Summer Solstice – the golden months have arrived...
Aside from making it socially acceptable to crack on with a pint midweek, at midday, the Summer months bring with them a new set of seasonal stems – which means many new bouquets, too. From dahlia, crocosmia and oriental poppy stems, to our favourite peonies (yes, they’re still here, more on this below) – this is our guide to the best summer has to share.
Dahlia
The history of the dahlia can be traced back to Mexico, where the stem was used as a source of food for centuries by indigenous people and beloved to be a cure for epilepsy by the Aztecs. But it wasn’t until the late 1700s that they cropped up in Europe thanks to a French explorer who came across a dahlia-filled garden while in Oaxaca. Now, the captivating stem is considered an emblem of their native land and said to symbolise grace under pressure.
![Dahlia](https://floom.imgix.net/general/Dahlia_180620_130021.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=29ce9e848407219ddb74e4277fe01afa 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/Dahlia_180620_130021.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=76cc1c979d25d569d731849b5dca9b13 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/Dahlia_180620_130021.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=642c135b90032ecf992f2aa8b4ecb79f 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/Dahlia_180620_130021.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=936ee9778eaa3bd60d6d5804a66cce15 400w)
Crocosmia
Perhaps one of our favourite flower names for its crocodile sound – despite having nothing to do with reptiles, of course – the name “crocosmia” actually translates to “smells a bit like saffron” in Greek… The reason for this? Their leaves smell a bit like – you’ve got it – saffron. their as rich in colour as saffron too. Renowned for their distinctive flowering – vivid influences standing proud astride branched stems – crocosmia come in vivid shades of orange and red. But when it comes to their biggest fan, it’s the hummingbird. As one of the few flowers that can match the transfixing beauty of its pretty little pollinator, together they’re a fine pair.
![Crocosmia](https://floom.imgix.net/general/Crocosmia_180620_130045.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=6e22fdf28b6ad522e03a152d0dc2a9d5 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/Crocosmia_180620_130045.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=da32111ec05a2370b340ce5afdc936dc 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/Crocosmia_180620_130045.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=ab4d50dbac4bf6bacfca09df40f32767 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/Crocosmia_180620_130045.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=7aa26541e837bca6ab2057b6d61243d5 400w)
Oriental Poppies
Native to northeastern Turkey, the oriental poppy is renowned for its diverse colour ways – from clean white with aubergine-black blotches to salmon pinks ad deep maroons. Their names are impressive as their vibrancy, too. While shades of red go by names like ‘G.I. Joe’ and ‘Indian Chief’, there’s a salmon shade called “Cedric Morris” pink and a plum named “Pattys Plum”.
![Oriental Poppy](https://floom.imgix.net/general/Oriental-Poppy.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=193384e2b909bae36e759b80b7379966 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/Oriental-Poppy.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=f049853ddb7887de1d28a4d484cdc488 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/Oriental-Poppy.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=dc694134376d642b69ffe6e123841796 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/Oriental-Poppy.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=cfa8248b516639cfdf71637e6200be02 400w)
Peonies
So, despite the fact that British peonies typically bloom from Mid-May until early July, this year our beloved peonies are set to be blooming for some time yet due to the uncharacteristically warm weather. Expect to see their many petals unfurling majestically in a number of summer bouquets. We’re certainly not complaining.
![Peony](https://floom.imgix.net/general/peony_180620_130223.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1440&s=9d112245c220536b4233ae9146980c1b 1440w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/peony_180620_130223.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=1000&s=f4926f8951585d4dc0208f3301a8dcd6 1000w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/peony_180620_130223.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=600&s=678107aee649a6a729cb7a01512fd932 600w, https://floom.imgix.net/general/peony_180620_130223.jpg?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&ixlib=php-1.1.0&q=65&w=400&s=fb069fc89ed503245627f4a584d245b0 400w)