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.

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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.

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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.

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.

Rachel: It’s so clear that you worked in design - you can see real personal style in what you do. You have a certain taste level, a certain eye and aesthetic. It’s never frou frou!
Orly: I look at things like color, and lines – each and every piece I make is different, but the fundamentals of designing them is always the same.

Rachel: I know you do flowers for businesses, and for private homes - clearly doing flowers for weddings is another level.
Orly: There is so much emotion. Brides come in with a very specific idea of what they want and don’t want – and why some flowers have importance to them for sentimental reasons.

Rachel: Was I an emotional bride when you did the flowers for my wedding?
Orly: No! I do remember your flowers though – bright, fun, colorful. So beautiful.

Rachel: In an unusual setting like mine – an outdoor wedding, a lobster shack overlooking a fire pit and a dirt parking area where the band played Latin music, flowers are what make it feel special.
Orly: Well I think so! I couldn’t make it to your wedding – I wish I could have been there!  I still need to see your pictures.

Rachel: I promise to post them to Facebook! How about your wedding? What were the flowers like?
Orly: Believe it or not, my flowers were all white! It was 10 years ago. But if I could do it again now, I would have gone bold and bright – like the bouquet I brought for the photo shoot today. I love those bright pink peonies mixed with green – they’re gorgeous.

Rachel: In fashion, we’re constantly thinking about what’s new. Is it the same in the flower industry?
Orly: Yes, it’s very much like clothes. Flowers are trend-rooted, and trends change from season to season. Right now, we’re seeing a lot of purple – and the style is shifting from ultra modern to more traditional.

Rachel: So do brides really scrutinize every last detail? Are they actually bringing in their wedding dresses when they go for a flower consult?
Orly: Oh yes, all the time. I saw one recently that I loved – I ended up doing a bouquet of deep, wine-red flowers for the bride. They complemented her dress so much. We always try to pair flowers with the dress but also with the bride’s personality. It’s about tying it all together – it makes my job so rewarding in the end.

Our Style. I Do! Boutique opens Thursday, May 27 at 11AM ET, featuring everything for brides, grooms, and guests.

To see Orly’s flowers for Rachel’s wedding, check out our Facebook page.