flower ID: scabiosa pods

the dainty scabiosa stellata- scabiosa pods, are also known as paper moons, or star-flower pincushions. Striking in a bridal bouquet or as a cluster alone in a vase, scabiosa pods are a name you should remember and tuck in your pocket for future sightings. How pleasing would it be to grow these in your garden and use as a cut flower?

photo credits: floresdelsol, housemartin, mollydunhamflickr, stuetzger, and floragrubb.

the little flower shop

the little flower shop by carambatack designs

I love this beautiful illustration! European artist Annette Mangseth has some intricate and unique artwork you can check out here. Happy Weekend dear friends!

autumn planting season

the autumn container planting season is quickly sneaking up, although today it is 86 outside, I have noticed a few trees turning into rustic colors. I love the autumn hues!

a Fresh Art Plantings autumn design of rustic mums, lemon colored ornamental peppers, plum kale, bittersweet berries and orange glycerin leaves

Fresh Art Plantings is a container gardening business that myself and a fellow floral designer friend run seasonally. We do container planting designs in the Short Hills, Millburn, Summit and surrounding New Jersey areas. For more on fresh art plantings visit here or email me at flowersofthesun [at] gmail [dot] com.

flowering basil

Who knew that flowering basil is so pretty as a cut flower. The wholesale flower delivery guy at the florist I work freelance for gave them to us. He said they didn't have much time left in them, but they smelled delicious. Oh the smell. They smell so wonderful. Delicious is the right word. I rescued them from their garbagey grave as clean up at the end of the day commenced. And the whole weekend my apartment has smelled like a fresh herb garden. And still does.

aalsmeer flower auction

image via here

This morning I would love to roam the world renowned dutch flower auction and pick some fresh floral ingredients. Many of the flowers that you purchase from florists and markets pass through this Aalsmeer Flower Auction, which is the biggest floral auction in the world. The building alone is known to be the third largest in the world for floorspace covering 10.6 million square feet. I guess roaming it would take more than a morning but would be my heaven on earth!

Flores del sol is back online after a big move and much needed vacation. I've missed you all!!! I am working on fixing and setting up my new little studio before I can make new designs but hopefully within the next few weeks they will be streaming in. Happy monday!

torre

torre is an innovative planter system that grows with the plant. As the roots grow and establish, you can stack on more container elements to suit the plants needs without having to fully repot. How wonderful and I love the modern look.

In other flores del sol news, blog postings and designing will be minimal over the next few weeks as I am moving and then I will be on vacation until mid September. My shop will be in and out of vacation mode. Good news though, I currently do not have a studio and have been designing on my kitchen table which makes an awful mess and constant clean up. This new move will provide a space just for my designing which ultimately means more products coming this fall! Happy weekend!

vintage flower kenzans

picture perfect ikebana kenzans -flower frogs- from vintage shop ethanollie. I love the usage of vintage floral kenzans for organic displays. I'm drooling over the last one, so unique! For more about Japanese ikebana go here.

flower ID: coleus

Coleus makes a great cut flower. With colorful Indian summer tones, it is no wonder that my three year old daughter pulled these out of our neighbors little patch of flowers last week. At first, I was mad at her for picking flowers that do not belong to us, until I saw that more good was actually done than bad. Pinching back coleus encourages a more bushier plant. Plus the little sprigs made her so happy and have brightened up our kitchen table for over a week now.

coleus cuttings via joeysplantings on flickr

Coleus are so easy to take cuttings of and propagate. Our little sprigs already have long enough roots to place in soil and grow a new plant. Once growing outdoors they are very hearty in both shade and sun and are perfect in container plantings as an alternative texture to flowers.

image via better homes and gardens july 2010

dahlhaus ceramics

I miss that feeling, of cold clay slipping through my fingers, dust on my clothes and splattered silt in my hair. I took quite a few ceramics classes in college and spent countless hours throwing on the wheel. Someday, my dream home will include a small pottery studio where I can design my own containers for my designs like I once did. Until then I will swoon over ceramic artists and their creativity. Dahlhaus ceramics are beyond beautiful. With clean lines and vibrant flowers, these vessels are handmade by Heather Braun-Dahl in lush British Colombia, Canada. I love the cake platters, but my favorite would be the daffodil floral arrangement vase. Take a look at her etsy store here and her website here.

100th post

my little blog is at it's 100th post today! To celebrate I thought I would take a break from the flowers, plants and pictures to share with you my current favorite song. It's beautiful. A song that both me and my husband love. Oh and today is also my 6th Anniversary --yes I was married on friday the 13th!!-- so this all ties in well.

Happy weekend!
-Christina

stroll in the park

via vouge

C'est magnifique !

flower ID: fiddlehead ferns

Fiddlehead fern curls. A woodland element sprucing up bridal bouquets and floral designs with organic texture and natural flair. Also called monkey tails (but not by me), fiddlehead ferns are just as popular as an unexpected item sauteed on a menu. Both fresh and dried fiddleheads are fragile to the touch due to their heavy drooping curls which are supported by thin stems. They are formed by uncurling from the center of a fern plant and plucked at their curling ripeness. Currently in my shop I have craspedia and fiddleheads for sale. I bought out the supply of dried fiddleheads locally and I am having a hard time finding more. Send good vibes my way!

ps- floresdelsol blog is now streaming on artessen, the top visual indie and design blogs. Hooray! I'm honored!