Bloom & Grow — The Best Flowers of the Season

‘Tis the season for outdoor events, and with that comes an array of options for outdoor arrangements. There’s nothing prettier than adding touches of fresh floral to your al fresco gathering. However, variables in the weather can make outdoor arrangements tricky. You have to account for wind, rain, and direct sunlight, all factors that will help you determine where to place your creations. The key is to keep things small, compact, and simple.  

Make sure you are designing your arrangement in a heavy container, such as ceramic or wood.  It should be heavy enough so that it won’t blow away at the first gust of wind. Using floral foam in your container will help weigh it down, giving you a solid base to hold your flowers. Try to use something other than glass to avoid the mess, expense, and risk associated with breakage.

Make your arrangements compact. Using long stems or wispy flowers can be a disaster if it’s a windy day. Long stems can break, leaving traces of your arrangements all over the yard and a bare design on your table. You also don’t want long flowing flowers blowing in the wind and possibly into your guests’ faces.

Be sure to use flowers that hold up to hot weather. Blooms can easily wilt and look sad on a hot day. Using orchids, succulents, greens, and tropical flowers such as ginger, protea, or heliconia are your best bets for a long-lasting outdoor arrangement. Place your florals in a shaded area if possible, and make sure they have plenty of water.

Finally, create arrangements in a container that you can give to your guests at the end of the event. They’ll love having a beautiful reminder of your event to take home and enjoy.

Find Mentioned Suppliers

Pete Nelson, Event Designer | Event Lab | pnelson@eventlab.net

Pete Nelson has held several positions throughout the past 23 years. He began his career as Director of Entertainment for a large national events company. He soon found a passion for creative writing which led to a National Sales Manager position, followed by positions as Creative Director, Floral Manager, and Event Designer in Minneapolis and Las Vegas.

Pete has hosted several episodes of “Your Holiday Home” on HGTV and is the proud recipient of The Special Event Gala Award for Best Entertainment Concept & Execution, along with eight Minnesota STAR Awards for “Best Design & Décor”(2), “Best Social Event Planning”, “Best ISES Team Effort”, “Best Creative Solution”, “Best Specialty Décor,” and “Best Use of Floral”(2). He was nominated for the coveted Esprit Award in 2008 and was the Director of the Minnesota STAR Awards in 2010. Pete was inducted into the Minnesota Meetings+Events Magazine's Hall of Fame as Best Special Event Planner and was a finalist for the International Spotlight Award for Event Producer of the Year.

Related Suppliers & Featured Content Advertise with meetingpages and create a complete profile for your facility, attraction, activity or service.

On Loan — The Latest in Minnesota Event Rentals

Spotlight | October 17, 2018

Need a tent for your next event? How about radios to relay commands to your crew? And where on earth are you going to find a photo booth? Relax! We’ve put together your must-have Minnesota event rental suppliers in this handy guide. Read more...

Flower Power — The Best Winter Florals

The Scoop | By Kari Gronseth, Event Specialist | February 27, 2018

While winter can be bleak, it doesn’t mean your floral arrangements have to be. Read more...

Color Scheme — Trending Colors for the New Year

The Scoop | By Pete Nelson, Event Designer | January 27, 2016

When it comes to color trends, there truly are no limits. Read more...

Value in Bloom — Making the Most of Summer Flowers

The Scoop | By Pete Nelson, Event Designer | July 29, 2015

The summer months offer a floral designer an array of colorful blooms from which to choose; it’s a virtual floral playground where anything goes. Read more...