Sunflowers being large, make a statement in a bouquet. In terms of bouquet shape, the upright form or a domed handtied is best as they are also quite a heavy flower. These bouquets need careful assembly to show the flat faces off to their best.

Did you know that sunflowers track the sun? This means that the heads can turn to face the sun all day. Usually this happens most when the flower is young.
They are a seasonal cut flower from June to September but are most readily available between mid-July and August for UK grown.
Bold sunflowers make for perfect wedding or event décor.  Simply fixed on their own thay have impact but placed with a little foliage or filler material they look fantastic.
I much prefer fresh sunflowers as I think the artificial ones just look like that (unreal) but I am a florist!

Being a bit of a floral show off they are always noticed. Sunflowers will make your guests smile!

Please contact me to chat about your thoughts on sunflower weddings or events.

Helen at Verdila x
Thanks to https://www.garethjphotography.com/

Creating lilac weddings at Verdila has been a joy so far this year ( not forgetting  other colours too of course .. so watch this space for these in later wedding flower blogs!).

 These grey lilacs, pale purples and muted pinks are so popular at any time of year really although  come into their own in spring and summer. Adding in colours towards lavender, soft apricot or blush can personalise your flowers and create a little extra interest.

6  lilac bouquet thoughts for planning your bouquet flowers:
1. Try to keep the foliage muted
2. Do not go too dark as the colours will disappear in the photos even if they look amazing in real life. This is because darker colours recede and need something light next to them to show them off. Photographs flatten the colours and forms so you lose the beautiful  3D effect of each petal that you can see so easily for real.
3. Try for a blend of closely related  colours for a perfect lilac bouquet
4. Adding a little soft pink can warm up your bouquet. White or pale blue can also be good, bringing a touch of brightness and freshness. Red violet is a cheery addition to lilac.
5. You will know when you see the bouquet of your dreams when you are searching for inspiration (or something very close).
6. The main bridal bouquet types are a hand tied posy with natural stems or a shower or waterfall  bouquet which trails downwards. Both can be small or large, compact or wild and free. You can also have a crescent or upright bouquet or something a little unusual.. just ask your florist.

And let's not forget that wedding flowers can be for four legged friends as well as those on two!

If you have been following these posts you will realize  that this is finally the last of my planned short series covering dried flowers in their many forms .. one of the  biggest trends to come out of 2020  floristry. So many lovely dried flowers, leaves and grasses in so many great colour ways!
This post is all about caring for your dried creations once you get them home.
​What to do to keep them looking good.

Two simple rules
Two  simple things to remember: 1. keep them dry- so not for the steamy bathroom 2. Keep them out of direct sun to preserve their colour. Remember this and your dried flowers, foliage or grasses will last and last.
Careful dusting
Once a fortnight go over a dried arrangement with a feather duster. You can also occasionally grip the base of an arrangement or vase bunch and turn it upside down whilst carefully giving a gentle shake.
Pump up those petals
With older designs some of the more delicate flower petals can further shrivel or dry out over time. This is especially true of peonies and larkspur. They can be revived by placing the flower head in a stream of steam ( avoiding singing!) which plumps up the petals once more.
Place them safely
When adding slim dried stems to fresh flowers add the slim stems last, pulling their stem ends down rather than pushing on the delicate heads. Put your vase in an out of the way place where it can be seen but not knocked as some dried plant material can be brittle and collapse easily.

So that 's it.. you now know enough to grow, buy, dry and care for dried flowers, foliage and grasses.
Have fun with them.
Helen at Verdila
​XX

So you fancy a bunch of dried flowers. You are right on trend! Part 3 of my dried flowers series is all about named commercial dried material out there that you can order or buy to enhance your vase or bunch. Part 1 was all about garden plant material that you can grow and dry yourself easily, part 2 considered dried wedding flowers. Lastly part 4 will be all about caring for those dried flower vases.
So this post is all about good dried material that is out there to buy. Some of this is bleached and some preserved to enhance the flower or foliage so that, amazingly, it can be even better than the fresh version!

.
Now for my top 10 dried foliage that you can buy. These are really fabulous. Consider just showing a few together on their own or include them with a few fresh roses for a wonderful arrangement

My Top 10 dried foliage, pods and dried  grasses

1. Pampas grass- relatively expensive per stem but a large head cut just right to preserve the silky plume
2. Lagurus-Bunny ears; a grass head that is so soft and cute
3. Bleached ruscus- even better than the fresh kind because it adds a new dimension to your  floral designing with its pale bleached colour. Perfect for a  muted, vintage feel or wintry piece.
4. Eucalyptus- preserved to be soft or leathery to touch. Note that the dyed ones are often not colourfast!
5. Palm leaf spear- usually come cut into a neat diamond spear. Other dried parts of a palm are also available like 'palm cups'.
6. Dried oats-surprisingly pretty multi grain heads
7. Wheat ( triticale or tarwe) - especially for that rustic country look
8. Poppy seed pods- available comercially in all sizes and colours
9. Nigella seed pods-soo pretty with their central seed pod surrounded by  curls
10. Christmas pine cones-  christmas is not the same without them!

Where can you find out more ?
  Try  https://www.atlasflowers.co.uk/blog  This site is all about  comercially prepared dried flowers or ask your local florist as more are now selling dried bunches.

Just drop me a line if you are interested in a bespoke dried flower bouquet too!
x Helen at Verdila

 Would you choose dried flowers for your big day?  You would be right at the forefront of this current trend that looks like lasting for a while. To help you consider dried flowers rather than silk wedding flowers or fresh wedding flowers for your nuptials,I have gathered some pros and cons when choosing and using dried flowers for your wedding.

Choosing dried wedding flowers

1. Peace of mind. Your florist can guarantee to deliver the flowers and even drop them a day ahead giving you time for some great wedding photo shoots.
2. You do not  have to pick in season flowers
3. There are a great variety of dried flowers, grasses, seed heads and foliages out there at the moment.  You can find  local suppliers and  good florists that  are even drying their own special flowers.
4. Bleached and dyed varieties extend the colour range.
5. You can take the designs  home after the big day to enjoy and show off.
6. Buttonholes and head pieces are extra light when made with dried material so easy to wear. Same generally  for dried bouquets.
   

Problems with using dried flowers:

1. They can be brittle and tend to break  unless handled carefully.  Some plant material is especially dried using treatments  to make it more leathery or soft  and  less brittle.
2. They need a feather duster as they  can gather dust if at home!
3. They can look a little stiff when in bouquets or vases
4. They are no cheaper than a fresh flower bouquet and often are more expensive due to the need to treat and dry stems
5. The quantity of dried material required  for a wedding bouquet can be large as many dried flowers are small. This will impact on the cost.

  Silk v dried flowers?
Another alternative is silk flowers. I have had requests from some brides looking at artificial or silk flowers as a long-lasting post Covid answer but I think dried real flowers are a good alternative because silk flowers nearly always look fake and always cost quite a lot more per stem than the corresponding fresh flower. Only if a particular flower is not in season or if you must have a delicate flower like a poppy that has a short life once cut, then an artificial flower comes into its own.
Also, you do not get a scent with artificial flowers whereas you can with dried flowers if you choose wisely.  Silk flowers can be  heavy with all the wire and are  not biodegradable like fresh or dried flowers.

How to include dried flowers in your wedding
I prefer to take the middle ground and incorporate  the dried with fresh in bouquets rather than do just  100 per cent dried  posies although I do like the particular dried wedding posy that I made and  is the photo taken for this blog! May be it all depends on getting the right balance of colours and shapes in the end, something that you choose a professional florist for.. Bleached foliage and dark stems can look stunning when set against fresh roses for instance.
Your choice.

The fashion for dried flowers is not stopping! Today I am considering the loveliest, easiest plants out there that can be grown by you for cutting and drying. Now is the time to get out there and gather. Part 2 is all about dried flowers for weddings and bouquets and in part 3 flower lists for commercially prepped materials that enhance the design vase or bouquet. Rounding off with top tips for looking after dried flowers in part 4..So much to come!

Before we get down to that remember that if you have bought some cut flowers you can often just try letting them dry naturally to see what happens. It is amazing how many flower types will dry if it is warm and dry where they are placed. So, don’t be too speedy at tidying away that gift vase of flowers and foliage. Wait to see what dries well!

Easy flower drying  tips:
To air dry most cut flowers you just suspend the bunch upside down so they dry straight or simply put an inch of water in a vase and let the water disappear. Let them dry in a warm, dry space out of direct sunlight. Avoid dampness at all cost.
Cut your flowers just before they are fully open as they often continue to open once cut and leave a long stem so they can be tied up once dry.
If you leave it too late  to pick they can go to fluff or shed  petals. I once cut  some bulrush heads, left them overnight and came down the next day to a room full of fluffy seeds!  Try a squirt of hairspray  to mitigate this.

Easiest larger flowers to cut for drying:

• Hydrangeas-cut in late summer once hardened off and stand in shallow water
  
• Sunflowers- hang upside down
  
• Peonies-  you can steam dried petals with a kettle or steamer to unruffle very dried heads 
  
• Larkspur or delphinium- dry with intense colour
  
• Roses- try stronger colours as the pale ones  tend to dry grey
  

Easiest smaller flowers for cutting and drying:

• Gypsophila- baby's breath. A million little flower blobs in white or palest pink
• Limonium or statice- sea lavender. Pink and purply pastels , also yellows and white.  
• Lavender- need I say more! Just remeber to pick more than you think you need  as they are very slender
• Achillea - yarrow with a flat topped head esp in yellow
• Helichrysum bractaetum or ‘Xerochrysum’ (so confusing when they change the name!)- straw flower has papery petals on a round face . Especially in warmer colours. Grow from a packet of seed
• Acroclinium- an Australian native plant that dries like a Xerochrysum
• Anaphalis margaritacea- the pearly everlasting plant with tiny pearls of white flower clusters on top of a stem about a foot long
• Helichrysum italicum -sulphur yellow flower clusters
• Helichrysum amorginum-‘Ruby cluster’ with pinky red flowers

All of these like a sunny spot. All the Helichrysum have lance shaped leaves with a woolly or grey appearance and are not that big a plant or flower, so work best as a filler material in a flower design.

Easiest seed heads and grasses for cutting and drying:
Nigella- round  seed pods with curly bits are lovely
Poppy- a usefull weed!
Pampas grass- silky plumes of loveliness. Just check the final size of a plant as some are massive
Lunaria- honesty moon discs dry well
Cotinus- smoke bush has smoky froth in the autumn when the large shrub is a blazeof colour. Fab

Easiest foliage  to cut and dry:
When it comes to leaves they all tend to curl up a bit if left to air dry and become brittle. Best to try standing cut stems in one part glycerine with three parts hot water for a week or two. The glycerine is taken into the veins and stops the plant getting too dry. The leaf colour will change but the final result is very long lasting. In terms of types of foliage I always go by the 'feel test'. If the leaf  feels leathery or tough then odds are that it will dry for you beautifully eg Hedera helix or British ivy, x cyparis , conifer  and Euonymus are common examples. Eucalyptus contains the  oily gum that also helps to preserve it well.

So give  cutting and drying a go! Plant a few 'everlasting flowers' for now and the future.

X Helen at Verdila

So you can finally get married in England with 30 people in attendance and then have a small reception to celebrate as of August 2020. Of course that is not what many want when they think of their big day but if your plans have been postponed then it is definitely worth considering getting married now with perhaps a larger celebration  to follow next year with all your family and friends.  A difficult decision to make. I have one couple who have had to change their plans three times so far (although not all due to Covid). We are hoping for third time lucky next year.

As a wedding florist I can say that a small wedding can be as lovely as a larger one. There is something wonderful about the intimate ceremony especially when you still have flowers to beautify and consolidate your big day .. but I would say that! Princess Beatrice had a very small wedding on 17 July 2020 at the Royal Chapel Lodge at Windsor, adorned with the most beautiful flowers.  So small does not mean you have to avoid flowers but the decision has to be made as to what sort of ceremony you would like and whether you are also decorating a venue later next year for a family and friend get together.  Of course, your guests needs must also be considered as many may have to travel or are elderly which may cause you to delay and hope for better times next year given the current quarantine rules, lack of flights and infection risks. 

All of my current Verdila couples have managed to find a date for next year to have the wedding of their dreams but I am now finding a few who want to actually be wed sooner.

There has been a note from the BFA (British Florist Association) this week to the effect that a No Deal Brexit in December will mean Europe imposing an 8% tariff on all imported flowers into the UK next year. As an independent florist I can source locally in the UK but this will depend on the time of year and the type and colour of flowers chosen.  Not sure if the tariff will come to pass or if it is just postulating prior to final negotiations but is definitely another factor to consider when weighing up the pros and cons of the current difficult situation.

There is still much to be thankful for in the flower world. In terms of supply of flowers, this has never been better at the moment! Flowers do not know there is Covid or Brexit looming. They just grow and flower away. I am grateful every time I create a floral design at the moment as I get to handle and marvel at all the floral beauties.

Whenever and however you are getting married I wish you joy and every happiness with a flower filled, happy day.

 #brexitflowertariff #weddingflowernews #britishfloristassociation #flowertariff #smallwedding #marrynoworlater #verdilaflowers #brexitflowers

 ​It has been a while since my last post. I have had my busiest few years and something had to give. Sorry diary blog. Of course with lockdown all plans were off and I have spent my time updating IT, rejigging wedding dates for next year ( hearts out to my lovely  couples who have had to rearrange their big day) but mostly tidying.. lots of folders, cupboards and workshop studio stuff to sort through. But it has not all been bad. Time for reflection and lovely walks on the nearby heath allowed me to get back in touch with the wonderful British plant and bird life and gave time for planning and floral ideas. Also the garden is looking in great shape although the lawn has succumbed in the recent heatwave.
I am now back to taking orders for gift flowers, funerals. I had an especially lovely request recently for a floral tribute for a local Roystonian that reflected the town with incorporated flora. Royston has the rare purple pasque flowers and a great heath and wood on its edges that could all be reflected in my choice of plants.  

​2021 looks like being a busy one for weddings too! 
One recent highlight from last year was Abi and Tom's wedding appearing in the final of the www.easywedding.co.uk competition. 'Mainly down to the lovely flowers' was Abi's comment. We went for a slightly unusual colourful 'country rustic' vibe.
The wedding service was held in the beautiful Wimpole church on Wimpole estate, Cambridgeshire. It is available for marriages of residents of the village  and workers of @wimpolehall  now owned by the National Trust.

The walkway up to the church was lined with 32 flower filled  hanging jam jars  with welcome pails and bunches  of flowers at the gates and church. I hire out hanging jam jars, pails and churns to make your day extra special.
Two large colourful pedestals in a riot of colour framed the altar with raffia tied pew end flowers lining the aisle. ​

 Tom had a billy button and wheat based buttonhole. The bridesmaids posies were smaller versions of the brides colourful bouquet.
At the reception marquee Verdila relocated the pail and churn flowers, as well as placing the hanging jam jar flowers and tied bunches to enhance garlands already in place. 
Guest tables were informal with jam jar flowers atop  hired tiered  log slices  scatted with petals and flower heads.
The crowning glory, if I say so myself ,was the Verdila floral hoop suspended over the bride and groom table. This included peony and sunflower with trails of amaranths to soften. It took 3 of us to decorate including one to hold the hoop steady and  to look out for  flower gaps- sorry Alex for your wet arms on that one! 
​
Will try to post more regularly now with tips and hints  and  wedding  comments  for you to enjoy.
Xx
Helen at Verdila

 #verdilablog #verdila #verdilaflowers #weddingflowershertfordshire #weddingflowerscambridgeshire #hertfordshireweddingflowers #cambsweddingflowers #hertswedding #cambswedding #lovelyflowers #roystonweddingflowers #roystonwedding #floristnherts #hertsbride  #funeralroyston #giftflowersroyston #giftflowersmelbourn

Country style roses  including herbs and soft foliage  for Rebecca's country wedding