top of page
fullsizeoutput_7a73.jpeg

Hi, I'm Jennifer, owner and lead designer at Petals a floral design firm in Boulder, Colorado.  Along with my husband and two children, I  grow my own organic blooms using the greenest and most sustainable processes available.  

This blog is where I explore topics from floral design, wedding planning, organic farming and gardening, sustainable living, and our family's quest to find the perfect farm! 

I'm so glad you are here! 

Jennifer

Grow Your Own Wedding Flowers

You're getting married? Congratulations! Growing your own wedding flowers is an incredibly memorable, eco-friendly, and budget conscious way to contribute in a meaningful way to your wedding.


Here is a wedding crown I harvested from my garden for a last summer wedding:


The first thing you need to consider when growing your own flowers is the season your wedding will take place in. In the Northern Hemisphere, if its Spring or Summer you should be fine. Fall or Winter and you will, obviously, need to get creative.


Here are some flowers, by season, to consider growing for your bouquet. Not a gardener? These selections are also a good starting point for sourcing seasonal (which will be the freshest) blooms through your florist.

 

Spring:


Bulbs: Be prepared to plant these the fall before. As long as you get them in the ground by February 1st (and the ground is workable/not frozen) you should be in time for spring blooms: tulips, daffodils, allium, ranunculus, iris.


Bushes: lavender, lilac (be sure to crush the stems when you harvest so they stay hydrated), peony (remember that peony bushes take 3 years to produce flowers, rosemary.


Seeds: By late spring you may already have flowering camomile, sweet pea, and larkspur.


 

Summer:




Bulbs: late allium, dahlias (tubers actually).


Bushes: Roses, lavender, sage, blueberry, and raspberry bushes (fruits make awesome bouquets and arrangement additions!)


Seeds: almost anything goes here, get creative! My top choices are ammi, zinnia, asters, and sunflowers.


Get creative! This bouquet uses jasmine fines, roses, carnations, ruscus, and cala lillies.