Flower News: August’s Stories of Interest from Around the World

Why Florists Are Loving Dried Flowers Right Now

The antique-inspired variety is having a moment
and it isn't just because of Instagram.

If there's anyone who knows a thing or two about flower trends, it's Chris DeMeo, wholesale florist at N.Y.C.'s Dutch Flower Line. He's privy to what all of the city's top florists, stylist, and event designers are buying and has been in the business for more than 20 years. In other words, he's seen it all (or, quite a lot). Right now, he says, dried flowers are having a moment. "It all started because people are going for colors that feel a bit antiqued with a patina to them, and there are only so many [fresh] flowers in that palette. So, people became more and more creative and started using dried elements—to give their arrangements that vintage vibe," says DeMeo.

Read more here.
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The power of flowers — how they accompany us,
heal us and ‘make us gasp with pleasure’

‘Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower,’ wrote Hans Christian Andersen. Jay Griffiths explores their emotional pull.

‘Archangel,’ said a friend, picking one of the plentiful wildflowers in my garden and introducing me to it as to another friend.

Flowers are companions for us. They can be company in a lonely present, witness to memory and a promise for the future. They are characters: the chalk-pale, but still courageous snowdrop, the irrepressible daffodil, the flamenco-dancing fuchsia or the loyal nasturtium.

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Heat-Resistant Wedding Bouquets Perfect for Summer

Finding the perfect can be a challenge, whatever the season. But what about sourcing buds for a celebration that takes place, when the weather adds an extra variable to your decisions? That makes things even more difficult. If you're planning a celebration in a location known for its summer heat waves, it may be in your best interest to pick an arrangement that'll stand up to the sky-high temps.

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Flower power: how they improve emotional well-being, and which ones to pick for happiness at work and home

• Science shows that having bright and fragrant blooms around your home can reduce your anxiety, make you more compassionate and boost your energy at work

• One study even suggests flowers help in the healing process after hospital surgery. So which kinds should you pick for a happiness-inducing arrangement?

Ellna Yu Chun-ha loves flowers. They bring her joy and enhance the look of her home.

“Just looking at a pretty arrangement relaxes me instantly, which is just what I need after a long and stressful day,” says the safety instructor, who lives in Hong Kong. “And no matter where I place the arrangement, it has the effect of brightening up the space and making the area look more inviting.”

Read more here.