Bring Back Yellow

Teddahlia I think that would look very pretty in my big open room with white walls...

SteveM Lovely sunshine color! I think these should be more popular in the NW where we frequently have overcast mornings ("Marine layer" ) in summer.

Note: I did not say they would be more popular, only that they should be...

SteveM I think this one is lovely and there’s something about her sunny petals atop the very light-bright green (almost yellow?) stems that’s really striking. I bet they’re gorgeous with royal purple and lavender blooms. Hold on to her, I hope the time is right for distribution one day — I’ll be in that line of fans!

Maybe we need to campaign for yellow. Promote "A Year of Sunshine..." FLowers for sunny days" or even "Sunny Colors for Gray Days..." Think of the dreamy photos one could do....

SteveM I love this one too, and also Ted’s HH Sunflare.

I’m all in with the campaign to bring back yellow.

I think color preferences are totally individual also very cultural, regional, and varies with generations. I’ve heard on a podcast how flower breeders in other countries (for tulips, Lilly, ranunculas ) were shocked to see Americans choose “muted” and “muddy” colored flowers as their number one when shown a patch of new ranunculas seedlings. It discussed how in Europe bright vivid bold colors are what breeders think is a good flower and what the cut flower market is looking for

I also think you don’t really know what kind of flower you will like till you see it in person. I got a Matilda Houston dahlia tuber and despite me thinking “I don’t like reds” I loved it! Same with my bright yellow and red gladiolus. I would just stare at them in awe! I love having bright colors in vases in my house. I notice all my guests ooooh and awww over the bright saturated bold color flowers more than the “light blends” and softer colored ones.

Colors popular with florists I’m guessing would influence cut flower growers in what they choose to grow. Then these colors are indirectly promoted as being popular/desirable/trendy both by cut flower growers and florists so they may influence what people like, buy & grow. I too thought I didn’t like the ultra bright colored flowers. After I saw them up close I realized my “preferences” were influenced by flower content

Justafewdahlias I also think you don’t really know what kind of flower you will like till you see it in person

So true! There’s the obvious issue of cameras not catching true colors. But I’ve also had the weird experience of being totally in love with a flower from a photo, and then seeing it in person and thinking “well, I do still like that color, but not on a 10” flower!” Or, the opposite “such a great color - it’s a pity the bloom is so teeny tiny.”

Regarding “muddy” colors…. I think the critical difference is the way people view flowers as a part of overall design. The bridal industry drives so much of how Americans view floral arrangements. In the bridal industry, flowers are supposed to enhance but definitely not take center stage, so muted colors and pastels make sense. I would say event arrangements in America have a similar tendency. I think we have this idea of flowers (especially arrangements from a floral designer) as being an excessive, unnecessary luxury. We want them, but don’t want them to stand out. We feel guilty that they’re so impractical. I think this guilt over the impracticality of art is a uniquely American sentiment.

People feel much more free to pick up a gaudy bright bouquet that will catch everybody’s eye at the farmer’s market for $20. It’s a much less guilt-inducing luxury. So I guess I’m saying I think America’s interest in flowers that fade into the background of design has a lot to do with the “Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism”….

It holds true for design in general. America is drab. Compare an IKEA store to Restoration Hardware. Bright colors are pretty taboo here - it goes all the way back to the pilgrims. There a reason the bright colors of both the sixties and the eighties are associated with youthful rebellion.

I’ve only had one cup of coffee this morning, so this may not be as insightful as I think it is, but…

Bessie yes! You really can’t go based solely off of a photo! Some of the tubers I got from Swan Island looked not very good online but in person wow!!! The photo of Mary Jo on their website doesn’t do it justice. As for the pale yellow I found it works well with almost anything. I grew Sunkissed and that flower felt like it could look good with any other color flowers next to it in a vase. I also like to ask people which is their favorite and my MIL and son both love yellow. Your garden your rules! Wanting to keep it is enough reason to keep it. You can always decide to not keep it later, or enjoy it for personal use! Lol but I’m a bit of a flower hoarder

Juliarugula This is so true! One of my friends “only likes white flowers” because anything too bright or bold will “clash with the decor” of the all white living/dining room. Lol they should just seamlessly blend in and not stand out too much/not take center stage even in home for some people. However I think she is the outlier vs the norm when it comes to flowers on the counter

Juliarugula

I think this guilt over the impracticality of art is a uniquely American sentiment.

Wow! I'm not totally awake yet, but I think the entire discussion is thoughtful and full of insight. Very accurate analysis from my perspective and life experience.

bloomhjelm I think it was like, the 40s and 50s sort of being mint green, baby blue, cherry red ... The sixties being orange, pink, sunflower yellow ... The eighties being teal, fuschia, electric blue, etc.

you skipped the 70s! Don’t forget Harvest Gold, Avocado Green, and Burnt Orange! (This is actually my favorite of the “decade” color schemes)

bloomhjelm today where every house is Sherwin Williams "Agreeable Grey"

I think I’d like the show you were watching! A little off topic but e we just repainted the exterior of our very old house in Seattle and needed inspiration for the color. We decided to drive around through neighborhoods and came to the conclusion that every (small exaggeration ) house was basically some shade of grey or blue. We did not want to retire into the drab Seattle grey with everyone else and luckily our neighbors have said very nice things to us about our newly bright teal’ish house with a hot red door.

I want the same from my bouquets; pops of big, bright, mood lifting colors that make you say “WOW!” I’m beginning to really warm up to all shades of yellow blooms after accidentally ending up with one here, and one there, in past seasons. I will have quite a few this year and I can’t wait to play with them in my floral arrangements!

Krista I love your take on house colors! And for your information my house is "papaya" with green window trim and fuschia cherry doors :-). I love how it looks but I did get rid of the 3 big old bright red rhodies in front of it and put in hydrangeas that have dark leaves and the blooms are white edged in fuschia. (the house was tan when we bought it.). Those of us on the west coast where our summer days often start out with a gray marine layer over the sky...we NEED color! And especially during the rainy winters we need color...