Chelle: Those yellow croc's came from HD about 10 years ago. There was no cultivar name(s) on the label, but the picture said "mixed colors"...which was bogus because every one of them turned out to be yellow...but that's ok. Mine bloom in late June and July. They're borderline invasive, but easily thinned out and they do multiply VERY quickly. They even come up in the grass. As Neal mentioned, I used them for that architectural feeling at the base of an arch.

Just last week I got these from a reputable nursery:

Neal: yes, I did start a few lg. carnation plants from those leaf buds on the stems of the cut flowers...but they require an inordinate amount of staking...which is fine.
I don't know where in Ca. they grow cut roses...it must be up north somewhere and they're probably (???) grown in greenhouses...just my assumption.

When I was a kid, we had a HUGE stephanotis vine in our yard. My mother knew the woman who owned a local flower shop and she would come and gather the blooms in the summer for weddings. There were thousands of them at a time on that vine and the fragrance was intoxicating.

I didn't know you were a flower designer. Wish I had a way of posting a photo of my mom's wedding bouquet from 1946. It's just a black and white photo (obviously) but the thing was ginormous! We found their box of wedding planning "stuff" and in it was a piece of paper she had wriiten down the names of the flowers in that bouquet. This was pretty interesting...it had tuberous begonias, bouvardia, roses, FUCHSIAS, lily of the valley, stephanotis, crocus, carnations, orange blossoms, sweet peas, maidenhair fern and about 200 yards of ribbons hanging down. It looked pretty typical of things from that era...but it was so huge it was almost bigger than she was !

'Emily McKenzie' is one I've been eying in the catalogs, a real beauty! I've heard others in mild winter zones speak of the invasive qualities of Crocosmia; the winters here keep them in check.

I order from a place in Oxnard that grows a lot of their own stuff, including some Roses. I'd love to visit the farms some day!

I love looking at vintage wedding photos! Those bouquets were huge! They used a lot of flowers that you don't see used as cut flowers today. I can't imagine how long it took to make them the way they did, with each flower and piece of greenery individually wired and taped, assembled one piece at a time. I knew a lady (who passed several years ago in her 90s), who was a floral designer in the 1940s. She spoke of staying up all night the night before a wedding, assembling the bridal bouquet. She said during the war she didn't have wire to use because all metal production was going toward building war supplies, and she used broom straws to wire flowers- I can't imagine it! That Stephanotis vine must have been amazing! And how fortunate for that florist- those little things can be pricey. I believe the wholesale price the last time I ordered them was about 69 cents each.

I just had lilies of the valley at my wedding just over 50 yrs ago. It was in June so there was not a big bunch.

I have never seen lily of the valley "in person"...just pictures of it, since it doesn't grow here. I always wondered why they don't import it like they do with so many flowers that come from Holland, Ecuador, etc. Does it not last well in water ?

It's interesting how Hydrangeas were very common at one time. Then they seemed to disappear for many years (here at least...) and then with the revival of interest in cottage gardens they're very popular and in demand again...and very pricey at that.

Family owned flower shops are almost a relic here these days. The large grocery stores have huge floral sections which pretty much put the "little man" out of business. No doubt it's hard to compete with chain stores...like most small businesses. It just seems "wrong" to me.

Lily of the Valley can be imported from Holland most any time of year, but those babies are wayyyy pricey! Each tiny stem retails for about $4. They're fragile and don't last very long either, which also makes them more expensive.

The full service florist shop is becoming a thing of the past to some degree. Those that survive are selling their services and talent rather than just selling flowers. I worked in retail florist shops for over 25 years, but now I'm only doing weddings and events, which was my favorite design work anyway. I don't understand how places like Sam's club can sell flowers cheaper than the wholesalers, ...well, I guess it has to do with not offering any services or expertise.

Ordered a 3 pack of the cardinal flower today, also heuchera 'Firefly'. It may be too dry for the cardinal flower where I want it, but worth a try.

Lucy: I didn't mean to give the impression that Cardinal Flower "has" to be constantly wet. I've grown it in normal dryish conditions as well as in a very wet area and it did fine in both. It's pretty easy to grow in either situation.
There's a pinkish/rose cultivar, too...but the deep red is nicer IMO.

Deep red goes with my plan. Catalog blurb says moist soil. Heuchera has green leaves, but red flower. peachy-bronze leaves one is more than I want to pay at the moment for a single. the order I put in is for 3 packs.