cascade, Author at Cascade Floral Wholesale

Posted on 01/04/202201/04/2022 by cascade

The Lovely Carnation – January’s Birth Flower

Pink flower isolated on white background

Scientifically known as “Dianthus caryophyllus,” the carnation has a rich and meaningful history. Delicate, delightful, and durable, carnations are only second the rose in being used in bouquets. “Dianthus” loosely translates to “flower of the gods” or “flower of love.” The carnation is one of the world’s oldest cultivated flowers and has been revered for centuries – all the way back to Ancient Greece and Rome.

Symbolism of Carnations

In general, the carnation flower signifies love, distinction, and fascination. Different colored carnations also have their own symbolism:

White carnations = good luck and pure love

Pink carnations = gratitude and a mother’s love

Light red carnations = admiration

Dark red carnations = passionate, deep love

Purple carnations = whimsical, impulsive

Yellow carnations = disappointment, rejection

Fun Facts About the Carnation

Carnations are edible: This popular bloom is often used to decorate desserts and salads. Carnations have also been used for over 400 to flavor wine, beer, and liquor drinks.
Carnations have a long life: Carnations can live up to two years, and they can remain fresh for two weeks after being uprooted.
Carnations come in almost every color: Their natural colors are pinkish-purple, but through selective breeding, carnations can now be found in shades white, orange, red, yellow, blue, and green.
You can change the color of a white carnation: Just place a fresh cut carnation into water that has the food coloring mixture of your choice, and watch the magic happen as the petals absorb the color overnight.
Carnations have medicinal properties: In the past carnations have been used to treat hair loss, skin problems, muscle aches, and mental distress.
Greeks and Romans used carnations in garlands. This is why many people think the word “carnation,” a derivative of the Greek word “coronation,” comes from.
Carnations are native to Eurasia: They are not native to Australia but have been grown commercially there since 1954.

Recently, carnations have come to be associated with a mother’s love and are therefore a popular bloom for Mother’s Day. Besides this holiday, though, carnations are popular year-round and a favorite choice of many florists for a variety of different occasions. They are one of the most widely recognized flowers in the world and continue to delight and captivate people with their charm and decorative frilly allure.

The numerous colors, beauty, and different sentiments these flowers can express are a testament to the power and popularity of this classic beauty. A floral mainstay from antiquity to now, the carnation has proven itself to be a long-lasting flower and worthy contender of the rose.

For fresh-cut carnations or any of your floral needs, Cascade Floral Wholesale is here for you.

Posted on 12/07/202112/07/2021 by cascade

Winter Blooming Flowers for Your Bridal Bouquet

If you thought there might be a dearth of pretty florals during a cold-weather ceremony, you are about to be surprised. Getting married during the winter opens you up to a variety of gorgeous seasonal blooms that are quite striking and unlike other flowers typically seen throughout the rest of the year. Below you’ll find some inspirational winter wedding bouquets as well as popular cold-weather blooms to consider using in your event decoration. For all your flower needs, regardless of season, Cascade Floral Wholesale is here to make all your special occasions and events perfectly flowerful!

5 Beautiful Winter Bridal Bouquet Ideas

Including seasonal blooms in your event, regardless of the time of year, is the best way to guarantee your floral decor is fresh and harmonizes with the season. Plus, sourcing currently blooming florals is eco-friendly. For inspiration to whet your appetite for beautiful winter bridal bouquets, browse through the stunning styles below.

Green & White – Mimicking the look of snow with winter greens, bridal bouquets with white and green have an ethereal, season-appropriate elegance.

Dusty Hues – This sumptuous bouquet has soft-colored flowers in dusty peach and lavender with contrasting dark purple tulips and waxflowers for an enchanting look.

Peachy Naturals – Ranunuculas in soft peach and cream shades are joined with other muted colors that emanate warmth and quiet notes of romance.

Wine & Plummy – Jewel tones are perfect for capturing the magical beauty of a winter wedding as seen in the above bouquet that has purple roses, burgundy blooms, and a striking protea.

Dark and Dramatic – Moody yet enchanting, these dramatic blooms in dark purple, burgundy, red, and green showcase their stark beauty against a backdrop of winter whites and neutrals.

Popular Winter Flowers

Amaryllis

This large, winter flower comes in colors such as red, pink, and orange as well as bicolored red and white. Their presence is perfect for adding brightness and a pop of color to neutral or muted winter bouquets

Anemone

A stunning bloom with a dramatic dark disc at its center, anemones always make a statement. For winter bouquets, numerous white anemones reflect the white landscape in an enchanting and magic way.

Calla Lily

Elegant and bold, a bouquet of just burgundy calla lilies adds drama and sophistication at the same time. Against a white dress and snow, it’s absolutely striking.

Camellia

A large, stunning flower with an abundance of petals, the camellia bloom is always a good choice for winter wedding decor.

Gardenias

For winter weddings, the gardenia is another great choice when going for a green and white look with the added bonus of a divine scent.

Ranunculus

Ranunculus flowers add instant romance and glamour. Coming in a variety of colors such as white, cream, peach, pink, red, and purple, there’s no reason not to have this lovely bloom in your wedding decor.

Sweet Pea

A sweet flower with sweet blooms and a sweet scent, the lovely and charming sweet pea looks right at home in your winter wedding decor.

Tulips

Always a classic choice and full of romance, tulips are a great choice for winter wedding bouquets. Choose from tulips in white, red, orange, purple, yellow, or peach to blend with any wedding color palette.

Winter flowers are some of the most enchanting blooms we see all year which is why they’ll make your winter wedding truly exceptional. Beyond the blooms themselves, winter bouquets also typically include natural seasonal elements such as berries, seed pods, blue thistle, and pine cones

Posted on 11/22/202111/22/2021 by cascade

Ideas for Creating Gorgeous Holiday Bouquets

There’s nothing more beautiful than a vase of seasonal, gorgeous fresh blooms adorning your holiday table, or adorning any room in your home. Creating simple yet stunning floral bouquets is easy, and the experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale have a few pointers for you.

Use Flowers and Trimmings in the Colors of the Season

White, red, blue, and green are popular colors of the holiday season. Create a lovely arrangement by adding white seasonal flowers with touches of red flowers (or berries) and green accents for a holiday arrangement. Wonderful combinations include white flowers such as spider mums, camellia blooms, or anemones paired with red hypericum berries, red roses, or red carnations with seasonal greens such as pine or fir, with pine cones for a rustic touch.

Other unique elements to include if you like the rustic look include scabiosa pods, blue thistle, cotton flowers, feathers, sticks, and eucalyptus stems as seen in the below arrangement.

Besides red flowers and berries, you can get creative with your holiday arrangement by adding red in the form of ornament balls, red velvet ribbon, or even apples.

Lots of greenery such as pine, fir, and juniper with a few white florals is charming, elegant, and brings the wonderful fragrance of winter into your home. The beautiful centerpiece below is composed of red carnations, white flowers, white cotton flowers, and an abundance of seasonal pine and fir greenery.

Other seasonal flowers to experiment with are anemones, amaryllis, wax flowers, and eucalyptus.

The below charming arrangement is highlighted with a single beautiful amaryllis bloom paired with white spider mums, hypericum berries, and fresh pine.

If an all-white bouquet is more your style, then you have plenty of seasonal blooms to choose from such as white roses, lilies, and hydrangea with pine cones and a decorative gold ribbon for holiday accents.

Add a touch of blue into your white bouquet with ornaments to highlight the beauty of the delicate textures of elegant whites blooms such as lilies, carnations, roses, and baby breaths surrounded by green accents.

Creating beautiful holiday arrangements is fun and easy. Get your hands on some seasonal blooms from Cascade Wholesale and let your creativity go. There are so many ways to make it festive by adding beads, bells, acorns, Santa figurines, and more. Pick us some pine or fir or stick from your yard to add to your arrangement for an instant touch of rustic beauty. Your friends will be impressed, your home will smell great, and your holiday table will be complete!

Posted on 11/08/2021 by cascade

Why We Love Spider Mums

What Are Spider Mums?

Spider Mums are a type of chrysanthemum and can be found all over the world. They are a perennial plant that probably originated in China as the chrysanthemum did. Spider mums are an example of the standard Chyrsathemum with each stem producing a single large bloom. Florists love spider mums for their exotic beauty, range of lovely colors, and various symbolism. Plus, they have a long vase-life, which is typically three weeks when the stems are regularly cut and given fresh water.

Spider Mums Characteristics

Spider mums are easily identifiable by their elongated, spindly petals that surround a spherical head of tightly packed skinny petals. The slender tube-like petals resemble the lanky legs of spiders which is how it got its name. Spider mums grow in colors such as red, white, pink, yellow, orange, lavender, and green.

Also called the Fuji mum, there are several different types of spider mums that grow in different colors and sizes. A typical spider mum bloom ranges about 6 inches across. Spider mums have a spicy, earthy fragrance that is light and pleasant.

Spider Mums Meaning

Spider mums take on different meanings based on their context, whether they are in a wedding bouquet, sympathy bouquet, or romantic bouquet.

Weddings: Due to their unique shape, wide range of bright colors, and charming appeal, spider mums are frequently seen in wedding arrangements and bridal bouquets. When headed down the aisle, the spider mum frequently means liveliness and joy. If they are white, they also symbolize purity and truth.

Elopement: An outdated, but fun, tradition of someone showing up on your doorstep personally delivering a package of white spider mums means they want you to elope with them.

Sympathy: When used in sympathy bouquets or funeral arrangements, spider mums represent peace. In Europe and other countries, mums symbolize death, and spider mums often adorn the graves of loved ones.

There are many diverse meanings spider mums, and all mums in general, take on in different cultures. In China, mums are particularly revered as they symbolize long life and good fortune. Those who live in Great Britain see mums as a symbol of happiness, joy, and longevity. In the U.S., mums represent happiness, health, and friendship.

Spider Mum Uses

Spider mums add wonderful texture, charm, and color to any arrangement. They are versatile enough to pair well with most other flowers. When grouped together in a vase with only other spider mums, it’s absolutely stunning. Spider mums make a great gift for any occasion!

To peruse our collection of spider mums or other florals, check out our online catalog of fresh flowers now!

Posted on 10/25/202110/25/2021 by cascade

Why You Should Use Eucalyptus Greenery in Floral Arrangements

Eucalyptus is a popular type of greenery featured in many flower bouquets due to its versatility and many varieties that come in lovely shades of green with smooth round leaves. Eucalyptus is fashionable and chic with numerous applications that enhance a variety of arrangements from boho to glam, classic to modern, and vintage to elegant. Choose eucalyptus for greenery that creates a beautiful look in any floral design. Keep reading to find out what makes eucalyptus so special and why it’s the perfect greenery for all occasions.

With over 600 species, you’ll have no trouble quickly accessing eucalyptus for your floral arrangements. Also, being an evergreen plant, it will be available year-round. Greenery in weddings and other special events is starting to play a more prominent role, and eucalyptus is one of the most popular greens. Pairing well with any color palette, this plant makes a statement whether used in large or small amounts.

Popular Types of Eucalyptus

Silver Dollar: Featuring large, round leaves in a silvery green color, this variety works well in any flower design giving it a fresh, straight-from-the-garden look. Silver dollar eucalyptus is also great for decorating arches, doorways, and garlands.

Seeded: Featuring oblong-shaped silvery green leaves and bunches of small seeds, this variety brings a touch of boho chic and elegance to any arrangement.

Spiral: With a tall, stiff stem sprouting circular leaves, this eucalyptus variant is popular for adding a vertical element, texture, color, and a lovely fragrance.

Gunni: Featuring numerous, small delicate leaves in a muted silvery-green color, this is another popular variety that adds a stylish garden look and an abundance of greenery.

The versatility of the eucalyptus is one of its main appeals. Its leaves can be tossed down the aisle for a beautiful, woodsy look, placed on the cake for decoration, or in the bride’s hair. The stems can be hung from doorways or arches, used to make wreaths or garlands, placed in wedding bouquets, or added to tables and chairs for decoration.

Eucalyptus is also known for its medical benefits and is often used in natural remedies to alleviate colds, congestion, and cough. When used as greenery in a bouquet, there are also benefits. For example, eucalyptus is:

Hypoallergenic and good for allergy sufferers
Deters insects and keeps pesky biting bugs at bay
Pleasantly fragrant with a soothing smell that pairs well with other scented blossoms.

Flowers that Pair Well With Eucalyptus

Roses: Deep green-colored eucalyptus paired with lighter-colored roses is a striking combination bringing attention to the contrasting shades of hues. Pale-colored eucalyptus combined with pale roses also creates a stunning all-pastel bouquet that evokes elegance and romance.

Peonies: An abundance of eucalyptus greens with a few peonies creates a beautiful boho look, while eucalyptus paired with only white peonies create a lovely chic aesthetic.

Hydrangea: Offering the beauty and texture and hydrangeas to shine, eucalyptus leaves complement the blooms without competing with them, producing a simple yet elegant bouquet.

Waxflowers, succulents, and ranunculus are also great options that pair well with eucalyptus, as this lovely greenery enhances the elegance and chicness of these blooms.

When designing your bouquet or looking for greenery to add to an upcoming wedding or special event, you can’t go wrong with eucalyptus. Bringing elegance, fragrance, style, and garden freshness, the versatile eucalyptus is an excellent choice for your floral decor.

Posted on 10/17/2021 by cascade

Different Types of Greenery to Make Your Bouquet Complete

Oftentimes the greenery used in an arrangement of flowers gets overlooked, taking a back seat to the stars of the show – the beautiful and colorful blooms. But it’s time to show these green accents some love! Yes, they are often supporting characters to the main attraction, but without them, bouquets of flowers just wouldn’t be the same – they would be lacking.

Greenery is essential to floral arrangements because they provide a soothing, neutral backdrop for the robust flowers to shine. They also do so much more, though, like provide interesting shapes and textures that add to the overall look of the arrangement. Below, we list some of the greenery typically used in flower arranging and why they are so special.

Myrtle

With long stems lined with glossy leaves in a pretty, mid-tone green, myrtle is a popular choice for many floral designers. Using multiple stems together creates lush, thick foliage that looks great in centerpieces. It’s also a wonderful addition to any decor piece for the home as it exudes a sweet fragrance. Myrtle symbolizes love, luck, and prosperity which is why it is often used in weddings.

Ivy

Ivy has unique, triangular-shaped leaves that fall elegantly from the main stem, making it perfect for creating flow and wrapping around headdresses, wreaths, or centerpieces Ivy has a long lifespan making it ideal for holiday decor. Ivy symbolizes fidelity and eternal life.

Leatherleaf Fern

Thicker and more lush-looking than other types of greenery, the leatherleaf fern branches out to create a wide triangular shape made up of many small leaflets. This particular greenery is great for adding body to a floral arrangement as well as a tropical vibe. During the Victorian era, leatherleaf fern symbolized humility and sincerity.

Dusty Miller

Dusty miller is unique due to its “frosted”, silvery-pale shade of green. A popular choice in many winter weddings and fall arrangements, dusty miller’s subdued color also pairs well with pastel-colored blooms. The soft and interesting texture of dusty miller help gives bouquets a chic, quiet beauty.

Silver Dollar Eucalyptus

So named for its round leaves that look silver dollars, and the silver dollar eucalyptus adds interest and circular shapes to arrangements. With its’ matte, bluish-gray color, it pairs nicely with whites and pastels. The long, thin stems allow for the silver dollar eucalyptus to bend and wrap easily making it ideal for decorating wreaths and centerpieces.

Spiral Eucalyptus

Spiral eucalyptus has a vertical stem with many, smaller circular leaves growing off of it creating a denser look than the silver dollar eucalyptus. As it grows it changes colors from a greyish-blue to a rich green. Perfect for adding a vertical element as well as a garden look, this greenery pairs well with most flowers and even looks great in a vase on its own.

Tree Fern

With a tuft of plumage sprouting from its top, tree fern adds a touch of softness, wispiness, and fun to any arrangement. Often used in boutonnieres and corsages, this easy and adaptable greenery also works well in floral arrangements providing texture and allure.

Try your hand at any of the above beautiful greenery, or additional types of greenery to experiment with. Adding the right type of greenery to a vase of flowers enhances beyond compare. For all DIY floral needs, Cascade Floral Wholesale is here to help.

Posted on 09/14/202109/14/2021 by cascade

Gender Neutral Flowers for New Moms

Flowers are a great way to welcome someone into the world! Plus, a wonderful gift to the mom who worked hard to get the baby into the world safely. When choosing flowers to send to a new mom or for a baby shower, the traditional pink or blue bouquet to celebrate a girl or boy is fine. However, if the mom is keeping the gender a secret, or if you just want to go for something more unique, then keep reading for inspiration in selecting stunning gender-neutral arrangements or creating one yourself with gender-neutral flowers.

Gender Neutral Flowers for Baby Shower

If you are hosting a baby shower or looking to send flowers to a soon-to-mom and don’t know the gender of the baby, then use the below guide to select the perfect blooms for stunning decor.

Yellow

Bright yellow blooms are full of joy which makes them perfect for events celebrating new babies. Popular yellow flowers include sunflowers, daisies, mums, and roses. A touch of green foliage and white accent flowers make for a lovely, charming, and happy look.

Orange

Orange is a happy warm color that spreads joy. Paired with yellow flowers creates a wonderful and happy atmosphere — a terrific way to celebrate bringing a new life into the world.

Green

Green represents nature, new beginnings, growth, and energy. It’s the color of life! Besides foliage, there are also green flowers you can put in an arrangement such as carnations, mums, roses, calla lilies, orchids, hydrangea, and zinnia. Green flowers paired with white accent florals are a wonderful delight.

Peach

If you prefer pastel shades, choose peach-colored blooms. Daisies, roses, carnations, ranunculus, lilies, and dahlias are all great options. Peach is a soft color that represents happiness and tenderness and is a great choice for baby showers.

White

White flowers are beautifully versatile. They can make up an entire bouquet on their own and are excellent for adding to other color-filled bouquets. The best thing about white flowers is that they can be paired with any other color! They make colorful blooms stand out while at the same time keep the colors from becoming too overwhelming.

If you’re a DIYer then Cascade Floral Wholesale has color combos perfect for creating stunning gender-neutral arrangements. These combos are super versatile perfect for soon-to-be moms or hosts who want to customize the flowers themselves.

Party planning or picking out the perfect gift can be a little stressful, particularly when it is as special as a baby shower, but choosing flowers doesn’t have to be! Contact Cascade Floral Wholesale for all your floral needs. We are here to help!

Posted on 08/31/202108/31/2021 by cascade

The Beauty of White Flowers

Many people love an arrangement of flowers in a variety of hues and gush about a flower’s beauty in terms of its color, whether it’s pale, deep, rich, or bright. This sometimes leads to white florals being overlooked, considered less than, or used as only an accent to make a colorful flower stand out even more. However, here at Cascade Floral Wholesale, we love the elegant, simple, and sophisticated beauty of an arrangement of only white flowers accompanied by greenery.

The combination of green and white floral arrangements, bridal bouquets, and centerpieces not only looks classic and elevated but also very natural and modern. With wedding bouquets, a combination of all-white peonies paired with various greenery is absolutely sumptuous. And, a bouquet of multiple flower varieties all in white is a marvel to behold.

White flowers denote purity, grace, and perfection as the blooms are flawless and untainted by color. In color symbolism, white signifies clean, simple, and pure, and represents new beginnings, innocence, purity, beauty, and spirituality. It’s for these same reasons that the traditional wedding gown is also white.

White flowers pair perfectly with beautiful greenery such as fern, ivy, oak leaf, Italian Ruscus, silver dollar eucalyptus, and green hypericum. The green elements accent the white florals without competing with them, making the white blossoms the stars of the show. Here at Cascade Floral Wholesale, we have a wide array of white flowers for any of your DIY projects. Our Classic White Standard Mix & Luxury Mix have everything you need to build your own beautiful white and green bouquets.

We also have a large variety of individual white flowers to choose from such as:

White Rose – White roses exude serenity and are filled with a wonderful fragrance.

White Anemone – For a show-stopping look, include a few white anemones into your bouquet. Their dark round center is offset by delicate, wispy petals that make a huge impact.

White Calla Lily – The trumpet-shaped Calla lily is truly breathtaking and magnificent.

White Cymbidium – These exotic beauties are elegant and striking.

White Dahlia – Round and filled with an abundance of petals, dahlias are romantic and stunning.

White Football Mums – Large and glorious, the many thin petals on this mum provides interesting texture and movement.

White Gerbera Daisy – A dark center with charismatic petals, daises are true beauties.

White Gladiolus – Bring a pure-white brightness to any arrangement with tall stalks of white gladiolus.

White Hydrangea – Similar to a snowball full of flower petals, hydrangea are soft, abundant, and precious.

White Oriental Lily – Oriental lilies make impressive bouquets and have the essence of royalty to them.

White Peonies – Lush, frilly, romantic, and full, white peony blooms are as luxurious as they are divine.

White Lisianthus – With delicate, ruffled blooms, these flowers are feminine and perfect.

And don’t forget the Greenery!

At Cascade Floral, we are happy to help you find the white flowers you are looking for whether for a wedding, anniversary, or special event. There is something both timeless and elegant about white blossoms and green accents. A popular choice for spring wedding flowers or summer weddings, this wonderful combination can be used anytime throughout the year.

Start shopping for White Flowers now!

For any of your wholesale flower needs, contact Cascade Floral.

Posted on 08/17/202108/31/2021 by cascade

6 Floral Themes for Your Wedding

Starting to plan a wedding can be an overwhelming process, but the experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale, are here to help. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of popular wedding themes and the types of flowers used in each so you can choose the one that best fits your style, personality, and vision of your dream wedding.

Classic Wedding Theme

For a timeless, refined look, go with a classic wedding theme. More formal than most, a classic wedding has clean lines, white florals, and an ambiance that evokes elegant romance. Traditional decor and understated yet sophisticated floral arrangements made up of a single variety contribute to the classic aesthetic.

Popular flowers for a Classic wedding include white roses, Queen Anne’s lace, Lily of the Valley, and white peonies.

Boho Wedding Theme

Boho weddings have grown in popularity over the past few years and are a trend that’s going to be around for a long time. Casual, comfortable, and incredibly chic define this look. Typically held outdoors with florals that look as if they’ve just been picked from a nearby garden, the decor is a mish-mash of items that work together beautifully. Common elements include a lounge area with cushions in unique patterns, mismatched bridesmaid dresses, and fresh blooms adorning the cake.

Popular flowers for a Boho wedding include plenty of wildflowers, daisies, spider mums, sunflowers, freesia, protea, thistle, fern, and ivy.

Glamorous Wedding Theme

If you’re the type of couple who prefer things that are luxurious, lavish, and shiny, then a glam wedding is for you. Rich with sparkly details and extravagant touches, glamourous weddings feature jaw-dropping details like a flower wall or large, gorgeous floral centerpieces. Fine linens, upscale china, and metallics round out the look.

Popular flowers for a glamourous wedding include roses, dahlias, peonies, lilies, pom pom mums, crocus, hydrangea, and lotus flowers.

Romantic Wedding Theme

A theme that celebrates love, elements of a romantic wedding include soft lighting, candles, airy fabrics, and flowy dresses. A soft color palette with ivory, blush, and pastels keeps the vibe subdued and cozy. Plenty of fresh, flourishing flowers is key to this theme as well as an intimate atmosphere and ethereal details.

Popular flowers for a Romantic wedding include plenty of pastel-colored blooms such as roses, hydrangea, freesia, lisianthus, peonies, ranunculus, and daisies.

Rustic Wedding Theme

With an emphasis on natural textures like wood, stone, organic paper, and farm-to-table fresh food, Rustic weddings are about getting back to nature. Typically held in barns, ranches, or on farms, elements include organic fabrics, lace, wood items, and mixed glassware and plates. Floral centerpieces are made up of flowers that look as if they’ve just been picked from the field. The vibe is quaint and bucolic with a touch of shabby chic.

Popular flowers for a Rustic wedding include daisies, anemones, ranunculus, black-eyed Susans, Queen Anne’s lace, zinnias, Lily of the Valley, and roses.

Vintage Wedding Theme

Capturing another period of time that’s full of lace, grace, and elegance is what a vintage wedding is all about. This is a style that has Victorian elements with eclectic pieces such as antiques and old, vintage furniture. Featuring lots of lace, beautiful china, candlestick holders, and perhaps family heirloom pieces, floral-covered birdcages, and old lanterns help contribute to the vintage vibe. Venues such as old estates, mansions, or a historic courthouse are perfect for this type of wedding.

Popular flowers for a Vintage wedding include garden roses, scabiosa, lisianthus, hydrangea, peonies, delphiniums, and dahlias.

Posted on 08/03/202108/31/2021 by cascade

2021 Floral Trends

When the pandemic hit last year, it forced us to slow down (a lot) which gave us ample time to think about the important things in life such as a good work-life balance, taking care of our mental and physical health, doing more with less, and appreciating the benefits of being in nature. being more in touch with natural beauty that surrounds us.

These things have shaped the floral trends of 2021 where flowers were used to not only bring color and beauty into our lives, but also to brighten our spririts, destress our lives, and connect us with nature.

Top 7 Floral Trends of 2021

1. Brighter Days

A sunny pop of yellow immediately brightens a room and our spirit. Choosing a bouquet with yellow floras paired with white blooms and some greenery is a classic way to bring warmth and happiness to any room. Also selecting an arrangement with other bright colors in addition to yellow really sings a colorful tune of joy.

2. Relax and De-Stress

Let the delicate beauty and sweet fragrance of fresh-cut flowers put your thoughts into a wandering and dreamy state. Small and charming wildflowers paired with larger blooms of soft pinks, peaches, and greens are the perfect combination for making worries drop away. Even if for a little while, it’s worth it.

3. Happiness at Home

Bringing in bright, radiant, fresh, and fragrant blooms into the home is becoming a regular part of modern life. The benefits of the joy, color, and happiness flowers provide make them essential to a cheerful and colorful home. The vitality, charm, and dance of light and colors helps us start each day in high spirits and joyful positivity.

4. Showcasing Mother Nature

Arrangements that show off the wondrous beauty of Mother Nature are also on trend this year as many of us have spent more time outside instead of in crowded offices. This is reflected in bouquets which have earth tones or brown and green that highlight dramatic and bold blossoms in orange, red and yellow with plenty of greenery.

5. Daring Jewel-Tones

The ups and down of life are a normal part of living and we can’t enjoy the highs without going through a few lows. Bold and dramatic blooms with rich, deep colors bring passion and boldness which punch through the ordinary by celebrating the extraordinary. Vibrant plums, violets, scarlet, and burgundy blossoms paried with bright greenery is a striking combination that takes our breath away.

6. White Rules

Simple, elegant, and sophisticated, floral arrangements composed of all white blooms promotes a spiritual peace, purity, and timelessness. A home overflowing with bouquets of white flowers accented with bits of green allows a little oasis to escape to in every day life. Light, airy, and lovely, white bouquets are transcendant.

7. Quality over Quantity

Following the rule of less is more, there is a focus on not only what is presented, but how it is presented. Desiring unique, handcrafted floral arrangements with blooms thoughtfully placed, sustainably resourced, and of the highest quality are on the rise. Careful attention to detail and a desire for pure style is a trend that comes from people being more aware of their consumption practices and focusing on quality over quantity. This is a trend we hope lasts a while.

Posted on 07/06/202108/31/2021 by cascade

How to Prevent Flowers From Wilting in the Heat

Having fresh flowers in your home, on your porch, or decorating outdoor structures in your backyard adds instant style and beauty wherever they are placed. During the hot days of summer, though, these blooms may wilt and die much sooner than they should. Keep your fresh florals healthy and hydrated during high-temperature days by following the below tips brought to you by the floral experts at Cascade Flowers.

Tips for Keeping Flowers Hydrated on Hot Summer Days

Fresh-Cut Flowers in a Vase

When collecting cut flowers, do so in the morning for the best results. Flower stems are filled with water in the morning, whereas picking them during the hottest part of the day will lead them to wilt quicker than usual.
Place stems into a container of cool water. Beforehand strip each stem of all leaves that will fall below the waterline. Also, recut each stem at a 45-degree angle with a sharp pair of cutters to avoid crushing the stems.
Place the container of fresh-cut blooms in a cool place, a cooling closet or refrigerator is fine, and leave for several hours or overnight. This allows the flowers to drink up plenty of water before being displayed in a warm environment.
For flowers with heavy blooms on a soft stem, prevent bending and drooping by wrapping them in newspaper or wax paper so they stand upright.
When displayed outdoors or in a warm area, monitor the water level daily and refill as necessary. Also, change the water, remove dead or dying leaves, and re-cut the stems every 2 days to keep your blooms looking fresh for longer.

Flowers in a Container, on a Trellis, or in a Garden

You’ll know your plants and flowers are suffering from heat distress if the leaves and blooms are wilted in the afternoon but are fine the following morning. Other signs are brown, yellow, or white spots on the petals or leaves and dropped buds.
Prevent wilting by making sure the roots receive consistent watering, feeding, and regular weeding. Early morning waterings are better than evening watering where fungal disease may occur.
Place flowering plants in a shady area to prevent wilting from excess heat. If this is not possible, place a shade cloth or umbrella over them to protect them from the sun.
For vines or blooms decorating an outdoor structure, use plastic water picks to place stems and roots in to keep the vine and flowers hydrated.
Container plants tend to dry out quicker than those in the ground, so check their moisture regularly. They made need to be watered twice a day if the climate is hot, dry, and windy.
Move container plants indoors or into the shade to prevent wilting from the heat. Also, keep a saucer under the containers so they can soak out water as needed.
Dark-colored pots absorb more heat and unglazed terra-cotta pots lose water more quickly and may not be the options for plants that will be in the sun.

Plant Heat-Tolerant Flowers Instead

If you live in a climate with excessive heat and hot summers, you should consider planting flowers that are native to the area or heat-tolerant varieties such as Black-eyed Susans, Sedum, Bottlebrush, Begonia, Hibiscus, and Blanket Flower to name a few.

Posted on 06/23/202108/31/2021 by cascade

Tips for Creating Pretty Floral Arrangements

Decorating your home with fresh flowers is perfect for adding instant style and a pleasant refresh that brings beauty, fragrance, and other benefits flowers provide to your life. Plus, it’s easy! All it takes is some gorgeous fresh-cut stems from your florist and a variety of containers. The following tips will get you started in creating your prettiest arrangements ever.

Select in-season blooms to save money and celebrate that particular time of year. Some varieties, such as orchids and roses, are available all year round.
Decide on your theme: either a mix of complementary colors and types, shades of one color and different types, or all the same type in a variety of colors or the same color. Select some greenery for color and texture.
Before placing a single stem into a vase, cut at least 1/2 an inch off of the bottom at a 45-degree angle. This increases the surface area so the floral can get plenty of water. Re-cutting the stems every 2-3 days will prevent bacteria from growing and make the flowers last longer.
Choose interesting containers for your flowers such as a teapot, pitcher, mason jar, wine glass, teacup, etc. Smaller vases allow you to display 2 or 3 striking blooms while shallow containers give you a way to display florals with very short stems. (To keep the stems from separating, bind them together with an elastic hairband).
If you want to open closed buds quickly, place them in warm water for about a minute and then in color water. Leave for 15-20 minutes and the flowers will open to their maximum size.
The best way to preserve your flowers to look fresh for the longest amount of time is to use a commercial flower preservative that florists typically provide. You can also keep your bouquets in the fridge overnight if you have the room.
To keep flowers in place, particularly in shallow vases, make a grid using clear floral tape (or thin strips of transparent Scotch tape). Insert fullest flowers first at an angle to cover the rim/sides of the bowl. Next, fill in the remaining holes with medium-sized flowers, and use the smallest flowers as accent florals to complete the design.
Place a vase within a vase to hide the stems with pieces of fruit or broad leaves.
To create a fuller arrangement, use filler flowers. Place them in gaps to create a more lush and full look.
Create an interesting floral tablescape by placing single blooms in vintage glass bottles.
When designing your arrangement, keep in mind balance, which does not necessarily mean everything has to be perfectly symmetrical. Play with different heights, lengths, and volume to create a visually balanced piece.

Posted on 06/08/202108/31/2021 by cascade

Discover the Charming Scabiosa (Pincushion) Flower

The Scabiosa flower, also known as the Pincushion flower, is a small but mighty bloom that stands out due to its spiky ball-like center and skinny yet sturdy stem. Growing in a wide array of bright and dramatic hues, they add interest, whimsy, fun, and a pop of color to mixed bouquets. A gathering of pincushion flowers only, though, is absolutely charming! We love this interesting little bloom here at Cascade Flowers! Read to find out why!

There are over 1000 species of Scabiosa florals, a herbaceous perennial that belongs to the honeysuckle family. This sweetly scented, non-toxic bloom grows in white, lavender, pink, cream, red, and burgundy. Scabiosa make wonderful garden flowers for their unique look and because they attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

The word “Scabiosa” comes from Latin and means “to scratch.” In medieval times, Scabiosa blooms were used in herbal remedies to relieve the itch of scabies. African tribes also used to use this flower for treating coughs, fever, and internal inflammation.

Scabiosa Description

The Scabiosa flower is frequently called a “pincushion” flower because of its round head studded with numerous, long needle-like stamens which resemble pins on a pincushion. This characteristic creates a wonderful contrast with the wispy, delicate petals surrounding it.

Scabiosa Flower Symbolism

Certain species of Scabiosa flowers feature dark petals representing death or widowhood, which has contributed to this floral also being called mourning bride and mourning widow. In this context, the symbolism of the scabiosa flower is unfortunate love. In another context, though, due to its sweet fragrance and overall charming radiance, the Scabiosa also symbolizes pure love and peace.

Scabiosa Design Uses

As a cut flower, the Scabiosa bloom is very versatile and works well as a filler flower as well as a focal point. Its light texture, spiky look, and rich color pack a perfectly charming punch. This is a terrific bloom to add to floral arrangements, either fresh or dried. Scabiosa brings an ethereal, delicate, and intriguing flavor to your home.

Popular Scabiosa Varieties

Butterfly Blue – A popular flower for gardeners and for brides due to its lovely deep lavender color.

Black Knight – A bloom with burgundy flowers surrounding prominent white stamens.

Fama White – A varietal that produces larger, white flowers and thrives in cooler weather.

Pink Mist – A delicate blossom with pink flowers that are nearly translucent.

Creative Ways to Use Scabiosa Blooms in Your Wedding

Use as decoration on the place setting. Tied together with some lavender and a touch of foliage and you’ve got a creative and unique statement piece.
These button-like flowers make great boutonnieres. They will hold their shape and color throughout the day and offer a wonderfully unique design alone or paired with other florals.
Scabiosa pods (the seeds of the plant) are wonderful textured round balls formed by many circles with small flowers within. These pods are great for using in wedding cake decoration or other floral arrangements for texture and intrigue.
Add pincushion flowers to the bridal bouquet for a texture, color, contrast, and a pop of color.

This little flower has a big personality! Include Scabiosa booms in your floral arrangements and you’ll see what we’re talking about. View some of our Scabiosa blooms now.

Posted on 05/24/202108/31/2021 by cascade

How to Create a Beautiful Flower Arrangement in 7 Steps

Having fresh flowers in the home is a wonderful treat and adds joy to our everyday lives. If you are a DIY person and want to create a beautiful floral arrangement with some fresh cut stems you just picked up, then the experts at Cascade Flowers can help. Below are the top design tips you need to make your own gorgeous arrangement of fresh flowers.

1. Color Contrast

Before selecting the flowers you want to use, think about the color palette of your design. Do you want a monochromatic color scheme or something with a variety of colors? Whichever you decide, you will still some contrasting colors for depth and balance. If you are going monochromatic, choose flowers in various shades of your color. Also, select in-season blooms as they will be cheaper, and don’t forget to pick up a variety of greenery for texture and color.

2. Select Your Container

The size of your arrangement is based on the size of the container. Whether tall or short, your design should be around 1 1/2 times taller than its vessel.

3. Determine Shape

Think about whether you want your arrangement to symmetrical or asymmetrical. Symmetrical designs are equal in shape on both sides of a center part. This style is used in formal and traditional arrangements. Asymmetrical designs are unequal on either side. This style is seen in more modern and trendy arrangements.

4. Include Statement Flowers

A statement flower is a necessary component of arrangements. This flower is a large, striking, and showy bloom such are dahlias, peonies, protea, or garden roses. Any bloom that commands attention will do.

5. Incorporate a Variety of Textures

Add interest to your arrangement by mingling together flowers that have different textures. For example, ruffled and frilly versus smooth, shiny versus matte, structured and hard versus soft.

6. Think About Movement

The movement of your eye, that it. Your arrangement should have a visual flow where the eye travels from one side to the other, up and down. Create movement by disbursing similar colors, textures, and shapes throughout your arrangement instead of bunching them together.

7. Start with Greenery

When starting to arrange your flowers, create a base of greenery first, such as fern frogs, ivy, or eucalyptus. Place the stems in the vase and create a shape that resembles an inverted triangle. This will ensure your arrangement will have both a vertical and horizontal presence. Next, add your statement blooms followed by filler flowers. Finish off your piece by adding floaters – delicate smaller blooms that grow in clusters such as baby’s breath, yarrow, and sedum. Lightly mist your bouquet with some water and voila! Your masterpiece is complete.

To maintain your arrangement, be sure to change the water every day, remove any foliage that dips below the waterline, use flower food, and trim the stems at a 45-degree angle every few days. The more arrangements you create, the better you will get as well as discover your own design techniques and style preferences. Creating beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers for your home is a great hobby to have! For any of your floral needs, Cascade Flowers is here to help.

Posted on 05/10/202108/31/2021 by cascade

7 Flower Arranging Mistakes to Avoid

peach violet and pink assorted flowers in vase

Arranging your own florals of fresh-cut stems from the florist, or from your garden, is a great way to decorate your home or make an event go from ordinary to extraordinary. Unless you are a retired floral designer, though, you may need a few helpful tips on how to create a beautiful arrangement sure to stun and please. Here at Cascade Flower Shop, we’ve got a few tips for you to follow and mistakes to avoid when designing your floral bouquet.

Using too many different types of flowers. We get it – there are so many beautiful flowers! It’s hard to choose just a few to work with. But try to focus on those few blooms which really speak to you. When choosing lush, showstoppers like roses, dahlias, and peonies, be sure to combine these bigger blooms with a few additional varieties that will complement them.
Using too many different colors. Who doesn’t love bright colors? Yellows, oranges, reds, blues, purples…. they are all wonderful! But, if you’re trying to create a pleasing and cohesive arrangement, stick with shades that complement rather than compete with each other. Successful floral arrangements have some sort of transition bringing colors, shapes, and textures together. Keep your bouquet interesting by incorporating shades of one color as well as a variety of blooms with different shapes and textures.
Not cutting the stems at an angle. Cutting stems at a 45-degree angle allows for the maximum amount of area in which they can drink up water. Do this before you place them in a vase of water as well as every few days to avoid the growth of bacteria.
Perfect Symmetry. For a more natural and wild vibe, create an asymmetrical design instead of a perfectly symmetrical one. Place seasonal branches, foliage, and sprigs at different angles to create an interesting and eye-catching asymmetrical arrangement.
Loosely arranged blooms. Having “clusters” of blooms in your arrangement makes it more interesting. For some, the magic number is three. Having elements pulled together in clusters of three naturally draws your eye to it. Creating clusters at the edge of your vase creates an extra wow factor.
Forgetting to remove the leaves. Any leaves or foliage that fall below the water line of the vase need to be removed. Otherwise, they will cause bacterial growth that can damage the blooms.
Not changing the water. Don’t make it and then forget it. Your gorgeous arrangement of blooms needs regular care to stay vibrant, fresh-looking, and beautiful. Change the water in the vase every other day and nourish them with a little flower food to keep them happy.

Follow the above tips for designing a floral masterpiece sure to stun and impress your friends and family. And, for a great selection of fresh, high-quality blooms, be sure to check out Cascade’s catalog of flowers to get you started on creating your very own beautiful arrangement.

Posted on 04/26/202108/31/2021 by cascade

8 Pro Tips for Keeping Your Cut Flowers Looking Great for Longer

You’ve just brought home (or received) a gorgeous bouquet of fresh flowers, and suddenly realize how much they brighten your mood, your home, and any room in which you place them. They are lovely, fragrant, and exquisite so, naturally, you want to enjoy them for as long as possible. To keep your beautiful blooms bright and lively for as long as possible, follow these guidelines below.

8 Pro Tips for Keeping Your Vase of Flowers Looking Fabulous for Longer

1. Choose your blooms wisely

Some flowers are sturdier than others and will last longer once cut. Examples include lilies, ranunculus, and orchids. Also, quality is key – drug-store and grocery-store flowers have had a longer travel distance time and will not be as fresh as stems purchased from a local florist as those stems travel the shortest distance from when they were first cut.

2. Cut the stems at an angle every few days

Cutting a flower’s stem at around a 45-degree angle increases its surface area which allows it to soak up more water. Cut up to a full inch every few days to prevent bacterial growth and rotting.

3. Fill the vase with luke-warm water

There’s no need to use filtered water as tap water is perfectly fine. Using warm water instead of cold helps the flower stems more easily absorb the water.

4. Remove any leaves that fall below the water line

Make sure your vase is about three-quarters full of water. Any leaves submerged in the water should be removed to prevent the growth of bacteria and to keep the vase looking clean. Also, remove any wilting blooms to keep the arrangement looking healthy.

5. Add Flower Food

The packet of flower preservatives that usually comes with your bouquet helps to keep your flowers hydrated and prevents bacterial growth. Be sure to follow the packet instructions carefully to extend the life of your flowers.

6. Change the water in the vase every couple of days

Keeping the water fresh keeps bacteria at bay. Thoroughly clean the vase and re-cut the stems before adding them back to the vase of clean water.

7. Keep your bouquet of fresh-cut flowers out of the sun

Don’t display your blooms in a window or sunny spot as the sun will shorten their lifespan.

8. Keep your floral bouquet far away from fruit

A bowl of fruit on the counter is a great reminder to eat healthy foods and looks nice, but fruit gives off ethylene, an invisible gas that is deadly to fresh-cut flowers. Apples and pears are particularly dangerous as they give off more ethylene than other fruits.

Don’t just set it and forget it, fresh-cut flowers require daily attention. Just a few minutes of dedicated daily care, and your gorgeous bouquet of flowers can last from a week to a week and a half! And that’s a blooming blessing! For additional tips on flower care or the best types of flowers to have this time of year, feel free to call or visit the Cascade Flowers website.

Shop beautiful blooms now!

Posted on 04/09/202104/12/2021 by cascade

Upgrade Your Patio with Container Planters

Making a container garden is a simple and easy way to incorporate beautiful plants and flowers in your limited space. Whether you’re decorating a front porch, back lanai, or small indoor apartment space, you can absolutely have beautiful greenery and colorful flowers all around you. At Cascade Floral Wholesale, we have everything you need to create container gardens of various sizes, shapes and colors. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when designing your own balanced container garden.

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Posted on 03/26/202103/29/2021 by cascade

How to Create a Meditation Garden

For thousands of years and in many different cultures around the world, the practice of meditation has been used to promote peace, still the mind and soul, and find balance. And who doesn’t need a bit of peace and balance these days? At Cascade Floral Wholesale, we have many of the materials you’ll need to design your own meditation garden, either within your home or outdoors. Having the right surroundings for meditative practice is not required, but certainly helps to bring your senses into alignment with your meditative state. Here are a few pointers for getting started and to inspire you as you create your own meditation garden.

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Posted on 03/10/202103/16/2021 by cascade

Floral Design Bars

By now, you and your besties have tried the holiday cookie exchange, makeover nights and the painting-and-wine classes. You’re looking for a fresh spin on the girls’ night out, or a theme for your next event that will bring a flair of inspiration to the group. The newest trend we at Cascade Floral Wholesale are seeing is floral design bars. Bring your closest friends together along with a basic variety of flowers, floral design materials, and a how-to video to follow. Throw in some champagne and brunch-type snacks and you have a fun afternoon of girl time with a great take-away: beautiful floral bouquets and a new skill!

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Posted on 02/26/202103/01/2021 by cascade

Keep Your Flowers Fresh and Pretty Longer

Every florist knows the challenges of creating gorgeous floral arrangements and keeping them fresh for as long as possible. The way you cut, hydrate, style and arrange your blooms all make a difference in how long they will stay fresh and beautiful. Here, the experts at Cascade Floral Wholesale offer some of our best florists’ hacks for keeping your floral arrangements looking good as long as possible. Try a few of these tricks the next time you design beautiful floral arrangements for your home or office and see if they don’t create long-lasting blooms you’ll love.

Continue reading Keep Your Flowers Fresh and Pretty Longer