Seasons’ floral greetings
In this month’s Nursery Focus, we chat to Karen Williams of Heather & Harebells, a representative of the Flower Farmers of Ireland, who tells us about the network, the importance of buying cut flowers in season, and share some ideas for festive floral gifts.
Who are the Flower Farmers of Ireland?
The Flower Farmers of Ireland was established in 2018, bringing together a network of like-minded growers from across Ireland who offer an alternative to imported flowers. Sustainability is the cornerstone of everything we do; our cut flowers are grown locally within season, with minimum intervention and little to no pesticides.
As well as supplying wholesale to florists, many of our members also sell directly to the public online and at markets across the country. We have many talented florists and floral artist among our membership whose services range from wedding and event floristry to wreath-making and crafting.
Why should I but cut flowers in season?
Buying what is in season – whether that’s cut flowers or food – is crucial when considering ways to reduce your carbon footprint. When you buy from Irish grower, you not only support local businesses, you also take steps to reduce your impact on the environment.
A study from Lancaster University in the UK found that the carbon emissions in a bouquet of imported flowers were 10 times greater than the emissions from a seasonally grown mixed bouquet of British flowers. While a similar study has not been undertaken in Ireland to my knowledge, I think it is safe to assume that the results would be the same here.
How do I find out what’s in season?
Every week our members post lists on their social media accounts and websites of what is available in the week ahead. These are flowers and foliage grown locally in tune with the seasons – you won’t find roses for St Valentine’s Day for instance.
Is it hard to plan ahead for special events such as weddings?
As with any agricultural product, flower harvests are determined by the weather and sometimes what would traditionally be in bloom can be delayed due to frost, rain or other conditions. This can make planning some floral arrangements, such as wedding flowers, tricky at times.
If you want to use only Irish-grown flowers and foliage in your bouquet, then you need to be open to alternatives. Our members are there to help – they can advise on what they think might be available at the time (although there are no guarantees) and can make suggestions on your colour palette. We have a very supportive network within the organisation so if one crop is running a little behind, we can sometimes source the same flowers from another member elsewhere in the country.
What options are available for environmentally conscious couples planning winter weddings?
You need to be open-minded and look beyond traditional floral bouquets. Consider shrubs that are in bloom at this time of year. For instance, would you be happy with viburnums mixed with pines or eucalyptus? Or grasses? Dried flowers also make beautiful bouquets and if you plan in advance, our members can dry these as they bloom in preparation for your special day
Christmas is fast-approaching. Can you suggest any gift ideas?
Yes! We’re always trying to think of ways to supplement our incomes out of the traditional growing season of March to October and at this time of year many of our members are busy making festive wreaths, table centres, and handmade gifts such as beautiful framed pressed flowers or dried flower combs and hair clips. These can often be customised to order, making very personal gifts for loved ones. Weekly or monthly floral subscriptions also make a very thoughtful and generous gift that can be enjoyed the year round, while tickets to our members’ workshops and demonstrations are a great option for the floral enthusiast in your life.
Our website, flowerfarmersofireland.ie, includes a directory of our members with links to their websites and social media where they share Christmas gifts ideas, plus notices of the Christmas markets that they are participating in. If you filter the directory by speciality and location, you’ll find a list of members in your area.
The Flower Farmers of Ireland won a silver medal for its floral display in the Nursery Village at Bord Bia Bloom this year. To learn more about the network, visit flowerfarmersofireland.ie and follow Flower Farmers of Ireland on Facebook and Instagram.
