Our Favorite Things

We're getting into the Christmas spirit over here!  Decking the halls, drinking warm drinks, and enjoying the smells of fragrant greenery.  What are some of your favorite things this season? 

Farewell to our Faithful Friend

With heavy hearts and soggy eyes, we said farewell to our faithful shop dog in early November.  Shadow was the designated manager, because she would sit at the top of the shop steps where she could see each of us working.  It wasn't until later in her life that she began watching us work.  But when she discovered the perch at the top of the steps, nothing could tear her away from it.  No matter the temperature indoors or out, we left the door open for our furry supervisor.  She watched intently as we processed flowers, designed, and cleaned.  There was something about her companionship in the shop that added a calmness to our hectic wedding weekends.  Her steady gaze of approval was often just what we needed to keep on.  On certain days she requested to come into the shop.  Since she couldn't walk down the steps, this required a trip through the front door and into the garage.  She stopped to sniff each bucket of blooms and requested a head pat no matter how many stems were in your hands.  She plopped down, right in the line of traffic because she just needed to be in the middle of the action, and I imagine the cold cement floor felt good on her belly those hot summer work days...

The shop will never be quite the same without sweet Shadow girl watching our every move.

succulents + wedding bouquets

-via-

image by Kyle Bergner

     Yes! Succulents are still beautiuful as ever and in high demand as interior plants, or in bridal bouquets.  One thing I realized lately, is that I didn't know exactly how to care for them.  I know what you're thinking, "you're the daughter of a flower lady and you don't know how to care for a plant that is near impossible to kill?!"

     I took an afternoon to do some research so I can confidently bring them into my home knowing I wont wake up to a sad shrivled succulent.

>Water LESS!  Eventhough these beauties are made primarily of water, they really don't need much additional water.  Their growing season is in the Spring and Summer, this is the time they need regular watering.  Give your succulents a good soak once a week during this time.  Their soil will dry out between watering and thats good!  In the winter they become dormant so scale back to watering once every other week or even once a month.   The leaves will give you signs of under or over watering, pay attention!  If over watered, the leaves will turn white and wilty.  Underwatering will cause brown spots to appear on the leaves and they will stop growing and shed their leaves.

> Bright light!  These guys are desert natives and like bright sunlight.  Keep them in a window, or whichever room recieves sunlight(south facing windows are best!)  Again, pay attention to the plant, they will tell you what they need.  If they're not getting enough light, they will stretch and their leaves will be farther apart.  If they are getting too much light, their leaves will appear to be bleached.

> Temperature.  Succulents are surprisingly adaptable to cooler weather as deserts usually have a drastic temperature change after the sun goes down.  Succulents can tolerate 50-55 degree weather but prefer 70-80 degree weather and can be left outside during the Summer months.  Just be careful about direct sun exposure!

>Planting succulents: Succulents prefer fast draining soil.  Add rocks or packing peanuts on the bottom of your pot, and soil on top when planting your beauties.  The rocks will allow adequate drainage to prevent the roots from rotting.

> Succulents only need to be fertilized with ordinary liquid fertilizer in the Summer months when they grow most.  No need to fertilize in the winter.

     Overall, these plants really are nearly impossible to kill (yay!)  Just pay attention to what they leaves are telling you and adjust accordingly.  Now go grab one of these lucious plants and give your green-thumb some exercise!  .

-Clancy

Wedding Season Finale

Shade Trees and Evergreens 2014 Wedding Open House

Historic Oakland, Columbia, MD 

Circle D Farm, 

Recent brides get to model their gowns for wedding show at Historic Oakland 

An Extrodinar Limousine service helping one of the brides at the show 

Cookie Ride; Casey Dyson, who delivers cookies from a scooter was a fellow vendor who rented our lighted, bare-branched tree for an eye-catching business card display among the yummies

Dana speaking on wedding trends 

 DellaBloom's display on the veranda of Historic Oakland

Early morning set-up

Historic Oakland, one of the oldest buildings in Howard County, MD

Fun rentals from DellaBlooms

The DellaBloomies ready to help you plan your wedding

As DellaBlooms' 2013 fall wedding season wrapped up, we went out with a bang with not one, but two wedding shows back to back.  We had all hands on deck for these events and they were a smashing success!  The first show was at Shade Trees & Evergreens, where Clancy's wedding was held this summer.  The weather was a perfect day for being outside in the picturesque hills of Frederick, MD.

The second show was hosted by the Red Carpet Bridal Tours.  We set up at the first stop, Historic Oakland  in Columbia, and at Circle D Farm in Western Howard County.  Clancy and her friend Alissa were asked to wear their wedding gowns, of course they were thrilled to wear their dresses a second time!  Thanks to labirdiephotography for being at the second show to snap some pictures.  Dana also had the opportunity to speak on the panel at the end of the wedding show about current wedding trends and flowers.  Check back soon for a post to see just what those trends are!

Take time to smell the roses

Less than an hour away from the shop is a garden tucked away and hidden behind large entrance gates.  Last year I took my mom and daugther to Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens for mom's birthday celebration.  I was astounded by it's beauty and majesty.  From the website:  "Marjorie Merriweather Post bought Hillwood in 1955 and soon decided her home would be a museum that would inspire and educate the public. Her northwest Washington, D.C. estate endowed the country with the most comprehensive collection of Russian imperial art outside of Russia, a distinguished 18th-century French decorative art collection, and twenty-five acres of serene landscaped gardens and natural woodlands for all to enjoy. Opened as a public institution in 1977, today Hillwood's allure stems from the equally fascinating parts that make up the whole. From the captivating life of Marjorie Post to the exquisitely maintained Mansion and Gardens, the experience of Hillwood outshines even the Fabergé Eggs."  

 The floral designer who works on staff creates along with volunteers, fabulous arrangements placed throughout the rooms in the mansion.  Here this one is shown on a grand piano surrounded by photos of former presidents.  See John F. and Jackie to the right of the flowers?

 The rose garden was one of my favorite sections of the garden.  Each one was fragrant and color saturated.

 What would a birthday celebration be without a stop at Georgetown Cupcakes to grab a treat for the road trip home. Yum!

Last weekend we returned to Hillwood for one of their Serene Sunday's.  It was Mother's Day and when asked what I'd like to do for the day, Hillwood came to mind.  The cafe on the grounds served tea which was the perfect break during our touring of the grounds.  The roses were not yet blooming due to this crazy cold spring, but I'm hoping they'll be opened next weekend when I return for a floral design class with my friend Madeline.

If you're looking for a day trip, step back in time and slow down for a leisurely tour of Hillwood. Make sure you stop and smell the roses.