How/where to buy fresh cut black-eyed susans, purple coneflowers?

16 years ago

I am getting married June 7 of next year in Charlottesville, VA, and I'd like the bridesmaids' bouquets to contain black-eyed susans and purple coneflowers. Can anyone point me in the direction of how/where I can purchase these at this time? Online flower distributors don't seem to carry these kinds at all.

I'm not a gardener myself (as I'm a grad student and don't have a yard!) so I'm trying to learn about this stuff through the web. Is June 6 too early to be obtaining these flowers?

If anyone lives within a day-trip of Charlottesville and will have these flowers in his/her garden in time for June 7, 2008 and would be interested in selling them, please contact me!

Thanks for your help, and any other insight you may have!

Comments (5)

meg_va
16 years ago
June 6th is a little early for those blooms. They generally start blooming in July. If we have a very hot spring and no cold snaps, there may be some early blooms...
I would imagine that C'ville has a great farmer's market - you could check there. Another great way to save $$ on flowers is to check with area high schools and see if they have a horticulture program. Many do, and the students need real-world work experience.
The program in our county stays very busy with weddings. They do a tremendous job! The program can't charge for labor -just for the cost of the flowers and vases. School will still be in on June 6th, so you may luck out!
darcieg
16 years ago
I agree with the above poster. June 6th is way too early. Here, in Fairfax County, VA the black eyed susans and purple cone flowers have just been blooming for about the past two to two and a half weeks.

Since you will be further south, they may bloom earlier, but you would need to contact someone in the area.

The other option would be to choose flowers that would be in season the first week of June.

Best wishes!
Darcie
Related Professionals
Holly Springs Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Chattanooga Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Forest Acres Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · North New Hyde Park Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bridgeport Landscape Contractors · Fort Atkinson Landscape Contractors · Hilton Head Island Landscape Contractors · Huntley Landscape Contractors · Lewisville Landscape Contractors · Live Oak Landscape Contractors · Streamwood Landscape Contractors · Wailuku Landscape Contractors · Chattanooga Driveway Installation & Maintenance · Dearborn Driveway Installation & Maintenance · Skokie Driveway Installation & Maintenance
donnamira
16 years ago
I agree that you'll be better off choosing flowers in season, rather than looking for black-eyed susans. Maybe shasta daisies instead?
darcieg
16 years ago
June is too early for Shasta daisies as well. They bloom in July/August.

I can't remember exactly what is blooming in early June, but I'm thinking it's probably more like iris.

You could always go to the local farmer's market a few weeks before the wedding and talk to one of the growers. They would have a good idea and would certainly be able to provide you with locally grown flowers.

My sister did something similar for her wedding. She purchased the stems, then she and the parents arranged them in vases. They were BEAUTIFUL!
bellefleurs
16 years ago
Congrats on your upcoming marriage!! I live in the C-ville area and agree with the other posts - way to early for these 2 flowers (which I grow in abundance). You would need someone to force them to bloom early w/ grow lights/greenhouse and who knows if that would work. There is a women in Earlysville that sells a wide variety of cut flowers at the farmer market (she's there every weekend) I would ask her advise.
There are many lovely flowers that bloom at that time of year
Good Luck-