I absolutely adore adding fresh cut flowers to my home. There have even been studies that hint at the fact that fresh cut flowers in a home can help elevate moods and keep one happy for as long as the flowers last. I have a weekly habit of visiting the florist and buying a nice new colorful, fragrant bundle which I then lovingly organize and place into a vase and continue to adore for the next few days.
One day I just had to ask the florist how exactly she had carnations at this time of year. “Greenhouse? Solarium?” I queried.
“Nope, Ecuador.” She smiled.
Ecuador... what in the... they're shipping in flowers now? I felt rather silly assuming that these exotic flowers were coming from some place local, particularly after I discovered that up to 90% of all flower sales are actually imported flowers from other countries!
Columbia, Ecuador, Holland, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile and even Canada ship millions of flowers into the United States. Think about the amount of fuel that is needed just so I can have carnations in the winter. Think about the amount of packaging that is necessary to protect the delicate leaves and petals of my most adored roses and lilies and tulips! Though my intentions were to bring a little bit of nature into my own home, little did I realize that I was perhaps killing the very nature I loved by purchasing these flowers.
Let Local Flowers Bloom
That's when I came up with an alternative plan: go local. I was surprised at how many florist shops actually did carry several flowers that were locally grown. I even discovered one florist who grew flowers on every square inch of her yard at home! Not only am I now being environmentally responsible, but I am also supporting local businesses that sadly time and time again cannot compete with larger flower companies that can offer lower prices.
So the next time you pick up that beautiful bouquet, ask where it came from and how important these flowers are to you when it comes to the environment. Do your best to buy local flowers only to support nature and our communities. That way, every body benefits!
photo by Liz Evans
