I see why folks want to be a June bride. The flowers in June are prolific. And the new plant growth is vibrant green.
A bouquet of double peonies would brighten a guest book table. The large peony flowers wouldn’t fit on the reception tables. You couldn’t see through them across the table. Peonies have long stems and fill tall, large vases.
Bearded irises are in June bloom. The fragrances of iris vary as much as the color of the flowers. I like the bi-colored iris. The top part of the flower is one color and the fall, or lower part of the flower, is another color. The two colors create a dramatic contrast in a bridal bouquet. Iris uses a lot of water and fades quickly once they’re cut.
Our shrub roses are starting their June bloom flush. The shrub rose flowers are not the best for bouquets. They are great for bud vases on the table. Right now we have clear, white Snowbeauty; cherry, red Winnipeg Parks; and dark, red Hope for Humanity in bloom. The rose flowers can be cut individually or in clusters.
The other day my mother-in-law picked pansies for table vases. A vase can hold one pansy color or be a bright mix of colors. Pansies have a long vase life if the water is freshened daily. Many of the other spring blooming bedding plants can be cut too.
Of course, the spring blooming spireas are the traditional wedding flowers. Bridalwreath spirea lives up to its name. It has cascading branches that are covered with pure, white flowers. The supple spring growth is easily fashioned into a wreath. Bridalwreath is a large shrub so it isn’t used a lot in the landscape any more.
A smaller version of Bridalwreath is Grefsheim spirea. Gresheim grows about four feet tall and wide. It also has cascading branches of white flowers. It blooms a little earlier and may be done for a June wedding.
Fairy Queen spirea doesn’t have the cascading branch habit. But it does have a profusion of white June flowers. It is a compact three foot tall and wide plant. Fairy Queen turns wine red in the fall.
With the vibrancy of spring, June is the wedding month. We had gladiolas for our July wedding.
tom@throgmortonplantmanagement.com
