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How COVID Has Changed Things In The World (Of Floristry)

Well wow, 2020 is certainly going to be one of those years etched into our minds forever. The new year was rung in with horrific bushfires, and now we have found ourselves in quite a new world thanks to a highly contagious and often devastating virus. Aside from the unprecedented periods of social distancing and near complete lockdown, the COVID -19 crisis has made changes to the way we operate and interact in day to day life and there have been many affects to the way we run our businesses

Flowers have ALWAYS been a luxury item, and some would say flowers have always been expensive. They are a product that many go without regularly or they are reserved for special occasions as a non essential item. COVID-19 has changed our industry astronomically…prices are at an all time high, and I’m sure everyone wants to know why.

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There are many factors that are contributing to this new ‘normal’ and for the moment it looks like it may remain like this for some time, if not forever.

Over the last 10 years or so there has been an increase to the amount of imported varieties of flowers flooding our market. So much so that it put many local growers out of business.
But now, with decreased flights, the stock coming into the country is LIMITED.
With decreased flights, the cost of actually putting flowers on a plane has become incredibly expensive. Those flowers landed, are attracting premium prices.
Good old supply and demand has also meant that there are fewer flowers and more people wanting them. Florists are scrambling to grab what they can I stock their shops and fill there orders. Social distancing requirements, restrictions to interstate and overseas travel, and restrictions surrounding nursing homes and aged care facilities has meant that there are more people wanting to send flowers for a variety of occasions.

What kind of effect does this have on the industry in terms of $$$. Well, we are paying up to 60% more on some lines, meaning that the cost to customers also must increase. If it doesn’t our businesses simply won’t survive.
A bouquet that may have cost $50, will now $80. It won’t last longer, you aren’t buying better quality, this is just what it costs now and it may be what it costs from now on.
We aren’t alone either, many industries are effected. Many stores across all industries are finding it hard to fill their shelves and keep certain lines available. Fruit and vegetables have all increased, however the difference is that people are always more willing to accept changes to essential items.

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One positive change is that our industry market is now closed to the public which means that the businesses relying on getting these products are able to get them without further pressure. It allows the growers to trade amongst themselves prior to the market opening to fulfil their existing orders.

Many of the lines we’re accustomed to in abundance, are now limited, so it is important to note that ordering flowers requires some flexibility. All florists usually have some sort of disclaimer when ordering online that notes that substitutions will be made when required. This is even more likely at the moment.
You’ll notice our store does not have the variety you have been used to, and you will notice our prices have increased. We appreciate your custom and understanding in these unprecedented times. We will continue to provide you with fantastic customer service, and a quality product.

And we urge you, don’t stop supporting your local florist. Small business needs you more than ever.
Remember, shop small or there will be no small at all.

Fwf x

Images all from Sydney Markets

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Pantone colour of the year 2019

2019, The Year of Living Coral

Everyone likes the start of a new year, right? Perhaps you are a person who loves compiling a long list of goals for the year, perhaps not. But regardless, the New Year undeniably brings a feeling of renewal. I think we have all travelled enough times around the sun to realise that a new year doesn’t mean that anything is really going to change, unless we do. But there is something about the feeling of a fresh start, a clean slate; whether that comes in the form of a new year, a new month, or just the start of a new day.

A fresh start often brings with it new perspectives and (hopefully) fresh inspirations. Each year, artists working in every aspect of design eagerly await Pantone’s announcement of the new colour of the year. It brings us fresh inspirations, and reinvigorates our creativity. It provides a hint of what our year may look like, what shades we may feature in our work, and which colour we may need to reinvent in more ways than one.

Source; Pantone
Source; Pantone

This year, for 2019, Pantone has chosen a colour known as Living Coral that they describe as ‘a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media.’

Coral is a shade that sits somewhere between an orange and a pink. It is more vibrant than salmon, and more orange than watermelon.

It is energetic, youthful and vibrant. It works well with psychedelic greens, and chartreuse , and deep tones like burgundy. Coral can work well within muted colour palettes also, taking inspiration from natural skin tones. It works well played against other pink and orange tones, too and works well within some pastel blends.

Pantone says: “Vibrant, yet mellow PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.
In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.

PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral emits the desired, familiar, and energizing aspects of color found in nature. In its glorious, yet unfortunately more elusive, display beneath the sea, this vivifying and effervescent color mesmerizes the eye and mind. Lying at the center of our naturally vivid and chromatic ecosystem, PANTONE Living Coral is evocative of how coral reefs provide shelter to a diverse kaleidoscope of color.” 

Pantone has prepared 5 colour schemes to illustrate how Living Colour can be used in a variety of ways.

Source: All Colour Palettes guides from Pantone

Coral will make a gorgeous colour choice for bridesmaids dresses for any upcoming nuptials but Pantone’s colour of the year is not reserved for weddings only. Pantone’s colour influences design everywhere, so expect to see cushions, throws, and decor accessories available soon which you can use at home. Clothing, accessories and jewellery will also feature in this vibrant colour.

Image of a woman holding a Coral inspired wedding bouquet
A bouquet modelling just how it is done using the Shimmering Sunset colour guide. Image via Pinterest

There are so many popular choices of flowers available in Coral such as ginormous dahlias, glasshouse grown roses, gorgeous ruffle garden roses, poppies, infamous Coral Charm peonies, snap dragons, tulips, carnations and more. There are plenty of fresh cut flower choices available in Living Coral throughout the whole year for you to enjoy. I love Coral, so I’m thrilled 😉

Fwf x

Image of a coral toned flower

Image of a coral toned dahlias
Source: Jardine Ravec Jean Paul
Coral snap dragons
Source: David’s seeds and plants
image of a Coral toned tulips
Coral toned tulips
image of a Coral toned tulips
Source: Guides for Brides UK

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Meghan and Harry on tour in Australia 2018

The Royal Flower Tour

This week, Prince Harry and his new wife Meghan Markle, arrived in Australia as part of their 18 day international tour; the first since they married in May. Add to that the fact that Kensington Palace also issued a statement just before they landed: “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019.” The news that the Royal couple are expecting their first child together has of course only added to the excitement of them being here.

The trip is well timed, with the Invictus Games having kicked off in Sydney on October 20th. The couple will reportedly visit Dubbo, Sydney, Melbourne, Fraser Island, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand on this whirlwind trip. And while they take in the sights and fulfil their obligations on this tour, it seems as though Australian Flora is getting a free ride on this tour as well!

Matt De Groop with the huge outlet from nova 969
Via News.com
Meghan accepts huge bouquet
Via News.com

Newsreader Matt De Groot, from Nova 969 was just one person in one of the crowds holding flowers for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The difference was however, his gorgeous bouquet was worth $500, and the sheer size of the bouquet alone caught Meghan’s eye. Made with a stunning mix of flowers including roses and apricot Phaleonopsis orchids, the bouquet was a gift from radio hosts Witzy and Wippa.

Royal protocol suggests giving smaller bouquets as they can be easily handed directly to the recipient. Many gorgeous bouquets have been given to Meghan during her stay, including a stunning array of Australian Natives. Fresh cut grevillea, wattle blooms, banksias, tea tree, Geraldton wax, everlasting paper daisies and eucalyptus have all featured, as well as bouquets of fresh cut flowers in golds and green. There have also been petite bunches of scented spring blooms like lily of the valley and garden roses.

Meghan gets fresh flower bouquets
Source: Getty/ Peter Parks via popsugar
Source: Getty/ Dan Himbrechts via pop sugar
Meghan and Harry accepting floral gifts
Source : Getty/ Karwai Tang

 

Meghan flower gifts
Source: Getty / Samir Hussein via popsugar

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I think it’s pretty obvious that both Harry and Meghan have captured Australia’s heart, and is it any wonder? So I can understand why so many people make the effort to get out there for their glimpse. I’ve made flowers for many famous people throughout my career but so far Royalty has eluded me….fingers crossed I get a chance one day! 😉

Fwf

 

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Image of Queen Bey wearing her flower headdress

All Hail The Queen of Flowers

Being a mum of two young girls, hairstyling is something I have had to get good at, quick 💇🏼 But, I’ve come to the realisation this week, that I am still reinventing the same tired old hairstyles that I grew up with, and really I have to lift my game. It used to be enough to add a couple of cute clips, or a ribbon. Hell, a hair circlet was reserved for a christening, or confirmation, or wedding….some sort of special occasion. These days, flower crowns are becoming almost commonplace, and it appears that a head literally FULL of flowers is what is hot right now.

What has inspired the new look? Queen Bey, of course.

Image of Queen Bey in her full floral headdress

Beyoncé’s September Vogue cover pictured her wearing a full floral headpiece that was as high as it was wide. Created by inspired London based floral designer, Rebel Rebel, the over the top head piece looked as though she had literally gathered the entire field of flowers on top of her head. Another headpiece created for the shoot was filled with an enormous amount of luscious green leaves, textured elements and lush tropical blooms.

Image of the Vogue cover featuring Bey's full floral headdress
Photo by Tyler Mitchell, Vogue, Sept 2018
Image of Beyoncé floral headpiece from Vogue Magazine
Photo by Tyler Mitchell, Vogue, Sept 2018

The UK version of the magazine featured Rhianna on the cover also adorned with a full floral piece. So, given that the September issue is the most important issue of the year for the fashion magazine, it appears that flowers are going to be HUGE for the year ahead.

Image of Rihanna wearing her full floral piece from Vogue UK

As is often the case with Beyoncé, this trend has kicked into overdrive. Taylor R (@iamtay_tay) says she was inspired by Beyoncé’s floral head fashion, and so set about creating her own user friendly version that she has shared with the world via You Tube. Her unique ‘up style’ reduces the weight and heat of a full floral piece making the trend more accessible for ordinary people to incorporate everyday 😂

Image of a woman that turned her hair into a flower vase - VIRAL

The floral industry has seen designs like the living card come and go, so why not a living vase? While as a creative I appreciate someone thinking outside the box, I have to be honest and say I am just not convinced that this flower vase hair is going to take off.

Still, we are totally willing and able to create. gorgeous arrangement for you should you wish to experiment with this new look for your next party, exhibition…or just a day at the office 😉 Because, after all you should never let someone else’s opinion become your reality….you only get one life to live, have fun with it!

Fwf x

 

 

 

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Craig Scott from Eastcoast Wildflowers

Drive You Wild Flowers

A familiar face from the Sydney Flower Markets, Craig Scott of East Coast Wildflowers was featured on last week’s episode of Gardening Australia. A fourth generation flower grower, Scott’s passion is evident in the way he talks about his work and his love of Australian Flora.

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If you missed it, and are interested in watching the segment, you’ll find it here.

Craig’s great grandfather, William “Robbo” Robinson, the first in the family to start in the flower trade, sold flowers via a mixed business between the train station and Woronora cemetery.

His grandfather grew a range of traditional flowers on his farm in the Southern Sydney suburb of Menai, and sold a selection of ‘bush-picked’ native blooms long before the restrictions on picking natives were in place.

Craig’s father Col was instrumental in developing Scott’s love of Australian native flowers. As well as growing some traditional blooms, Col began selling native flowers in the market and in 1968 he bought a 50 acre farm at Mangrove Mountain where the business still exists today. Craig and his father shared a love of the outdoors. Col was a rock climber and Craig, an interested hiker. They would often spot interesting flora on their adventures and this fuelled their inspiration.

Approximately half of the farm is native bushland, while the other half is cleared with several glasshouses set up. They grow a range of native flowers including waratah, billy buttons, mulla mulla, grevillea, wattle, eucalyptus, paper daisies and a large kangaroo paw range which is a key line in their business.

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Eastcoast Wildflowers Farm. Source: Try booking

Craig is one of those growers that has built a great business based on a combination passion and hard work. For years he has offered florists a wonderful range of Australian flowers; flowers that get florists excited to create. Australian Native Flora is stunningly unique in appearance; they have gorgeous colour variations and a particularly interesting texture.

When people talk about natives, often an image of a dull coloured arrangement comes to mind, but that simply is not the case. Native flowers can be incredibly bright. Telopea, for example is derived from the Greek word ‘telopos’, meaning ‘seen from afar’  and refers to the robust, brightly coloured head of the red Waratah which can be spotted at a great distance.

Craig also shared a glimpse into the glorious colour range that they grow on the farm of kangaroo paw. Paw grows for approximately 8 months of the year, making it incredibly important for their business.

Flannel Flowers (Actinotus helianthi)
Flannel Flowers (Actinotus helianthi) Source: National Parks

Flannel flower, which is incredibly popular for wedding bouquets with a more rustic feel, gets its name come the texture of the blooms. The elegant flowers are soft and furry, with delicate petals. According to Scott they have a reputation for being quite difficult to grow commercially,  but he has found that growing the plants in pots has been very successful.

What I enjoyed most was hearing and feeling his energy when he spoke about working with flowers and being out in nature. It is obvious that Craig has achieved what most of us only hope for, to turn a passion and a hunger for spreading that inspiration, into a thriving business. His gentle demeanour and overall feeling of calm beautifully illustrated the effects of working with nature and in nature.

Fwf x

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Why Can’t Milennials Grow Plants?

Ever heard the term snowflake generation? Apparently it is yet another term used for millennials, who are also already known as Generation Y, or Gen Y. We are the generation that is wildly generalised as being a softer, less resilient group, taking more offence than previous generations. Yikes!

Now I’m sure we have all heard our fair share of bad press for this generation. Selfish, entitled and lazy. In fact TIME magazine said :

“Millennials got so many participation trophies growing up that a recent study showed that 40% believe they should be promoted every two years, regardless of performance.” 🤔

Although there is no official dates of when this group starts or finishes, generally speaking, Generation Y starts in the early 1980’s and concludes mid to late 1990’s.

 

The Milennials latest deficiency?  There knowledge of simple flowers and the practices to grow things.

Secateurs
This is a pair of secateurs 😂 Source: The Independant

Believe it or not, 1 in 5 did not know what a garden hose was, and more than 50% didn’t recognise a pair of secateurs.  You only have to look around to see an increase in the number of artificial plants on offer these days. Probably a preventative measure put in place for Gen Y 😂 According to Daily Star 10% of plant owners admit to killing their plants from over watering, and another 17.5% said they had forgotten to water their plants at all. Cactus anyone? 🌵🌵🌵

Milennials were able to identify roses, and sunflowers which are popular favourites however lesser known varieties included daffodils, lavender, marigolds, bougainvillea were a bit of a mystery. I think it’s pretty normal to be clueless if you have no experience in a particular area, or to feel out of your depth when you are trying something new. Gardening is no different. It is essential to get familiar with your tools and understand that things do not always got according to plan when you are learning to look after a living thing.

Sunflowers
Glorious Sunflowers

Many factors contribute to the generational lack of skills. Think about it, this is the generation that began life playing in the garden like our predecessors, but had technology introduced pretty early on as ‘the way of the future’. Lifestyles became more sedentary. More time was spent staring at screens than sunsets.  More time spent pounding the keyboard than pounding the pavement. 👩🏼‍💻

Outsourcing has become the norm. More families required both parents to work, so tasks that couldn’t be done within the household were outsourced. Convenience foods became plentiful. Pre-prepared, abundant. More extra curricular activities meant a faster pace to life. Growing something is a slow living activity. 👨🏼‍🌾

Dead indoor plant
Oh no, someone’s forgotten to water the plants. Source; Nursery Live

Is it surprising that we can appreciate the aesthetic and the benefits of living plants but that our lifestyles sometimes prevent us from actually keep them living? 🥀

What is clear is that there is a push for organic produce, understanding and using seasonal produce and reducing plastics. All of this can be better achieved if we all learn how to garden ourselves.

if you are interested in testing your knowledge, follow this link.

Fwf x

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Floral Beards, Wigs and Wonder

Agricultural shows like Sydney’s Royal Easter Show, as well as regional shows, like Brisbane’s EKKA have always included some sort of floral design competition. In addition to prize winning specimens of stunning camellias, roses, and of course the local gigantic pumpkin, a variety of arrangements are submitted, displayed and judged on a a list of criteria.

This years EKKA took the concept of ‘manscaping’ to a whole new level. Instead of removing excess hair, the challenge at yesterday’s EKKA instead was to decorate the beard and head area of a (brave and) a willing participant using a combination of flowers and trees native to Queensland. In addition to exploring creativity, the event was able to shine the light brightly on the gorgeous native flora from the region, which can often be overlooked for imported varieties.

Floral beards
Source : Channel 7 News
Floral beards
Channel 7 News
Floral beards
Source: Channel 7 News
Floral beards
Source: Channel 7 News
Floral beards
Source: Channel 7 News

The trend has featured at EKKA over the last couple of years and provides an interesting medium to work with. Florists are accustomed to working on intricate floral crowns, floral fascinators, head bands, corsages, neckpieces, buttonholes, even pieces to attach to your clutch bag.

Competitions often provide an opportunity to experiment in ways that we don’t get in our usual business dealings. Over the years I have seen challenges like this where you get to dress a mannequin in flowers, or create wonderful scenes entirely from flowers. It is an incredible to experience to ‘see’ your materials in an entirely new light. I’m reminded of this often when playing with my children. Like when you’re lying on the grass looking at the clouds and seeing shapes and scenes, similarly, my middle child will pick up a coloured leaf on a walk that may have an unusual shape and will see a way she can use it in a piece of art.

I do not anticipate that floral beards are the next big thing. However for the hipster crowd it may provide an interesting and certainly unique way for men to incorporate more florals in their outfits for a special occasion. Just as men began wearing engagement rings a few years ago, we may see some orders for a floral beard adornment for a wedding. Why do the girls get to have all the fun? 😉 Floral expression is something entirely personal and so that means that our designs are guided by what our customer wants.

In the meantime, it gets our creative juices flowing simply thinking about the possibilities. And sometimes, the act of just thinking differently can be the key….

Fwf x

 

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Flower Perfumes Attracting Pollinators for Millions of Years

When you think of fresh flowers a couple of defining features probably come to mind; aesthetic beauty of course, and fragrance. Flower fragrance compounds are used in modern day scents for human use, as well as perfumes for the home. They are used to make people seem more attractive; to draw them in, and intrigue them 😍. They are use to make a space more inviting, a fragrant version of ‘come hither’ 😉

Flower fragrances in nature are used for exactly the same reasons, to attract and intrigue, to invite and lure the pollinators.

A recent study has shown that flowers from the Cretaceous period may have had similar fragrances as their modern day counterparts. What is extraordinary, is that the study undertaken by Oregon State University has shown that primitive flower varieties used their fragrance to attract pollinators. Modern day flowers use both fragrance, as well as colourful petals and showy designs to lure pollinators, however these ancient ancestors relied on perfume alone.

The evidence shows that floral frangrance originated some 100 million years ago…we are talking back when dinosaurs roamed!

“I bet some of the dinosaurs could have detected the scents of these early flowers,” said George Poinar, an entomologist at Oregon State University. “In fact, floral essences from these early flowers could even have attracted these giant reptiles,” said Mr. Poinar.

Preserved flower encased in hardened tree sap
Source : Oregon State University

The flowers were immortalised in hardened tree sap, known as amber. The team researched glandular laurel flowers (Cascolaurus burmensis and veined star flowers (Tropidogyne pentaptera) found in Myanmar.

Whilst the scent of the flowers could not be retained within the amber, what was preserved was the tissue structure responsible for producing scents. They also found that the secretory tissue was similar to their modern day descendants. This suggests that these Cretaceous flowers could possibly have produced similar essences to modern flower varieties. Check out the resemblance to Christmas Bush from New South Wales.

Tropidogyne pentaptera. Source; Oregon State University
Christmas Bush
Christmas Bush has an uncanny resemblance to the Tropidogyne pentaptera preserved in Myanmar Amber. Image: John Tann / Wikicommons

“It’s obvious flowers were producing scents to make themselves more attractive to pollinators long before humans began using perfumes to make themselves more appealing to other humans,” said George Poinar.

We all know how vitally important pollination is. Without it, the world’s food production ceases. But it almost seems obsurd to think that flower essences, something we use today for cosmetic and hygienic purposes was key in plant reproduction all those years ago.

Fwf x

Feature image : Greg Nunamaker

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Farmers Best, But for Less.

These days when you go to the supermarket, or green grocer, you are presented with multiple options. The Western world is reknowned for only wanting the best of everything but refreshingly, I believe we are in the midst of change where many people are trying to make more mindful purchases. We are learning that something looking ‘perfect’ does not necessarily equal perfection. And we are also beginning to learn or appreciate that buying seasonal produce means that fresh products can be enjoyed at their best.

We are now given the option of buying what can only be described as ‘seconds’. And whilst their appearance may not be perfect, often the produce tastes the same (if not better) than their pretty peers.

Jamie Oliver has been pretty instrumental in Woolworths’ campaign dubbed ‘The Odd Bunch’, which provides seasonal produce that looks a bit ‘ugly’ but is marketed at a more attractive price. The farmers have set aside land, watered, fertilised and cared for this produce, and it would be so incredibly wasteful to simply cast them aside.

Buy seconds to reduce waste
Source: The Sun.

It was quite the breath of fresh air when I read in UK newspaper, The Sun, that one big retailer is trying the same concept with flowers. Flowers with smaller blooms, shorter stems or other ‘defects’.

The reality of flower production is pretty harsh. For stock grown outside, it is at the mercy of nature. Heavy rain can cause mildew or fungal problems. Harsh, dry temperature can result in smaller blooms, shorter stems, and sometimes a glut of produce all available at one time. Wind damage results in fewer blooms as well as damage to leaves and petals. Hail can have devastating effects on produce, wiping out whole crops, or causing horrendous damage that makes sale impossible.

The farmers are already up against so much, so this would be a wonderful scheme to implement and keep farmers on their properties, and able to make a living.

Drew Kirk, from Morrisons in the UK said: “It would be a shame to see these beautiful stems go to waste just because they’re a few centimetres too short.

“Our wonky range helps growers and farmers reduce waste and at the same time helps customers to afford to buy flowers more often.”

Truck full of fresh flowers
Source: At First Bite

And this is something that we could certainly apply here also. Flowers are often viewed as a luxury item, so of course, they will be the first item scratched from the list when the budget doesn’t allow it. People LOVE having fresh flowers in their home, and with this scheme, more people could afford to have them at home more often, whilst reducing the waste and loss for our local flower farmers. Sounds like a win, win to me

Fwf x

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The Royal Wedding 2018

The Language of Flowers used in The Royal Wedding

I could hardly write this week’s blog on anything other than the Royal Wedding, mainly because I’m a florist and like every other florist in the world, I was waiting with bated breath to see what spectacular displays were created. Traditionally, after a wedding of this calibre, we tend to see an increase in interest from brides aiming to replicate the bouquet.

This time, I think it will be a bit of a challenge for Australian florists, but Meghan Markle’s simple bouquet seems to have captured many hearts, along with the rest of their love story.

The Duchess of Sussex's wedding bouquet was a gorgeous combination of royal traditions and subtlety incorporated the Victorian language of flowers

The now, Duchess of Sussex’s bouquet included sweet pea, forget-me-nots, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, astrantia and the royal tradition of myrtle flowers. Her bouquet includes strong messages from both a royal stand point, as well as from the Victorian language of flowers.

Many of the flowers included in the bouquet grow in the garden at their home at Kensington Palace which I thought was a lovely way to integrate what seems to me to be their down to earth nature as a couple.

According to the language of flowers Astilbe is a symbol of dedication and Lily of the Valley symbolises of love.

The bouquet also contained forget- me- nots which were Princess Diana’s favourite flowers. The bouquet also contained delicate sweet pea blossoms, and jasmine.

The wedding flower arrangements at the entrance of the chapel were later rearranged into bouquet that were given to hospices and women's refuges

Along with the bouquet, London based florist Phillipa Craddock, created a monumental floral gateway, which is said to have been made without floral foam. Perhaps for non-florists that doesn’t seem like some great feat, but to create such a large floral display without floral foam takes great skill, artistry and mechanical ingenuity.

The benefit of not using floral foam is that you can keep the stems long, allowing them to be transformed into something later, and that is exactly what transpired. This time though, they were not rearranged into something for the reception as is often the case, instead the flowers were bunched up into hand tied bouquets, and delivered to various hospices and women’s refuges.

The residents of St Joseph's Hospice were thrilled to receive flowers from the royal wedding.

Phillipa Craddock, the florist appointed by the couple for the Royal Wedding shared a photo via instagram detailing what would happen to the floral arrangements which decorated the entrances to St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle. And later, a resident from St Joseph’s Hospice was pictured holding one of the bouquets with a touching thank you message, and the biggest grin from ear to ear.

The floral arrangements within the chapel were left there, for another couple to use who were marrying in the coming days.

Meghan Markle's bouquet contained secret menaings

Following in the tradition of leaving the royal bridal bouquet at the grave of a fallen soldier, Meghan Markle’s bouquet, was left at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, in Westminster Abbey.

This tradition was started by the Queen Mother at her marriage to King George VI in memory of her brother Fergus, who was killed in 1915 during the First World War.

It is back to business as usual for the couple, who have postponed their honeymoon, and are instead performing their Royal duties.

Did you watch the Royal Wedding?

Fwf x

 

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