What price, a Bouquet of Flowers?
- Lillian AT MY ROSE GARDEN
- Jun 13
- 4 min read
Yet, we've all done it, haven't we? Made a dash to the local supermarket for a quick bunch of flowers as a host gift, or a thank you. And in our hurry, we have ignored the hidden message; that a bunch bought like this takes little thought and doesn't require a whole wad of cash either! Yet, if we stopped to think about it, what message should a Bouquet of Flowers give?
It's worth considering that the flowers in these supermarket bunches may have been flown half-way across the world, needing toxic chemicals to keep the flowers alive. That's not to mention the cost to workers being exposed to unregulated toxic chemicals and earning low wages. And, of course, the flowers have no perfume and will stand like straight soldiers in the vase until they finally develop mould and wilt.
But that's not a great message for the recipient of a gift of a Bouquet of Flowers, at least in my opinion. How much nicer for the recipient to receive a Bouquet of Flowers filled with fresh in-season flowers that they can bury their nose in and sniff deeply (and without the chemicals!). A Bouquet of Flowers such as this would bring exclamations of surprise and wonder, rather than a quick 'oh thanks' as with a supermarket bunch.
I came across a description of someone receiving a thoughtful, beautiful bouquet recently in a memoir written at a time when giving and receiving flowers was seen as something special. The writer expressed their delight at receiving a luxurious, abundant Bouquet of Flowers, conveying a sense of appreciation and regard that we seem to have lost in our world of rush and hurry.
Our time is precious, I know, but are we so disconnected from how real flowers look that we no longer question the appeal of soldier-straight flowers that never open and have no scent? We seem to have forgotten what an abundant fresh bouquet filled with flowers from a real garden looks like! Real seasonal flowers, grown sustainably, have life and movement, are filled with scent with buds opening in the vase, and full-blown roses dropping their deliciously scented petals.
Have we lost a sense of wonder and joy when it comes to giving flowers as a gift? I recall seeing a wedding in Bucharest where huge bunches of flowers were placed outside the church, but not as formal floral decorations. These were a joyous abundance of Bouquets of Flowers placed outside the church while the ceremony continued inside.
To my Western eyes this display seemed odd as the flowers were not displayed to impress, even beginning to wilt in the heat of the late afternoon. It was only as I watched the dozens of bunches of flowers being gathered up after the ceremony that their significance became apparent. These were generous flourishes of appreciation and well-wishes for the bride and groom and played a colourful role in the excitement and joy of the wedding itself.
A thoughtfully gathered or purchased Bouquet of Flowers filled with beautiful, fresh, scented flowers, demonstrates generosity and an authentic desire to show appreciation, rather than a token effort. Such a Bouquet of Flowers doesn't have to cost the earth, and here I mean in its literal sense, in terms of the cost of flying flowers half-way across the globe, drenched in toxic chemicals.
Here are some ideas for giving a generous and thought-filled Bouquet of Flowers as an alternative to the last-minute supermarket bunch:
Even a handful of flowers and fresh, scented foliage, such as eucalyptus, gathered from your garden, or your neighbour's if you're lucky, can look abundant and luxurious, especially if it's wrapped in quality wrapping paper and tied with twine.
If you don't think you can do a bunch of flowers from your garden, then ask around; perhaps some family members, co-workers or friends have lovely gardens nearby. Most gardeners are thrilled to supply freshly cut flowers and foliage from their garden if you ask nicely. Of course, offer to pay.
There may be a flower farmer near you where you can buy local, seasonal flowers at a fair price, and they will generally be happy to arrange them into a beautiful Bouquet of Flowers for you.
Seek out your local florist and ask if they use locally grown flowers. Support your small, local florist as they're small business may be the main income for a family in your area.
Farmers markets near you are sure to have a flower stall, hopefully filled with fresh, locally grown flowers. Ask them if they grow their own or source local flowers.
Finally - I know that foraging has been promoted as a good way to gather 'free' flowers & foliage, but beware of snipping flowers from parks, bushland or hoping neighbours don't miss a few flowers. It's illegal to forage wildflowers and foliage from the Australian bush. Of course, parks are off limits too. And if you happen to forage and unknowingly snip some highly toxic flowers or foliage, such as foxgloves or even Oleander (every part is highly toxic and should never be handled) your gift might end up in someone's kitchen near food.
I hope that this, along with a few simple ideas, demonstrates the real price of a beautiful Bouquet of Flowers filled with fresh, locally grown flowers, as a gift that gives so much more. And if you live in my local area, the lower Hunter Valley between Pokolbin and Millfield, and you'd like to give a Bouquet of Flowers, then get in touch. We do pick-up or local delivery.
xx Lillian
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