Flowers still speak volumes on ‘any day,’ and special occasions
For years now, technology companies have taken shots at the floral industry, especially on holidays like Valentine’s Day. Their pitch has been this: why buy expensive roses that are going to die when you can get the latest smartphone or tablet?
While current communication technology has been a great advancement, it has also created a sense of loneliness and isolation for many people. Emails, text messages, Instagram and Twitter are the fast, convenient ways to say Happy Valentine’s Day. The art of verbal communication is also being replaced by a multitude of social, or not so social, media.
Valentine’s Day is just one of the many holidays that provide an opportunity to show appreciation to someone with a carefully grown, hand-picked bouquet of flowers that, according to research done at Rutgers University, creates a sense of happiness that lasts for three days; and a gift of flowers does not have to be expensive.
Alan Colyn is a Langley florist who, with his wife Trudy Van Noort, owns and operates Flowers & Company. He is passionate about the cut flower industry and frequently philosophizes about the important role flowers play in people’s lives. He also grows unique cut flowers, expanding the existing diversity. He was one of the first to grow the highly in-demand ‘Cafe au Lait’ dahlia. Why does he think flowers are so essential to mark certain occasions?
“Flowers are special. They are more significant today than ever before, especially in this age of advanced technology. They are not food, you really don’t need them, and they don’t last a long time. But that’s the point — they’re very unique. They’re a gift for the moment, something very real and beautiful. Their purpose is to show a person that he or she is valued. They are the essence of compassion and love, and they evoke strong emotions. Along with a hand-written note, they make a powerful connection.”
Colyn likes to encourage his customers to feel a sense of caring and showing affection, rather than a sense of obligation. He tries to help them choose flowers that will resonate in a meaningful way with the recipient. He wants to instil an awareness that this is not a Valentine’s Day thing — it’s an “any day” sentiment.
To help customers make their selection, Colyn asks what favourite colours and flowers the recipient enjoys most. Price is not the issue — getting it right is. Often a single new garden rose is enough.
Because Valentine’s Day is an event celebrated around most of the world, there aren’t enough roses and certain other flowers to meet the one-day demand, thus the cost of some will be higher. But there are many alternatives.
Colyn says tulips are becoming the new rose, and the desire to buy locally grown flowers is very strong.
“We have great local growers who supply not only terrific quality but also a selection of colours and varieties that is second to none,” he says. Colyn says one of Holland’s top floral designers is now trending the use of mixed flowers to express a broader sense of diversity in his arrangements and displays.
What about the importance of perfume?
Colyn’s response of “over the top!” says it all. Our sense of smell can trigger some of our most powerful emotions, bringing back memories every time we catch a whiff of a familiar fragrance. Hyacinths will do this for many people. They come in a wide range of colours, and last well, filling an entire room with a beautiful scent. REMARKABLE PERFUME
Freesias, too, have a remarkable perfume. It takes only a small bouquet to enjoy them, and they are especially appreciated by the over-40 crowd.
Oriental lilies in their many lovely colours are very popular, and are often the star of any mixed arrangement.
A bit of a sleeper, locally produced stocks come in many soft pastels, and they have quite a romantic scent. Colyn thinks mini carnations are great as well, although they are not locally grown.
Don’t forget about greens. I brought some sarcococca (Himalayan sweet box) into our store the other day, and folks were surprised and delighted with its perfume. Other fragrant greens, such as eucalyptus, including the feathered, seeded and dollar types, add a touch of elegance and fragrance to any bouquet, as do branches of rosemary and lavender.
Buyers under 40 are very specific in their choices, and are often looking for exotic flowers that are not grown locally at this time of year. Peonies are the No. 1 choice, says Colyn. They are expensive, but they have a cachet — the fullness of the blooms and their soft perfume — that younger buyers love.
The popularity of garden roses is on the rise as well, particularly the David Austin full-flowered varieties that have a lovely scent.
Garden ranunculus are also all the rage. With blooms that look like carefully folded Japanese paper flowers, they are exquisite. Anemones have a similar look.
Cute succulents in funky containers are trendy, although at this time of year they are hard to look after because of our lower light levels.
Valentine’s Day is close. It’s not about paying a huge price or selecting the biggest bouquet of red roses; it’s about hand-grown flowers that touch the people you care about in a special way.
Get to know your local florist, or the knowledgeable staff at a nearby garden centre. Once they know you, they will often carry the unique things you love so you can enjoy cut flowers all year round, not just on Feb. 14. Vancouver Sun gardening columnist Brian Minter will be a speaker on the Garden Stage at the 2018 B.C. Home and Garden Show happening Feb. 21-25. To learn more, visit bchomeandgardenshow.com