August Availability (The Seasonal Series)

Availability does vary depending on the weather and the seasons and there are a lot of flowers that are now available all year round, especially with a lot of flowers being imported and grown in hotter conditions. However, if you’re passionate about staying seasonal then read on for this month’s delights.

We reached the peak of flowers in bloom in July and so we see a few flowers start to disappear from the market. However, being a summer month, there’s still plenty of lush flowers to choose from and lots of colour and variety to be had! Summer classics like roses, delphiniums, cornflowers, gladioli, gypsophila, dahlias and sweet william are still out along with lots of others, but it may be harder to get peonies and sunflowers as they come to the end of their season.

When it comes to the foliage, also known as the greenery or ‘green stuff,’ it sometimes gets forgotten amongst all the glorious blooms but it is an important part of any arrangement and when it comes to weddings, eucalyptus continues to be popular. Although a common choice for summer weddings, it isn’t actually at its best in summer but it does come into season in August with quality improving towards the end of the year. Another lovely choice is pittosporum which comes in different sizes and shades including some interesting variegated varieties. For something floatier and more meadow-like, panicum fountain grass is a fantastic choice. It really does look like a fountain of grass which you can’t help running your fingers through.

Nigella have now passed their peak but you can get nigella pods which can be dried out so they work well if you want to include dried flowers in an arrangement. Dried flowers are back in fashion when it comes to weddings and are great for a boho theme. Some people choose to have all their arrangements made from dried flowers, whereas some people just have a few dotted through their arrangements. Nigella looks really wispy and although blue when fresh, they have a red/ pink tint to them once dried.

Another blue flower that is popular for bringing texture is the eryngium. It too can be dried out and works well in buttonholes and bouquets as it lasts well out of water. It is a more subtle blue and has a spiky texture. And of course, if you are having a Scottish theme, then this is a great way to bring it in, especially with a bit of classy tartan ribbon!

For a pop of brighter colour, celosias are a really unusual but fun flower. There are different types of celosias from the fluffy, pointy stems that look a bit like mini flames to the complex domed flowers that have been nicknamed ‘brains’ because as the name suggests, they look like brains! They come in hot pink, orange, yellow, red and green and are a go to for a vibrant summer palette.

Another flower adding to the vast summer collection is eupatorium. In pinks, purples and whites the cluster of tiny flowers become fluffier as they open up. This is a lovely flower for a more natural garden-style arrangement.

Have a glance at my June and July blog for more summer inspiration or for more guidance and advice or if you’d like to book a consultation, feel free to drop me a message here.