Hobart Wedding in October

For this simple Hobart wedding in October, the brief was for burgundies and pinks with a relaxed style.  I love October for natives - the Waratahs are always a treat to use.  For the bride's bouquet, I used a White Waratah and a deep red NSW Waratah.  

Adding to the Waratahs, I used a hybrid protea called Pink Cream, which has soft pink bracts surrounding a cream centre.  Cream Lecuadendron Discolour were added too.   I love their colour in October, when they're at their lightest.  Their pink tinged tips are so pretty.  Hot pink Boronia was added too, which adds a beautiful fragrance to a bouquet.  

Burgundy was added with the Safari Sunset Leucadendrons.  

I also added some of the variegated Leucos - Jester which are burgundy with a green stripe.    To cool the colour palette down, I put in some gorgeous Isopogons or Cone Flowers in pinky-purple, as well as some rich purple misty.  

Berzelia and Phylica added some gorgeous texture.  For foliage, there was some silky Silver Tree Leucadendron, and some blue-green gum.  

The rich clear colours and textures are one of the things I love the most about spring natives.  

Nina Hamilton Photography

Nina Hamilton Photography captured the day, using historic Battery Point as the back drop.  Gorgeous colour and iconicly Hobart!

I made some simple, lush table decorations for the reception tables at Peppermint Bay.   

Simple glass vases were filled with Waratahs, Pink Cream Proteas and more of the smaller flowers and foliage.  I love the feathery Phylica which adds texture and softness.

Such a joyful colour combination for these table decorations!

Nina Hamilton Photography

And so much joy in the photos too!  Congratulations to the bride and groom.  I hope the memories will be fresh for years to come.  Thanks for including us in your special day.  

The Swallow's are Back!

Spring has arrived!  And, like clockwork, the swallows have returned. Two days before the beginning of the official calendar springtime, I woke to hear swallows chirping outside my bedroom window.  They had returned to last years nest under the eaves.  And flower-wise, spring has begun early here at Swallows Nest.  Some of our spring bloomers are already in full swing.  

The Maui Sunsets have begun to really glow in the last week.  I just love these Leucadendrons! 

Even the waratahs have begun to bloom.  They are around a fortnight earlier than they were last year with the Telopea Speciosissima being the first to flower.  I love using these flowers and I'm looking forward to the creative possibilities of using them for a spring wedding or two!

In this bunch you can see some of the newly blooming spring flowers I've picked this week -  *Leucadendron Gandoggeri which are beautifully papery and will continue to lighten until they are a clear bright cream.  *Telopea Speciosissima which are lighter if you pick them early, with a rosy pink colour and a beautiful rounded shape.  *Berzelia or Button Bush which are still green but will change as they flower to a soft fluffy white.  *Leucadendron Argenteum or Silver Tree is a beautiful foliage leucadendron which is bright and soft and reminds me of shimmering shot silk fabric.  *Thryptomene is still going strong and coming to the end of its flowering time.  Almost completely laden with tiny white flowers, it now looks like a bush covered in snow.  *Phyllica is a wonderfully soft feathery plant that "flowers" in late winter and looks like a starburst.

The swallows will be here for the next six months - "fair" weather friends for the spring and summer.  They are just one of the indicators of the progression of the seasons here on Swallows Nest Farm.  

Welcome to Spring!!