Diner en Blanc - Cincinnati

(From the Website) At the last minute, the location is given to thousands of friends and acquaintances who have been patiently waiting to learn the “Dîner en Blanc's” secret place. Thousand of people, dressed all in white, and conducting themselves with the greatest decorum, elegance, and etiquette, all meet for a mass “chic picnic” in a public space.

Yellow Canary was honored to be a part of the secret for this year's Diner en Blanc. (Photo by Scott Beseler Photography)

Born 25 years ago in Paris...

Launched with just a handful of friends by François Pasquier over 25 years ago, Paris' Dîner en Blanc now assembles nearly 15,000 people each year. The French capital's most prestigious sites have played host to it: the Pont des Arts, the Eiffel Tower site, Place Vendôme, the Château de Versailles, the Esplanade de Notre-Dame, the Esplanade des Invalides, the periphery of the Place de l'Étoile, the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde and this year:  Le Louvre Pyramid and the Trocadéro Esplanade at the ame time! The Paris police tend to tolerate this ‘wild' gathering, if not perhaps even wishing they could join in!

More photos by Scott Beseler Photography here.

A Talisman of Love and a Symbol of Patience: The Aster

September's flower is the Aster:
(From Teleflora.com) 
With their wildflower beauty and lush texture, asters have long been considered an enchanted flower. In ancient times, it was thought that the perfume from their burning leaves could drive away evil serpents. Today, they’re known as a talisman of love and a symbol of patience. Also known as starworts, Michaelmas daisies or Frost flowers, the name aster is derived from the Greek word for “star,” and its star-like flowers can be found in a rainbow of colors – white, red, pink, purple, lavender and blue, with mostly yellow  centers. The September birth flower, asters also hold the honor of being the 20th wedding anniversary flower.

Honor, Faithfulness and Passion

August's flower, the gladiolus has a history that spans from Africa to the Mediterranean.   To the ancient Romans, a gladius was a sword, and a little sword was a gladiolus -- often used by gladiators. 

The Roman author Pliny the Elder applied the word gladiolus to the flower that is distinguished by its long, sword-shaped leaves, and the name stuck. 

Gladiolus are a romantic choice for weddings both because of their beauty and boldness, but also in meaning.  In the language of flowers gladiolus represent remembrance, strength of character, honor and faithfulness.  

Gladiolus also represent infatuation.  To present a bouquet of gladiolus to a lover is to tell that person that they have pierced your heart with passion and love.





Vase with Red Gladioli (1886) byVincent van Gogh

Anything but Common

Queen Anne's Lace ~ Summer in the Queen City area would not be the same without it!  At first glance, Queen Anne's Lace looks to be a sturdy bloom, but look a little closer  and you can see the delicate tiny flowers that make up this Yellow Canary favorite!  It adds a delicate and earthy dimension to arrangements and bouquets. 


My Grandfather Stewart's favorite flower, I spent plenty of time as a child reaping this wild flower to present to him and in turn, he taught me about the workings of plants and flowers by allowing me to use food coloring in the bouquets' water and having me watch closely as the snowy white Queen Ann's Lace turned blue, green and yellow as it drew in water. Year after year, I never ceased to be amazed by this trick!  (VG)

The Story of Queen Anne's Lace   

Queen Anne was tatting white lace.  (Tatting is the all-but-lost art of making lace by hand.)  The beautiful white lace she was tatting became the white lacy flowers of thewild carrot plant.  She pricked her finger and one drop of blood oozed out.  This became the central dark red or purple sterile floret that is present on some, but not all, Queen Anne's Lace flowers. Legends disagree as to which Queen Anne was tatting such lovely lace.  Some say it was Anne (1574 - 1619), the first Stuart Queen Anne, who was brought over from Denmark at fourteen years of age to be a Queen to King James of Scotland.  Others argue  it was Anne (1665 - 1714), the daughter of William and Mary, and the last monarch in the Stuart line.

More Local Beauty: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

A recent trip to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden had me in awe!  Not only are their trees and plants beautiful, they also create an experience that rivals the animals in the zoo!  The annuals and perennials are all chosen with care and thought so that each turn and path is a wonder of greenery and color.  Below are just a few shots of the foliage that greets visitors.  Love the bold contrasts!

T

Don't want a Veil? Try a Floral Headpiece

A Yellow Canary Creation

Cincinnati Wedding- "Secret Garden"

For the bride wanting to stand out from the pack, a floral headpiece is a fresh and one-of-a-kind option.  The floral headpiece is very versatile, it can be worn with veiling or in lieu of the more traditional veil.  As suggested from "That Way Hat's Blog", when choosing your bridal accessories, you should take into account the shape and scope of the gown when choosing your headpiece.  For a fuller dress, a fuller headpiece will keep your shape in balance.

  Brides can choose from any design or shape to fit their personality, theme or decor.  That is the beauty of the floral headpiece- the sky is the limit when designing and dreaming.  Brides can choose a "flower child" daisy chain for a beach or park wedding or an elegant orchid or lily to complement a simple, sleek wedding style.  

A Yellow Canary Favorite: Hydrangeas

Driving around Greater Cincinnati  you can see that one of our favorite flowers, the hydrangea, is beginning to blossom.  These beautiful blooms are both classy and classic and can be used to bring texture and fullness to any décor.  The versatility of this flowers is its true treasure.  It can be used in the most formal of settings or the most casual and be absolutely at home in each instance.  A bridal favorite, the lacy hydrangea symbolizes some of the most important qualities needed for a successful marriage, friendship, devotion, perseverance, and understanding. 

 Hydrangeas can come is a variety of shades of white, pink and blue.  Hydrangea fun fact: In the pink and blue variety of hydrangeas, the Ph and acidity of the soil determines the color of the bloom.  For deeper blues, you need more aluminum in your soil, for the pink you need a high Ph factor.  Another fun fact: In the garden, it is possible to change the color of the pink and blue variety hydrangeas (white stays white).   (learn more here)  Isn’t Mother Nature just full of tricks?