How to Decorate Cakes with Fresh Flowers: Floral Wreaths, Crowns & More

Buttercream cake with a cake crown of rosemary, lavender and one bright pink anemone.

Buttercream cake with a cake crown of rosemary, micro flowers and blackberries.

What is a cake crown?

A cake crown is a miniature floral wreath designed to decorate the top of a cake, pie, or other dessert. Made with tiny herb cuttings, delicate foliage, and fresh or dried flowers, a cake crown is a beautiful way to bring the natural beauty of the garden to your dessert table.

While cake crowns are often used as fresh flower cake decorations for weddings, birthdays, showers, and other special occasions, don’t feel limited to cakes. These little botanical wreaths are surprisingly versatile. Generally ranging from 4 to 10 inches in diameter, they can be scaled to suit all kinds of celebrations and tablescapes.

Try using smaller cake crowns as floral napkin rings for a dinner party, or place them around individual place settings as a natural alternative to traditional flowers. They can also be used to embellish seasonal centerpieces—a miniature crown around a pumpkin in autumn or nestled around a vase filled with candy canes in winter.

Think of a cake crown as a tiny piece of flower art that can move beyond the cake. With a few fresh flowers, herbs, and bits of greenery, you can create a simple botanical decoration that works throughout your celebration.

Below is a time-lapse of me creating a cake crown from herbs, foliage, and flowers.

Time-lapse video of Kim Bensing creating a cake crown or mini wreath.

what you’ll need

To make a cake crown or mini floral wreath, you’ll need just a few simple floral design tools. Start with green florist wire. I typically use 22-gauge floral wire because it’s flexible enough to shape easily while still providing enough structure to support the flowers, herbs, and greenery. I prefer green wire because it blends naturally into the foliage and is less noticeable in the finished wreath.

If you already have another type of flexible floral wire on hand, you can certainly use it instead. Just make sure the wire is clean, unused, and appropriate for floral arranging.

You’ll also need small wire cutters, floral adhesive, and your favorite pair of flower snips. With these few basic tools, you’ll be ready to create your own fresh flower cake crown, mini floral wreath, or botanical cake decoration.

Supply list

Sturdy Greens & Foliage such as:
-Boxwood
-Rosemary
-Eucalyptus

A few mini fresh or dried flowers buds and pods:
(a few suggestions)
-Begonia
-Lavender
-Ranunculus

Green Florist Wire
Wire Cutters
Floral Snips
Flexible Ruler (is helpful but not required)
Floral Adhesive (Oasis is a reliable brand that I use)

How to make a cake crown topper or mini Floral wreath

Creating a cake crown topper or mini floral wreath is surprisingly simple once you have the right size wire base. For a cake crown that measures approximately 6 inches in diameter, cut about 12½ inches of floral wire from the roll. This gives you enough length to form the circle and wrap approximately ½ inch of wire around the opposite end to securely close the ring.

The amount of wire you’ll need will vary depending on the size and purpose of your wreath. A 6-inch, 8-inch, or 10-inch cake crown will each require a slightly different length of wire.

Because I often create fresh flower cake crowns for cakes of different sizes, I like to use a flexible ruler to measure my wire ring precisely. This makes it easy to create a wreath that fits the top of the cake beautifully—large enough to make an impact, but not so large that it hangs awkwardly over the edges.

Taking a few extra moments to measure your cake crown topper before adding the flowers will give you a much more polished and professional-looking finished design.

Vanilla cake with a cake crown of rosemary, eucalyptus, and mini begonia.

• Prepare your supplies, flowers, and greenery. Gather everything on your work surface and snip your greens and flowers into manageable pieces that will work well with your floral wire frame. I like to create a small work area using a paper towel or, even better, a paper plate. The round shape makes an ideal work surface and helps protect your table or countertop from floral adhesive.

• Attach your first pieces of greenery. Place approximately three small dabs of floral adhesive on the back of two small base greens and allow the adhesive to set for about 30 seconds. Position the pieces on the wire, adhesive side down, facing in the same direction. Hold them gently in place for about one minute, or until they remain secure when you lift your fingers. Because the sprigs are small and lightweight, very little pressure is needed as long as the adhesive makes contact with the wire and has enough time to set.

• Continue layering the greenery. Once your first pieces are firmly attached, work your way around the entire wire frame, adding greens and foliage until the wire is completely covered. As you go, tuck the stem of each new piece underneath the end of the previous piece. This overlapping technique helps create a fuller, more natural-looking mini floral wreath while concealing the wire.

• Add your focal flowers. Wait a few minutes for the greenery to become secure before adding your flowers. This gives you a stable foundation and makes it much easier to create a balanced cake crown topper.

• Choose small flowers, buds, and botanical details. Small, tightly formed flowers, miniature buds, and seed pods work especially well for a cake crown. Look around your garden for interesting little blooms—even flowers growing from hanging plants can provide beautiful details. Dried flowers are also a wonderful option during winter. I especially love using strawflower saved from the fall because it holds its color beautifully. Don’t be afraid to incorporate interesting grasses and pods, too, as long as they are clean and won’t drop seeds, shed petals, or otherwise create debris on the cake.

Choose Flowers That Will Hold Up

When creating a fresh flower cake crown, it’s important to consider how well each flower or herb will hold up out of water. Some varieties are naturally sturdier than others, while delicate flowers and herbs can wilt quickly. Avoid anything that loses its shape easily, especially if your cake crown needs to look beautiful for several hours.

I usually keep my completed cake crowns refrigerated until it’s time to place them on the cake. This helps the flowers stay fresh and maintain their shape. If possible, use a clean refrigerator or a separate refrigerator without food, since food odors, moisture, and bacteria can affect delicate flowers.

Add the Flowers and Botanical Details

Once your greenery is securely in place, begin adding your small flower buds, seed pods, herbs, and colorful botanical accents. Use just a small dab of floral adhesive to attach each piece, working your way around the wreath and placing flowers wherever they create the most pleasing composition.

Try not to overdo it. One of the beautiful things about a mini floral wreath or cake crown is that it doesn’t need to be completely covered with flowers. Leave some of the greenery visible and allow the individual blooms to breathe. Often, the simplest floral cake designs are the most elegant.

Freshly made cake crowns can typically be kept in the refrigerator for a few days, making them easy to prepare ahead of your celebration. I’d love to see what you create, so please leave a comment and share your photos!

If you’re local to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, I’m also available to create a custom fresh flower cake crown for you. Just give me a call or send me a text to get started.

For those who want to make their own, I’ve linked all of the cake crown supplies and floral design tools below for your convenience.

Chocolate cake with a cake crown of boxwood, eucalyptus, lavender, dried pods & micro flowers.

A Note About Flower Safety

Whenever you’re creating fresh flower cake decorations, choose flowers and herbs that are in season and know how they were grown. Avoid flowers that have been treated with pesticides or other chemicals that are not appropriate for use around food. It’s also important to research the flowers and herbs you plan to use, as some varieties can be toxic or poisonous.

Most importantly, remember that a cake crown is a decorative element, not an edible decoration. The flowers, greenery, wire, and adhesive should be removed before the cake is served.

Please clearly tell anyone receiving or serving the cake that the cake crown is NOT TO BE CONSUMED.

Layered naked cake with a cake crown of wax flower and blackberries.

HIRE A DESIGNER OR CREATE YOUR OWN

Whether you’d like to create your own floral cake decorations or have a professional design them for you, there are plenty of beautiful ways to bring fresh flowers and herbs to your celebration.

Explore more floral cake ideas to see examples of fresh flower cake designs, cake crowns, floral wreaths, and botanical cake decorations, along with pricing for custom designs by Studio Sprig.

Layered cake with a cake crown of boxwood, rosemary, lavender, & micro flowers.

I look forward to connecting with you!

I’m always here to inspire and support your creative journey. Sign up for Studio Sprig to receive new post notifications, creative inspiration, and fresh ideas delivered to your inbox. You can also follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for more floral design, botanical inspiration, and beautiful ideas for celebrating with flowers.

Cake Crowns designed by: Studio Sprig
Cakes: One Sweet Baking Co.

Buy on Amazon

Wire Cutters

Buy on Amazon

Floral Wire

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Buy on Amazon

Floral Snips

Buy on Amazon

Flexible Ruler

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate and will sometimes offer affiliate links. The price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link. Thank you.

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How to Make Your Own Mint Tea

Pineapple mint

A few years ago I began growing a few pots of mint right outside on my deck. Before long I began growing many different varieties. To prevent excessive spread, I grow all of them in pots except for Apple Mint which gets quiet tall, and some Spearmint which I scattered around as groundcover.

Mint Varieties

This past summer, I grew 7 mint varieties and I actively dried them to create delicious summer iced teas.

The mints I grow

Pineapple Mint
Apple Mint
Strawberry Mint
Spearmint
Peppermint
Chocolate Mint
Orange Mint

Strawberry Mint

Harvesting Fresh Mint

To keep things manageable, I have decided to cluster all the mint pots on the deck right outside my back door. This way they are easy to care for and simple to harvest. I find it’s important to harvest often to promote growth. The best way to harvest is to cut your mint stems just above the new, tiny leaves or buds. To do this I use this snip tool. I find it’s the best. A sharp, clean cut will strengthen the plant, keep it healthy, and encourage it to branch out in other directions.

Harvesting Peppermint

Cleaning and Drying the Mint

After I snip the mint that is ready, I wash the leaves thoroughly, after I carefully remove the leaves from the stems. I find it’s easier to remove the leaves at this stage before drying because then I don’t risk getting pieces of stem in with the leaves, but you may find you like removing them after you dry your mint. It really doesn’t matter, so just do what is easiest for you. Once the leaves are clean and separated from their stems, I place them on a large serving dish or my stainless baking pans to dry. Most of the time I just let them air dry for a few days but if I am going to be home for a while I dehydrate them in my oven at 175 degrees. If you choose to put them in the oven or dehydrator, they should only take a few minutes. Thorough drying is very important because you do not want any moisture left in the leaves or they will mold when you store them.

Drying Orange Mint

Storing the Mint

Once you are sure your mint leaves are completely dry and crumbly, it’s time to store them. I like to use Mason jars just because I love the look. I created an Herb Drying Rack in my pantry and you can learn how I did that here. But be warned, last year I made the mistake of sealing the jars with traditional Mason lids and I learned that even if you have just ONE moist leaf, your entire batch will be ruined. Luckily, I found these wonderful stainless steel screen lids that fit Mason jars. These lids are great for two reasons, they allow air circulation and now a mint scent fills my pantry.

Stainless Steel Mason Lids

Chopping the Leaves

After the mints dry, I briefly run them through my coffee grinder or food processor if I have a large amount. You can also just scrunch them up in your hands. Any of these methods chops the leaves so they are small enough for the tea bags. It’s not necessary, but I like when the leaves are small because they are easier to scoop out of the mason jars with a spoon.

Unchopped Dried Spearmint

Chopped Dried Strawberry Mint

Making the Teabags

Once you have a collection of dried mints or other tea favorites like dried orange, lime or and lemon peels, echinacea petals, lavender, and chamomile it’s time to create some of your own tea bags. I use unbleached tea filter bags by Numola. What I like about them is they have a drawstring, not a staple, and they are fully compostable. I can toss them right into my countertop compost bin without worry. These filter bags do not come with label tags so I bought simple kraft hang tags which I tie on the string of the bag.

To fill I open the filter bag, fill it about halfway with one or multiple varieties of dried mint, flowers, or fruit, and then tie it securely so the mints do not escape when you place it in water. Once I’ve created a tea variety, I label the tag accordingly and tie that to the teabag. I enjoy giving these herbal & floral teabags as gifts in breakfast baskets and to make my own iced tea.

Unbleached Teabags

I hope this post inspires you to grow some mint or other tea-worthy, edible flowers like the chamomile above, and that it helps you create some warm winter sips. Please comment “MNT” if you’d like a full list of supplies for dying & storing your own mint.

10 Ideas for an Eco-Friendly Event or Wedding

Boutonniere design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Karmapants

There is so much that goes into planning any event large or small, and remembering to keep things simple and reduce your carbon footprint may be your most difficult challenge. Did you know that the average wedding produces a massive 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of CO2? It's not surprising to me, having worked in the industry for over 25 years, but it is disappointing.

The good news is that there are many eco-friendly ideas you can implement when planning your next event if you don’t want to contribute to that excessive waste. Whether it's your wedding day, or just a big day celebration, always considering your environment and your carbon footprint is very important.

First, try breaking your event down into manageable bites by making two lists: "must-haves" and "can live without". You'll quickly find that it's not as difficult as you may have thought and sorting now helps to simplify everything later. Here are ten things to closely consider when planning your day.

1. Consider a Micro event

When creating your guest list, remember it's quality, not quantity that matters. Good news, some of the most special events are very intimate affairs. Although the word micro doesn't only have to describe your guest list, there are plenty of ways to "Go Micro" for the environment, and still have a sizable guest list.

2. Hire an event Planner

At first, an event planner, 'day of', or coordinator might seem like an extravagance that you can't afford, but hiring an event or wedding planner may prove to be your best decision overall, and here's why. Planners plan all day, every day. They know the venues, the entertainment, and all of the little idiosyncracies that might trip you up along the way. They can save you a lot of time, wedding waste, aggravation, money, and especially all that running around. So don't rule them out before you begin. Consider your location, time availability, and energy level. Where are your efforts best allocated?

Venue Hotel Du Village. Flower design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Cultivating Joy Flowers. Photography by Elle Studios

3. find A Beautiful Venue

When hunting for a venue, it's a good idea to open your eyes wide and focus on everything, not just capacity and catering options. Look in every corner of the interior, entryways, hallways, bathrooms, and outside in the gardens, parking lots, and all around the grounds where your guests may wander. Take it all in, because this is one area you can really save a bundle.

We all know what it can cost to decorate an empty social hall, school, or ill-styled restaurant. Sure, the price may be fine and they may provide you with tables and chairs, but is that enough? Chances are you'll need to provide all of your own linens, centerpieces, flower embellishments, arches, favors, candles, and sometimes even food. The list can go on forever. But some more inclusive venues provide most of those things and provide you with the proper ambiance that wipes all of the other items off of your list.

Take this gorgeous barn, for instance. It belongs to a good friend of mine and requires minimal embellishment to make it really pop for a small-medium event.

A micro-event at Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm.

Beautiful venues really focus on visual impact. When touring, take a good look around outside because so many venues have beautifully landscaped grounds and gardens that need no embellishment at all. The decore is built-in. In fact, adding decor can actually take away from the natural beauty that is already there. In some cases, you can host your entire event in a garden space and not need to purchase anything to enhance the event. The flowers and greenery are already all around you! And be inquisitive, many venues today offer a room full of rentable decor, candle votives, large flower planters, and other items for your tables Some even offer these items to customers free of charge. Always ask the venue coordinator, you may be surprised by what they already have and are willing to provide. This is always a better option than buying everything new if you are only intending on using it for one day.

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Flower design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Littlewing Studios

Here is a peek into Cassia & Justin's green wedding on a beautiful farm property in East Greenville, PA. The wedding took place during covid and the couple did a wonderful job creating a micro event that mimicked an old country wedding. After a couple’s photo session next to the barn and in the fields, everyone walked from the outdoor ceremony up the small hill to the reception which was inside a glass-enclosed mini barn. Most guests stayed overnight on the property at the Inn, just a few steps away. The reception decor was simple and consisted of buckets of fresh flowers and herbs which the bride and maids placed onto three unique micro cakes and into small glass bottles. Photography courtesy of Littlewing Studios.

Herbs grown by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Littlewing Studios

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4. beg, borrow or thrift

If your event is repeated and let's say you host annually, then I'd suggest just purchasing the linens and other necessary items once, and using them as much as possible, but if renting or borrowing is available to you and that makes more sense, then do it.

Flower Farm Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm. Photography by Littlewing Studios

When searching for vases, candle holders, or other tableware, I suggest always starting at consignment or thrift shops. Antiques are always nicer than new and giving these items a second look is commendable and very green.

I also always encourage my clients to borrow. It’s likely a friend or family member has just the thing you are looking for. Over the years I’ve created many centerpiece arrangements using cherished family heirlooms as the vessel. Delicate teacups, a vintage bottle collection, you name it. Added bonus: there’s often a sentimental story attached to these pieces and guests enjoy hearing it.

5. Host an event At Home

Don't underestimate the space you have right under your nose. This idea always scares people, but using your own home is an easy way to reduce your costs tremendously if cost is a concern. You do not need large furniture or vast spaces to entertain at home. Honestly, I've hosted many events here on our farm both outside in the yard, and inside in our four small lower-level rooms. Our home is not big because it's 172 years old and the rooms were designed to keep people warm and close. But because we always knew we loved to entertain, we made a few good renovation choices over the years and they have helped us achieve this goal successfully.

Many of us have incorporated a patio or deck into our outdoor landscapes. These areas are always great choices for hosting a warm-weather event. I've hosted many events on our very small deck with a round iron table that only seats 4! Truth be told I bought that table at a yard sale, 23 years ago. No matter, because it still works great and when I need more seating, I just add smaller cafe tables, benches, and bars made from old barn doors (all purchased on the Facebook marketplace) to accommodate guests. Miscellaneous ensembles can make our deck look like an eclectic cafe and I'm okay with that vibe.

As for the lawn space, I try to use most of that too. If our event is larger and I need lots more seating, I just rent long tables and chairs from our local rental store. They rent for the entire weekend so I can sometimes squeeze two parties out of one rental. It's relatively inexpensive to rent and very easy because I do not have to worry about storing anything.

6. Stay Local

Choose your event space or wedding venue wisely. The environment is always impacted by where you chose to host. If you want your guests to fly to a destination wedding, for instance, this will undoubtedly affect the sustainability of your event. But driving long distances may as well. There are creative ways you can keep everyone local so they almost don't need to travel at all.

Source: The Knot

Take for example the New Orleans Second Line Wedding Parade, a brass band processional tradition that predates the Civil War. Modern couples incorporate this historic custom into their wedding to give homage to their New Orleans roots. In this tradition, the brass band leads guests on foot from the wedding venue to the reception venue. Now, you'd need for your venues to be near enough, but even if you don't hire an escort band, you could incorporate an eco-friendly l between-venue walk, also popular with rural weddings long ago. And if you have a family member with limited mobility, come up with a cherished way to honor them in your foot parade.

7. eco-conscious sourcing

Casual Biodegrading

If your event calls for more casual, disposable serving products like plates, utensils, and napkins it's best to always choose biodegradable materials instead of plastic. Not only will you have less waste, but you won't contribute to the pounds of trash that most events do.

But don't worry going green does not mean you are not limited to paper goods. There are so many sustainable options today. Below I’ve compiled a list of natural sources with links to compostable dinnerware you can order for your next event. I hope you find a sustainable alternative that fits your style.

• Palm Leaves

• Compostable Wheat

• Bamboo

• Sugarcane

Photo courtesy of Maggpie Rentals

Glamorous Renting
Consider renting fancy dishware and glassware instead of buying everything. This opens up the door to an extra level of glam, while still impacting the environment in a positive way.

And did you know you can easily rent almost anything you need? For instance, the seating ensemble above, and many others can be rented from Maggpie in Boyertown, PA. If you have an empty space to fill or just need an interesting backdrop, shop the exact look you want and rent it! Here is a list of other beautiful and off-beat rental options you may not have known about.

• Love and a Truck Co.

• Fox and Finch

• Lovebirds Vintage Rentals

Design by Studio Sprig. Handmade Paper Porridge Papers. Eco-Conscious Printer Bucks Digital. Twig from backyard.

Sustainable Stationery

When considering your event stationery needs, it's best to always use recycled or handmade paper and nontoxic inks - or search for sustainable or eco-friendly graphic designers and printers like Bucks Digital, in your area if you are not the DIY type. And if you love to DIY, a great paper source is Greenfield Paper Co. from California. They have reinvented the age-old tradition of creating fine paper without cutting down trees. Green Field Paper Company offers three lines of recycled papers that integrate post-consumer pulp with non-traditional additives such as seeds, hemp, coffee chaff, denim, junk mail, and garlic skins! All of their products are made in the USA and they do not use any dyes or bleach. Earth pigments are used to color the papers and all of their seed paper contains non-GMO non-invasive seeds. Or Porridge Papers, my source in the design above, whose owner Christopher once produced a single custom sheet that was sent to Martha Stewart and another order of  2.2 million pieces embedded with lettuce seeds for Kraft Foods. Using seeded and plantable paper is really cool, good for the environment, and a way to save the “memory” of your event.

8. Stay in Season

Flowers

If you choose to incorporate beautiful flowers or plants into your event design, always try to stay in season. Seasonal blooms have always been the goal of Studio Sprig for many reasons. First of all, they are much fresher and much more beautiful, in my opinion. Many times they are harvested one or maybe only two days before your event. This means they not only look their best, but they will hold up longer if you want to repurpose them afterward. Staying in season is so good for the environment because you are using what nature is already providing instead of forcing growth in greenhouses far away in climates more suitable. Here is a nice guide for choosing flowers by season.

Food & Drink

Building your menu around the seasons is such a smart idea. Tomatoes always taste better in summer. We all know this. Staying in season and trying to use local farms eliminates the need to transport food long distances at great cost. Most chefs would jump at the chance to create a menu with only seasonal ingredients, and if you are preparing the food and drink yourself, here are two helpful books.

9. Grow Your Own flowers

When it comes to your event or wedding flowers, there are plenty of sustainable flower farmers you can choose from. Some of them have designers on the premises while others contract the service.

Another good option might be to plan ahead and grow your own. This is much easier if you're planning a micro event or a larger event with less need for custom flowers and greens. But if you or someone you know is an avid gardener, this endeavor could be very rewarding. If you do decide to do this, however, I’d recommend a backup plan just in case. Weather and pests are obstacles to be aware of. This book by Floret’s Erin Benzakein is a well-organized guide to growing your own.

Ann Hayes of Southern Pines at Cornerstone Farm gives a tour of her dahlia fields.

And did you know you can also hire local farmers to grow flowers for you? I work with several growers willing to do this if they have enough lead time and can grow what the event requires in the correct season. And when local farmers grow your flowers you have the peace of mind that the job will get done right and if they do run into a problem on your special day, they are most likely to have a surplus of other varieties for you to choose from and/or the connections to get what you need.

Cool idea: Hosting a tour of the flower farm growing your event flowers is a unique way to bring a small group from your event together. It’s a fabulous setting for an outdoor bridal shower or with this tour you can create an educational precursor for an eco-friendly fundraising event.

10. Donate whenever possible

Food
One great way to avoid a lot of food waste after your catered event is to donate your leftover food to a local church, animal shelter, food bank, or homeless shelter. You'd need to follow food safety guidelines of course and ask your caterer if they have a process in place for this already, but if they do not here are some links that may help you find what you are looking for.

• Feeding America: Looking for a Food Bank near you

• Great Nonprofits: Looking for a Homeless Shelter near you

• Humane Society: Looking for an Animal Shelter near you

Decor & Flowers
Donations of decor are also appreciated greatly. Perhaps you know you'll never use 200 votive candle holders again or you just don't have space for the 25 vases you accumulated. There's probably a bride out there somewhere who would love to recycle your glass jars for you. Or maybe some local hospitals could use a few fresh floral arrangements for their lobby this week. One of the easiest ways to resell your lightly used decor is on the Facebook marketplace.

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Flower design by Studio Sprig. Flower Farm Detweiler Homestead. Photography by Taylor Cotilla

Enjoy this glimpse of Lindsay & Jordan's late summer wedding. Lindsay requested a pure white, sustainable bridal bouquet so I chose to work with one of my local favorites, white lisianthus. These focal flowers were grown on the reputable Detweiler Homestead Farm originally in Telford, PA, and they were accented with greens harvested from Bloom Flower Farm, originally from Hilltown, PA. A bridal, one bridesmaid bouquet, several boutonnieres, and cake flowers were the complete floral order for this beautiful, micro event.

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This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact  Kim@kimbensingdesign.com. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you. This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

Eliminate Sneaky Sugars

Did you ever take a hard look at the ingredients in some of your favorite products?

I did. I took a close look at my go-to salad dressing. The one I drizzle over my special homemade plantwiches. This dressing is commonly known as Good Season’s Italian and it’s pretty popular because it’s fresh and light and…not creamy. In years past I vigorously purchased these little boxes, ripped open the mini packages inside, and mixed up my light and perfectly tangy dressings so that I’d have a continuous supply on hand. Today I mix up my own homemade, and here is why.

The sneaky Ingredient in this box

Sugar, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Garlic (Dried), Onions (Dried), Spice, Red Bell Peppers (Dried), Carrots (Dried), Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Parsley (Dried), Guar Gum, Natural Flavor, Soy Sauce (Dried) (Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Citric Acid.

There it is. Sugar. We’ve all heard that if the very first, or even second, ingredient on the label is Sugar back away and return it to the shelf. According to Rutger’s Center for Alcohol and Substance Abuse Study, sugar addiction is more dangerous than you think. They report that The World Health Organization (WHO) states that an adult living on a standard 2,000-calorie diet should aim to consume about 25 grams of sugar per day.

Let’s face it, if you’re not intentionally picking up a candy bar you may be eating more sugar than you’d like because sugar is constantly sneaking into food products and beverages where it really doesn’t belong. The same study tells us that “just one cup of Dannon Low-Fat Vanilla Yogurt, for example, contains a soul-crushing 34 grams of sugar. Meanwhile, VitaminWater contains 17 grams.” Vitamin Water! This Rutger’s study and many others suggest that some food companies include little bits of addictive sugar in their recipes, just to keep you coming back, not actually to enhance the taste.

Because this has been on my radar for quite a while, I’ve thought long and hard about why a fresh, herbal, olive oil-based salad dressing would need sugar at all. I can’t come up with a solid reason except for the addiction factor. This is why I first attempted to create this dressing without sugar. I am happy to share how easy it is, so you can quickly make your own.

Gather a few herbs & spices

I grow a lot of organic herbs here at Windy Hill, however, I also buy many of my spices and herbs at the grocery like everyone else. Either way, gather up what you’ve been able to dry or take this list to the store and buy the following bottles.

• Parsley (2TBSP)

• Onion powder (2TBSP)

• Garlic powder (2TBSP)

• Salt (2TBSP)

• Oregano (2TBSP)

• Basil (2 tsp)

• Black pepper (2 tsp)

• Paprika (2 tsp)

• Ped pepper flakes (optional for zesty) (1 tsp)

• Thyme (1/2 tsp)

• Celery seed (1/2 tsp)

Of course feel free to eliminate something you don’t care for, and replace it with something you like as long as it’s not sugar. I usually add a dash of Turmeric and Cayenne pepper for health but if you love onions, add chives and if you like lemon, add dried lemon verbena. Just keep in mind, if you already like the GS Italian mix flavor, this precise list will get you there.

the best Containers

For Liquids: Years ago I purchased the standard cruet that is sold alongside the Good Season packages and I do like it for proper mixing because it has marks telling you how much extra virgin olive oil, water, and vinegar to add. I find this helpful for a consistent taste every time.

For Seasoning Mix: After you’ve combined the measured dry herbs & spices pour them into a medium mason jar. (I like to use the mason jars with glass lids - these come with air-tight seals) Then shake well so the contents are evenly distributed. When mixed scoop out 2 tablespoons and add it to the cruet which should already contain the oil, water & vinegar. Lock the cap and shake vigorously.

The dry seasoning mix will last a pretty long time in your pantry as long as there is no moisture inside the jar. I keep the cruet filled with dressing in my panty because I use it pretty quickly.

I hope this quick and easy recipe helps you eliminate those sneaky sugars that top your salads or plantwiches. There are many other processed items out there with sugar hiding somewhere. Seek, and you shall find them. If you see unwanted sugars in some of your favorite foods, google a sugar-free alternative recipe to find healthier options, or just try creating it yourself. Be sure to check out the Garden Gift Idea below in the inspire section of this blog. And I’d love to hear your comments and places you’ve found unwanted sugars lurking. Thank you for reading, Kim

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Learn: NY Times: “How to stop eating sugar”
Create: Double your batch of freshly made salad dressing mix, and place about 4 tablespoons into tiny jars with little corks. Give as gifts.
Inspire: Garden Gift Idea / Place some preserved moss inside a galvanized bucket. Fill with 1 cruet, a tiny jar with your homemade seasoning mix. Be sure to label the seasoning mix with these stylish labels and also include 1 small bottle of extra virgin olive oil, and 1 small bottle of specialty vinegar.

I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here.

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Herbs: How to Grow, Harvest and Dry Your Own

Fresh Herbs on the Kitchen Island at Windy Hill Farm.

Herbs and spices are so beneficial to our health and add fantastic flavor to our food but have you seen how much they cost right now? Check out the spice aisle the next time you’re at the grocery, it’s astounding. Just yesterday I went to buy 4 spices and dried herbs and I honestly asked customer service what was going on. The poor woman was unsure but mumbled something about Covid or possibly Ukraine. I don’t think she knew. So I bought what I needed, came home, and decided to dig up an old post about the herbs I grow and process here at Windy Hill and bring it back to life. I hope you enjoy.

An Herb Garden

Years ago we had this little enclosed garden built because, here in Pennsylvania, our deer problem is REAL. I love seeing them daily, but they come in nightly and decimate most of our flowers and plants. We commissioned a local carpenter to build this outer garden structure and raised bed. I found a vintage flower trellis, sawed off the legs, and hung it at the entrance to serve as my door. At first, I used it to grow flowers and some vegetables but in recent years it has become the home sweet home for my herb garden.

In this garden, I grow many of the standards we all love, Oregano, Parsley, Chives, Rosemary, Thyme, Eucalyptus, Catmint, Lemon Verbena, Bee Balm, Dill, Marjoram, Chamomile, and Basil. Every spring I try to add something new and different after I see what comes back. It’s a very pleasant plot that really comes in handy for cooking and even sometimes in flower arrangements.

Windy Hill’s gated garden in early spring.

Herbs for cooking and decor

It’s true, I use many of these fresh herbs when I cook but I also sell them to local bakeries where they use them to adorn their cakes or other desserts. When requested, I also use fresh herbs to create cake crowns or wreaths for special occasions.

Cake: One Sweet Baking Co.

Cake: One Sweet Baking Co.

Scatter the herbal Goodness

Because I also try to use all of Windy Hill Farm, I plant herbs all around the property. Like you, I’ve been warned about the hazards of mint but sometimes I just plant it anyway as it’s a better ground cover than nothing and it keeps our honey bees happy. Here is a little patch of mint that grows next to our cottage. It’s November, but it’s still going strong. Mint is great for tea, salad, bouquets, or just a snack.

There is a great big patch of lemon balm, a less-known member of the mint family, that was growing in our backyard for probably hundreds of years! In 2016 I added some apple mint to the patch because I wanted that sturdy and tall apple mint for my arrangements for Studio Sprig. My daughter then painted a wooden sign to say “Lemon Balm Lane”, which I hammered right into the ground. I use the abundant lemon balm to make pesto when I’m low on basil. It smells great in bouquets and salads and makes for a nice little jar of scent to give to a friend for their kitchen window. The apple mint is flourishing and it usually makes its appearance in vase arrangements as a beautiful filler.

Everyone’s Beloved lavender

Next to our barn at Windy Hill is a mini rock wall upon which I planted some lavender. Everyone knows how nice it is to have lavender that you can just cut whenever you want. Find a good spot and try planting some in the spring. This area by our barn has good drainage and stays pretty dry, so this Mediterranean herb seems to like it here. After some harsh Pennsylvania winters, I sometimes need to replenish some of the plants, but over the last few, the lovely perennial has been mighty and strong.

Windy Hill’s barn rock wall of lavender.

Enjoy drying herbs

When you harvest your lavender it’s really nice to hang it upside down and enjoy it for a little while before giving it away or cooking with it. It’s just so pretty to look at and you can use it to make so many unique things. Surprisingly, I’ve made shortbread cookies with lavender and they are delicious. I recommend you look around for your nearest lavender farm or better yet, just start grow your own.

The Windy Hill barn is a great place to hang lavender.

a surprising sunny Delight

Marigolds are another herb that I bet you weren’t thinking about. Here’s what I love about marigolds. I first bought them a few years ago to place around my garden to deter the rabbits. I enjoyed the vibrant flowers all season and in the fall the flowers began to dry up so I gathered them to harvest the seeds. I just popped the dried flower heads into a brown paper lunch bag and waited until I had time to pull them apart.

When I had a few minutes, I pulled each flower head apart and hundreds of seeds fell out. I saved them all winter in the paper bag, giving little bunches to friends so they could sprinkle them into their own gardens in the spring. You’ll be amazed at how many seeds each flower produces. I think I’ll have marigolds forever and I only had to buy them once.

This garden below is the result of a small sprinkling all along the edge of this building. As I said before, it’s November and they are still going strong. I can’t even harvest until they dry up. But this tremendous crop will yield tons of seeds that I can sprinkle everywhere next year. And the great thing is that Marigolds are edible. The flowers lend a dash of color to many recipes while adding a mild flavor to drinks, soups, and pesto. And I just learned that the food industry uses marigold as a natural dye to give cheese and butter a more appealing yellow. The dried flowers are also put in certain teas to make them look more attractive. So grow some marigolds, they couldn’t be easier.

Windy Hill’s Marigold Garden.

Pops of Herbal fun

Don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of land, instead make good use of pots and planters. I usually tuck little bits of lavender, basil, or thyme into all of my flower planters around the property. The bees really love it and I think the flowers benefit from the herbal good vibes. So if you have limited ground or garden space, just squish a few herbs in a window box, a vintage watering can, or a flower pot on your porch. The more the merrier.

Herb Harvesting

I usually begin to harvest my herbs in mid-summer. Like many cut flowers, herbs love a good cut. Always use a clean, sharp shear when cutting flowers, herbs, or any plant because you want to minimize the bacteria getting into the plant. Herbs seem to produce more readily once they are harvested the first time. It's best to harvest herbs in the morning while the leaves are still saturated with flavor. Bring everything in and give it a really good wash. Then lay them out on the counter for a few hours if you intend to dry and store them.

Herb drying

When I decided I wanted to begin drying lots of herbs, I created my own herb drying rack in our pantry because I couldn’t find one I thought was attractive. Most looked like giant butterfly habitats and I didn’t really want that hanging in my house. If you’re interested, you can read my post on how I created this stylish herb drying rack here.

After I harvest the herbs, I clean and drip dry them on the counter before I place the herbs into these baskets which I sometimes line with cheesecloth just so water isn’t dripping on the floor. Be sure to spread the herbs out so that air can circulate properly. That’s it. I just wait a few days or a week and let the air circulation do its thing.

DIY Herb Drying Rack for pantry or kitchen.

Herb Processing

After the herbs are fully dry, I strip the leaves with this little Joie Leaf Herb Stripper and place them into a mini coffee/herb grinder or if you have lots, use a food processor until well-chopped. I’ve linked the products I use here and at the end under shop this blog. And be sure to eliminate all stems before grinding. Another method is to just crinkle up the dried leaves in your hand. I find this works better for tea because the coffee grinder makes the leaves too fine for a tea ball. I learned that the hard way.

Processing and Chopping Fresh and Dried Herbs.

Herb Storing

Once dried and processed the way you like, scoop all the herbs into sweet little magnetized spice tins with air vents or some other storage container. Keep in mind a ball jar with a lid will not work because the herbs look pretty but they will eventually mold. I’ve also used brown kraft lunch bags which I label with a sharpie. Just don’t use plastic sandwich bags because of the moisture and the mold. I found these spice tins work well because they keep things well labeled and allow air to circulate. I have my magnetized tins neatly displayed on the side of my refrigerator where they are easily accessible and I store the overflow in lunch bags. I replenish as needed.

Stylish, Magnetic Herbal Tins with Labels.

Magnetized Spice and Herb Canisters with Labels.

HERB enjoying

That’s about it. Once you have them you can enjoy them in teas, on pizza, or in your homemade olive oil dip! Here I just scattered some herbs on homemade dough before we baked it. Delicious little snack with olive oil, some fruit, and a slice of hard cheese.

Homemade dough with dried, chopped herbs for olive oil dipping.

HERB sleeping

Take some time this winter to contemplate Your Herbal Adventure. I’ll provide some links to products for your holiday list so that you can use them this winter to plan and dream your perfect spring.

Windy Hill’s Gated Garden in winter.

Learn: A great handy book to learn about herbs: Herbs by Leslie Bremness
Create: Try growing a mini herb garden in your kitchen this winter with this Window Herb Garden
Inspire: Begin creating little bunches of herbs to give to friends and see how the love grows.

If you’d like to try your hand at processing and drying herbs, here is the list of supplies I used:
SHOP THIS BLOG:
Lime Green Joie Leaf Herb Stripper
Garden Shears
Herbal Tins with Labels
Mini coffee grinder
Shaker Pegs
Large Metal Baskets
Small Metal Baskets
Curtain Clips
Cheesecloth
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I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. - Kim

This post contains affiliate links. As an amazon associate, I earn a small commission at no further cost to you. Thank you.

DIY Herb Drying Rack: Herb Drying at Home

Studio Sprig by Kimberly Herb Drying Baskets

Are you interested in drying your own herbs? I just love fresh herbs and I grow many on my farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. If you are interested in how I do that, please read this blog post: Herbs, and how to grow, harvest, and dry your own.

I use lots of fresh herbs in everything, my floral designs, my cooking, and even my baking. Having a large herb garden is great in the summer, but I soon realized I needed to dry much of my harvest because they were growing so fast and I just couldn’t eat them fast enough. Drying is a great way to have plenty of herbs throughout the winter.

Herb Drying Racks

As I began searching for herb drying racks I came to discover I did not care for the many options out there because they reminded me of large, round, mesh butterfly cages and I knew they would not fit well in my rectangular pantry -where I wanted to dry the herbs. So instead of buying one, I created my own.

How I Created My Own

First, I started with an existing peg rack that was already hanging in my pantry. If you don’t have one, you can easily find stylish pegs or hooks to add to any wall with this link.

I then hung simple curtain ring clips on four of the pegs and attached these simple metal baskets to the clips. You can find metal baskets in all shapes and sizes depending on what works best for you.

Next, I removed the rings from the clips and used just the clips to connect basket to basket, creating a cascading effect. I hung two columns of baskets, two deep, but you can create any configuration that works in your space.

Lastly, I lined the baskets with a small cutting of cheesecloth in case the herbs were damp from washing and needed to drip.

Now, the aroma in my pantry is always wonderful and it’s also a pleasant sight when I walk in -as it takes up the entire back wall. The great thing about this herb drying rack is that I can add to it and go all the way down the wall if I wish. If you have a large wall to cover, you can always intersperse framed herbal artwork or framed herbal photos taken from a calendar. You can also use your own custom photos or paintings and design a unique “Herbal Wall”. To help, I have included a list with links below where you will find some of the materials I used.

Supplies you’ll need:
1. Shaker Pegs
2. Large Metal Baskets
3. Small Metal Baskets
4. Curtain Clips
5. Cheesecloth
6. Herbal Artwork
7. Herbal Photos

I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. Kim
This post contains affiliate links. As an amazon associate, I make a small commission at no further cost to you. Thank you.

How to choose flowers that have sentimental meaning

The Meaning of Flowers

Long before I opened Studio Sprig in 2016, I owned a freelance design business called Kim Bensing Design where I told sentimental romance stories through book-like wedding invitations. Because of my background in conceptual advertising, the captivating stories about my engaged couples were what I was after. I interviewed them extensively before I even began the design work. I loved this aspect of my job. I really enjoyed getting to know their backstory, and what message they wanted to relay to their guests with their invitations.

So in 2012, my first daughter Kate was graduating 6th grade and I wanted to buy her some flowers. But I didn’t want them to be just any pre-made, handheld bouquet wrapped in plastic. I wanted them to be especially meaningful to reflect how ultra special she was to me. So I went to a florist near me and asked them to tie up a few specific blooms & sprigs for my daughter to hold at her ceremony. This is four years before I knew anything about the floral industry, local growers, seasonal flowers, or pesticides. I did, however, know about plastic wrap, and I knew I did not want that! When I arrived, I was strictly interested in the meaning of the flowers and I asked for their help. And because I needed a card to explain the flowers, I also designed and attached a simple little one that illustrated the meaning of each flower in the bouquet and why I chose it. I hoped that she’d keep this forever but I am not sure she could actually find that card today, as she’s now 22 and a very busy graduate student. But through that small, ribbon-tied bouquet and a little tiny card, my undying love was conveyed that day, and it was the catalyst that propelled me to launch the Bucks County, boutique floral art studio; Studio Sprig, four years later.

Choosing Sentimental Flowers for Arrangements and Bouquets

Here is a short list of some of the flowers I chose for Kate’s bouquet above, to the best of my limited 2011 knowledge, and again because I can’t find the card!!! I hope you get the idea.

The focal flower is Stock & it is a symbol of a happy life, lasting beauty, and contented existence. It also smells AMAZING!!
The purple Aster symbolizes love, wisdom & faith.
The scattered Baby’s breath symbolizes everlasting love.
I am sure there were a few more sprigs tucked in, but I can’t see them in this photo, so sorry.

This topic of “the meaning behind something” has always fascinated me so here is a little flower history for you.

Floriography: The Language of Flowers

Floriography, the language of flowers, has been practiced in traditional cultures throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa for thousands of years. Strong interest in floriography soared in Victorian England and in the United States during the 19th century. Gifts of blooms, plants, and specific floral arrangements were used to send a coded message to the recipient, allowing the sender to express feelings which - and I love this part - could not be spoken aloud in Victorian society. A popular book entitled Le Langage des fleurs by Charlotte de la Tour was published in France in 1819. Here, Charlotte offered 300 meanings for particular flowers to provide assistance in making bouquets. Victorians often exchanged small "talking bouquets", called nosegays or tussie-mussies, which could be worn or carried as a fashion accessory.* I always love this because I carried a tussie-mussie filled with roses, hydrangea, and herbs for my wedding in 1998, having absolutely no real understanding of why I chose one except that I loved Jane Austen.

If you are unfamiliar with the illustrations of Kate Greenaway, take a look at her gorgeous 19th-century children’s books including the one linked below.

I hope you have enjoyed learning the meaning behind the meaning of flowers. Below please see the short list of some popular blooms and their symbolisms as well as a few current and not-so-current resources I discovered. You can click on the image and it will take you to where you can buy it. Have fun the next time you create a bouquet from your own garden or pop into your local flower shop or farmer’s market, and be sure to request specifics based on what they will mean to your recipient. Remember to always attach a small card to explain!

Helpful Links to learn more about meaningful flowers

I have included a link for the french edition of Le Langage des fleurs if you would like to add it to your collection. There are also more current options which I will include below. Most notably the gorgeous books authored by Shane Connolly. Enjoy.

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Amazon

Floriography Sources

Shane Connolly of the UK is a renowned designer who designs for England’s royalty. Shane exemplifies the idea of discovering how florals can relate to the concept of your event. His beautiful website is worth browsing. Here are 6 of his published books that would be worth reading.

The Secret Language of Flowers: Rediscovering Traditional Meanings

Language of Flowers

Wedding Flowers

A Year in Flowers

Table Flowers: Over 50 Arrangements for Simple, Special and Spectacular Occasions

Discovering the Meaning of Flowers

Please comment to share some other interesting floral symbolisms or stories you’ve enjoyed or created. Include images!

A short list of popular flowers, herbs and their symbolisms:

~ Zinnia / friendship, & daily remembrance
~ Rose / love & passion
~ Peony / love, honor & goodwill
~ Dahlia / commitment & kindness
~ Tulip / passion & deep love
~ Carnation / love
~ Calla Lily / life & fertility
~ Gerber Daisy / cheerfulness & celebration
~ Orchid / thoughtfulness & charm
~ Gardenia / trust, hope & peace
~ Sunflowers / loyalty & admiration
~ Hydrangea / gratitude, grace & beauty
~ Rosemary / remembrance
~ Sage / wisdom & immortality
~ Thyme / courage & activity

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Learn: Read a book about the meaning of flowers
Create: Design a handheld tussie-mussie and assemble with a note
Inspire: Share your creation with a friend

I hope you enjoyed this Inspiration. Please leave comments below. I’d love to hear about your cool floral combinations. I’m always here to help you with your creative journey. Please sign up to receive blog post notifications and follow Studio Sprig on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I look forward to connecting. If you’re a blogger, what’s your favorite SEO Tool? I’ve had much keyword success with RankIQ. Learn more here. - Kim

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*source: Wikpedia
Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate and will sometimes offer affiliate links. The price you pay will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link. Thank you very much.

Simplified Wedding Ceremony during Covid

Is it possible to design and flawlessly execute your dream wedding in late July 2020, during covid?

Yes. Cassia and Justin used this opportunity to simplify and scale down their ceremony and reception while still creating the day of their dreams.

To accommodate guests they rented this splendid Airbnb in Berks County, Pennsylvania for friends and family as their backdrop and gathering site. Friends congregated the night before and prepared in the well-appointed farmhouse. The next day, the couple’s socially-distanced outdoor wedding ceremony took place on the back lawn, while the reception dinner was a short skip up the hill in the small, but perfect, mini-event space - custom built just for events like this.

Cassia requested a simple, seasonal bouquet of fresh herbs, bold zinnia and glorious summer dahlia, loosely tied with a white dangly ribbon. It was the perfect accompaniment to her free-flowing, meadow dress. Justin’s funky floral tie looked great paired with his tiny “clustered wildflower” boutonniere.

The small-scale redesign of this wedding allowed the bride and her family the opportunity to design their own dinner tables and a trio of cakes with plentiful fresh-cut organic herbs, sprigs, and flowers, supplied the day of by Studio Sprig. I think the results are breathtaking. If you enjoyed this blog please subscribe here. Thank you.

Please enjoy more stunning event photos by Scott and Kristi of Littlewing Studio.

Why You Should Choose Seasonal Prom Flowers

Prom is the one ‘school’ day each year where you can really shine. You’ll brighten the room with your stunning gown and glamorous hair, so why should your flowers be mediocre, bland, and quite frankly, dull?

Many of you know I began designing flowers in 2016 after many years of designing as an Art Director. Studio Sprig is my Bucks County, PA design studio that thrives on working with, not against, the environment. What that means is that I work with the seasons to choose my flowers, herbs, and sprigs whenever possible. I’ve cultivated relationships with many local growers and I’ve worked hard to learn how to create floral designs creatively using as much “seasonal nature” as I can. Much the same theory as your preference for fresh from-the-garden tomatoes in the summer only. We all know it’s because summer tomatoes taste so much better than winter tomatoes. Flowers are no different. They are so much fresher and more beautiful when they are grown locally. Their stems are not thick because they were bred for long travels. Their fragrance is not absent because they were bred to produce more and not for their scent. They look better and last longer because they were probably harvested yesterday as opposed to 3 weeks ago so they could lay dormant in a big, dark cooler.

Purple and White Anemone Prom Posy.

Hands down, local is the way to go. And the great news is that in this portion of the country, we have a plethora of local farms growing beautiful flowers. You just need to know where to look. Don’t worry, you don’t need to because I have done the homework for you. All you need to do is learn what flowers are in the season of your event. Whether is a prom or a wedding or even just a smaller party, if it falls between March - November (Northeast United States), chances are there are beautiful flowers you can count on.

In this story:

• Winter Wedding Flowers

• Spring Wedding Flowers

• Summer Wedding Flowers

• Fall Wedding Flowers

Spring Wedding Flowers

Spring couples are in luck because so, so many flowers reach peak bloom during the spring. Plus, the colors, from purple lilacs and hyacinths to soft pink sweet peas and peonies, are just divine. Learn more about in-season spring flowers here.

Best March Flowers Wedding Flowers

Ranunculus Given that ranunculus is such a popular flower, many couples look into procuring it all year long. However, it naturally blooms during late winter and early spring so it'll look especially fresh and sprightly at a March wedding.

Sweet Pea This delicate bloom smells great and looks amazing, but is only available for couples tying the knot in late winter or early spring.

Tulip Much like daffodils, tulips are a classic late winter and early spring flower. Tulips (which come in shades as varied as vibrant yellow to pastel pink) bring an elegant, refined feel to wedding arrangements. Much like daffodils, tulips are an iconic spring bloom known for their distinct shape and vibrant colors. Fringe tulips are a trendy variety that continues to gain popularity among florists and nearly-newlyweds alike.
Anemone
Known for their iconic black center, anemone flowers bring a fun and whimsical element to all floral designs. Anemone season runs from October through May so winter couples and spring couples alike can make use of this dramatic flower.
Daffodil
Daffodils are the quintessential spring flower. The trumpet-like blooms, which are available from February through May, would look beautiful in assorted bud vases on your reception tablescapes.
Hyacinth
Hyacinth, which is generally available in early- to mid-spring, is a great addition to spring wedding bouquets. The plant, which comes in a variety of colorways from pink and purple to white, grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8, which means it's readily available across the US.

Best April Wedding Flowers

Sweet Pea While most couples think of pink and peachy hues for sweet peas, the botanical also grows in brown and purple colorways as well.

Lily of the Valley A favorite of the British royal family, this small bloom is great for an April garden wedding.

Hyacinth Similar in shape to lilacs, hyacinth (which can be white, pink or purple) works well in spring centerpieces that benefit from the plant's height.

Lily of the Valley
A favorite of the British royal family, lily of the valley is a great option for formal, luxury weddings. While orchids and calla lily blooms are great go-tos for luxe weddings during the colder months, lily of the valley is the best bet for spring couples who want a formal, classic flower.

Best May Wedding Flowers

Peony Peonies are beloved by many to-be-weds, but sadly have a relatively short growing season. Only a few lucky mid-Spring couples are able to utilize this lush flower in their designs. Peonies, which flower from April through June, come in a variety of colors so there's sure to be one that fits your aesthetic. White peonies would look at-home in a bridesmaid or bridal bouquet at a romantic estate wedding while vibrant coral charm peonies would complement a whimsical barn wedding beautifully.

Hydrangea Great for large-scale installations at weddings, hydrangeas are at their peak before seasonal temperatures get hot, causing them to wilt.

Lilac A quintessential spring flower, lilacs are a great option for May couples who want a bold pop of purple in their flower arrangements.
What's not to love about the soft pastel purple hued lilacs? Lilacs are most readily available in northern states from mid- to late-spring. For couples on the hunt for more purple wedding flowers, clematis is an option that's mainly available during the summer months, but may be able to be procured for a late-spring wedding.

Poppy
Poppies are a stunning bloom, but the flower is fragile so it works best when used sparingly alongside more hardy flowers. Poppies bloom in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8 and are generally available from late spring to early summer.

Best June Wedding Flowers

Rose Roses can be procured almost anywhere during any time of the year, but they look especially great at June weddings. Since June is a transitional time as late spring gives way to early summer, some strictly spring or summer flowers are hard to come by. However, rose is a timeless standby that works in any wedding aesthetic.

Delphinium (Larkspur) Delphinium, also known as larkspur, looks similar in nature to Bells-of-Ireland or stock. Delphinium works well as ceremony aisle flowers because of the height it brings to arrangements.

Gardenia Gardenias are especially fragrant flowers so care should be taken when deciding to incorporate them into boutonnieres or bouquets as some may have sensitivities to smell. Nevertheless, the spring flower is a beautiful option for romantic and elegant occasions.

Hydrangea
The volume hydrangea brings makes it a great flower for wedding arrangements. If you've always dreamed of an all-white bouquet but don't want it to be a strictly rose bouquet, ask your floral designer to layer in other white flowers, like hydrangea, into the design. Another reason to-be-weds love hydrangeas? They're available starting in the spring, but continue to bloom through the summer and into early fall.

It’s here we create our prom posies and boutonnieres with flowers, herbs, and greens grown by local, small-scale growers who honestly care about their harvest. We style unique, magical posies and boutonnieres that will take your breath away and make others swoon. This year, be a little wild and choose Sprig. XXOO - Kimberly

All of the prom dates of the Conestoga High School Crew Team received unique Studio Sprig Posies.

Here’s your chance to be unique by creatively capturing glorious spring in one perfect, little, hand-wrapped posy. Lucky for you, just about now, loads of yummy local Pennsylvania flowers are bursting from the ground. Striking beauties called “Amandine Marshmallow” Ranunculus, “Panda” Anemone, specialty tulips like “Exotic Emperor” and delicate daffodils with fabulous names like “Sunny Girlfriend” are varieties you can look forward to.

Lilacs, hellebore and orange tulips to accent this pretty blue dress.

White panda and deep purple anemone, lilacs and sprigs in this prom posy.

White and pale pink peony for a May prom.

Contact Kimberly for your complimentary style consultation. 215.859.2202
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