Today I am going to do something I rarely do, I am going to bash a flower, I am going to expose the anemone, in particularly the white and black one, for it’s horrid and unpredictable behavior. Anemones are not good wedding flowers. Yep I said it and now I need you to believe it!!!!! We all see anemones with their perfect white petals and black faces gracing the cover of magazines. I love those images and long for those perfect anemones but they rarely are that wonderful!! Flowers come to the designer in bunches usually 10 to 25 stems per bunch. I expect and need for 99.9 percent of that bunch to be worthy of my designs. On most occasions only one of the bunch is truly perfect.  If you are lucky in the height of anemone season which is typically the spring or even the cooler fall weather you can get maybe half of the bunch to look respectable. I keep trying to use this bloom because clients and yes planners keep bringing me the requests for this flower. I get that artistically, its perfect for any wedding that has anything to do with black, but I am a perfectionist and I can’t stand seeing the blemishes or small closed flower heads that are so characteristic of this bloom. Not only that I am constantly promised that I will get the flowers from my wholesalers only to be let down continuously because the flowers often arrive to the supplier looking ill. I am super mad at this bloom and its lack of ability to step up to the plate and be pretty for my brides.

Just last weekend I tried endlessly to get these blooms in for my bride. I tried five different wholesalers and I actually ended up buying them from a man I had never even heard of in Chicago just because he swore he could get them. I felt like I was a drug user in search of some type of illegal drug and I was willing to get the goods wherever possible.  Having been in the business for many years I thankfully never, ever, ever promise this flower to a bride so I was prepared. If I have an adamant bride that must have them I discuss the option of using the silk version of this bloom. So even though Mr. Chicago did get me the blooms they were to beat up to use and I had to use the silk. I also had to paint the centers of the real ones black. Seriously stressful.  What drives me crazy is I never want to give up, I keep believing they are out there so I keep trying. Quite frankly I have yet to see one as lovely as the ones I see in a magazine which leads me to believing those are silk also. I know for certain that two publications recently featured this bloom with silk flowers in the bouquet because I asked the designer.

Yes I have had great purple and fuchsia anemone but that also is a big gamble. You can just never be sure of the blooms you will receive when working with this flower. It’s time we blow the cover off of this naughty bloom.  The above bouquet was created with silk anemone and one real white anemone. The real one was almost good enough to be in a Holly bouquet but not really, I just put it in the bouquet so I could say I did. 1 out of 20 blooms. Naughty Anemone!!!!!!!!!!

  • Shelly Says: (11.08.2011 | 02:13)

    Oh my goodness! So glad it is not just me! Thank you so much for sharing. I have had several brides want to use the white anemone as their inspiration flower. Thank you for validating my feelings and frustrations!

  • Alexandra Jusino Says: (11.08.2011 | 02:15)

    I needed forty stems this past weekend and lets just say they never made it after I tried three wholesales myself. They looked so beat up none of them wanted to send them to me. Yes the naughty anemone is right!!!! All those bouquets in magazines… They must be done and photographed at the anemones farm! I have only seen one bunch of these in my life look absolutely spectacular.

  • Katie Says: (11.08.2011 | 03:18)

    We struggled and struggled to find this bloom as week but none of our wholesalers could provide and after reading this post I am almost thankful they couldn’t! We opted for white gerbers/mini-gerbers with black centers instead and know our bride will be just as pleased- they will compliment her black/white color scheme beautifully..thanks for the tips Holly!

  • Laurie (Fleurie) Says: (11.08.2011 | 04:04)

    Yes! It is naughty. I love it when they represent themselves as white, then turn to pinkish when opened. Oh, that is sooo not what I had in mind when I put you into this lovely white bouquet…yes, I talk to flowers. Sometimes they need a good scolding.

  • Sullivan Says: (11.08.2011 | 05:53)

    Hi, I’m sorry you weren’t able to get a hold of the flower you needed this weekend but I feel like I have to defend my favorite flower! I think it’s more of a matter of where they are grown. I work with these all season and often in large quantities with few quality issues. The issues you’ve described are definitely from Chilean farmed flowers. The French and NY state grown varieties have almost no issues from November to March. I have numerous photos of this flower in my work and all of them are real & fresh. I understand that not everyone can get the same flowers across the country. There are designers in CA and MA working with material I truly covet but I don’t have access to. I don’t think it’s fair to assume that all the photographs of these flowers are fake.

    • Holly Chapple Says: (11.09.2011 | 01:00)

      Thanks for your comments and clues Sullivan but please don’t tempt me its a statement like this that will keep me on the hunt. I did have lovely cream ones once but the center was green and only 3 of the stems were good. Perfect for a photo shoot but not so great for a real bouquet!!

  • Linda DiFrancesca Says: (11.08.2011 | 07:03)

    Holly, I am glad the silk anemones saved your bouquet and it looks beautiful! Welcome to my world! That’s why I have started DiFrancesca Designs! But even in silks , finding the best of the best can be challenging . I will be on the look out for a fabulous silk not naughty anemone if you find yourself in this situation again. You did a great job! Linda

  • Best of the Blogs – Our Favorite Posts! | MyDeejay Wedding DJs Blog | MyDeejay Says: (11.08.2011 | 07:44)

    […] of the Blogs – Our Favorite Posts! Posted on November 8, 2011 by Adrienne The Naughty Anemone Holly Chapple explains her hate-hate relationship with the mighty (but naughty) […]

  • Kim {Something Floral/Something Spectacular} Says: (11.09.2011 | 01:41)

    Over the years we, too, have had difficulty sourcing excellent quality anemone. It’s frustrating to find only 1 or 2 in a bunch that is worthy of a bridal bouquet. However, last spring we were finally able to acquire anemone from our wholesale suppliers that were “picture perfect,” for several orders and they were a joy to work with.

  • Sprout Says: (11.09.2011 | 02:39)

    Have to agree with Sullivan on this. When we can get local-ish ones in season, you may get a couple duds, but no where near as many as the out of season Chilean ones.

    But I’d like to add, while we all want the best for our clients, it disappoints me to no end that our vendors don’t always feel the same about us. Why are they selling this stuff?

  • Katie Bennett Says: (11.09.2011 | 06:44)

    Hahahah, Naughty Naughty. I loved reading this. I understand your love hate relationship with these beauties!

  • Virginia Wedding, Maryland Wedding and Washington DC Wedding News | United With Love™ :: Fresh Inspiration for Weddings in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia Says: (11.11.2011 | 04:00)

    […] and everyday!Engaged?  This upcoming webinar will help you with what is next!Don’t pick anemones for your bouquet!Pick your new favorite bridesmaid dress.Congrats, Abby, on the launch of your new […]

  • RACHEL Says: (11.13.2011 | 12:02)

    I admit that I am with the majority! I can never get them looking the way I want, admitedly in Sydney they were easier to get the majority nice (closer to the grower), but they aren’t cheap in Oz at $15 per bunch only 10 stems per bunch, I often try not to use them at all! they aren’t a flower made to travel

  • Marcia N. Lynch Says: (11.15.2011 | 11:28)

    I do like the guine hen feather in this bouquet!

  • Sprout Says: (11.18.2011 | 03:49)

    Saw this post about “Fr-Anemones” and thought of you! http://www.mayesh.com/Blog/tabid/67/EntryId/89/Are-White-Anemones-Your-Fr-Anemones.aspx

  • jeremy Says: (11.20.2011 | 07:52)

    Hey Sweetie… Haven’t heard from you in a while… was checking out your blog and thought I would respond to this one.. you are absolutely right! They are hard to deal with… not as bad as lily of the valley though!! that ‘s my all time “no go” when someone asks for it!! However, the best quality ones you can get come from France… The only person I know that can get that quality is Rich at G. Page… If you need them perfect.. make sure to order them ” a bit tight” and they need a day or two to hit their peek… xoxoxoxox

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