A World of Octobers
"The year is a book, isn't it, Marilla? Spring's pages are written in Mayflowers and violets, summer's in roses, autumn's in red maple leaves, and winter in holly and evergreens." -L.M. Montgomery
Credit: Nous Nous for Kaitlyn & Kurt's autumnal wedding
As the autumn season darts in, the 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables always comes to mind. The young character Anne sees the world through a sense of wonder and beauty and considers the month of October one of the best months of all. In the book, the eleven year old character famously says "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers".
The flora of October is full of maroon, purple and gold. It is Marigolds, Zinnias, Dahlias and Mums. It is the last burst of color before the greens of winter. Perhaps you are considering which flowers to incorporate into your autumn wedding. Maybe you're having a fall feast and want to adorn the tables with the flowers of the season. Whatever the case, autumnal flowers are some of the most culturally rich and significant of the bunch and have been celebrated for centuries. Let us dive into a few of these flowers and learn how they bring beauty into our world. Find them at the flower bar in our Kingston location and make your own bouquet, or order an arrangement for delivery in Kingston and the surrounding areas.
Marigolds: The marigold has yellow or light-orange flowers. They close at night and reopen when the sun has risen to a certain point in the sky. From Mexico to India, the marigolds have been a symbol of tradition during the autumn seasons all around the world. In Mexico and Central America they appear in homes as people start to celebrate Day of the Dead and are referred to as flor de muerto. While known as the flower of death in one region, they are known for purity and good luck in India. Here in the Hudson Valley they will bloom into late fall.
Zinnias: Zinnias are fall's final flowers. Originating as a Mexican wildflower, they have become one of the most commonly grown annuals. In the nineteenth century people often used flowers as code to pass messages between lovers and friends. The Victorian meaning behind the zinnia is thoughts of a friend you haven't seen in a while.
Dahlias: Dahlias are most beautiful in the fall. They will last right up to the first frost. They are the national flower of Mexico, first recorded by Westerners in 1615, and were then called by their original Mexican name acoctli. They come in almost every color - every color except blue! Common wedding flowers, they are a symbol of commitment. They grow anywhere from two inches to a whole foot in diameter and can be the star of your bouquet.
Mums: The Chrysanthemum (or the mum as you may know it) adorns most every front porch and garden in the autumn season. First grown in China over 3,000 years ago, this popular flower blooms from August through November. A beautiful addition to your autumnal bouquet.
Which flowers are your favorite of the season? On your next visit to our Kingston or Hudson location be sure to let us know.