Today on the Peak of Chic the talk was all about fashionable flowers.
Everyone loves them, everyone has them, but no one really needs them. A true luxury, but at what cost?
Do we know where and how they were grown? Do we care? If not, we should; this is a hundred billion dollar industry that impacts not only the environment but also impacts entire communities. That inexpensive bunch purchased from the supermarket? Will undoubtedly have a higher price to pay somewhere down the line. When possible, be a part of the process by supporting the smaller specialist local growers, and the florists who support them. You will notice the difference and be rewarded with more natural scented blooms. 
Country Roses
Local, and my absolute favourite.
The Organic Flower Company
California Organic Flowers
----------------
Now playing: The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary
via FoxyTunes
Monday, 1 October 2007
Mary, Mary quite contrary...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
Good idea! I am an avid local Farmer's Market fan. The flowers there are locally grown and very inexpensive!
Hi Katiedid - how fantastic esp. in California.
Local, local, local - can't stress it enough.
I completely agree with you- good point. My problem is that it's rather difficult to find local growers, and when you do the flowers are quite expensive! One flower that I can find locally (and in abundance) are sunflowers, but those don't quite look right in a city house- too country!
I did wonder about that - because tastes vary so drastically from city to city. The smart set here favour the country look.
Wonderful posting and I agree with it 100 percent. In the countryside of upstate New York, however, so many insidious creatures have wreaked havoc on my lackluster attempts at "gardening" that I have resorted to foraging for whatever wild thing is blooming at any given moment. Which means, of late, some vases have been filled with wild asters in the most Chinese-enamel shade of amethyst, while others burst with masses of goldenrod, Queen Anne's lace or feathery weeds. I have even pillaged a long-abandoned apple orchard nearby for wizened boughs speckled with rust-spotted leaves and crabby looking apples. The result is quite nice, however, when bedecking a Federal-style farmhouse full of dubious vintage furniture and a few smart antiques. A city friend once (admiringly, I think) said that with the rugged flowers, chipped gilt, et cetera, the house had the atmosphere of Russian aristocrats gone to seed. A notion I quite like for some reason.
I used to get cut flowers from the local waitrose... i think that counts. now i just try and grow my own. the gardenia tree in the back is doing quite well thank you!
Fairfax - Waitrose is the perfect example or of a retailer specifically using locally grown over imports - they were the first to do so.
I am still waiting on the hardy variety of gardenia to hit the nurseries here, when they do look out!
Mitchell - sounds divine. I love Queen Anne's lace.
By insidious creatures, I hope you are referring to the fauna and not the neighbours. Ha!
Sounds like the perfect setting for a huge bunch of white and pink gypsophillia as a summer arrangement.
it's a very good point. most (self included) never pay attention to where a flower originated from. They've become so commonplace that we take them for granted.
I most enjoyed flowers in Rome, where you can pass through the open air markets offering wide varieties of fresh flowers out in the open. So much more enticing that behind a refrigerated glass door.
Post a Comment