as the seasons make their progress from the Isles of Scilly to the Grampians. What is less well known is that no fewer than 22 Flower Market wholesalers stock British as part of their off er to fl orists, traders such as Goodchilds, Zest Flowers, Alagar, SR Allen, E Four, R French, GB Foliage, Dennis Edwards Flowers, L Mills, Arnott & Mason and Porters Foliage. When summer arrives, George Stokes of
Goodchild says that British-grown fl owers equate to half his stock : “When exactly summer starts depends on the weather, of course,” qualifi es George, before going on to list just some of the varieties stocked in the Flower Market from early June: peonies, cornfl owers, sweet peas, sweet williams, echinops, delphiniums, larkspur, Doris pinks, anenomes, ranunculus, dill, cow parsley, lilies, stocks and British orchids, mock orange, alchemilla mollis, snapdragons, foxtail lilies, hydrangea, gladiolus, phlox and the list goes on….. As for British-grown foliage, the display on
Foliage Row is a fl orist’s dream. Huge branches of viburnum opulus, birch and beech stand alongside bunches of cow parsley, dill and scented herbs, eucalyptus, philadelphus, fl owering lilac, cornus, hebe and plenty more besides. Looking at such rich pickings, you wonder how any fl orist could ever
be content with the meagre off erings of salal and ruscus.
British versatility From relaxed vintage displays of fl owers in teacups and jam jars to more formal urn arrangements, to romantic bouquets, garlands and headdresses, British summer fl owers are supremely versatile in season. Their delicious scents are so evocative and romantic that they are ideal for summer weddings, parties and events.
Tips to buying British? In summer, British fl owers come to the traders at least 3 times a week arriving freshly picked from the nursery into the Flower Market overnight ready for sale from 3am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you are a regular, you may be able to pre-order stock, but otherwise it really is the early bird that catches the best fl owers at the Flower Market in summer. Goodchild’s George Stokes recommends being on site at 5.30-6am for the best pickings. For the most part, British fl owers are presented
dry-packed and sold by the box as wholesale units. The best deals on price are to be found in peak growing season, when the supply and demand
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>> F&wb Summer 2013 73
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