The other day my sister told me how she had been to a wine tasting and they were giving away free bunches of lavender. I was incredibly jealous because 1) I didn't partake in the wine tasting and 2) I didn't have a fragrant bouquet of lavender in my room. Lavender or lavandula as it's scientifically known, is considered to be one of the most versatile flowers in the world and is used in everything from foods to medicines to aromatic/essential oils. Lavender is characterized by gray-green foliage with thin spikes of purple flowers on long stems. One of the oldest plants, lavender grows wildly all over the earth. Lavender blooms in the full summer sun and requires plenty of water at regular intervals - allowing time in between for the soil to dry. To encourage stronger root production, cut off the first year buds and protect the blooms from wind. Wonderful in gardens, lavender can be planted in containers, flowerbed borders, and used as ground cover. Lavender pairs nicely with sage and is one of the only flowers that retains its fragrance after drying.

The scientific name Papaver, which translates to food or milk in Latin, refers to the milky fluid of the flower's pods. There are 120 species that belong to the Poppy family in a variety of vibrant shades like red, yellow and orange. They bloom in large numbers during summer, and prefer moist soil. Each long, hairy stalk holds one flower and the petals are very thin, almost like tissue paper. Poppies are an ancient flower that were used as decoration in Mesopotamia and Egypt, and although they don't last very long, poppies make great bouquets as well as beautiful garden borders. To make cut poppies last, burn the end of the stem with a match until it blackens, or dip it in boiling water for several minutes. They are one of the most popular wildflowers and the official flower of California. In your garden, remove dead foliage after dormancy or frost to ensure that they grow back pretty and healthy.

I've been eying the pretty blooms of snapdragons (scientific name of Antirrhinum) at all of the Farmer's Market flower booths. Native to the Mediterranean, the common name is taken from the fact that the flower's head resembles the face of a dragon snapping its jaw open and closed. There are a variety of species and the garden plant can grow in many colors. Snapdragons grow year round in full or partial sun and are available in a range of heights - they can grow to be 6-48 inches and have a lengthy blooming period.

Their dramatic spikes are a fantastic addition to any floral arrangement. When planting, space flowers apart to allow air circulation and avoid wetting the leaves when watering. Cut back snapdragons in hottest weather, monitoring the soil moisture to promote new growth when cooler weather returns. Snapdragons are beautiful in flower borders and paired with petunias and geraniums.

Pronounced del-FINNY-um, this flower derives its name from the dolphin shaped buds and is more commonly know as larkspur. Originally from China, there are now over 250 different species found throughout the Northern Hemisphere and the mountains of Africa. The flowers have five petals which grow together to form a hollow flower with a spur at the end. Delphinium blooms in shades of blue, purple, white, salmon, and yellow with the primary blooming season from April to October. Delphinium is a poisonous plant, so handle with care and do not consume. They make great dried flowers, grow in full sun or afternoon shade, and can get up to a eight feet tall. When growing them, carefully stake each flower spike to protect it from breaking in the wind. To prevent mildew, avoid wetting leaves when watering. They combine well with poppies and foxgloves and have attractive uses in vases and as flowerbed borders.

Pronounced stef-an-O-tis, this pretty white bloom is more commonly known as Madagascar jasmine, a name derived from its origin of Madagascar. The trumpet shaped blossoms are traditional flowers for brides because the flower is the symbol for marital happiness. Stephanotis grows on long trailing stems that have dark green, leathery oval shaped leaves. The stems can be trained to climb and weave, and the flowers are waxy and shaped like stars.

The flowers are long lasting, sweetly scented and are considered to be one of the most fragrant flowers. Stephanotis bloom during the spring and summer and need lots of water through summer with a good drainage system so the flowers don't drown. When growing, keep temperatures regulated - drastic changes in temperature can cause the buds to fall. Stephanotis is not easily movable, prefers the sun with little toleration to frost, wet, or cold conditions. Stephanotis lasts about a week in a vase.

I'm a huge fan of Barefoot Contessa and this week I thought I would feature her favorite flower - one she grows in her garden and uses frequently in her simple centerpieces and awesome arrangements - hydrangeas. There are over 70 species of hydrangeas and the flowers bloom from early spring to late autumn. They grow on shrubs in light shade/filtered sun and in moist soil. Hydrangeas have rounded heads and large, coarse, glossy dark green leaves. Similar to broccoli, the flowers grow in bunches at the end of stems. The majority of hydrangea species grow white although some bloom in blue, red, pink, or purple with the color depending on the acidity level (pH level) of the soil. Blue hydrangeas get their color from the aluminum in the soil. If growing hydrangeas remember that they need lots of water and a large hole approximately two feet across and one foot deep. Hydrangeas name is derived from two Greek words: meaning vessel and water due to the fact that their seed-pods resemble that of a water vessel. In bouquets, hydrangeas combine well with lilacs and they are great for drying.

Since so many of you expressed your unabashed love for calla lilies I thought it would be a fantastic flower to feature as the flower of the week. A very versatile flower, the calla lily is scientifically known as zantedeschia - a genus of 28 floral species native to South Africa that derives its name from a 19th century Italian botanist named Giovanni Zantedeschi. It consists of a funnel shape colored leaf that surrounds tiny flowers. The leaves are broad and narrow shaped and attach to the stem at the base of the plant.
Thought of as a weed in many parts of the world, calla lilies grow continuously for long periods of time when watered and fed regularly. They can also thrive in many soils and habitats and can survive minor frosts. For planting they require full sun to partial shade and wet soil moisture. They bloom in the summer, but need a winter rest period for successful re-bloom. Traditionally calla lilies are white although they have been hybridized to come in a variety of colors. The white were originally considered a funeral flower, but in pinks, yellow, lavenders, and golds, they are perfect for weddings - they are also known to be quite hearty and have long lasting bloom.

I recently had a chance to sit down and talk to one of San Francisco's top floral designers, Laura Little of Floramor Studios, about flowers, weddings, and upcoming trends. Laura has a rich passion for the beauty of nature and a grand respect for fine arts that is reflected in all of her arrangements. Established in 1984, Laura and her team have been working with brides non-stop for the past 22 years and have orchestrated the design concept for over 3000 events. Her designs have been featured in countless books about wedding style, magazines from Town & Country to Elegant Bride, and she has a working relationship with all of the major hotels in San Francisco.

On the day I walked into her beautiful studio with brightly colored lime green walls and a checker-print black and white floor at 9 am, Laura had already been up since 2 am. According to Little, the life of a floral designer is far from glamorous with gigantic arrangements having to be ready before dawn to give the illusion that the flowers came out of nowhere. She took me through the steps that she would normally take a bride through explaining that at the first meeting it's customary to spend about an hour going through photos of past weddings until she has an idea of what the bride generally wants. All of her brides get to see a sample version of their centerpieces months before the wedding to ensure that they get to see their own vision brought to life before the big day. For more on floral wedding trends and to read my interview, read more

In terms of style and sophistication, a beautiful floral centerpiece can take a wedding to the next level. This year the trends in floral arrangements have shifted from modern to more traditional. One color of one flower in a cascading and flowing grouping is breathtaking and very now. Flowers paired and accented with fruit are another popular way to create a centerpiece. Keep flowers clean and paired down as over baring fluff and frill doesn't look contemporary. In a large space, centerpieces add drama and a sense of intimacy and in a small space they add personality. Centerpieces set the tone and mood of a wedding or party with blooming yellow sunflowers creating a warm welcoming feeling at a winery wedding and billowing white roses adding elegance to a winter wonderland wedding. The most important thing you need to remember is to think outside the box and don't limit yourself. Get creative and use your imagination to achieve a look that represents you, your fiance, and the style of your wedding. For more fresh ideas on creating the best floral centerpieces, read more

The other day one of my sister's friends stopped by with a bouquet of pretty pink flowers from her garden. They were ranunculus (pronounced ran-UN-kew-lus) a small camellialike bloom that ranges in color from red to yellow to pink and white and grows here in the Western United States during springtime. Wildly popular, there are over 400 different species.


When planting ranunculus, monitor the soil's moisture and handpick away slugs and snails. These bulbs grow in full sun to partial shade, spread naturally, and do best with cool night temperatures and slightly warmer days. When cut, a ranunculus can last over a week, making them an ideal choice for a bride's bouquet, a wedding centerpiece, or a mailed gift. They combine well with pansies, sweet alyssum, and other early spring blooming flowers.

What with the arrival of spring and the wedding season, I thought it was the perfect time to start my new weekly recurring feature, Flowers 101. Many brides and hostesses even have the perfect flower in mind for a wedding or centerpiece, but are heartbroken to find out that it is not in season. Imported flowers can be super expensive and I hope to help you avoid this mistake by educating you on various flower types. Let's start with a flower that just bloomed in my backyard: the daffodil. An early bloomer, daffodils herald the arrival of Spring in late February and early March. Also known as narcissus, there are over 25 various daffodil species. In your garden monitor the soil moisture and feed with all purpose bulb fertilizer. In an arrangement, place the stems in tepid water for a few hours to ensure they will live a long life. Daffodils pair nicely with tulips, grape hyacinths, and foliage plants. Quite tolerant of cold, daffodils grow in the full sun/part shade throughout most of the US with the exception of Florida. Their bulbs are quite durable and contain poisonous crystals that protect the flowers from being eaten by squirrels or rodents. They come in every hue of yellow (from lemon to goldenrod), snowy whites, rich creams, mandarin oranges, spring greens, apricots, and pinks - all of which would be beautiful in any bouquet.