Flower of the Month: Stock

For January, let's talk about stock. What a terrible name for an all-around great flower! It has clusters of small florets on a spike with a single stem. Their sweet clove-like fragrance and eye-catching texture make them a great addition to any arrangement. Floral designers love them because they can add line and mass to an arrangement. They come in white, cream, yellow, peach, pink, red or lilac. They are relatively cheap and available year-round with January through October as the peak season. Unfortunately, stock is susceptible to mildew, so changing the water daily and removing foliage below the water line are key tasks.

Some of my arrangements using stock:

Indie Wed

May Floral is excited to be a part of Indie Wed on Saturday, January 31st. It will be my very first wedding show! Indie Wed is not your typical boring wedding show. It features independent, local and small businesses that had to go through an application process to be able to participate. Attendants will find a diverse and interesting selection of vendors! Also, it has a party-like atmosphere complete with tastings, live music, craft beers and lots of sweets. I'm happy to have this opportunity to meet potential clients and other wedding pros who also have a more independent spirit.

For more information and to buy tickets, go to indiewed.com.

Flower of the Month: Calla Lily

December (and 2014) ends in a couple of days, so it's probably a good idea to finally write about this month's flower, which is the elegant and dramatic calla lilies.

I don't just love them for their good looks. They're great because they're quite low-maintenance. The stems absorb and hold water, which is why they have such a long vase life. They do benefit from a stem trim every few days because the ends of the stems can get clogged. They're hardy too, which make them perfect for corsages and boutonnieres.

They're available year-round, but late winter to late spring is the peak season. When I buy them at the grocery stores or wholesaler, I simply checked that there are no bruising or pollination. Unfortunately, they're quite expensive, so I try not to use them too often.

Thanks for reading! Happy New Year to all!

Calla lilies look magnificent on their own

They also look great as accent flowers

I love them so much! Proof: my wedding bouquet comprised of these flowers