Bluebells in Jam Jars?

[SeleneMourie]

HI,
This may be a strange question as i am normally a vegetable grower and have very little skill in flower growing....

I like wild flowers and have many Bluebells in my front garden which i love to see every year. The garden is extremely shaded and we had bluebells up until July last year although i know traditionally they come up in April / May.

Next year i am getting married in June and would love to use them for my table decorations.

My idea is basically to dig up some bulbs over winter and put them in jam jars with some drainage and hope they grow. This way after the wedding i could re plant them in the garden or even give them away as wedding favours with 'instructions'.

The other option i have considered is to just dig them up a few days before the wedding and put them in jars as use as above.

Would this work or would they be unhappy?
Any help would be appreciated

Thanks
SCMP

[WendyC]

Bluebells have been flowering earlier and earlier over recent years. This year spring was late so they reverted to their April to May flowering. I'd be surprised if you had them in flower in June but someone who lives in your part of the world might be better qualified to comment. Professional growers use cold stores and heated greenhouses to control growth when getting plants ready for a show but I don't suppose you have them both at your disposal!
I think I'd grow them from bulbs over the winter rather than risking digging them up before.
You might need a back up plan too! Good luck, it sounds like a lovely idea.

[veggiechicken]

I'm not sure about growing them in jamjars because of the drainage issue. Could you put them in small flower pots/yogurt tubs with holes in the base, then put them in moss lined jars or wrap them in fancy paper/cellophane for the big day?

[Two_Sheds]

My idea is basically to dig up some bulbs over winter and...hope they grow.

That's a big if, and I wouldn't want the stress or the extra work, tbh

You could buy some dry bulbs, and give these away as favours?

Then, IF you've still got any looking good in the garden, you could add some to your bouquet perhaps

[Scarlet]

Bluebells have been flowering earlier and earlier over recent years. This year spring was late so they reverted to their April to May flowering. I'd be surprised if you had them in flower in June but someone who lives in your part of the world might be better qualified to comment

I also had bluebells last year in the summer - it's never happened before. Best flowering times for these are April and may although there are always some that come outside if these times. It is a lovely idea but may also be a stressful one!
If you do want to give it a shot I'd be inclined to get them ready now, planted up in pots as Wendy says but it won't be easy to get them all at the same stage/ stages that you want on the big day.
Perhaps you could try growing some June flowering bulbs, alliums maybe?
Alternatively you could just raid everyone's gardens for a casual garden look. Pics are of a friend wedding last year, garden flowers in jam jars.

[Two_Sheds]

I also had bluebells last year in the summer - it's never happened before.

Yes, because of the extended winter, very cold spring, everything was a month behind. Once the tree canopy starts leafing up (May-June) the bluebells die off. They come early in the year when the sunlight can get though the bare trees

[chris]

Just pop over to VC's - she has loads of them. Pink ones too Infact, because of your, miss chicken - I've had to buy some bulbs to plant... !

I like the idea though, but do agree it may be extra worry for you.

[SeleneMourie]

Thank you for all your thoughts and ideas!

I may do a mixture of planting some in pots to 'tart up'and leaving the rest of them in the ground to see what is there in June and if there are a lot then that is simple but if not i would add them to the bouquet and use more in season flowers like the alliums as the photos do look lovely.
My front garden is in shade all of the day, it is just varying shades of shade!!! It is a small garden with a tall Victorian house looming over it so my plants there are rather limited to grasses, wild flowers which like the shade and an evergreen tree.
I think going out dry bulbs as favours would be a lovely idea

Thank you again for your help!

[veggiechicken]

Just watch that the alliums don't smell of onion

[veggiechicken]

What about little pots of forget me nots that you could grow from seed?

[SeleneMourie]

Would it be to late to sow forget me nots?
They are very pretty and i do quite like them!

[veggiechicken]

The seeds are so cheap if it doesn't work you haven't really lost anything!!
Maybe something like this (but DIY ones) Mini pot - Forget-me-not | Online Shop | Vegetable, Herbs, Flower and Organic Seeds

[Two_Sheds]

Would it be to late to sow forget me nots?

Well my self-sown are now good sized plants, which I am this week transplanting into the right places

"Sow the seeds from May to September and they will flower from April to June" (so myosotis will be looking tatty and "over" by June)

I really think you're making life hard, trying to make things grow out-of-season. There must be something that flowers in June that you like?

http://www.dobies.co.uk/Garden/Flowe...Plant/list.htm

http://www.confetti.co.uk/flowers/ma...o-your-season/

[SeleneMourie]

Hi all,

Again thank you for all of your replies and I thought i should really give an update on where things stand!

We have some Gypsophila growing to make plain bouquets for the two flower girls - although not native they are rather easy.

After following TwoSheds links we decided on:
Sweet Williams, Ramsoms, Cornflower and a few bulbs donated by family members which I assured will flower in June! Either way with the flowers at the allotment and the garden we will definitely have a nice mixture of wild looking flowers which will be lovely.

Thank you again for all of your help