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Local Flower Shop News

Farmer-florists are the hot growing trend

There’s a lot of trends coming together, but I’m just happy to focus on what I enjoy doing – being creative and growing beautiful flowers.” Located in Thornhill Ontario, Antonio Valente is a perfect example of how the farmer-florist trend is taking hold even in more urban environments. Valente was a substitute teacher with a passion for flowers when he started selling cut flowers from the beds he kept in his parent’s backyard. Also marketing himself through Instagram, where he posts rich photography from his garden as well as how-to videos at @antonionvalenteflowers, he recently took over his parent’s half-acre property and still can’t grow enough to meet demand. “I’m competing with larger growers who are producing acres of flowers, so I grow varieties that a florist wouldn’t typically find from a wholesaler, heirlooms such as dahlias Gerrie Hoek and Pam Howdenand foxglove Sutton’s apricot. This allows me to differentiate myself and compete with the big guys.” Florist Rebecca De Oliveira, of Blush & Bloom Flower Studio, is buying more of her fresh cut flowers from these farmer-florists as the trend continues. De Oliveira’s enthusiasm was apparent in speaking to us, “I buy a lot from the growing number of small batch growers, and it’s amazing. Their product is far superior to anything we see imported. It’s fantastic!” “Fresh”, “local”, “sustainable” and “unique” are common buzzwords that describe both the trend towards farmer’s markets and farmer-florists. Local growers are bound by the same seasonality as the rest of us gardeners – in about a month Canadian gardeners will be digging up dahlia tubers. Sweet peas can be sown in pots during autumn and overwintered in a greenhouse, and “hardy annuals” such as larkspur and love-in-a-mist can be sown this fall. Many local-grown flowers are available now at local farmers markets. The year-round value of seasonal growers is in the relationships that form between the producers and consumers in a world that has long been dominated by commodified supply chains and major auction houses. “You met my friend Melanie at Dahlia May- she’s the coolest!” exclaimed De Oliveira when we called to talk about this story. Friendships that blossom in business over something as precious as locally grown flowers – isn’t that what this business should be about? Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author, broadcaster, tree advocate and Member of the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of University of Guelph and Dalhousie University in Halifax. Follow them at markcullen.com, @markcullengardening, on Facebook and bi-weekly on Global TV’s National Morning Show.  ... https://www.burnabynow.com/community/farmer-florists-are-the-hot-growing-trend-1.23423374

Enjoy new and decades-old floral 'masterpieces' in Thornhill Garden Tour - YorkRegion.com

You’re invited to admire and stroll through some of the most beautiful gardens in your community.The Thornhill Garden & Horticultural Society’s annual Garden Tour takes place Sunday, July 10, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (rain or shine).The theme of this year’s tour is “variety is the spice of life ... and gardens.” Each of the eight Thornhill gardens on the self-guided tour has its own unique horticultural features and beauty.Five are previous winners of the society’s annual garden recognition program — Thornhill’s Top 100 Gardens.One award-winning garden is owned and maintained by renowned horticulturalist Marion Jarvie and her husband, Alex.Their front and back gardens have been transformed, over a period of more than 50 years, into “magnificent masterpieces,” showing many exquisite and diverse plant species and colours throughout the half-acre landscaped and pond areas, noted Bernadette Burns, president of the horticultural society.Another garden on the tour was only started a few years ago by an information technology manager who is passionate about gardening. After establishing... http://www.yorkregion.com/whatson-story/6741877-enjoy-new-and-decades-old-floral-masterpieces-in-thornhill-garden-tour/

Midlands Business Owners Concerned About Second Lockdown - Midlands103

August 7th, 2020 3:38pm One florist lost ten weddings when they were forced to close for two months.  Locking down Kildare, Laois and Offaly will have a devastating impact on businesses that are trying to get back on their feet. That's the message from Kildare Chamber of Commerce, which is calling on the government not to lock down the three counties. Hotels and bed and breakfasts have already started to get cancellations due to threat of a localised lockdown. Chamber chief executive Allen Shine wants the focus to be on community testing instead: Violet's Florist in Kildare Town lost commercial contracts and ten weddings when they were forced to close for two months. Owner Elisha Devine says if a strict lockdown is announced today, €3,000 euro worth of fresh flowers will go in the bin: ... https://www.midlands103.com/news/midlands-news/midlands-business-owners-concerned-about-second-lockdown/

Business at local flower grower Three Little Buds is blooming - My Buckhannon

She said her husband jokingly told her she could not grow any more flowers until she took part of her bounty to a local florist to see if they would be interesting in purchasing some of her blossoms.A market-style bouquet of flowers grown and arranged by local flower grower Joanna Webb. / Photo courtesy Joanna Webb“I had always kicked around the idea of selling flowers to local florists,” Webb said. “So, I took some of my dahlias to Anita’s Flowers of Buckhannon, and they told me they would love to buy local flowers.”She said she learned on the fly about growing flowers and started growing ones she found most beautiful.“I like the market bouquet-style of flowers,” Webb said. “With COVID coming in when most of the flowers were blooming, most of the florists were closed, and I had all of these flowers, so I offered subscriptions for monthly or twice a month bouquets, and I was overwhelmed.”Webb said her business is evolving and expanding, and so is her growing area.“Three Little Buds is named after my kiddos, who are two, five and seven,” Webb said. “I just love growing things and want to grow flowers for my community.”Webb said she feels the flowers she grows lend themselves to wedding work, noting Anita’s Flowers is a perfect fit because they often provide bouquets and other floral décor for weddings.An example of the arrangements Three Little Buds Flowers offers. / Photo courtesy Joanna Webb“Last year, I took flowers to Tammy’s Bridal and Floral in Elkins and JoJo’s in Elkins, but this year I have been too ... https://www.mybuckhannon.com/business-at-local-flower-grower-three-little-buds-is-blooming/

Founder of Victoria's 'cheeky' flower count, dies at 97 – Vancouver Island Free Daily - vancouverislandfreedaily.com

Even the last time we visited her there was a flower arrangement. Fresh flowers, her orchids, her flower garden outside. It was all about flowers for my grandma.”Fitzsimmons started her career as a florist, working in flower shops in downtown Victoria before buying her own flower business in 1957, which she sold in the late 1980s, Bourrie said.RELATED: Saanich counts most blooms in 45th Greater Victoria Flower CountFitzsimmons, known as a tireless community volunteer, would make flowers part of as many local events as she could, said Bourrie.She would donate and arrange flowers for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinners at Victoria’s downtown Our Place shelter for homeless people. She also provided flowers and arrangements for the Greater Victoria Art Gallery, Victoria Symphony and the Victoria Conservatory of Music.Bourrie said she organized a beach wedding in 2010 for former cross-Canada runner Steve Fonyo after sponsors pulled out of the event following news the cancer survivor’s bride had previous convictions.“She was always about the underdog,” said Bourrie, adding her grandmother later invited the couple to celebrate their one-year anniversary in her backyard. “She wanted to do what she could to make it a beautiful thing for Steve and his wife.”Daughter Diane Kuypers said her mother saw herself as an ambassador for Victoria as a colourful, generous and welcoming city, and her message spread nationally and globally.“It’s a hard act to follow,” said Kuypers. “She was just so kind and her love of life — I think that gave her that longevity that she did have because of her passion for everything.”Kuypers said she will always remember being in her mother’s kitchen looking out at her country-style garden of daisies, lilies and cherry and magnolia trees, with the ocean in the distance.“She was very happy right up until the end,” Kuypers said.Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said Fitzsimmons made amazing contributions the Victoria area and the flower count has helped the city become a major tourist destination in February and March when other places are cold.“I think the benefit of the flower count is the story it tells, and I think that’s a lasting legacy that Norma Fitzsimmons has left for our community and I’m ve... https://www.vancouverislandfreedaily.com/news/founder-of-victorias-cheeky-flower-count-dies-at-97/

Kimberly’s Flowers of Boca Raton to Become Flowers of Boca Raton - PRUnderground

About Flowers of Boca Raton Flowers of Boca Raton has been in business for over 40 years, previously under the name Kimberly’s Florist. Our team of talented designers has proudly served Boca, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale through holidays, birthdays, and special events alike.We carry fresh florals from all over the world. This assures us that we’re able to select from the finest growers and serve quality blooms to your doorstep. Our farms are located in Ecuador, Holland, and Thailand, just to name a few. They are delivered fresh daily, alongside our pride and joy – locally grown orchid plants.????? ... https://www.prunderground.com/kimberlys-flowers-of-boca-raton-to-become-flowers-of-boca-raton/00171336/

How Can Roses Last As Long As a Year For Someone Special - The Collegian

Doesn’t that sound romantic?Where to Buy Eternity Roses?You might think that it will be hard to find eternity roses. However, this is not the case. Almost every florist now stocks eternity roses. But the difference would be in the color range that each company offers. Some companies make them in more colors than others. Therefore, your selection of the company would matter too. The best part is that companies are now putting in efforts to make the eternity roses available in various arrangements.  Which means that you won’t be investing in a dull-looking eternity rose. You get to choose from different boxes and arrangements that you wish to buy eternity roses in. So, if you are searching for a gift to give to someone special, then you should opt for the eternity roses or roses that last a year as some people may call it. ... https://collegian.csufresno.edu/2020/08/how-can-roses-last-a-year/

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