Flower of the Month: Spotlight on PEONY

It's that time again - our Flower of the Month is here! This October we've chosen to highlight the Peony, a fragrant, huge-headed flower.

This flower is a favorite of many with its delightful scents and large range of colors and shapes. About 2,600 varieties of peonies are available and the array of colors include pink and red, purple, apricot, salmon, white, ivory/cream, and yellow and bicolors. The forms of a peony are wide-ranging too, but here in the U.S., double-flowered varieties are the most common.

Peonies are best to buy when they're in a "puffy" stage, meaning the buds are about to open. Be careful not to purchase any that have an overly tight bud; they may never open. Also look out for any fungus, called Botrytis (gray mold) as it will rot the entire flower head. Just remove any flowers contaminated and the bloom should continue to stay healthy.

After ensuring you've purchased the healthiest bloom, re-cut the stems, removing at least one inch, and put the flower(s) in water. Peonies like cool air and are heavy drinkers, so make sure to water them often. If you care correctly for this unique flower, it should give you 2 to 7 days of enjoyment, with a bloom opening 6 inches or more.

The peony is one of the most notable seasonal flowers, available from March to August, with its peak season in April, May and June. So why, you might ask, would we feature a flower that is so seasonal (and that's not even in season now)? Well, we think you can never plan too early! We know many brides who already have their day booked for next spring, and we think peonies are a lovely addition to any wedding bouquet. Check out this picture of Amy Wiseman with her lovely bouquet of pink peonies, designed by one of our talented florists here at Lisa Foster Floral Design.



Peonies work beautifully for any occasion, not just weddings. So if you have an anniversary, birthday, or special day rolling around in the spring, consider a peony as part of your gift of flowers.

Quick Facts on our FOTM:

Name: Peony
Beauty: Fragrant, huge-headed, blooms quickly, variety of colors
Colors: Variety - pink, red, purple, apricot, salmon, white, ivory/cream, yellow, bicolors
Care: Cool air, hydrate, water often
Bloom Time: Seasonal, best in April, May, June; 2 -7 days


The designers at Lisa Foster Floral Design can make you a gorgeous arrangement in the spring with peonies, but don't forget us for the fall too! We have some amazing colors in the cooler now - fall is so beautiful... Let us help you give the gift of the season to someone special. Call us for a delivery today!

*peony information courtesy of Florists Review


Lauren &

Rave Reviews

"The flowers and decorations were absolutely breathtaking. We can't count the number of compliments that we had on the flowers... "We have told everyone how fortunate we were to have contracted with Lisa Foster Design - truly Knoxville's Best Wedding Floral Designer."
-- Dennis & Kathie Bowman

"All the bouquets were perfect. I really appreciate the time you took to make my wedding beautiful!"
-- Natalie Powell England

"You did an excellent job designing the bouquets and centerpieces. The bouquets matched the wedding dresses perfectly, and the table centerpieces were very elegant... "Our thanks for making our daughter's wedding day so special."
-- Jim & Mary Ellen Mattavi

"What can I say. The flowers were gorgeous for Leigh's wedding."
-- Deedee Moore

"Laurel had the most beautiful wedding ever. The floral arch was absolutely stunning!... "Thank you so much and you can bet you'll be the person we call when we have floral needs in Knoxville."
-- Rhoma Parrish

Meet the Team - Part 2

After the fun break with the Sandals post, we're back to meeting our wonderful team. Next on our lineup is Jennifer Capps. She's a fabulous, very efficient designer who's been in the business for 18 years. She and Lisa have shared a friendship since Jennifer was a child and she's been working with Lisa for 10 years, and at Lisa Foster Floral Design since its inception in 2004.

Her favorite flowers are french tulips, yet her favorite wedding was the Braden wedding, back in July of 2005, because of the beautiful containers the arrangements set in at the reception. Some of the photos below may give you a good idea of the beauty of the Braden wedding. In a few, you can even catch a glimpse of the unique glass containers Jennifer loves.




Other than being a big asset to Lisa Foster Floral Design, Jennifer spends much of her time with her husband of 10 years (whom she met in the floral industry!) and keeping up with her adorable 5-year-old son, Connor.

Jennifer is a bright light here in the studio and her designs, like Lisa's, are unique and distinctive. We invite you to come in any time and watch our designers work in our studio - you can see them just as you walk in our door. Lisa has the best designers here at the studio and Jennifer's creations are proof of that.


Lauren, for: