Why locally grown flowers are just better

Me at the markets, happy with my win of hydrangea grown in Dural by @flowers_in_season @floreatfloral

While many flowers at the markets are imported from overseas, my hands down favourites are the ones that are locally, and naturally, grown in and around Sydney, where we really are spoilt for choice.

The drawbacks of imported flowers

Unfortunately, many flowers available for sale are produced overseas, and shipped over to Australia by air. In particular, roses and orchids are produced and imported all year round, and other sought after flowers such as peonies are imported when in season in the northern hemisphere. This is not a sustainable, or optimal way of sourcing flowers for the following reasons:

• While these flowers often look stunning, last a long time, and certainly have a place in floristry, the genetic changes made to the flowers to ensure their longevity come at a price, not only to the environment, but they do not have a scent, or in my mind, the beautiful character of a more naturally grown flower. 
• They require huge amounts of packaging to protect the flowers on their trip.
• The environmental impact resulting from the transportation of the flowers over such a huge distance.
• Flowers that are imported all get sprayed with various chemicals when they enter the country. This is done for a good reason - ensuring biosecurity in Australia, but some of the chemicals used (namely methyl bromide) are banned in other parts of the world because of concerns about them being carcinogenic. 

Why I love locally grown flowers

But, rather than focus on the drawbacks of using imported flowers, I want to focus on the positive aspects of using locally grown flowers!

Flowers bloom in response to nature

Being a nature lover, one of the reasons why I love flowers so much is because their quality and character is a direct response to, and visual proof of, of the change of seasons and the environment in which they grow. Flowers to me aren't just a way to show off, or prove myself to others, but a way of appreciating nature, and a visual representation of the beauty of nature.

As animals adapt to their geography and climate, flowers bloom in response to the conditions. Some of the sweetest smelling flowers bloom in winter. They say this is because they have to fight extra hard to attract the few pollinators that are out and about during the cold months!

Flowers grow on their own, and develop their own personalities

There is no doubt that imported flowers like roses from Kenya, and orchids from Malaysia are absolutely beautiful and almost "perfect" visually to many people, locally grown often have so much character and unpredictability in their shape and colour, and in this way, and in our minds, are also perfect in their own way.

Flowers with a bendy stem can lend a fantastic shape to a flower arrangement, and banksias in different shapes and sizes can give a structural arrangement more depth and character.

Source: My Violet - Cecile Brunner roses, every one is different, and perfect.

Flowers grown naturally have a scent

While locally grown flowers may not always last as long as the imported varieties (although for many they can last weeks!!), they have immense beauty in their individuality and most alluringly, stunning heady perfumes.

Amy Merrick puts this trade off so well in her book On Flowers, “Fragrance is an allure more dearly bought than even the most luxurious French perfume, though, fragrant flowers are often the most ephemeral. It is a worthy sacrifice, scent in lieu of long life.”

Source: Amy Merrick "Favourite smell on earth" 

Many of the most beautiful flowers can't be imported

There are sooo many more flowers that are produced locally that can't be imported, so locally grown flowers give us so many more beautiful flowers and foliages to work with. Many flowers, such as magnolia, blossom, lily of the valley, and sweet peas, are too fragile to import. So without locally grown flowers, we wouldn't have any of these favourite blooms!

Using locally grown flowers are better for the environment, and the local economy

Our locally grown flowers may need to travel 50-100kms down the road to the Sydney flower markets, as opposed to thousands of miles through the air from overseas. This means the flowers are fresher, often being picked the afternoon before the market, as opposed to a week (or more) before we get them in Sydney!

Buying local flowers also supports local growers, and their families, maintain their businesses, and keep us surrounded by these beautiful blooms.