Out of the Woods, Into the Garden

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last couple of days, you’ve probably been made aware that our very own Miss Americana, Taylor Swift, has announced her engagement to guy-on-the-Chiefs, Travis Kelce (sorry folks — you can’t get away from her, even here). While this is all very exciting for Swifties worldwide, it’s really the garden setting in which the proposal took place that has captivated even non-Swifties. Soft pinks and whites bloom ceremoniously around the cottage style garden, each belonging to a symbolic flower chosen serendipitously for the occasion.

White anemones, roses in all shades of light pink woven into a towering archway, ivory hydrangeas, and white alliums proclaim witness to this milestone, their ornamental roles solidified permanently in pop culture history through photographs. Before the wave of requests for Taylor’s Engagement Garden Flowers becomes the focus of residential plantings of the near future, let’s get planting with some of these selections while they’re still available:

White Anemones | innocence, purity, sincerity

Despite their sordid reputation in Victorian flower culture as a symbol of having been forsaken, white anemones, like many other white-colored flowers, are known to symbolize quite the opposite. Their airy upright blooms evoke whimsy in the part shade cottage garden, and tales of yore claim that fairies would curl up in the petals at night and go to sleep.

Anemone ‘Dainty Swan’ | 526

Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ | 670

Anemone ‘Whirlwind’ | 450

Pink Roses | happiness

And no, we’re not talking about the T-Swizz song of the same name! Each rose color has historically been thought to have its own meaning, with pink roses symbolizing happiness.

Rosa carolina | 7

Rosa ‘New Dawn’ | 12

Rosa ‘Zephrine Drouhin’ | 22

Rosa Pink Drift® | 279

Rosa Sweet Drift® | 174

Rosa palustris | 309

Rosa virginiana | 346

 

White Roses | innocence, heavenly, “I’m worthy of you”

No more rose gardens filled with thorns here - just magic, madness, heaven, and sinfully delightful fragrances!

Rosa White Drift® | 223

Rosa Knock Out® White | 122

Rosa rugosa ‘Alba’ | 321

Alliums | from the Latin root ‘onio’ meaning ‘unity’ or ‘one’

Playful pinkish-white pom-poms of flowers paired with the savory aromatic foliar scent make our ornamental onions a wonderful addition for sensory gardens, children’s gardens, and healing gardens.

Allium cernuum | 559

White Hydrangeas | purity, new beginnings, grace, honesty

Like anemones, hydrangeas historically held a negative connotation of vanity and arrogance. Today, however, they’ve evolved to encompass many different meanings depending on their color, similar to roses.

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ | 517 & 80

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Haas Halo’ | 598

Hydrangea arborescens Incrediball® | 229

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blushing Bride’ | 104 & 44

Hydrangea paniculata Bobo® | 310 & 103

Hydrangea quercifolia Gatsby Moon® | 158

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Pee Wee’ | 1,711

Hydrangea quercifolia Snow Queen™ | 109 & 1,281 & 41

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’ | 149