Floriography

I’m newly a “flower meaning” snob because I just finished the all-absorbing The Language of Flowers (aka floriography) and now I want to nab a copy of A Victorian Flower Dictionary, stat. Of course I can only recall like, 10 of them . . . but it’s just more proof I’m not from the 21st century. With the exception of my love of air conditioning, I’m totally from the 1800s.

Below, just a few gorgeous blooms and their cool/surprising/sweet meanings . . . enjoy!

The camellia stands for graciousness . . so apropos since it’s a Southern bloom at heart! Easy peasy for winter brides to incorporate in their florals down here.

Who doesn’t love a fragrant magnolia, which stands for dignity? I notice mine blooming in August, but we’ve had our girls tote them as early as June.

Driving around Hana last week, we had our windows down and Jeep top off and the scent of lilac literally wafted for 10 miles of our day trip. I’ve never experienced anything like it. Lilac means first love!

Bachelor button (or cornflower) is super fluffy and cute, inexpensive, and means anticipation . . . darling.

Hardly a bouquet goes by where we don’t use ranunculus, which mean “radiant”. And what bride isn’t radiant on her big day? I love the myriad of colors these little guys offer.

Un-Flower Flowers

After seeing acres of standard peonies, roses, and ranunculus (ranunculi?) at events all year long, sometimes we like to change things up and rethink the whole flower idea completely.

For instance, at the wedding below, we turned to the artisans at EmersonMade in New York for their modern “tie tacks” as groomsmen boutonnières. At the same wedding, we collected a passel of vintage brooches to use as part of the escort card easel to shake it up a bit. I love how effortlessly Cheree Berry picked up the punchy summer vibe for the stationery suite, too.

Both floral spin-offs felt just right for our one-of-a-kind couple, Ali and Paul!

{Heather Forsythe Photography}

Glad You Got to See Me

That’s what my father-in-law says whenever he leaves after a visit. It always takes me a second to realize what he’s said, then I laugh like he’s never said it before.

That’s what I feel like I’m saying when I say “sorry I haven’t blogged in a while”- as though your world has been less rosy without my daily mutterings? “Rilllly“, you think. (Hi, Kelly! Wink wink.)

My reasons are valid. It’s been a WILD month- hiring, acquiring, dreaming, hanging on by a thread. We’ve pulled off some really great weddings, overhauled our warehouse, set plans for opening another company, taken on more clients for 2012, traveled, laughed our heads off, curled up and cried, you name it. I’m exhausted just writing about it. Saying it aloud makes it real in a very visceral way. Growing pains are good, right?

All the while, our sweet little Sasanqua camellias have been pinking up and bursting forth at our studio (and in my own yard), laying a thick blanket of welcome petals on our stoop. No, it’s not lost on me that our front porch looks like the aftermath of one of our weddings- intentional irony. Can you feel a metaphor coming on? Drumroll, here it is- I see them as I see our team: good Southern girls putting on their Sunday best in the advent of the new year, tucking away the trials and triumphs of 2011 and clearing a path for a clean slate. We’re going to shower (proverbially) the ground around us with fresh concepts and big ideas. I for one cannot WAIT for what’s in store.

In the short term, we hereby implore you to jump headlong into the holiday spirit and festoon your interiors  like we are.

Marching orders:

Break out your long-neglected collections (jadeite, milk glass, sterling, and more.)

Buff with abandon (I currently have “Hagerty’s elbow“.)

Step out into your [sic: neighbor's!] yard and snip something fresh.

Drop plundered treasure into cherished vessels.

Stand back and pat self on back.

Call for impromptu gathering, invite us.

Job well done, glad you got to see me.