My wife’s best friend is getting married. Lucy (my wife) was asked to come up with an idea for a bridal shower favor. The first thought that Lucy had was to give a plant of some kind to the shower’s guests. The concept behind giving a plant was that it symbolizes how the bride & hubby-to-be will grow and develop together over the coming years.
Lucy thought that succulent plants might be a great choice for the favors. They are easy to take care of and can come in many beautiful shapes and sizes. Since I work with plants everyday, she asked me for a little help to decide if succulents or some other kind of plant might be a better choice.
I think giving plants, whatever the occasion, is always a great choice as long as it’s not an invasive or overly difficult to take care of. I also think that making a gift by hand is a great way to make it more special.
Lucy and I talked about her relationship with Erica, her best friend, and how they’d been friends since childhood. She talked to me about how happy she is that Erica is getting married and that it would be great to have a plant that could be as vibrant and colorful as Erica. After a bit of conversation, it was obvious that a succulent didn’t fit the bill. If she wants something that can be colorful and bloom year after year, she should give a perennial flower. Both Lucy and Erica grew up in the NYC area, so the perennial should absolutely be a native flower to the region. One of the most beautiful native flowers for the region is the coneflower. It comes in several different varieties and colors. In my opinion, purple coneflowers are the most eye catching and lively.
Lucy thought that succulent plants might be a great choice for the favors. They are easy to take care of and can come in many beautiful shapes and sizes. Since I work with plants everyday, she asked me for a little help to decide if succulents or some other kind of plant might be a better choice.
I think giving plants, whatever the occasion, is always a great choice as long as it’s not an invasive or overly difficult to take care of. I also think that making a gift by hand is a great way to make it more special.
Lucy and I talked about her relationship with Erica, her best friend, and how they’d been friends since childhood. She talked to me about how happy she is that Erica is getting married and that it would be great to have a plant that could be as vibrant and colorful as Erica. After a bit of conversation, it was obvious that a succulent didn’t fit the bill. If she wants something that can be colorful and bloom year after year, she should give a perennial flower. Both Lucy and Erica grew up in the NYC area, so the perennial should absolutely be a native flower to the region. One of the most beautiful native flowers for the region is the coneflower. It comes in several different varieties and colors. In my opinion, purple coneflowers are the most eye catching and lively.
Coneflowers are great for indoors or out as long as they get the amount of sun they need. They can grow to be 2 to 3 feet tall in ideal outdoor conditions, and spread through a planted bed if transferred from pot to soil. They can also be beautiful potted plants for a window boxes or sill. Best of all, once established, they need very little maintenance to flourish and stay gorgeous. To add to the handmade component, we thought that growing the favors from seed would make them more special. So that’s what we did.
After we figured out what the best plant would be, the hard work was done. Now all that we needed to do was put the bridal shower favors together, and that is easy-to-do. Here are the steps we took:
1. First, we had to buy the seed. Coneflower seeds can be commonly found at a local gardening store, or even a Home Depot. You can also buy them online. If you decide on a less-available-native-plant, online purchases will be your only option.
After we figured out what the best plant would be, the hard work was done. Now all that we needed to do was put the bridal shower favors together, and that is easy-to-do. Here are the steps we took:
1. First, we had to buy the seed. Coneflower seeds can be commonly found at a local gardening store, or even a Home Depot. You can also buy them online. If you decide on a less-available-native-plant, online purchases will be your only option.
This is a tray of peat moss pellets before they have been watered.
2. Second, we used peat moss pellets to sow the seed. Pellets are a super easy way to get seeds to sprout. All you have to do is water the pellets, open them and place seed inside each pellet. Next, pellet trays come with plastic tops. Once all the seed is planted, you just put the top on and let nature take its course. You should start the seed at least 2-weeks before the shower because it will take about 7 to 14 days for the seedlings to start to germinate and emerge from the peat moss. (Note: Follow the specific instructions of whichever pellet system you buy. They are all a little different).
After 7 to 14 days, the coneflower seedlings will have appeared and look like the seedlings in this image.
3. After the seedlings appear, you transfer them into pots. We kept them in the pellet once they were placed into a larger pot. I thought the mesh of the pellet gave the seedling an interesting detail. We use plastic pots that were about 4 inches high and 3 inches wide. We watered them once they were all replanted.
4. As a last little detail, we put a colorful ribbon around the pot. Then at the shower, everyone could pick the favor that they like most. The coneflower can stay in the pot for at least the first couple of seasons. Or, for those guests that want to transfer them, they can plant them outside this season. Either way, the flower will grow and mature over the next several years to become a wonderful reminder of their friend’s shower and marriage.
4. As a last little detail, we put a colorful ribbon around the pot. Then at the shower, everyone could pick the favor that they like most. The coneflower can stay in the pot for at least the first couple of seasons. Or, for those guests that want to transfer them, they can plant them outside this season. Either way, the flower will grow and mature over the next several years to become a wonderful reminder of their friend’s shower and marriage.
Native plants are so incredible. Any chance to introduce more people to just how incredible they are should be taken. They come in every color, size, texture or look. Word from the shower is that the favors were a hit, and are now being taken care of by dozens of women from New York City to New Jersey and throughout Long Island. I think it’s kinda awesome that the symbol of love can be spread so far and wide. It also proves that gifts from the heart can be born of dirt and time.
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