Tire Gardening 101

Posted on August 9, 2016 by dandelionranch

We get a fair amount of passers-by marveling at our tire garden, wondering how we got it started. Actually, it’s really easy to create one of your own. First, take a drive. We see tires all over LA. Scout ’em out … Continue reading →

Allium — symbol of stinky beauty!

Posted on June 25, 2014 by dandelionranch

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

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

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.

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 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!

Throwback Thursday – Robyn and John’s Backyard Wedding

Posted on March 27, 2014 by dandelionranch

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!

Anemones and Ranunculus

Ranunculus

Hydrangea

Spray Roses

Rice Flower, Anemones, Bupleurum, Ranunculus

Spray roses and Ranunculus

“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!

Farmers Market

The Bride and Groom

Table Centerpiece

Nosegay

Walking Side by Side

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 Wedding

The Wedding Party

Ring Ceremony Arrangement

Getting Married!

Nighttime Flowers

First Dance

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

Cutting the Cake!

Amazing Cakes

Flower Cake Topper

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

Thank you from Robyn and John

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

Best of the Season – At Market right now March 17th through 21st

Posted on March 22, 2014 by dandelionranch

There’s no mistaking that spring has sprung! The market is abundantly full of colorful and fresh-blooming flowers; we can’t get enough of the daffodils, lilac, ranunculus, hyacinth, sweet pea, and of course, cherry branches.

Daffodils

Here’s a sampling of what we have in stock at the Barn…

Ranunculus

Rice Flower

Pink Cherry Blossom

Ranunculus, Rice Flower andPink Cherry Blossom

Scabiosa

Lilac

Scabiosa and Lilacs

Fox Glove

Hyacinth

Fritillaria

Fox Glove, Hyacinth, Fritillaria

White Cherry Blossom

Sweat Pea

Sweat Pea and White Cherry Blossom

Viburnum

Penny Cress

Fritillaria

Penny Cress, Viburnum and Fritillaria

Our greens wall is overflowing with rice flower, Australian bells, thistle, boronia, Italian pitt, leucadendron, limonium and again, cherry branches.

Spring Greens Wall

Take a look at some of the beautiful arrangements we created with these first day of spring ingredients…

Feeling Drought Intolerant?

Posted on February 27, 2014 by dandelionranch

With the current drought emergency declared by governor Jerry Brown, Californians everywhere are taking shorter showers, watching their sprinklers, and holding back from hosing down driveways…and we’re glad to hear it!

We here at The Ranch have always been on a mission to conserve water — both with our in-house garden and our drought-friendly designs.

Clover Chadwick

In fact, over the years, Clover’s many drought-conscious arrangements have been a big hit with our clients. Inspired by sustainable design practices, many of these arrangements feature an array of beautiful greens and succulents, dried ingredients, and gorgeous native California flowers.