In Bloom

The power of seasonal flowers

By Rebecca Padgett
Main photo by Alicia Osborne Photography

On one of your first dates, maybe your partner gave you a bouquet of your favorite blooms. For major life events, we often commemorate these moments by giving flowers. Flowers are representative of special and sentimental moments, which is all the more reason to incorporate them into your wedding.

Flowers are beautiful, natural details that make a big impact. Flowers and foliage heighten our senses by drawing our eyes toward their pretty pops of color, immersing us in pleasing scents and by creating conversation pieces on tablescapes.

With so many floral options, it might be overwhelming to consider which will best capture the theme and feeling of such a special day. This is where the importance of hiring a professional comes in.

“Hiring a professional floral designer will take the stress out of the day by making everything effective financially and visually,” said Missy Gunnels Kane, owner of Missy Gunnels Flowers. “Giving your florist artistic license will result in getting more for your investment and creating a visual experience that will be remembered by guests.”

While they are pretty pieces of the ceremony and reception, they also are living products that should be considered with care. The best way to do so is to educate yourself on florals.

As we become more conscious of our environment, many couples are opting for seasonal and locally sourced flowers as they are the most sustainable options.

Genevieve Dimmitt, owner of Azalea Hill Farm in Monticello, Florida, only sources local flowers.

“I grow locally and highlight flowers which are in bloom around the time of your wedding,” said Dimmitt. “This eliminates the imported flowers that dominate the industry and rely heavily on synthetic herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, atrocious labor conditions, plastic packaging and emission-causing transport.”

Do your research on florists, look through their work and ensure they are someone whose creativity and values you trust. Be open to asking them how they source their flowers and what blooms are in season for your wedding date.

“Be sure to choose a florist that fits with your design aesthetic and understands your overall vision for your wedding day,” said Caroline Chelette owner of Moonstuck Florals. “This means that couples should be flexible and open-minded regarding their color palette and floral choices. Your florist will know how to find the best flowers that are available at the time of your wedding and know how to pair the color of those flowers with complementary colors.”

With the help of local florists, we have compiled a guide of flowers blooming in Northwest Florida each season.

Seasonal Flower Guide

Spring

Butterfly ranunculus, sweet pea, anemone, poppies, delphinium, foxglove and peonies.

Summer

Garden roses, zinnias, strawflower, lisianthus, zinnias, snapdragons, sunflowers and celosia.

Fall

Dahlias, heirloom chrysanthemums, cosmos, pampas grass, amaranth, broomcorn, gomphrena and celosia.

Winter

Anemones, hellebores, festival bush, heirloom chrysanthemum, greenhouse grown amaryllis, celosia, amaranth, broom corn, grasses and foliage, such as cedar, pine and holly.