by Niki
5. May 2010 12:22
With many flower giving occasions thoughout the year, including Valentines Day, Mothering Sunday and birthdays, there are many reasons to want to buy the best beautiful flowers, not just the large quantity needed for a wedding.
Here are some top tips for getting the best blooms:
- Plan ahead. If you have the space to grow your own, these will not jsut save you money, but will no doubt last longer once cut. If you plan ahead you can grow certain plants that you know will be in bloom at a particular time of year. OK for one off occasions, like for Mothers Day flowers, but harder when growing for a whole wedding… time to enlist some help?
- For giving flowers as a gift, why not give a houseplant which will last much longer and can often be cheaper. It will be a lasting reminder of your care. Or if the recipient has a garden, give a plant that can be transferred to outdoors later on.
- Check out this chart of what flowers in season so you are more likely to be able to get locally grown flowers for the time of year you are buying. Ask your florist where their flowers are sourced from to encourage them to think local too.
- Buy fairtrade blooms. The fairtrade certification for flowers works in a similar way to food. The producers are paid a fair wage, local communities are supported, and the products made in environmentally friendly ways. (For more info visit www.fairtrade.org.uk)
But where to find fairtrade flowers? Every so often my local supermarket will have a bunch with a Fairtrade sticker on, but it is unpredictable… This may be ok for getting one off bunches as a gift, but for sourcing larger quantities for a big event, see the Fairtrade Foundation website for an up-to-date list of fairtrade flower stockists.
Many of the standard cut flowers we buy in this country are imported from Africa where they are grown under chemical duress, causing harm not only to the environment (plus airmiles) but also to the health of the growers. You may also find that to get a better looking bloom, the scent of the flower has been compromised. So local, fairtrade and homegrown flowers are going to give you the best value and quality for your money.