Showing posts with label greenery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label greenery. Show all posts

Apr 4, 2017

Spring Flower Series: Viburnum

Everybody has their own "Now it's spring" moment.  For some, it's when the snow melts, for others, when delicate blossoms tip the ends of fruit trees, and for us flower farmers, it's when Viburnum arrives to our Willow Creek Farm. Welcome to Part 2 of our Spring Flower Series, where we welcome Viburnum!
Spring Flower Series Sun Valley


The short n sweet nature of Viburnum's growing season makes these spring branches extra special --we start picking at the end of March (when their heads are nice and full) and we are usually done by the end of April.

 Growing Viburnum

We grow Viburnum at our Willow Creek farm, located 45 minutes inland from Arcata, situated in a mountain canyon with a superb micro-climate.  This "hot spot" provides the perfect conditions to produce these fantastic spring blooms.  
Growing Viburnum
We plant viburnum in both open fields and covered hoop houses--the hoop houses hold in heat and contribute to a faster growing rate.  We can stagger our picking schedule, starting with early-season hoop houses and ending with their open field-grown counterparts, and this little trick allows us to extend the short viburnum growing season by a few more weeks.   

Early Season Viburnum in Hoop
 Viburnum is also known for its color change during the season.  First, its mass of tiny blossoms bloom in a vivid green color (known as early-season Viburnum), in a hue that is the perfect representation of Pantone's 2017 Color of the Year, Greenery.  Then, as our crop matures and the open-fields get some time in the sunshine, our early-season green viburnum develops into a brilliant, ivory white.  Their "late-season" white color, as well as their spherical, puffy shapes, is why you may hear them referred to as Snowballs


Sun Valley Snowballs
L-R: Sun Valley Sleeve, Early Season Viburnum, and Late Season Viburnum

 We pick while the crop is still mostly green, much like we do with our iris, tulips, and lilies.  This guarantees a longer vase life, plus you can watch the blooms color up beautifully.

American Grown Viburnum
American Grown Viburnum

 Viburnum Arrangements

When displayed by themselves, these gorgeous specialty branches provide a great focal pop of color, and have a natural, rustic, garden-fresh aesthetic.  
Viburnum bouquets


Regardless of whether you opt for early-season green or late-season white, this botanical and its long, wooden stems makes it the perfect complement with quintessential spring flowers such as tulips, iris, and hyacinth.

Viburnum and Tulip bouquets
Tulips and Viburnum
 In fact, tulips and Viburnum are such a powerful, popular spring combination, we offer enhanced, 8-stem bunches of Viburnum and French Tulips.  These combos are big sellers, so be sure to contact your sales rep soon to get your hands on some of these seasonal favorites. And don't wait too long...Spring and Viburnum will be gone in the blink of an eye!

Tulips and Viburnum arrangements
Viburnum and French Tulips

 Lady Aster Sun Valley Floral Farms




Jan 10, 2017

Pantone Color of the Year 2017

This year, Pantone was looking for a Color of the Year that could symbolize revitalization and new beginnings.  What they found was the zesty, super-fresh shade of  Greenery (15-0343).

Pantone 15-0343 Color of the Year

This bright yellow-green hue is demonstrative of burgeoning, blossoming foliage and the lush, calming effect of nature.  The color serves to invigorate, energize, and connect.  Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Institute describes Greenery as "a symbol of new beginnings, fresh, and revitalizing."
Sun Valley Viburnum snowballs greenery
 Pantone Greenery in Viburnum
Tulip and Greenery As Oasis Floral Products has pointed out, Greenery functions as nature's neutral--it is the color that naturally complements fresh flowers in organic design.  One cannot imagine the colorful petals of a tulip without its complementary greenery; the two are inextricable in their form and function.

So, florists are celebrating Pantone's vibrant color selection this year, and together they will continue the movement towards versatile, natural, and fun floral designs.  Even the novice designer may find that Greenery will make the creation of fashionable flower arrangements easy-to-achieve this year.

Floral Greenery 

While greenery has often been seen as a background color, it is refreshing and exciting to see it being pulled to the forefront of floral design.  After all, the fresh vibrant hue of Greenery appears in several flowers, naturally.  Some of our favorites include Viburnum, Green Trick Dianthus, Bells of Ireland, Amethyst Hydrangea, and Ornamental Kale.
Flowers that naturally greenery
Bells-of-Ireland, Ornamental Kale, Green Trick Dianthus, Amethyst Hydrangea
When displayed by themselves, these gorgeous flowers and botanicals provide a pop of fresh color, and convey a feeling of organic, holistic, and harmonious living.
 
Green flower design
L-R: Viburnum, Dianthus, and Bells-of-Ireland

Green flowers, foliage, and botanicals have been on the rise in wedding palettes, bouquets, and arrangements.   These fresh and pretty designs work well with the trends of natural, rustic-modern, and sustainable wedding decor. 
Natural Green wedding Bouquets
Greenery-based Bridal Bouquets: Green Trick Dianthus, Fern, Parrot Tulips 
Natural Green Wedding Centerpieces
Greenery-based Wedding Arrangements L-R: Green Ball Dianthus, Viburnum, and Hydrangea

It's no secret that the colors we use and are surrounded by affect our moods and emotions.  Greenery is not only gorgeous and easy to incorporate; it is a color that can fill one with optimism, momentum, and vigor.  

Here's looking to you, 2017.

Lady Aster Pantone Color the Year