cruel disease for flower gardeners, because it strikes garden plants in their prime, destroying blossoms just as they are ready to open. Botrytis, also called grey mold, is a fungal disease, and gardeners can recognize it when they see these symptoms in plants:

Spotting or discoloration on leavesWilting or decaying leaves and shootsLeaf dropFuzzy grayish brown growth on flowers and foliageFlower buds that fail to openRotting flower buds

Botrytis thrives in high humidity and cool weather, so gardeners will see signs of grey mold most often in spring.

In the outdoor flower garden, peonies and roses are the most likely plants to show signs of botrytis. In the greenhouse, several flowers are susceptible to this fungus, especially:

Sulfur powders and sprays are effective at controlling fungal diseases like botrytis in the flower garden. Apply sprays early in the morning or evening to avoid harming bees or beneficial insects.

A less common, but very effective organic treatment against foliar diseases in the flower garden is the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, sold under the trade name Serenade. Many gardeners report that they like the fragrance of this spray compared to other organic or conventional fungicide sprays.

When you notice the first signs of botrytis in the flower garden, get out the clippers. Remove all affected foliage and flowers, and destroy the plant matter. Sanitize clippers with an alcohol wipe after pruning diseased plants to prevent spreading the fungi to healthy plants. It’s also important to keep the ground around plants free of decaying leaves, which act like a nursery for fungal spores.

Although you can’t do anything about humid conditions in your area, you can help plants cope with excessive moisture:

Use drip irrigationAvoid overhead wateringWater in the morningAllow enough space between plants for air circulationPrune the interior of dense plants to increase air movement

Columbine Profile

Columbine flowers can grow in a nodding or upright position, but the spurs of the flowers are a key characteristic. Although these spiky protrusions are highly ornamental, they evolved with the plant to serve as an essential survival trait: The length of the spurs accommodates different pollinators. For example, columbines that grew wild in areas populated by long-tongued hawk moths developed longer spurs over time.

Other differences in spur appearance distinguish columbine species from one another. The thickness of the spurs varies from stout to narrow. The position of the spurs in relation to the petals can appear straight, curved, hooked, and spreading or not spreading. With all these possibilities in flower appearance, it’s easy to see how a gardener can become a columbine aficionado!

tuberose

You can duplicate the look of tuberose flowers in your garden with many other small, white flowers, but no other bloom has quite the same intoxicating perfume. Some describe the fragrance of this South American flower as exotic, spicy, floral, and sweet, and the price for one ounce of the essential oil can start at $600 or higher. However, you can enjoy the fresh fragrance of this popular wedding flower for a few dollars, and a little bit of sweat equity, by growing the tuberose in your garden.

Genus Polianthes Tuberosa, Family Agavaceae

Common Names:

Tuberose

Zone:

Hardy in zones 8-10, otherwise grow as an annual.

Size:

24-36 inches

Exposure:

Full Sun

Bloom Period:

Mid to late summer

Tuberose foliage has grassy foliage, similar in appearance to daylilies. Each stem can bear a dozen or more white blooms, which may remain closed if the heat is particularly stifling.

True to its agave heritage, the flowers are slightly waxy, offering protection against desiccation, but the blooms can still shrivel in direct sun when temperatures are 95 degrees F or greater. If this sounds typical of your summers, plant the bulbs where they will receive some afternoon shade.

Although tuberoses need full sun to reach their blossoming potential, they don’t like to bake in parched soil. Keep your tuberoses moist with the help of a 3-inch mulch layer.

Tuberoses are moderate to heavy feeders. Apply a slow release granular fertilizer at the beginning of the season. A 5-10-5 fertilizer will provide the necessary phosphorus to encourage flowering.

At the end of the growing season in zones 6 and colder you’ll have to decide if you want to save your tuberose bulbs for next year. If so, dig them up, let them dry, and store them in a cool place.

Contemporary Wedding Cake With Roses and Orchids

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