Allium — symbol of stinky beauty!

What do onions, shallots, chives, garlic and an estimated 750 species of beautiful plants all have in common? They are all types of allium, the diverse plant that has been cultivated throughout human history. Today, most alliums are grown as ornamental plants, and for good reason: They make a great early summer plant –modern, elegant, colorful and long-lasting.
Globemaster Allium

Globemaster

A wide variety of alliums can brighten up any drought-tolerant garden, too. These sturdy plants will grow in almost any well-drained soil, and if you’re looking to create a natural barrier in your garden they’re just the thing: their long blooms create a great wall effect and their love of sunlight makes them perfect for a sunny lawn or garden.

Mount Everest

Here are some of the most notable alliums that we love to use:
Purple Sensation: The deep purples this allium produces will catch anyone’s eye. Purple Sensation is 2 ½-feet tall which makes it ideal for lining a walkway. The dazzling 3-inch-wide globes arrive in the late spring and early summer. Place Purple Sensation in a sunny area and it will thrive.
Purple Sensation Allium

Purple Sensation

Globemaster: Lighter in color than Purple Sensation, their heads can be as big and as round as a softball (or a globe). Globemasters can bloom in late spring and reach as high as 4-feet tall.
Globe Master

Globemaster

Mount Everest: A popular variety, this white bloom is truly majestic. Their heads are the size of a baseball, and they can grow to be 3-feet tall.

Mount Everest

Drumstick Allium: The Drumstick’s head is the size of an egg, making it the perfect demure flower for arrangements. Also, the purple and green coloring of this allium allows it to mesh well with other flowers and greens.

Drumstick Allium

Allium Siculum: This beautiful cluster of drooping bells is native to southern France, mainland Italy and Asia Minor. It blooms from May to early June, making their season much shorter than other alliums. The cream-colored bells have a maroon streak running down each petal, which links to a green base with a 3-1/2-foot-tall stem.
Allium bells

Allium Siculum

We love using alliums in our garden screen arrangements — their clean-lined stems make modern arrangements turn beautiful and breathtaking. Even The Knot has said they might be the coolest flowers ever. Also, their love of sunlight and low water usage makes them a hearty flower that will be sure to draw the attention of your guests all summer long!

Best of the Season – At Market Right Now June 1st through 7th

Dahlias and peonies are the stars of the show this time of year. They took over the market this week and we picked up some beauties – including dinner plate dahlias as big as your head!

Here is what is best at the market this week…

Dahlias, Peonies, Pink Cottage Yarrow, Lisianthus, Coffee Bean, and Alstroemeria

Olive Leaf, Geranium, Thistle, Artichoke, Bupleurum, Oregonia, Ruscus, Viburnum, Verigated Ivy, Huck, Myrtle, Acacia, Lambs Ear and Kangaroo Paw

And here are some of the arrangements we created with this weeks ingredients…

Dayna Birthday

Peonie Pave

Fowler Centerpiece

White and Green Boat

pink cuties

Vintage urn

Girly Girl

Throwback Thursday – Robyn and John’s Backyard Wedding

For #tbt we wanted to showcase Robyn and John’s backyard wedding from 2011 and say Happy Anniversary!

Their wedding featured spray roses, ranunculus and soft greens – and the color palette was PINK!

“Think Anthropologie” said Robyn, and we were in love. They ate chocolate dipped strawberries in the harbor after their ceremony and laughed the whole day!

 The reception took place in Robyn’s parents backyard. It was mostly a homemade affair; Robyn made felt flower boutonnieres for John and the TEN groomsmen and strung together paper dot streamers for the ring exchange.

backyard

Backyard Wedding

She chose hobnail glasses and mason jars for the centerpieces and asked for cake toppers for their “bake sale” inspired dessert table.

Robyn and John, we hope you are just as happy today as you were three years ago. We were so honored to make your wedding day gorgeous.

Happy Anniversary!

3.26.2011

for advice from Robyn on her backyard wedding, go here:

 http://snippetandink.com/diy-backyard-wedding-orange-county

Check us out on The Knot for more of our wedding pictures!

http://dandelionranch.com/weddings.html