June - The Month of Roses

Tis June, the fairest month of all, Bright June, the month of roses. 

^{-Elva May Root} 

…

It seems almost too perfect that this month is the month of the rose! With Jim and Jess’ wedding just around the corner love is most definitely in the air here at Shropshire Petals. And what better way to celebrate than with a blog about the most romantic flower of them all, the rose…

History

So let’s start with a little history lesson shall we…

The rose, quite fittingly, has a very colourful history. It has stood as a symbol of love, beauty, war and even as an emblem of England itself.

Recognise this…

^{(Tudor Rose - taken from http://talesofcuriosity.com/v/Tudors/)}

The cultivation of roses began in ancient Babylonia and over generations gradually made its way to Europe. Popularity for this charming flower blossomed and shrivelled overtime. One peak in its prestige was during the 17^th century when the rose was so popular that European royalty considered it to be legal tender!

Commercial cultivation of the rose didn’t start until the 19^th century when breeders began purposefully crossbreeding different rose plants. This resulted in a vast number of new rose varieties, many of which are still popular today and used here at Shropshire Petals.

SP has the Rose Factor

The rose is a big feature here at Shropshire petals. A lot of our larger petals are dried rose petals as they offer a sensational spectrum of colour. From our creamy 'Buttermilk' rose petals to our intense 'Aubergine' rose petals we like to think we have a colour to suit any theme.

We also specialise in dried rose heads which can be put to use in a variety of ways - We like to use them in our wheat sheaves to add an extra bit of rustic colour.  They can be easily wired to add into floral displays or bouquets for a longer lasting arrangement, and because they are dried they will keep well for months before the big day!

Inspiration!

One reason we love rose petals so much is because they can be used in a variety of ways. They are particularly great as table confetti and can also be used as a focal point if displayed decoratively in things such as vases and teacups. We think that one of the most exciting uses for rose petals is using them to create a petal path! A rose petal path is perfect for weddings as it brings a touch of spectacle to this naturally romantic feature.

But it’s not weddings alone where the rose can come in to its own. Being a longstanding symbol of love and romance why not use roses to inject a bit of love into other days of the year. One great idea for Valentine’s Day is to sprinkle rose petals in a lovely warm bath for that special person in your life. But hey, who says romance has to be limited to one day of the year! Stock up on rose petals and you can make sure your loved one comes home to a petal strewn pillow every night! 

Another way to use your rose petals is as an embellishment on a focal point. Use them to decorate a feature on your table like a vase, the centrepiece or the name places. If you’ve got a slightly more vintage theme or are going for something quintessentially British why not use them alongside a teacup!

And the ideas don't stop there... Our dried flowers mean you have even more option when it comes to creatively using roses. As I’ve already mentioned, dried rose heads can look great as an additional feature to flower arrangements. And when used within wheat sheaves they really capture the feel of a rustic summer wedding.

Another use for our dried rose heads can be as decoration on the wedding cake itself. Who wants sickly sweet marzipan when natural rose heads will add a naturally elegant element to your cake – simply remove them just before serving. 

So if you’re planning on having your wedding in June, or at any other time of the year for that matter, I hope we’ve inspired you to include the rose in your celebrations! We think it’s just fab!

Love as always SP xx