Flowers You've Never Heard Of

Being new to the floral industry feels like I’m stepping into a brand new world with pleasant surprises every day. Our Operations Manager, Tobey, is incredibly gifted in bringing in the most beautiful selection of flowers for our designers to choose from and just when I think I have seen them all, a new flower captures my attention and I think to myself, “No, this has to be my favorite.” We are all familiar with the more common flowers like roses, tulips, ranunculuses, peonies, dahlias, but there are some crazies out there (literally and figuratively) that completely blow my mind. And I’m sure will blow yours, too. In case you never get around to researching some of the weirdest flowers, I did it for you!

1. Monkey Face Orchid

This one is too cute not to be the first on the list. I know many of you have probably heard of the Monkey Face Orchid, but I couldn’t refrain myself. Scientifically known as Dracula simia, these beauties originate in Ecuador and can be found scattered throughout the regions of Columbia and Peru. This species is no easy feat to see, though, requiring many to walk about a mile above sea level in order to witness them in the wild. Growing Monkey Face Orchids yourself requires some previous knowledge and a lot of patience. They need cold climates and high humidity in order to thrive and the process of cultivating a bloom from these delicate flowers takes more than 7 years. I read an article by Henry Morgan on The Garden Style that because of the long bloom and cultivation process many people miss out on the medicinal benefits, but this species contains “antibacterial properties that are capable of eliminating or fighting microorganisms harmful to our body.” Monkey face orchid tea anyone?

2. Hooker’s Lips

Psychotria elata by day, Hooker’s Lips by night– our next flower is as luscious as they come. Like the Monkey Face Orchid, our next unusual flower has a similar origin and climate. Hooker’s Lips, Hot Lips, or my personal favorite, Mick Jaggar’s lips, is found on tropical trees throughout Central and South America specifically in countries such as Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, and Columbia. Although it’s named after its bright red liplike quality, those are actually leaves and it only remains in that state for a short amount of time before it reveals the actual flowers inside– small white blooms. While researching I came across an article on iNaturalist that stated due to the lack of scent, they heavily rely on their shape in order to attract pollinators, but thanks to deforestation and their popularity amongst collectors, they are now on the endangered species list.

3. Devil’s Hand

Well, speak of the devil! Is this a blog post full of corny jokes or are you actually learning anything? Anyways! From the Latin word, Chiranthodendron Pentadactylon, Devil’s Hand, Mexican Hand Tree, Monkley’s Hand Tree, or whatever you see fit, is native to southern parts of Mexico and Guatemala. Immediately your attention is drawn to the vibrant yellow and red clawlike flowers resembling fingers. According to Global Trees Campaign, this tree had religious significance to the ancient Aztecs and they found uses for each part of the flower, “the red flowers are used medicinally as a traditional remedy for some heart diseases. The bark is used as rope and the large leaves are used to wrap food,” (“Devil’s Hand Tree”).

4. Dancing Girls

Originating in the rainforests of east Africa and in need of a mild climate year-round, the next flower on our list might be my favorite, Impatiens bequaertii, or shall I say, Dancing Girls. The resemblance is truly uncanny. Petite and rare, these girls are not the easiest to find, but those that are fortunate will be pleasantly surprised to find they come in white and soft pink and grow just about anywhere it touches soil. They make great additions to hanging plants as well as indoor plants. Do a little curtsy for us girls!

5. Snapdragon Seed Pod

Snapdragons are one of my favorite secondary flowers to include in arrangements. They always come in the most vibrant colors and add a unique texture which makes it hard to believe that from that comes this. Antirrhinum majus also known as the snapdragon seed pod. Little fuzzy, tiny skulls are left reminding you that flowers are living creatures. How a flower is able to go from one end of the spectrum to the other blows my mind. Snapdragons were considered to obtain mystical powers back in ancient times and people believed that if one had Snapdragons in their garden, their home was protected from evil, curses and all.

This information definitely didn’t stem from my brain. I had the pleasure of learning about these unique flowers from the sources below:

“Devil's Hand Tree.” Global Trees, https://globaltrees.org/threatened-trees/trees/devils-hand-tree/.

“Devil's Hand.” Secretflowerlanguage, https://www.secretflowerlanguage.com/Flower/Devil's-Hand.

“Hot Lips (Psychotria Elata).” INaturalist, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/287472-Psychotria-elata.

Hughes, Nadina. “40 Of the World's Weirdest Flowers.” Boing Boing, 26 Feb. 2015, https://boingboing.net/2015/02/26/40-of-the-worlds-weirdest-fl.html.

“Impatiens Bequaertii - ‘Dancing Girl Impatiens.’” Strange Wonderful Things, https://www.strangewonderfulthings.com/260.htm.

Morgan, Henry. “Monkey Face Orchid - Most Complete Guide -【2022】 the Garden Style.” The Garden Style, 2 May 2022, https://www.thegardenstyle.com/flowers/monkey-face-orchid-most-complete-guide/.

Wedding of Floating Arches

The conclusion to our 2021 fall event season ended with this magical wedding that was held at the Belle Meade Country Club. This all white and green wedding has a classic and timeless feel, while also having touches of contemporary flair that really make this wedding shine. Like the bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets, many of the tables displayed a collection of white rose, bud vases with a few tables having elegant white and green centerpieces. The star of this wedding would of course be the floating arches in the outside dining tent. This installation coupled with the elegant crystal chandeliers and the beautiful rose, bud vases lining the middle of the tables completely transformed this space into an intimate and magical atmosphere.

Photographer: Mary Rosenbaum 

Venue: Belle Meade Country Club

An Evening at 5th & Taylor

In the heart of Germantown, you will find the beloved restaurant 5th & Taylor, with its industrial and moody interior that creates an intimate evening and allows the brightly colored florals for this wedding to shine. The use of both the indoor and outdoor spaces allowed us to create two very distinct tones for all the centerpieces and other floral arrangements. On the inside, we utilized the darker interior so that the brightness of the flowers and citrus would pop. While in the outdoor space, we fed into the naturalness of the space to create more garden-like arrangements and the lush garden rose arch for the ceremony. The minimalism of the space ensures that the flowers were sure to make a statement across every place that they would be placed, and making use of statement pieces like the statue gave us a place to hang a larger flower installation to make the perfect backdrop for their wedding cake.

Venue: 5th & Taylor

A Personal Touch

Sometimes when it comes to your special day, you do not need an array of centerpieces or elaborate installations to make a moment beautiful and one you’ll cherish. This bride and her bridesmaids had an elegant collection of garden roses for their bouquets. For the groom, his boutonniere was a simple yet elegant white spray rose to match the rest of the blooms. No matter the shape or scale, elegance will find its way with these beautiful florals.

Garden Aesthetic Wedding

• At the very beginning of our 2021 fall event season, we were able to transform this bride’s family home into her wedding venue that emanated a beautiful garden vibe. The color palette of this wedding was a lovely mixture of peaches, oranges, pinks, and cream florals. A lovely combination for a fall wedding and the intertwining of both floral pieces and potted plants really help to give this wedding its garden-like aesthetic. These lush collections of plants & florals line the base of the dancefloor and take the center stage behind the bar. This wedding had several beautiful installations from the cascading florals above the front door, the three flower arches at the tent entrance, and leading into the dancefloor. The last installation of this wedding was two greenery-wrapped rings that hung over the tables. In the main tent, the tables had an assortment of colorful centerpieces and an array of bud vases.

The Essence of Beautiful Design can be Achieved at any Scale

During the middle of covid, this modestly budget wedding used Alabaster Collective’s quaint backyard space to create an enchanting and elegant wedding like no other. The contrast between the darkness of the foliage with the liveliness of the bright colors makes a spectacle not found in most weddings. From the bride’s bouquet to the floral poufs that line the pathway leading to the ceremony, and the centerpieces on the dining tables, create a moody yet playful feel to this wedding.

Venue: Alabaster Collective

Photographer: Jessica Steddom

An Enchanting Fall Evening

Back in October, we had the pleasure of doing this elegant Autumn wedding. This mixture of classical white tones and soft yellows with the richness of fall foliage and herby greens captivates the heart of what can be done in a late Autumn wedding. Throughout the venue, we created mini-collections of both classical-looking urns and pots accompanied by glass bud vases and vases. One such of these collections is the star of the center bar in front of the dancefloor, with the massive stone urn filled with greenery and fall foliage. Accompanying these pieces on the dancefloor are two more extravagant foliage urns, greenery draped across the ceiling, and foliage terraces lining the back of the band. Throughout the rest of the venue, we took the same approach of creating intimate and lavish spaces with these beautiful collections of florals. On the main dining tables, each was lined with a mixture of a few bigger centerpieces with some smaller accent bud vases. In a more untraditional fashion, the cake for this wedding had a large floral piece incased underneath rather than on the table or cake itself. The florals for this wedding had an unique mixture of both classical and nontraditional elements creating a beutiful and one of a kind experience.

Venue: Belle Meade Country Club

Photographer: Kristyn Hogan

A Modern & Minimalist Wedding

Being able to transform your venue space does not always require you to cover every nook and cranny. Here we see the very minimalist space that is provided by 14tenn completely transform due to the strategic use of floral installations that cascade down the pillars of the ceremony space. These installations are also reflected in the unique centerpieces that line the tables. The combination between these two elements kept the space feeling bright, airy, clean, and of course beautiful. The floral pieces work in unison to create a very cohesive feel to the entire atmosphere of the space. The modern elegance of this wedding is equally matched by the bride’s bouquet, which is is an exquisite assortment of white garden roses. The ensemble of flowers, from installations to bud vases, each have a specific role to play but together they help to create a uniform aesthetic that brings so much life & personality to the space it occupies.

Photographer: Erin McCall

Venue: 14tenn

The History of Valentine's Day

The Valentine’s Day that many know, love, and celebrate on February 14th has not always taken the same shape that is commonly associated with the holiday today. While many like to lament the commercial nature of the holiday, Valentine’s Day has a very rich history that spans several centuries.

The roots of Valentine’s day can be traced back to the Roman Empire with the legend of Saint Valentine, who actually seems to have been more than one person. This saint and the day were not necessarily associated with romantic love in the beginning. The legends of Saint Valentine slowly grew in what could be considered a centuries long game of historical telephone eventually culminating in the hearts and cupids we see today.

The tradition of sending flowers for Valentine’s Day is all thanks to the Victorians and their obsession with the language of flowers. Roses in particular where deemed a symbol of love in no small part due to their unequalled beauty. Whole books were written on the Language of Flowers. In those demure (read sexually repressed) days of old flowers were an acceptable way to express one’s amorous feelings. Red and pink are often associated with love and romance and so it makes complete sense that these are the color of roses that have become associated with Valentine’s Day. Passion and the color red have always been tied together in the human psyche and there’s no wonder why. 

Amorous Arrangement

Vivid Arrangement

A gorgeous bouquet can absolutely take one’s breath away. The majesty of nature and inherent beauty of the world is so easily expressed in a single flower. The immense feeling one receives when they are given a beautiful arrangement remains one of the reasons why the tradition has not only lasted this long but remains a global craze, especially for Valentine’s Day. 

As with most holidays, Valentine’s Day has become more and more commercialized over the centuries but it took a big leap in the 80s when Hallmark began marketing their sappy Valentine’s Day greeting cards via cheesy TV commercials.

While Valentine’s Day has gone through many changes across its lifespan, here in the united states, the association of love, romance and flowers has stayed strong and has no indication of changing any time soon.

Rainbow Wedding of Your Dreams

At the core of every FLWR Shop wedding, we idealize the dreams of which our brides wish to become realized. So when it came to artfully crafting one of our very own designer’s weddings, we knew the skies were the limit to creating something spectacular. Using 14TENN’s clean and bright interior we were able to allow the vibrancy and uniqueness of our florals to transform the venue and captivate any guest who would walk through those doors. From the transitioning hues of bud vases lining the tables to the rainbow flower clouds floating above, the creation of such a beautiful design is what we strive for at FLWR Shop.

Venue: 14TENN

Photographer: The Commoneer