Sweet Peas by Rita Feldman

It’s International Women’s Day: You  Can Buy Yourself Flowers.

(updated by Lori D: March 7. 2023)

March ushers in two reasons to send flowers (as if we needed another): spring and International Women’s Day!

Monday, March 20 (in the Northern Hemisphere) marks the official arrival of spring equinox–which means equal lengths of day and night. It’s also the official start of the spring growing season in flowers. WOO!

For the next six-plus months–or until the first frost–locally grown flowers will be poppin’ from coast to coast.  To learn what’s blooming now for your everyday and special occasions and flower deliveries, check out The Flowry website. Our ‘What’s Blooming Now’ section highlights the seasonality of popular, seasonal cut flowers.

Spring call-outs include: tulips, daffodils, poppies, anemones, ranunculus, sweet peas, and stock. ^Note the absence of roses because their growing season doesn’t typically arrive until summer.

Some of these varieties may be new to you, they were to me! I encourage you to observe the seasonal shift because flowers in season–like food– are most abundant and delicious (and generally more economical) when enjoyed in season.

And just like that… (snap)… they’re gone until they bloom again next year.

Girl Power

This month, we celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8). Suffice it to say there are many women I’ve encountered both personally and professionally who blow me away—with their smarts, creativity, style, generosity, kindness, calm, strength—all the attributes worth celebrating.

I want to acknowledge some of the women we admire in the flower space—who have created movements, identified business opportunities, are crusading against right and wrong, and who are so wildly talented, I’m in perpetual marvel. Mind you, it’s impossible to name everyone—and The Flowry is, well, abloom with them—so take a tip toe through and see for yourself.

Meet the Bloomers & Shakers
Double Shade Yellow and Crimson Ranunculus

Gorgeous Double Shade Yellow and Crimson Ranunculus by Molly Oliver Flowers, creator of #seasonalflowerproject | Brooklyn, NY

Debra Prinzing, founder of Slow Flowers Society. Debra recognized the need to put domestic flower farmers together with florists to forge slow flowers (the opposite of “conventional” and “fast”) conversations and connections in the interest of the environment, economy, and social justice—and to offer an alternative to flower imports which dominate the US market.

Through storytelling, podcasts and events, Debra and The Slow Flowers Society have shined a light on the resilience, diversity, responsibility, seasonality, and big time joy American flower farmers contribute to the United States flower economy. The Slow Flowers movement has opened many doors to discovery and opportunity by both florists and consumers to experience a #betterbouquet for their everyday and special occasion and celebrations. By better we mean: sustainably designed with locally and/or US grown flowers, in season, and without floral foam, chemical dyes or bleaches, and excessive single-use packaging.

Rita Feldman, founder of The Sustainable Floristry Network and #nofloralfoam.  This beacon of sustainable and systemic change  packaged in cheeky Australian grit, recently announced some game-changing news for the global floristry industry: A continuing professional development, or CPD, course aimed at certifying florists in sustainability. The curriculum, which launches in 2023,  has been designed to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Environment and social justice crusading florists will finally have a way to demonstrate and differentiate their core values through their craft.

Hannah Brannan, founder of Gather Flora. This “woman who codes” founded Gather Flora to facilitate the transaction between growers and florists, addressing the barriers and pain points inherent to the traditional flower supply chain. As such, she’s demonstrated an ability to increase market share for locally grown flowers across Northern and Southern California, reducing florists’ reliance on imports, with plans to scale across the US.

Floral Designers, Planet + People Advocate

Molly Oliver from Molly Oliver Flowers (Brooklyn, NY); Jaime Giorgi from The Monkey Flower Group (Napa, CA); Lauren Palmer & Leah Palmer from The Wild Mother (Oklahoma City, OK). These flowering women run their businesses with amazing conviction, compassion and creativity; each a crusader in her own right for sustainability and social justice.
By paying attention to their work, and their teachings, I’ve learned so much about myself and the role I want to play in this world both as a consumer and an imperfect human, always working towards a fair, just and equitable world.

Fierce Farm Bosses
Assorted Pink and White Tulips

Assorted Pink and White Tulips grown by Krynn at Bloomchick Flower Company | Springfield, TN

@flowerladyfarm Robin Lindsey (VA), @bloomchickflowercompany Krynn Knepful (TN), @blossomandbranchfarm Briana Bosch (CO). All female flower farmers loaded with courage, sense of self, and brutal honesty. These women tackle one of the hardest professions on Earth with straight-talk, sass, and strength… and show us how it’s done! And, with occasional cameos by: horses, mutts, beer, beauty products, sunsets and piano playing. If you’re not following along on Instagram, you’re missing out.

Muse Makers 

Floral Portrait Painting by Anna Kincaide

Lovely Floral Portrait Painting by Anna Kincaide

Anna Kincaide. I stumbled upon Anna Kincaide’s paintings at a gallery in New Orleans about six years ago and was instantly smitten. Her work reflects her love of design and couture fashion; every figure eliciting a range of emotional responses. Just, breathtaking.

"Be Wild" by Vicki Rawlins

Dried Florals Mixed Media Artwork, “Be Wild” by Vicki Rawlins @sistergoldenshop

We are obsessed with the social art collaboration, #facethefoliage, a collection of flower faces by Vicki Rawlins—founder of Sister Golden Shop (WI)—and Justina Blakeney of The Jungalow fame. Vicki’s portraits are created from seasonally foraged, living flowers and plants, photographed, and then returned to their environment. Nothing is glued. You can follow Vicki’s and others’ like @the_native_flower_girl, at #facethefoliage on Instagram.

 
"Jade" by Vicki Rawlins

Pinecone Textured Mixed Media Artwork, “Jade” by Vicki Rawlins @sistergoldenshop

Fares Micue. This self-taught portrait photographer from Spain, Fares Micue, explains her “why” so vividly: “I want my images to give hope and teach people to appreciate themselves, to love, dream and believe that everything is possible if we believe that it is.” She is big on color and flowers, both of our spirit animals.

 
Stunning Photograph by Fares Micue

Stunning Photograph by Fares Micue

Anna Condo. Armenian born, Parisien raised, New York based filmmaker and photographer, Anna Condo, chooses flowers as her muse. Her portraits are described as strong, not fragile, and imposing respect, which sums up why we’re mesmerized. “A lady first and foremost; a feminist before its time.” In a word: Voila

Photograph of Graceful Pink Tulips by Anna Condo

Photograph of Graceful Pink Tulips by Anna Condo.

Loria Stern, LA based culinary artist and baker of cakes and confections with edible flowers. I’ve never personally met Loria Stern but I’ve ordered her mouth watering floral creations, both stylish and sustainably crafted with mindful details from locally grown, organic ingredients to energy and water usage. The reviews: Delish!

Floral Decorated Cake by Loria Stern

Floral Decorated Cake by Loria Stern

We’ve gushed about Amborella Organics, founded by Taylor Clarke with her husband Brennan. This charming collection of candy-with-a-cause is nothing short of genius. Delicious! Delightful! Experiential!

After you’ve finished enjoying the candy created with organic, edible herbs and flowers, you can plant the biodegradable, seed bearing stick and watch something grow!

The Flowry supports Ukraine relief efforts. We will donate 25% of all sales of Amborella Organics to Razom for Ukraine until peace is restored.

Amborella Organics Photo

Amborella Organics. Photo by Heather Collins @photobyhmc

The Flowry is a sustainable floral design hub + marketplace. We connect flower buyers, givers, and senders to #betterbouquets, designed by florists prioritizing locally and US grown flowers, in season, and sustainable design practices including NO floral foam, NO chemical dyes, drying agents, or bleaches, and NO excess single-use plastic packaging. We support 1% For The Planet.

Have questions or comments? Get in touch here.