What’s Blooming in August? Floristry Tips, Seasonal Flowers & Must-Know Tricks
By Emma at Lily & Bee – Hampshire Wedding Florist & Floristry Educator
August is such a dreamy month in the floral world — the late-summer glow, those warm earthy tones creeping in, and the sheer abundance of British-grown blooms is chef’s kiss.
Whether you’re a budding beginner, a wedding flower enthusiast, or just someone who can’t walk past a bunch of supermarket roses without giving them a home (we see you!), this month is all about seasonal flowers, proper conditioning, and refreshing those flower care skills.
Let’s dive into what’s happening in August at Lily & Bee — and how you can make the most of every stem this season 🌸
🌾 What’s in Season This Month?
August brings us a mix of late summer favourites and early autumn hints. It’s a beautiful time for loose, wild, and romantic floral designs. Keep your eyes out for:
• Dahlias – absolute showstoppers in every shade from blush to deep plum
• Zinnias – punchy, colourful and underrated
• Cosmos – dreamy, delicate, and oh-so-cottage-garden
• Amaranthus – for those trailing, textural touches
• Achillea, Scabiosa, Crocosmia, and Rudbeckia – texture and movement galore
• Garden roses and British-grown sweet peas still hanging on in some regions
• Hydrangea – now turning antique and perfect for drying
When you’re planning your arrangements (or your weddings!), try to use what’s in season – not only is it more sustainable, but the flowers are fresher, often last longer, and help support local British flower farmers. Win-win!
✂️ Back to Basics – Let’s Talk Conditioning
Now I know I bang on about this a lot, but honestly — conditioning your flowers properly is the difference between a stunning arrangement that lasts a week and a droopy disappointment by Tuesday.
Quick flower conditioning refresher:
• Remove all foliage below the waterline
• Re-cut every stem at an angle (preferably under water)
• Use clean buckets and fresh water
• Let them rest in cool, clean water for a couple of hours before arranging
And guess what? We’ve made it even easier for you…
🎥 Watch our free step-by-step flower conditioning video
https://youtu.be/tW_Xj4AGTFQ?si=IZivawPp9Q9sNSX5
Find it now on our YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram @lilyandbee822 for weekly floral tips and behind-the-scenes of our Hampshire wedding work.
💐 Floristry for Beginners – Grab a Supermarket Bunch & Get Stuck InIf you’re new to floristry (or just love a good Sunday creative session), August is a fab time to practice. Supermarkets and local florists are full of seasonal stems at the moment — and that means you can practice bouquet-making without breaking the bank.🌸 Need help getting started?
Our Beginner’s Online Floristry Lesson is perfect for you. Learn how to make a hand-tied bouquet at home using supermarket flowers. No expiry date, no pressure — just pick your flowers and follow along. You can check it out here.
📚 Our Top Floristry Tips for August:
• Keep your workspace cool – flowers wilt quickly in heat
• Condition like a pro – yes, we’re repeating it, it’s that important
• Try drying – hydrangeas, statice, and strawflower dry beautifully this time of year
• Experiment with colour – August is the perfect month to play with bold brights or soft, sun-faded palettes
• Practice makes progress – give yourself time to play without pressure
💍 Weddings in August
For my fellow wedding florists — August can be full-on. Long days, early starts, flower miles, and hot vans! Hydration (for you and the flowers) is key.
We’re seeing lots of couples asking for:
• Loose, seasonal meadow-style designs
• Soft romantic roses with similar blooms like Populus and Emma
• Dried and fresh combinations
• Floral installations with a wild edge
If you’re planning your wedding or you’re a florist brushing up for the season, don’t forget we also offer 1:1 floristry coaching. From learning how to buy flowers and build a quote, to full wedding prep support — book an hour and ask me anything.
🌿 Stay Connected
We’re always sharing tips, tutorials and behind-the-scenes floral magic on:
• instagram lilybee822
• tiktok lilybee822
📍 Looking for a Hampshire Wedding Florist?
If you’ve landed here searching for a Hampshire-based wedding florist, luxury bridal flowers, or floral workshops near Portsmouth, Fareham or Winchester — you’re in the right place. Lily & Bee specialises in beautiful, romantic wedding flowers across Hampshire, West Sussex and the South of England.
### June Wedding Season: A Florist's Delight
June is always a whirlwind for us at Lilly and Bee, and this year has been no exception. The beautiful seasonal wedding flowers are in full bloom, from lush peonies and scabious to fragrant roses and delicate sweet peas. Each one adding its unique charm to the weddings we've been honored to be part of.
This month, we've been driving all over the Hampshire and West Sussex countryside, visiting a variety of venues. From the picturesque Tide Barn in Petersfield to the historic Hospice and Cross in Winchester, and everywhere in between, we've been on the move, bringing floral dreams to life.
Our days have been filled with the joyful challenge of managing peonies—getting them to open perfectly at just the right moment, or coaxing them to stay closed a little longer. Temperature-controlled vans have been our trusty companions as we’ve chipped through the countryside, ensuring every bloom arrives in pristine condition.
One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is the diversity of color schemes and styles our clients choose. Each wedding is unique, and we love the creative process of designing florals that perfectly match our couples' visions. Whether it’s a classic white and green palette or a bold mix of vibrant hues, we relish the opportunity to craft something special for each celebration.
Creating wedding florals is truly our favorite thing to do. It's such a privilege to be part of a couple's special day, sprinkling a little floral magic dust to make their dreams come true. June's been busy, but seeing the joy on our clients' faces makes every moment worth it. Here’s to many more beautiful weddings and the unforgettable floral adventures that come with them!
Hello and welcome to my ever blog! you will have to bear with me, as a dyslexic this will be littered with spelling mistakes and the grammar police will be out in full force!
Having said that as an adult I have learnt to embrace it, I truly believe that my lack of academic ability fueled my creativity.
In this blog I wanted to share with you a little bit more about me, my background and why I would love you to come and learn floristry with me. I know I’m bias, but it really is the best job in the world!
I was always creative as way back as I can remember, not in a traditional art way, more in a Blue Peter sticky back plastic, cardboard box way (for those of you old enough to remember).
I have always loved being outside and growing things. There is nothing quite like the feeling of your hands in the soil. Being outside in nature really is my happy place.
I started my floristry career as a Saturday girl in my friend’s mum florist at the age of 15 and was hooked. Something about the smells and colours just called to me, I had found my tribe! still to this day my closest friends are florists.
There is a unique smell when you open a florist shop in the morning, it’s a heady mix of all the floral scents mixed together. It evaporates after a minute or so but if you could bottle it would be a bestseller! It’s one of my favorite smells in the world.
There is a Japanese saying that for me sums up my relationship with flowers. It says “in Joy and in sadness flowers are our constant friend “for me this is so true in my life in the darkest of times to the happiest of times flowers have always been there and played a part!
Throughout my 35-year career weddings and events have always been my passion, but around 12 years ago when I got divorced, I fell in to teaching as it fitted around my then young children. I quickly discovered I loved sharing my knowledge and passion for floristry with others. Helping other people to learn the skills and knowledge to do the job I truly love gave me so much joy.
For the past 10 years of have taught floristry in a local Portsmouth college in Hampshire to industry standard, but in 2022 I decided to launch my own floristry school and teach my own way in a knowledgeable but less formal environment and so the Lily and Bee floristry school was born.
So, what is floristry and why should you choose Lily and Bee floristry school?
Floristry is the art of arranging flowers and plants in a visually appealing and aesthetically pleasing way. It is a skill that has been practiced for centuries and is still popular today. Floristry is for everyone If you are interested in learning floristry, then attending a floristry school can be an excellent option.
As a qualified floristry teacher and assessor with 35 years of experience, I have a wealth of knowledge to share with my students. From how to care for your flowers all the way through to taking large corporate and wedding orders. During My 35 years in the industry I have seen so many trends, new products and techniques and I’m always learning. This helps me to provide valuable insights to all my students. My expertise and experience ensure that students receive top-quality training and education. Il even share my success and failures I have had along the way.
I wanted to create a floristry school for everyone, so Lily and Bee floristry school offers courses at all levels, from beginners to advanced. Everyone is welcome and can learn floristry, regardless of their skill level. Lily and Bee floristry school was born so that we can provide the opportunity for people to learn a new skill, develop their existing skills, or even start a new career in floristry. Whatever the reason for wanting to learn floristry, we can cater to your needs, whether it’s a full career change course, you’re a florist looking to upskill or a hobbyist looking for an afternoon of flower fun.
It’s important to me that people feel welcome and able to ask lots of questions and get lots of feedback on their designs. We may be a small floristry school, but we are mighty! As the saying goes from little acorns mighty oaks grow! Classes are small and intermit career change floristry course are capped at 3 students and day floristry workshops at 8 students.
I passionately believe floristry is a creative and artistic skill, and at lily and bee floristry school we provide a space for people to express their creativity. The school can provide a peaceful and relaxing environment for students to learn and practice their floristry skills. This can be a great way for people to unwind and de-stress from their busy lives. So What are you waiting for ?
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