by Sara Willman, My Flower Patch.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
But neither of them bloom in the UK in February in time for Valentine’s Day.
So, what options do you have to tell someone you love them with #grownnotflown flowers?
Whilst February is still quite early in the season for small scale flower farmers who grow mainly outdoors, there are still plenty of beautiful UK blooms available from commercial growers in Cornwall and Lincolnshire who can offer deliciously scented narcissi in sunny yellow or soft white. There are also cheery daffodils, scented hyacinths, tulips in many shades, or alstroemeria in a whole rainbow of colours. As February progresses you can also supplement with garden grown hellebores (well conditioned), winter blossom and snowdrops
Mix these with gorgeously scented foliage like eucalyptus and rosemary or camelia, hazel catkins or pittosporum, silvery grey scenecio or glossy berried ivy. Foliage can also bring a little colour like twisted willow or dogwood stems - bring them all together to create a beautiful garden gathered style bouquet.
A few years ago, a customer contacted me for a red rose bouquet for Valentines. I gently reminded him that I specialise in British grown flowers and that roses were not in season. He laughed and said that roses were a bit old hat anyway, and asked me to create a special bouquet using whatever was in season for his wife. I received a message from his wife after she received them to say how much she loved them.
Sometimes customers ask for roses as flowers they know, or because they associate them with Valentine’s Day. Sometimes it is our job as flower growers and florists to gently educate people what else is available. Red is after all not the only colour to tell someone you love them, and roses are not the only flower to spread that message. I always offer flowers in a range of pinks, white, cream as well as a few reds, purples and yellows.
Why not consider a weekly or monthly posy subscription for future flowers as a Valentine’s Day gift – something that will last months rather than a week or two?
Find British Flowers for Valentine’s Day by searching for the following hashtags on social media:
