Roses are a mainstay in men’s fashion and are a popular choice for any occasion. Because roses come in a great variety of colours and with different leaf configurations, they are suited for all manner of special events and décor choices. You can choose from multiple hues of red or pink, white, yellow, peach, lavender, and even bi-colour yellow with red tips. If you are rather particular or prefer something more unique, blue and black roses can sometimes be had as well.

Orchids are an elegant choice and will look positively striking on your lapel. This delightful perennial is generally available any time of year and comes in a beautiful range of exquisite pastels, making them an ideal choice for weddings, events held in the spring and daytime events. In addition, orchids can be found in shades of yellow, orange, white and lavender, as well as rich, dark reds and maroons, which are perfect for evening events, formal venues or anytime you want to make an elegant fashion statement. Of course, the delicate nature of an orchid makes it not quite as durable as other choices; however; it is this same quality that makes us cherish them even more.

For those who favour a larger buttonhole flower, a gerbera daisy might be the ideal option. Gerberas make fun and festive adornments that are perfect for weddings and outdoor parties. You can choose between subtle, light colours or vibrant hues that are sure to grab the attention of every passerby. Most often, they have green or yellow centres and are available in a variety of colours, including white, cream, yellow, orange, lilac, red, violet, salmon or even brown.

The calla lily is a vibrant, showy blossom that appears in a wide range of colours, including white, cream, green, lavender, burgundy, peach, gold, black and deep purple. The range of hues available make calla lilies an appropriate choice for day or evening affairs held in an array of venues. While white or cream calla lilies are often chosen for weddings, black, burgundy and deep purple calla lilies are truly stunning when worn as a buttonhole.

If you are looking for something a little less common, choosing a tulip for your buttonhole is an attractive way to stand out from the crowd and show your unique sense of style. Tulips are available in an amazing array of colours, including white, red, yellow, bronze, vermilion, burgundy, pink, salmon, orange, violet, brown, apricot, green, blue and maroon. With so many colours from which to choose, a tulip is always a safe bet when trying to match the colour of your outfit or that of the person accompanying you to the event.

1. Make sure the water is as fresh as possible. You’d be surprised how often this isn’t the case – stale, used water isn’t healthy. You wouldn’t drink it, and your plants shouldn’t have to either. Simply changing the water every morning or, even better, twice a day, means that the plants will receive as much water as they would if it was raining or they were being watered outside.
2. Consider making super-water. Plant food is all very good and well, but there are several mixes of chemicals, household goods and water that can keep flowers fresh for far longer. Small amounts of bleach, soda, even acid and using pennies (copper) as fungicide are good ideas. However, check each one – every species needs its own brand of care.
3. Clean the container itself. Putting clean water in a dirty bath is a ridiculous idea, right? So why do the same with your flowers? It can dirty the water you’re putting in almost instantly and defeats the object. Stay clean, keep them alive.
4. Always cut stems at an angle. This means that even if the stem is touching the bottom of the container, it receives water through one side due to the diagonal shape of the stem’s end. This will prevent any disasters involving starving plants.
5. Keep them free of baggage. Excess guard petals are one of the many reasons your flowers aren’t getting what they need, so make sure these are removed. Also remove any leaves that are below the water-line.

Hopefully, these tips should keep your blooming blossoms looking fantastic for days, and your reward comes in the form of a lovely smell and the sight of wonderful plants around the home for longer than you’d ever expect.

However, there’s a wealth of choice when it comes to horticultural events around the country, and many questions to ask yourself when you’re thinking of choosing which ones to attend (or all of them, if you’re an industry veteran or a hard-core floral enthusiast); size, length, events, types of plants, prestige, location – all of these are important considerations, so here’s an overview of what to look at if you’re new to the scene.

Of course, there’s the Royal Horticultural Society – a collection of like-minded horticultural enthusiasts and master florists who hold regular events that are documented in the national (if not international) press, such as the esteemed Chelsea Flower Show. The RHS also hold events throughout the calendar year up and down the country, so if you’re interested to see some of the most prestigious horticultural experts displaying their wares, custom-bred plants and arrangements, then this is a great place to start.

There are also events outside the RHS calendar, like the well-known Harrogate Flower Show, held by the North of England Horticultural Society. The NEHS hold the event once a year and have been doing so since the early 20th century, a mean feat by anyone’s standards, and now holds the largest Spring flower show in Britan with an attendance of over 60,000, alongside a smaller (but still impressive) audience of 35,000 for its autumn events. Hopefully with such a wide range of prestigious events in every area of the UK, you can’t go far wrong making a choice – just browse their websites and see what appeals to you most once you’re settled on whereabouts you’d like to see some of the most incredible horticultural displays in the world.

Upcoming Shows

• Hampton Court Palace Flower Show – 6-11 July 2010
• BBC Gardeners’ World Live – 16-20 June 2010
• RHS Show Tatton Park – 21–25 July 2010
• Malvern Autumn Show – 25–26 September 2010

For more information visit the RHS webiste.

As you probably know by now, flowers are a big part of your wedding day. They go everywhere from the tables at the wedding breakfast, to the back of the wedding car, to of course the all important bouquet.

Most women have imagined their wedding for years, by the time it comes to it they already know what dress they want, what colour themes, what venue etc. And flowers? Let’s say you have gone for a pink and white theme, your dress is white, the table settings are pink and you want pink roses for your bouquet and white cala lillies for the bridesmaids. But do you go for real ones or artificial ones?

The advantage of using artificial ones is that they have a bit more wear and tear than a real bunch would, but unless you’re planning to hit your new hubby over the head with them, durability is pretty irrelevant.

What people often don’t seem to realise is that artificial flowers can be more expensive than the real thing. The quality of artificial flowers is actually really good these days. If you are using silk ones, because lets face it any other material just looks really naff, it can be very pricey. Especially if you are going for extras like having them scented.

Yes, you can keep them for years after the wedding but honestly who looks at their wedding dress that much after the big day?

We think that’s the important thing to remember, it’s your big day. You want the most beautiful and best of everything you can get. And realistically artificial flowers are never going to look as good as the real deal, are they?