florals

Fall is finally here! It has happened… temperatures have dropped, and there is a crisp, cool feeling in the air. In Texas, although the calendar says it is autumn in September, we still have weeks of summer ahead of us. We count the days until we can bid farewell to triple digit temperatures and say hello to all things pumpkin… spice, pie, lattes, patches… and sweater weather! Fall brings with it a beauty and atmosphere all its own, with its own celebrations and traditions unlike any other season.

nature’s transformation

As with each season, autumn announces its arrival throughout nature. One of my favorite sites is the beautiful variety in the color of the leaves. The reds, yellows, oranges, greens, golds and browns dot the landscape and put on quite a show. Avid “leaf lookers” plan October trips to New England to bask in their famous fall landscapes. In Texas, our leaves take a little longer to turn, but we can look forward to striking foliage in November.

all things pumpkin

Autumn also brings the previously mentioned pumpkin harvest, along with other gourds and berries. The variety of pumpkins alone is amazing. Traditional “Jack-o-lantern” orange pumpkins are plentiful, but the addition of Italian Stripe, Cinderella, White Casper, Jarrahdale, Fairytale, One Too Many , Crown Prince, and Knucklehead (just to name a few) offer colors and textures to create stunning fall displays.

  • Crown Prince Pumpkins
  • Fairytale Pumpkin
  • Knucklehead Pumpkins
  • Italian Stripe Pumpkins
  • Cinderella Pumpkins
  • One Too Many Pumpkin
  • Jarrahdale Pumpkins
  • White Casper Pumpkins
  • Porcelain Doll Pink Pumpkins

thanksgiving – celebrating a bountiful harvest

One traditional symbol of autumn is the cornucopia, or horn of plenty, which symbolizes an abundance of nourishment. Today, it is closely tied to our Thanksgiving holiday, where we express gratitude for the harvest and God’s provision. The first Thanksgiving celebrated the fall harvest with a festival between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, and in 1941, the US Congress permanently established observation of the holiday on the fourth Thursday in November.

We’ve added a few traditions since that first celebration. Perhaps your family/friends might start the day watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while waiting for the turkey to come out of the oven. At our house, we gather around a jigsaw puzzle that takes all day to complete. Some retreat outside to toss a football or challenge one another to a game of cornhole. After way too many helpings from our feast, some find a spot to nap, while others indulge in a slice (or two) of pie while watching football on television. There are always one or two who are seriously plotting their holiday shopping strategy for the following day, Black Friday.

No matter how the day is celebrated, it’s a day when we draw close to one another. Family and friends who may be scattered near and far come together for this day. Unlike any other holiday in the U.S., Thanksgiving is a day specifically set aside to acknowledge our blessings and the One who gave them to us.

Home Decor

With such a plentiful selection provided by nature, it is easy to bring the season inside to decorate the home. This can be as simple as gathering acorns, pine cones, and leafy branches from your yard and arranging them in your favorite containers, or pulling together an assortment of mini pumpkins on any table. Fill a shallow bowl with small gourds, nuts and seasonal fruits and vegetables to create your own modern-day cornucopia.

If you want to take your Thanksgiving table up a notch, delight your guests with floral arrangements that incorporate the season’s vibrant hues and textures.

Fall floral arrangements are as much about textures as about the colors. Lilium designers pull in touches of autumn, like bittersweet berries, ilex berries, lotus pods, bullit allium and thistle. These are easily paired with fall gourds, ornamental kale and artichokes, as well as traditional florals like hydrangea, roses, orchids, lilies and seasonal dahlias. Dried grasses and colorful leaves add even more to the festive fall presentation.

Ilex Berries
Artichokes
Bullit Allium
Blue Thistle
Lotus Seed Pods
Ornamental Kale
Bittersweet

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it isn’t too early to think about a centerpiece for your holiday table. Lilium will be delivering arrangements throughout the DFW area through Wednesday, November 23. Call early for the best selection: 817-481-1565, or place your order online at: www.liliumflorals.com.

Florals are in full bloom for spring and summer weddings. This season, not only will the bridal party be carrying flowers, they may be wearing them as well. One of the biggest fashion trends this season is floral prints, and brides are finding creative ways to incorporate the theme into their spring and summer nuptials. Feminine and romantic, flower patterns are perfect for outdoor weddings, but can really be used in any venue.

From sweet and subtle hints to bold patterns and hues, floral prints dominated the bridal runways this season. Some brides may choose to wear traditional white, while putting their attendants in patterned gowns. Other brides are abandoning tradition in favor of the flowery trend for their own gowns.

Even if you prefer to stick with solid white or ivory for the wedding dress, consider having a pretty floral shoe peeking out from beneath the hem.

Florals for the Men, Too

Floral prints aren’t just for the ladies. Grooms and groomsmen are sporting floral neckties and bow ties as well. Prints are easily paired with solid-colored suits and tuxedos, and do not have to match the ladies’ prints exactly. Choose smaller prints for a more formal look, or big, bold patterns for a more casual theme.

Mixing Fabric and Fresh Florals

If you are concerned about overpowering your guests with your floral theme, Lilium’s wedding coordinator and lead designer, Taylor Pritchett, suggests brides maintain a balance. “If the fabric print is subtle, fresh flower choices can add a pop of color. On the other hand, if the fabric has bold floral print, opt for a neutral pallete for bouquets and boutonnieres.”

If you envision a floral motif for your spring or summer wedding , let Lilium design the perfect fresh bouquets, boutonnieres and arrangements to complement your flower-themed attire.

Tis the season for holiday parties. Office gatherings, neighborhood parties, luncheons, and church socials compete with school programs, shopping and baking to crowd our calendars this month. In the busyness that often marks the season, don’t forget to show appreciation to that special person who works to plan and pull together a successful holiday celebration: the host or hostess. You will be at the top of the guest list if you show up with a thoughtful gift in hand.

Look beyond the traditional bottle of wine, and consider these options:

Fresh Seasonal Arrangement

Fresh flowers add a festive touch for the party, and the host/hostess can enjoy them for days after the last guest leaves and the leftovers are stored. If you know the party’s theme, request complimentary colors. Is your host/hostess traditional, or have more modern taste? Christmastime is filled with traditions, but florals don’t have to be traditional. Stay within the red, white and green color pallet, or venture into jewel tones. Pick traditional favorites like roses and hydrangea, or step outside the Christmas box with unique tropicals. Adding fresh sprigs of seasonal greenery to the arrangement not only creates a holiday look, it provides subtle fragrances that are sure to put party guests in the holiday spirit. Colorful berries and pine cones are also in season, and add pops of color and texture to an arrangement. Other favorites include potted poinsettias and potted amaryllis, both dressed in festive containers.

Jar Candles and Diffusers In Scents of the Season

Fresh flowers are not the only way to spread holiday scents in a home or office. Lilium is proud to carry the Lafco line of essential oil-based candles and diffusers. The four top seasonal fragrances are Ski House, Tree, Opal Amaryllis and Golden Chestnut. The candles have an average burn time of 90 hours, and their hand-blown art glass containers can be reused long after the candle is burned. The diffuser, which comes in an art glass container with reeds and a bottle of oil for refilling,  is available in the Ski House fragrance.

Gift Baskets

Go the extra mile to show your appreciation to your holiday host/hostess with a gift basket. You might combine luscious Godiva chocolates, a fragrant candle, and fresh flowers, all dressed up for the season in a beautiful basket display. We can add fresh Christmas greens, berries, pine cones or other textures to create a visually stunning arrangement perfect for the gift-giving season.

Customized gift baskets might include Godiva chocolates, a Lafco candle, fresh seasonal flowers and greenery.

Let Lilium help you create a thoughtful gift for your holiday host/hostess this season. Call us at 817-481-1565 or visit our website, www.liliumflorals.com.