Happy Monday! We're back with another edition of Monday Musings and today I'm going to talk about flowers in the offseason.
Since we live in Mississauga, Canada - zone 6b, and our season runs from April-October, that leaves us without our own grown flowers for 5 months. So what's a gal to do who just wants to have fresh flowers to share with everyone all year round?
For the first full year this year, we've joined Ontario Flower Growers to have access to the best local flowers available, all year round. This is so key in the off season when we don't have any flowers of our own, but also so key during the summer months when we have events and need more flowers. This is also so important since we only use local flowers.
This is an important subject I want to broach. By only using local flowers, we are attempting to be more sustainable and reduce our carbon footprint. We are also attempting to support other local businesses all within 2 hours of us. It is pretty cool to still be able to maintain these guiding principles even during the off season. Now, having said that, it is not a perfect agreement as I recognize that these local greenhouse business have to use extra heat and as such energy to keep everything blooming in the off season. And because of that, their carbon footprint is increased during the winter months. But, I still make the choice to support those businesses over ones in South America, where the flowers are often heavily sprayed (think roses) to help them last for the long journey ahead. This decision is important to me and I follow it strictly, but I recognize it also limits the flowers I have to choose from.
It really forces me to get creative with what I do have available and even more, its encouraging me to try and grow more varieties and expand what I have available from our gardens.
Since local roses are the most difficult for me to find, I am expanding my rose garden this year to include koko loko, desdemona (white roses are especially difficult to find) and perhaps one other variety. I'll be converting a south facing bed that was mainly filled with evergreens to be my rose garden. I love it too because it runs along a public sidewalk, so those walking by, will get to enjoy them when they're in bloom (If I haven't already cut them lol). Also looking at adding in 2 new clematis vines and maybe some bearded irises. Just really trying to up my specialty flower game! If there are any cool variety of flowers you'd like to see, please let me know. I'm always open to growing new flowers in the gardens!
In the meantime, while we (im)patiently wait for Spring, I've decided to have local flowers available for purchase through our website. So there will be weekly availability of local flower bouquets and arrangements. I will do my best to change the colour pallets each week, like I did at the Port Credit Farmer's Market, just to show too that even in the Winter, there are still special, seasonally available flowers.
Flowers will be available for pickup from the Gardens in Lakeview or available for delivery (for a fee) to Mississauga, Oakville and Etobicoke. So the next time you have a special occasion, or want to send flowers just because, please think of us for your floral needs!
There are multiple sizes and offerings available. With it being so cold too, I have protection for the flowers to ensure they don't freeze while being transported. Flowers are available from Tuesday-Saturday and orders must be in by 5pm the day before. Having said that, if you miss the deadline or have a special order or interesting project or cool event lol, you can always e-mail me at hello@flauragardens.com to see if I can accommodate.
I love special projects and always do my best to say yes :)
Thank you for the love and support and have a great week ahead!
Laura