Autumn's Eye Candy

Autumn's Eye Candy

Autumn Colors fall arrangements Fall Colors flower trends Lady Aster Marsala Orange Art

The days are getting shorter, Halloween is around the corner, and my heater kicks on every morning--yes, I think it's safe to say that Fall has arrived.  And with its arrival, so comes new and brilliant floral eye candy.  So as it gets cold, let's take a look at what’s hot in the world of flowers.  

Orange Art Tango Lilies

Color-wise, Fall 2015 is looking lush and radiant.  Traditional autumnal colors of orange, yellow, rust, and gold are always favored, and fire-hued blooms are…well… on fire. My favorite is the vivid coloration of  “flame” zantedeschia.  

Flame Calla bouquet with Protea (photo from Tucker and Marks Design)

Orange and yellow parrot tulips with red ilex (The Best of Flowersand Fall 2015)

The Pantone color-of-the-year, Marsala, is also fully coming into its own this autumn. Its "robust and earthly shade of wine-red" resonates with the naturally changing ambiance.  Many Sun Valley flowers achieve this rich color--Sumatra lilies, Royal Lilies, wine dahlias, mahogany sunflowers, and deep red rosehips are just a few that we offer.  And don't forget the burgundy-hued Royal Purple Cotinus, whose dark color provides a great backdrop while also pairing perfectly with warmer autumnal shades.   

Royal Sunset lilies, cotinus, and montbretia pods

 

Rosehips, Cotinus, and Roses make for an elegant look (Fiori by Lynn)

 This year has also seen the rise of super bright, fresh green hues to evoke the fall season—think green trick dianthus, bright green hypericum, and flowering kale.  

Hypericum, dianthus, limes, and artichokes come together for a fashionably green centerpiece (Flowersand)

For advice on what textural pieces are hot this autumn, we asked our friend and floral expert, J Schwanke of uBloom.  “Anything Lacinated!” was his reply.  The “shredded” appearance of lacinated petals adds focal interest, color, and is a perfect Halloween flower. Some prime examples are dahlias, gerbera daisies, spider mums, and the super-trendy protea—look for these in interesting autumn colors, such as flame, lime green, bronze, and marsala.  

Dahlia and hypericum centerpiece (image found at The Flower Shoppe)

Marsala-hued and lacinated bouquets by MarthaStewart.com

 An element that most of these fall arrangements share are pops of color provided by hypericum berries, rosehips, and ilex.  These focal points are tried-and-true seasonal favorites which come in a variety of colors to add just the touch you need.

Iconic sunflowers rest on a bed of autumn leaves and rosehips. (photo courtesy of flowersand) 

Charming fall bouquet featuring green hypericum and mini yellow gerberas (photo courtesy of Loyalist Flowers).

If you incorporate pumpkins into your fall designs this year, J recommends that you look beyond the typical orange pumpkin—use white, grey, taupe, and lavender.  And the wartier the better! Stacking pumpkins on your front porch or yard is also very hip, and lends a look that is rustic, bucolic, and classy.
 

Stacked Cinderella Pumpkin by LLH Designs

Ornamental Kale and Cinderella pumpkin centerpiece (photo from Kirby and Kraut)

In closing, look for outstanding texture in the form of berries, lacinated petals, mossy dianthus, and specialty branches.  For pivotal color, try fire-hued blooms, bright green accents, and the color-of-the-year, Marsala, and you will be ready for Fall 2015.

Do You Know How To Tango? ...Tango Lily that is!

Do You Know How To Tango? ...Tango Lily that is!

Lane DeVries Orange Art Orange ilex tango lilies

“All the freaky people make the beauty of the world.”

                                                                                                                -Michael Franti

Lane DeVries loves to grow flowers. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Lane DeVries’ favorite flower is a soil grown tulip, I swam against the tide to admit that my favorite flower is a lily. What may have gotten lost in translation is how much Lane loves to grow all sorts of other flowers.  Lane is constantly searching out new and different varieties of flowers. There are always several test varieties in the ground, and the growers are always whispering about a new flower they have growing out in the back greenhouse.

Do you know how to Tango?

Flowers not only take time to grow, but they take much more time to understand.  For about the last five years we have been growing larger and larger crops of a really wild Asiatic hybrid lily. Have you heard of the “Tango Series”? These lilies are the new comers to the Asiatic scene, and we are still getting our customers saying, “Whoa, what’s that lily?”

Autumn is in the air... and in a vase!

Today I would like to introduce you to a Tango variety called “Orange Art”.

 

Tango’s are bred in Holland using “Latvia Promise” as a base. Latvia Promise is an Asiatic originating in Latvia with slightly up facing blooms and most notably a multitude of dark speckles and heavy brush strokes.  The substantial amount of dark speckles and thick brush marks, against very vibrant colors is what makes the Tango Series really stand out.

Orange Art is a wonderful fall lily featuring stunning orange with dark burgundy, brownish tones in the throat. The dramatic color scheme can work in all sorts of autumn themed bouquets.  The gorgeous colors match pumpkins, scarecrows and all the fun of the Halloween season.

   

This lily however isn’t for the faint of heart; it could be paired with a witch and a haunted house to look very frightening.  Such a deep contrast all in one flower can be pretty scary.

Spooky!

Orange Art is painted with all the feeling of September, October and November; however, it is more than just a nice fall lily.  This lily has depth and personality that show off its sophistication. This is very modern flower, not just because it is a relatively new hybrid, but its whole feel.  This lily would stick out like a sore thumb at your grandmother’s house, unless your grandmother is Carrie Donovan . 

Orange Ilex and an Orange Art Tango lily.

The flower world gets so caught up in “tradition” and I am guilty myself.  The Ile de France tulip, the Stargazer lily and the American Beauty rose, these flowers represent a great tradition in the world wide cut flower industry. 

Tango Lilies, framed by a 125 year old Black Walnut Tree.

Make a new tradition today.  Break the mold and experience the entire Tango Series.  These lilies are making waves and their wild brush strokes are shaking up the floral establishment. Check out this short film from our new "Field in Focus" Series about Orange Art.