Consider The Lilies...

Do you ever buy fresh flowers? for yourself, for a gift - or like me, do you take a turn on the flower rota at church? Here's something which may have passed you by - today is the start of British Flowers Week.

Just like with food, people are increasingly demanding more locally grown flowers to celebrate the seasons, and support British growers. Often scented, British flowers have a natural charm, beauty and just-picked freshness that make them the florist’s favourite.

Up until the 1970s, the only flowers you saw came from flower farmers in Britain. Today, most of the flowers in our shops will have been grown by large scale  growers, routed through the Dutch auctions. BFW is aiming to change this. 

Not only do British flowers usually have a superior scent to imported blooms, they will be fresher and last longer. Minimum distance means maximum vase life. When they are at their seasonal high, quality goes up and price comes down, making them good value for money.

British flowers and foliage show the seasons to the best.[free downloadable seasons chart here] Buy what’s looking good in peak season rather than what’s looking OK all year round. Question the provenance and seek out 'locally grown' for flowers as well as for food. Support local industry, keep farms happy, encourage wildlife and biodiversity. It’s an ethical movement we can all get behind.

BFW is the week-long celebration of British-grown cut flowers and foliage that aims to bring British flowers back into British homes. The brainchild of the team at New Covent Garden Flower Market, where British flowers have been traded for centuries, BFW runs from today until next weekend, uniting growers, florists and wholesalers across the country. Find out more here. 

Look how the flowers grow in the fields: they do not work or make clothes for themselves.  But I tell you that not even King Solomon with all his wealth had clothes as beautiful as one of these flowers.