It's not quite winter YET but there is a distinct chill in the air at The Sydney Flower Market now, the first thing everyone says is how COLD it is, and the winter flowers are starting to poke their heads through!
There are still plenty of autumn blooms around though, and the local roses are hanging on, hopefully for a few more weeks!
Here are a few of our favourites that we are using at the moment.
1. Birds of Paradise
Meaning - The bird of paradise flower symbolizes joyfulness, paradise, freedom, anticipation, and excitement
We love using "birds" - they have such an amazing shape and structure, and who would have thought a colour combo of orange and blue would work so well with so many things!
Birds of Paradise need 3 to 5 years to mature before they flower, so I feel each and every stem is a treasure!
I Love Wednesdays for Floreat
2. Cyclamen
Meaning - Love and Sincere Tenderness
Most often associated with beautiful plants this time of year, we love using cyclamen as cut flowers! Grown, and carefully picked by our friend Arietta and her Dad Tom on the Central Coast, they are so cute on their own in a little vase, but are also fun mixed into one of our bright bouquets.
They come in the most beautiful shades of pink, red, and of course white.
Images Source: Elise Hassey for Floreat
3. Paperwhites
Meaning - Paperwhites (and jonquils) have long been associated with Narcissus, whose self-absorption caused his demise. The flowers also stand for creativity, inspiration, rebirth, vitality and success.
The simplest, but sweetest smelling of them all! Paperwhites and jonquils are the precursor to daffodils, and we are using them for everything at the moment!!
Image source: Pinterest
4. Carnations
Meaning - Fascination, disctinction, or love
With so many beautiful colours available, carnations, otherwise known as sims, have well and truly made a comeback.
I would never have dreamed a few years ago that I would be using carnations in our bouquets, but now, because of their colours, texture, and longevity, they are becoming a staple during the winter months!
Image source: Pinterest
5. Poppies
Meaning - rememberance
Image Source: @jonimaflowers Instagram
The poppies popped up early this year, and we are very happy about that! We source our poppies from a few different growers, one of them being Jonima Flowers (read more about their family run farm here) who have tall, strong stemmed beauties in an incredible range of colours.
The come in white, pink, peach, red, yellow and orange sold all together in one mixed bunch, and can last for 5-7 days, depending on their stage of life. If closed in a bud and they haven't opened after a few days, you can scald the ends in boiling water for about 10 seconds or peel their furry, green cases off to nudge them open.
6. Stock
Meaning - A happy life and contented existence
Stock comes in beautiful shades of pink and peach, soft yellow, white, and different shades of lilac and purple.
Image Source - Pinterest
7. Tulips
Meaning - Deep Love
I am so happy tulips are back. Spring is usually considered Tulip season but we find some of the most stunning Tulips in Autumn from De Boer Tulips (which translates to "The Farmer") who began their family business in the fields of Holland. Their single, double, parrot and frilly tulips are grown in VIC & some of the most beautiful we've seen
Tulips are a type flower from the lily family, that originated as wildflowers in central asia and turkey and cultivated in many parts of the world. They come in the most gorgeous colours - a lovely creamy white, so many different shades of pink, mauve, yellow, orange and purple. I love the double tulips, because they look so classy, and when they open up they look almost like a peony or a beautiful rose! Not to mention the frilly tulips, or the parrot tulips....
Image Source - Pinterest
Image Source - I love Wednesday's for Floreat
8. Freesias
Meaning - Trust and Friendship
One of my favourite flowers are back! Freesias are a beautiful, elegant, dainty flower that were originally native to South America. My favourite colour is a soft mauve, and they also come in white, yellow, orange, and a brighter purple.
Image Source: I Love Wednesday's for Floreat
9. Hyacinth
Meaning - The hyacinth is the flower of the sun god Apollo and is a symbol of peace, commitment and beauty, but also of power and pride. The hyacinth is often found in Christian churches as a symbol of happiness and love.
Hyacinths are native to the eastern Mediterranean region and are known for their sweet powerful fragrance. I am always so happy when hyacinths come back into the market and due to their gorgeous perfume, I love including them in orders for our clients that love fragrance.
They are perfect in a vase on the coffee table, and I think they look best one one colour en masse. I love white, but also soft pink and soft blue.
10. Giant candle banksias
Native to Australia, these stunning banksias have a beautiful rusty colour, and look amazing in our native bouquets, and our weekly arrangements. They also dry out really nicely and are perfect if you want something to last a long time and retain their colour.
11. Tuberose
Meaning - Peace, Purity and Innocence
Autumn is one of the best times for tuberose and we love the most gorgeous perfume this flower brings to our bouquets.
Tuberose is a tropical plant native to to Mexico and Central America, but is now widely cultivated and grown in many parts of the world, including Australia. They have a strong sweet fragrance, long skinny stems with delicate champagne blooms and a suggestion of soft pink.
Image Credit - @floralux
12. Roses
Meaning - Love
Beautiful locally grown roses are amazing at the moment!
Roses are a genus of flowering plants in the family Rosaceae, and are one of the most beloved and popular flowers in the world. They are well known for their stunning beauty and sweet fragrance and some of my favourite varieties are; Princess, which have a stunning musk pink colour; Honey Dijon; Evelyn, which is a gorgeous, soft peach; David Austin variety; and little old Cecile Brunners, which are cute little button sized pink garden roses.
Our beautiful locally grown roses have so much character, and the most amazing fragrances. Every rose has rose has its own unique scent that seems to match it’s colour. Nature is amazing isn’t it! Next time you are near some roses, try have a sniff and see if you can notice the difference?
Image Credit: I Love Wednesdays for Floreat
Here are some of the bouquets and arrangements we are creating at the moment with these beautiful flowers!
Sustainable Flowers at Floreat
Like fruit and vegetables, the most beautiful, and top quality flowers, are the ones that are locally grown, in season and fresh! We use locally grown in season flowers for all our arrangements, instead of sourcing imported flowers that negatively impact on the environment.
Send Autumn Flowers
We deliver daily across the Sydney metro area and have a range of options for birthday flowers, thank you flowers, mothers day flowers, get well soon flowers and new baby flowers.
Click here to send a sustainable flower delivery or gift.
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