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What is the difference between your Rose and Bougainvillea petals and which should I choose?
Your first selection should be based on colour, we have a good range of colour in each, but one shade may really work for you. Bougainvillea are strong in the pink, burgundy, ivory and gold ranges, and our lilac pink does have hues of lilac. Roses are a little more flexible in their colours and cover reds, yellows, deep deep pinks and burgundies well, and we have a true lilac also.
Roses have so long been associated with love and marriage that they are both traditional and romantic, and many brides want their flowers to say this. Bougainvillea is new and unique, and adds a touch of originality. It floats beautifully and does make exceedingly good confetti, while each petal has its own beauty and charm. Like roses it makes classy table top décor.
They are difficult to compare on price as bougainvillea packs tighter than rose petals, so to look at pack sizes does not work. But on a petal for petal basis we have managed to keep the price of bougainvillea down so you will get slighter more petals for your pound.
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| Bougainvillea
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A native shrub of South America, this climbing plant was named after the 18th century French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainvillea and can now be found throughout the tropics, sub-tropics and in protected parts of the Mediterranean. The shrubs produce colourful leaf-petal clusters, the real flower is small and trumpet shaped and found between three brightly coloured leaf bracts (which we are calling the petals, as it sounds better for confetti than real leaf bracts). It is these that are hand picked and carefully separated and dried ready for a variety of creative uses. It really is nature's prettiest confetti.
As far as we know, we are the only company in the world growing this shrub to use as confetti - so feel that it is a unique contribution to the wedding tradition.
Is it biodegradable?
As a flower, bougainvillea will break down and biodegrade, as do all natural leaves. Because it is already dry, the process is even faster, with the added bonus of looking pretty in the process. Exact times will depend on weather conditions and the number of people at the wedding who tread on it and begin the process.
Have the petals been dyed or coloured in any way?
Not at all. The naturally vibrant colours are slightly more muted when dried, and each petal has its own natural variations, depending on the drying process.
Can I use it to decorate food?
yes - and with complete confidence. No pesticides are used at any time in the production of our bougainvillea petals, and you can rest assured that chefs can use them to decorate and garnish food. We do not recommend that you eat them though!
Will the vicars/registrars/hotels etc allow it?
Synthetic artificial confetti has understandably prejudiced a number of officials, so you need to check with whoever is in charge at your chosen venue. We have had very positive responses to our petals from church officials and hoteliers alike. They are naturally pretty and bio degradable outside, and easy to vacuum up inside. Show them a sample - we are sure they will love it!
How can I keep the petals at their best?
As a natural product, these petals will not last forever. So that you can enjoy them at their best, we supply them to you in a lightly frosted package, which will afford some UV protection. We recommend that you buy them no more than 6-12 months in advance, and that you protect them from light, temperature extremes and rough handling.
Are the plants grown organically?
No sprays or chemicals are used while the plants are growing, but as the soil has not been registered with an organic accreditation society, they cannot be officially labelled as organic. Every effort is taken to assure that the plants are grown as carefully and responsibly as possible.
Has it been perfumed?
Bougainvillea does not have its own natural scent. We have chosen a very subtly scented oil of orchid extract which is diluted with pure alcohol to gently fragrance the petals. This ensures that you will not get the 'summer straw' scent that is natural with dried flower petals. It is very light, as we do not want anything to clash with an individual's perfume, or with food aromas when used to decorate tables etc. We think that it enhances the petals; but can arrange for yours to be unscented if you would prefer.
Will the petals stain?
Bougainvillea petals are not dyed or coloured in any way, and come to you as Mother Nature intended and showerproof!! Yes, Bougainvillea petals will repel any drops of rain or water, and they will stay dry. But if you stand in the rain long enough with the darker bougainvillea petals, and they get soggy, some colour may appear, but this extreme behavior is not normal at weddings.
Is there a best way to throw it?
Yes - with laughter, smiles, delight and surprise! The unique floating qualities of Bougainvillea petals are simply superb. They are light and will get carried on a breeze so if a breeze is blowing, it's best to find a protected spot, check the direction of the breeze, and to make sure that the breeze is flowing towards your target! We love to see the petals floating downwards, so that everyone can enjoy the cascade (you'll be amazed at how long they take to flutter), so releasing the petals when your hands are at their highest in a large swooping arc is what works best for us.
How many packages will I need?
All our packages are generously filled with our gorgeous petals, and the sizes and approximate number of portions are given in the pack information section. The CUBE is easily the most flexible and economical way of providing petals for decanting or scattering on a large scale. This size pack would be plenty to decorate 10 tables each seating 8 people (measuring 1m x 2m), and would lightly cover a 1m wide walkway for a distance of about 25m.
Remember that we want to help you prepare for a very special day - and will do whatever we can. Please e-mail or phone to discuss your individual requirements. If we can't help, we will try to suggest an alternative.
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| Roses
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What are the advantages of Freeze Dried Rose Petals?
These will not stain or wilt and can be kept dry in their boxes for your convenience, they offer all the charm and colour of fresh roses but are a lot more flexible. Once the freeze drying is complete the buds will last indefinitely, so can be kept after the event as a reminder of the day. An air dried rose will shrink and turn brown or shades of brown, but the freeze dried rose keeps the character, colour and size of the original rose head. The process is the standard way in which bouquets and other flowers are preserved, it is the best way to keep the natural beauty of flowers.
On a more practical level, they allow you to decorate your table in advance, and because they are dry they are easier to clean up than fresh (they will go through a vacuum cleaner).
Why not use fresh rose petals?
Fresh rose petals do look good, but are also a lot of work. You will have to buy the whole heads and break them down just before you use them. If you do them in advance and keep in the fridge, ensure they have warmed up to the temperature of the day otherwise there will be a film of condensation and they may be moist. Fresh petals can stain, but probably most will wash out simply with water. In the states there has been litigation over the use of fresh rose petals as people have slipped on them on the ground during weddings!! Finally, but most importantly the petals will sag and wilt very quickly, especially on table tops and then do not look their best at all.
Plus as a moist petal they will need a little more effort to clean up afterwards.
Freeze dried rose petals do offer a lot of advantages!!
What is Freeze Drying?
The development of floral freeze drying is the culmination of centuries of personal and scientific effort by people everywhere to improve floral preservation techniques. The process involves the use of a deep vacuum, at pressures only found in outer space!! Under these conditions ice will boil at very low temperatures, or sublime, and go directly from ice to water vapour. This environment is re-created around frozen flowers, which allows the moisture (which is now frozen as ice) to be evaporated directly to vapour, minimising shrinkage and discolouration involved in air dehydration of water from flowers.
At Passion for Petals we use a custom built machine, it was extremely costly but we had no choice as this sophisticated process is the best there is to make products of the class and quality that we need.
Do not try this at home!!!
How should I store Freeze Dried Roses?
Not in the fridge or freezer!!
The petals will last longest if kept in their original packaging, in a cool dark and dry place, until needed.
They can start off a little brittle, but we allow them to take in moisture from the atmosphere to become pleasantly pliable. Do not allow enthusiastic younger brothers and sisters to dig their hands into the box as the petals will always be fragile!!
Is it biodegradable?
As a flower, roses will break down and biodegrade,like leaves. Because it is already dry, the process is even faster, with the added bonus of looking pretty in the process. Exact times will depend on weather conditions and the number of people at the wedding who tread on it and begin the process.
Have the petals been dyed or coloured in any way?
Not at all, as bougainvillea, the naturally vibrant colours are slightly more muted when dried, and each petal has its own natural variations, depending on the drying process.
Can I use to decorate food?
For the rose petals this is OK, for the buds and blooms please remove the outermost petals.
Will the vicars/registrars/hotels etc allow it?
Freeze dried rose petals have been around a little longer than bougainvillea, church officials and hoteliers alike will be a little more familiar with them now. They are naturally pretty and bio degradable outside, and easy to vacuum up inside. Show them a sample - we are sure they will love it!
Has it been perfumed?
Some rose petals keep a slight perfume, but on a rose head it is the area at the base of the bud that creates the perfume, which is sadly removed during the petal making process!!
Will the petals stain?
Not at all.
How many packages will I need?
A table pack, is enough for 2 to 3 cones, or to decorate a small table our larger pack holds enough for 12 - 15 cones and can decorate 2 large tables.
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