Everyone loves a beautiful garden in spring – that’s a given. But the foresight to start planting seeds immediately after the last frost? If you’re like me, you don’t have it. But don’t be discouraged by getting a late start in the garden. That’s what flower bulbs are for!

If you’ve been perusing flower markets recently, you’ve surely noticed them. And here, a guide to the most common (and beloved) ones you’ll see in the coming weeks. Consider this your (semi-belated) gardening primer.

Early Spring (March – April) 
Daffodils, irises, and scilla are among the first to blossom. These flowers come in shades of yellow, blue, and more (irises can be practically every color of the rainbow), and make the garden instantly brighter. Though they all take a few months to reach their colorful best – irises in particular hit full stride in summer – these flowers are the first to kick off the spring season.

Mid-Spring (April – May)
Come the middle of spring, tulips – one of the most popular seasonal flowers in the world – begin to bloom. They’re so revered they inspire festivals all around the world, from Albany, New York, to India. And while primrose are traditionally thought to be the earliest spring flower – the name derives from the Latin word for “early” – they are joined by azaleas and magnolias when they bloom in mid-spring.

Late Spring (May – June)
In the last weeks of spring, look for lilies, lilacs, and peonies. The emergence of these flowers means the seasons are progressing from spring to summer, bringing with them a whole new range of flowers to ogle.

By Anna Kuchinsky, Staff Writer

What are your favorite spring flowers? Share in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

One of the most frequent comments I receive about urban gardening is what a release it provides for city dwellers. Urbanites are confronted by the concrete jungle on a daily basis, and a little bit of green can go a long way toward refreshing a worn-out attitude.

This is also true of the green we bring indoors – a fresh bouquet of seasonal flowers can turn any dark corner or austere front desk into a welcoming, refreshing experience for anyone who walks by.

Here, read up on my tips to create an awe-inspiring indoor arrangement:

Know context matters.
Consider the room or space where the arrangement will be.

Pick the vessel.
The arrangement should be in proportion to the container.  Use the rule of thirds. For traditional displays, the container should be one third of the total size and the arrangement should be about two-thirds of the total size.

Choose a feature flower.
These are usually the stars of the floral world (roses, peonies, sunflowers, etc.). They like to stand on their own and hold court.

Have a few backup dancers.
These are usually flowers that like to appear in groups or sprays. Use a design motif like texture or color to either contrast with the feature flower or complement it (think goldenrods with sunflowers or thistles with roses).

Don’t forget the greens.
This is how to keep your arrangement personal and fresh. Try something unusual like stapling a long leaf in half or wrapping one of the fleshy leaves around the inside of the container, under water.

Let your imagination take over.
Pair your choices. Think random rather than symmetry. Remember that simplicity usually wins over complexity. Create relationships between elements. And keep your mind focused on the point of the arrangement in the first place: to create something that makes you smile and relax a little as you walk by.

Our NDI Florals Boutique opens Thursday, October 25, at 11AM ET.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

MAKE HER FLOWERS. AND SHARE THE RUE.

This Mother’s Day, we’re putting a Rue twist on the traditional flower delivery. Here, some patterns to cut, snip, shape, and tape to create the perfect bouquet of style for mom. Make just one, or as many as you’d like. Love your mom? Print out the templates below and go crazy.

Pick your pattern:
Daisy
Daffodil
Orchid

And don’t forget to share the style with an invite to Rue. Starting with Mom, and then all the other moms you love.

TANGERINE CREATIONS CREATIVE DIRECTOR ORLY KHON TALKS FLOWERS

Fresh from designing the flowers for our Style. I Do! photo shoot, Tangerine Creations Creative Director Orly Khon sat down with her friend, Rue La La Style Editor Rachel Solomon, to talk work, weddings, and why their worlds aren’t so different after all.

Rachel: I’ve known you for so long, but have never even asked how you got into the flower world!
Orly: Seven or eight years ago I had a friend in event planning, and I began to work events here and there. I was always in interior design, but there was something about working with flowers that I just loved.
Continue reading “Style. I Do!” »