gypsophilia and other flower advice for aug 2 wedding

[craigpugh]

Hello,

i wanted advice on flowers i could sow to get reliable results for my wedding which is august 2nd. I have sweet peas which i have some good advice from from my specialist suppliers.

I want advice on 2 things-

1) Gypsophilia- i have bought some perennial root stock plants dry bagged from a cheap shop, 3 plants per bag and i have 15. When should i plant these and how should i treat them to ensure a good 'crop' for august 2nd?

2) Stand by-s- although the plan is to use just sweet peas and gypsophilia (plus ivy from around and about) are there any 'easy' or reliable standby options which i could sow or plant?

Any ideas gratefully receieved.

Thanks

[jeannine]

I'd definitely grow some verbena bonariensis - it's prolific and looks wonderful in arrangements. Cosmos would be good too in August and alchemilla mollis is always a winner.

Have you got the Sarah Raven catalogue? You can order it on her website - she is the God of growing flowers for cutting, and there are loads of things in there to drool over - you're bound to be spoiled for choice!

[Birdie Wife]

I'm looking for ideas too! We're thinking October-ish but no firm date yet - it's a little late for flowers I know but we do want to be as green as possible so flying roses from Argentina is not an option!! Is anything still in flower then? Sweet peas maybe?

PS sorry to piggy-back your thread craig!!

[Flummery]

My sweet peas were still flowering (a bit!) in November when we took the suports down for winter storage. Roses can also linger on.

[jeannine]

Romance must be in the air!

Cosmos, sunflowers (there are some really stylish small white, black, burgundy and lime green ones), zinnias, cornflowers (in a range of colours), scabiosa (don't be put off by the name they are lovely) and nigellas would all be flowering happily then - you'd probably want to plant the cornflowers and nigellas in June so they haven't gone over.

[SarzWix]

Crysanths should still be flowering in October?

[Birdie Wife]

Chrysanthemums remind my future MIL of death... plus she's been, how shall we say, feeling her own mortality recently. Here's an idea, anyone ever tried making a wedding bouquet from veggies? I'm thinking elegant sprays of carrot foliage, with highlights of pea tendrils and raddichio for colour?

[Two_Sheds]

I like Scabious (pincushion flower) and Cornflower on the allotment. Lovely for cutting and if you stagger plantings you should have them all summer long. I put some Phalaris in bouquets too - its like a stripy grass. http://www.alpinesandgrasses.co.uk/06PhalarisFeesey.jpg

Bronze fennel is nice and feathery, but smells like aniseed (bleugh) http://www.dkimages.com/discover/pre...6/20254179.JPG

[Flummery]

Chrysanthemums remind my future MIL of death... plus she's been, how shall we say, feeling her own mortality recently. Here's an idea, anyone ever tried making a wedding bouquet from veggies? I'm thinking elegant sprays of carrot foliage, with highlights of pea tendrils and raddichio for colour?

We were out walking around an East Yorks village last year when we decided to look around the churchyard - usually very good for wild flower spotting - unless they are too tidy! We met a lady going into the church with some unusual stuff. We exchanged "Hellos" and started to chat. An old chap who loved his veg garden was having his funeral service from there that afternoon and she was decorating the font with veg and vegetable plants. I thought it was a lovely idea!

[skybluepink]

Hi

I did a wedding on Aug 14th and decided to grow a few different reliable cut flowers just in case any thing didn't work. Things that worked were cosmos , cornflowers, larkspur ( all sowed june in gutter to protect against slugs) sweet peas a white nigella and some white gladioli. Sunflowers didn't quite make it in time and the Gypsophilia just didnt work.

good luck

[jeannine]

Birdie Wife, I assumed you were married already? Birdie Fiance doesn't have the same ring though!
Dill and amaranth would both be lovely in a wedding bouquet.

[Protea]

What about some coriander 'confetti' !! new variety with carrot like foliage. The name would be more than appropriate and imagine wafts of coriander as you walk out of the church (or wherever you're getting married)!!

[craigpugh]

Hey, thabnks everyone. I now realise that part of my problem is that i dont know what most flowerrs are!!!

Jeannine, thanks for your hints, however i must admit that in my ignorance i am now totally confused and baffled with too many options. Can any one help m,e narrow it down if i say that our colours are turqoise (or some blues of that ilk) and lilac/ purple.

Are carnations easy, i know what they are! Also, what would be good thinsg to have WITH sweet peas, i have a couple of aunts etc lined up to help grow em but im wantinga back up just in case we havent quite enough of them. And i'm thinking simple vases on the tables, there's no bride so no bouqet, and no church.

Cheers all.