Garden party flowers have a specific set of requirements that indoor arrangements do not. They need to hold up in heat, look good at table height, and not fall apart when someone brushes past them. The good news is that the British summer, at its best, produces exactly the right flowers for this.
Dahlias are the backbone ¶
From mid-July through September, dahlias are the most reliable summer flower for event work. They come in a huge range of colours, the heads are substantial enough to anchor a centrepiece, and they hold up reasonably well in outdoor temperatures as long as they are not in direct sun. For garden parties we tend to use the ball and decorative varieties rather than the dinner-plate types, which can look too formal.
Sweet peas for fragrance and softness ¶
Sweet peas are at their peak in July and start to fade by mid-September. They are not a structural flower but they add fragrance and a looseness that stops an arrangement looking stiff. We use them as a secondary element around dahlias and cosmos. One bunch of sweet peas in a centrepiece will scent a table for an evening.
Cosmos for movement ¶
Cosmos is an underrated event flower. The stems are long and slightly flexible, which means they move in a breeze rather than snapping. The flowers are light and open, which gives an arrangement an airy quality that heavier flowers cannot. We grow some of our own cosmos in the studio yard and supplement with farm supply from August onwards.
What to avoid outdoors ¶
Avoid anything with a very short vase life in heat: tulips, ranunculus, and most lilies will not hold up well on an outdoor table in July. Also avoid very pale flowers in direct sun, as they bleach quickly. Deeper colours, particularly the burgundy and rust tones of late-summer dahlias, hold their colour better in bright light.
Practical tips for outdoor arrangements ¶
Keep arrangements in water until the last possible moment before setting up. Use a heavy vessel that will not tip in a breeze. If the event runs into the evening, mist the arrangements lightly with a water spray around 4pm. And if you are doing this yourself rather than hiring us, cut the stems the morning of the event, not the day before.
If you are planning a garden party in August and want us to handle the flowers, get in touch at least a week in advance. We can do everything from a single centrepiece to a full event install. Email hello@willow-zonefield.com.