Beauty in Bloom

As the winter is finally in retreat, it's the perfect time to celebrate with a colorful spring bouquet, whether of tulips, roses, calla lilies or dogwood (pictured right).

No matter where you're located, a fine florist can be found nearby or online.

A few standout designers across the country, however, are playing with the art and creating innovative beauty in bloom. As pleasing to the eye as they are to the nose, these arrangements will take your breath away.

A Rose of Any Other Name

Roses, a fragrant perennial favorite, have been de rigueur for romantic bouquets for thousands of years -- in ancient Greece, they were associated with Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty.

Today, most high-end specimens are imported from Holland and South America. What's the difference? "The roses from Holland a bit more defined, with a smaller head and tons of petals. They are both excellent, though," says Elizabeth Ryan, owner of Elizabeth Ryan Floral Design.

"An Ecuadorian rose is the size of a tennis ball," says Steban Guevara, manager of San Francisco's Rossi & Rovetti.

Roses' long-standing popularity also stems from the variety of colors available: red, white, peach, lavender; you name it, your florist can get it.

Recently coming into vogue are two-toned roses such as Geisha, a vibrant yellow and fuchsia rose; Circus, a yellow rose with an orange trim around the edges of the petals; and Intuition, a delicate pink and red rose, notes Guevara.

Blooming Talent

But there's much more beyond red roses.

"I have a penchant for quality and the unique. I get bored with anything ordinary," says Ryan, who has been working with flowers for the last 25 years and has owned her New York City store for the past 11.

This comes across in her arrangements -- an unusual bridal bouquet Ryan designed included shiitake mushrooms and limes.

Another unique design featured submerged roses, which lined a vase that was then filled with more roses, viburnum (clusters of small, white flowers), peonies, poppies and tulips.

Ryan has created bouquets for celebrities, including the Dali Lama and Paris Hilton; fashion designer Anna Sui named her shop as one of her favorites in New York City.

The usual customer's response to Ryan's designs? "People gasp and say, 'I've never seen anything like this before.'"