The name of the game these days is peonies and lilac. Old fashioned flowers seemingly present in every yard. These peonies actually came from Holland as ours aren't quite out yet and I had a wedding to pull together, but the lilacs are all from the neighbourhood (cut with permission of course!!). The response to these flowers was amazing - people were so excited to see peonies the size of their face and curious about one of the lilac varieties I used called 'Sensation.' I love when my flowers elicit questions - compliments are one thing but curiosity is even better because it means the flowers were worth lingering on. They made people want to reach out and talk to me about them. In case you were wondering, you too can grow 'Coral Charm' peonies in your garden, as well as hundreds of varieties of lilac!

I'm waiting for photos from the wedding but wanted to put a few up before lilac season is over. If you want to cut lilac from your yard (or from someone else's with permission), I recommend doing so before mid-morning or in the evening. Lilac looks its best if it's given lots of water as soon as possible after you cut it. Simply make a fresh cut with sharp clippers on the diagonal, then one cut straight up into the stem to split it, and then submerge in water. Lilac will last longer if it's kept cool, but like many heavily scented flowers, it usually only lasts a few days once cut.

Big thanks to everyone who let me cut lilac from their yards!!

Could barely move as there was lilac hydrating everywhere

Lilac and 'Coral Charm' peonies for the church

Beautiful 'Sensation' - the first bicolour lilac, discovered in the 1930s by a Dutch grower

The morning after I got up early and made this arrangement with the leftovers.