Just when I thought the beautiful spring flowers couldn't get any more beautiful, they do!! October is looking extra special at the moment. Here are a few of our favourite things at the moment.
1. Lilac
Meaning - White lilacs represent purity and innocence, while purple lilacs symbolize spirituality
The lilacs are finally here, and will be for a few special weeks!! In various shades of lilac (excuse the pun :)) and white, they are a beautiful flower with a gorgeous, heady scent.
2. Guelder rose
The guelder rose emerged at the markets a couple of weeks ago in it's signature lime green, but it's now looking a bit more white! It's always a good pre-cursor to hydrangea.
Image Source: Pinterest
3. Kangaroo paws
Or k-paws, are one of my favourites at the moment! Majestic in lime green or soft grey, or cute little mauve or raspberry, I love their name, and the fact that they actually look like little kangaroo's paws!
Most of our kangaroo paws are grown by Craig Scott from East Coast Wildflowers, on the Central Coast.
Image source - @craigioscott
4. Statice
Meaning - Memory and Rememberance
Oh my gosh, the statice is just amazing at the moment!! Our favourite colours are the "sunset shades", but the soft mauves, and hot pinks, are also beautiful! It dries out so beautifully, and is great for an everlasting flower.
5. Paper daisies
Paper daisies are coming in so many different varieties at the moment!! But my favourites are always these ones from Luff Farm.
6. Flannel Flowers
Another pretty Australian native spring flower - flannel flowers are a definite crowd pleaser all year, but especially in Spring.
7. Lily of the Valley
Meaning - absolute purity, youth, sincerity, and discretion. But most importantly, it symbolises happiness.
There is a reason why lily of the valley is also LOV - because I LOV it!!!
It has to have the most beautiful scent of all flowers - EVER. Only around for a short time, which makes it all the more special.
8. Cornflowers
Meaning - tenderness, of fidelity, and of reliability
Traditionally known as blue, my favourites are the pink ones.
9. Rhododendron
Meaning - Beauty and Energy
Rhododendron are often confused with Azalea, but with their much thicker, paddle-shaped evergreen leaves and big round clusters of brightly coloured flowers, which when flowering are so breathtaking they want to make you whip out your phone for a pic.
While they are often deceivingly unassuming when picked, being tight with brown buds, but they are worth sticking with because when fully open, they are striking.
10. Waratah
You'll recognise this beautiful flower as the NSW floral emblem and one of Australia's most well known native flowers. East Coast Wildflowers (our source of all amazing Australian natives) bring the most perfect Waratahs to the Sydney flower market, and we have also been able to source some beautiful stems from Brooke at The Waratah Farm in Calga. We'll often use them in mixed bouquets but they are so magnificent displayed in a vase on their own.
Predominantly a beautiful, traditional red, for a brief moment, the white ones are also simply stunning.
Colours: red, "shady lady", pink, white and "fire and brimstone"
11. Banksia Praemorsa
A beautiful meaty banksia, coming in a lovely yellow, or a rusty colour
There are also some beautiful flowers we talked about last month that are still around.
12. Delphinium
Meaning - Delphiniums symbolize cheerfulness and goodwill, as well as a protective plant.
Delphiniums come in beautiful shades of blue, mauve, and white. The most commonly know delphinium is actually a hybrid! Pictured below.
Image source: Pinterest
13. Forget me nots
Meaning - Forget me not.
One of the only naturally "true blue" flowers available through the year, forget me nots have been sneaking in to the market over the last few weeks.
Symbolizing faithful love and memories, forget me nots are a dainty flower, the size of a tiny button, with a hint of yellow in the centre, and such a pretty element to a garden style bouquet, or even gorgeous just to have a pretty posy of this on your own next to your bed or in the bathroom.
Image Source: Pinterest
14. Ranunculus
Meaning - I am dazzled by your charms
Ranunculus are one of the most perfect flowers! Their rose-like heads, which are formed from layers of tissue-thin petals, bring so much joy to everyone who sees them. Don't be fooled by their delicate petals though, they are surprisingly robust and long lasting. When fresh, their heads are tightly closed and smaller in size, opening up over a few days to reveal the most soft and fluffy flowers.
Image Source: @floretflower Instagram
Image Source: I love Wednesday's for Floreat
Colours: colours range from pale yellow to apricot, red, white, pink, orange and burgundy.
15. Pierus
Pierus is a gorgeous, luxe looking shrub, that is really in it's element now! They have a drapey look, and add a really special texture to our bouquets, and arrangements.
Image source - I Love Wednesday's for Floreat
16. Carnations
Meaning - Fascination, disctinction, or love
With so many beautiful colours available, carnations, otherwise known as sims, have well and truly made a comeback.
I would never have dreamed a few years ago that I would be using carnations in our bouquets, but now, because of their colours, texture, and longevity, they are becoming a staple during the winter months!
17. Boronia
This flower would have to have one of the most beautiful scents I have ever smelt. It is most recognisable in a fuscia pink, but we have known to get it in a soft yellow, and soft mauve. Here is some of the fuscia boronia in one of our bright bouquets.
18. Wax flower
For a very hardy, robust flower these are super delicate and pretty to the eye. Over the last year or so we've noticed the range of wax flower coming into the Sydney market has grown substantially and we are not complaining. The more common red bud and white varieties have been joined by a wider range of pink and purple shades. Some have pretty flowers dispersed throughout their lemon-scented leaves, while others are more densely packed with cluster upon cluster of waxy flowers.
Image Source: I love Wednesday's for Floreat
Colours: white, red, pink and purple
How long they last in a vase: 7-10 days.
19. Jasmine
Meaning - love, beauty, or sensuality
Jasmine is always a sign that spring is on it's way! The jasmine always lends such a beautiful texture to our bouquets, and smells amazing!!
20. Daffodils
Meaning - Uncertainty, Chivalry, Respect or Unrequited love
Another happy addition to our bright and gorgeous bunches. You couldn't get more of a happy flower I think!!
Image source - @tillawinston
21. Anenomes
Meaning - Forsaken Love
One of our all-time favourites!! The beautiful "panda" colour with the blush petals and dark centre is beautiful, and they also come in gorgeous fire-engine red, fascia, purple, Burgundy, and white with a green centre.
Photo source : Elise Hassey for Floreat
Browse Floreat's bouquets in our online shop or contact us if you'd like to chat about something in particular!
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