Seasonal and Local Flowers – Economical and Eco-Friendly

by HoangAnh “Jenny” DuongVu
Wedding planner at Samui beach weddings

Published in What's on Samui magazine, October 2014 edition

What if, in some strange twist, mangos were the ultimate symbol of love? And on your wedding day, the mangos would have to be imported from far away; with chalky texture, little juice, and zero flavor. Wouldn't better to celebrate with local mangos when they are the locally-grown fruits and are meant to be: vine-ripe, fresh-picked, juice-down-your-chin, fragrant and oh-so-sweet. Flowers really are no different.

 

1. Above all, the largest challenge that exists with imported flowers-the cost: for the long journey getting from the flower farms to your venue can sometimes feel like a sneaky pick-pocket. You may want specific kinds of flowers for your special day – we understand – so consider investing your money on the most photogenic elements like the bouquet and the centerpieces, and let local flowers help with the rest. 

   
2. Think about the enviroment: Let's face the truth, the international transit process creates heaps of trash; boxes, plastic sleeves, little plastic tubes to support fragile stems, little webbed “socks” to keep big blooms from falling apart, synthetic sponges, rubber bands, tons of packing paper, tapes and even little blocks of wood that are used to stabilize the cardboard boxes! Flowers for a single bouquet could generate enough rubbish to fill a curbside trash can (which can stay in our landfills for decades to come). Locally grown flowers usually only require a bucket and clippers which certainly gets washed and used again and again - and maybe a bit of paper and ribbon for wrapping your bouquet.
   
   
3. Imported flowers do not usually last very long: Once flowers are cut off the plant, they often get boxed up without any water when travelling great dítances á water weighs a lot. It is not until the box gets to the florist that the flowers get a real drink of water again. It can be a miracle that these flowers even last this long. On the other hand, locally grown flowers usually never leave water. They grow naturally in fields where rain and sun nurture the strongest, sturdiest flowers creating their fragrance and natural delicate beauty. Local flowers are usually picked the same day or just the day before you receive them. You might even go pick them yourself! Some can last up to a week if you take care of them! (Tip: adding just a little sugar to the water solution helps them last even longer) 
   

   

   
   
   
   
4. Local flowers still boast a huge range of diversity: there are countless varieties to choose from in a rainbow of colors to suit the most color themes. They are usually grown organically or with very minimal chemicals. Our winged friends: the bees, butterflies and birds in the fields enjoy the diversity, too, and help keep our ecosystem healthy and our surroundings beautiful. Perhaps the word is just “natural”. They’re natural, the way it was meant to be, just like those mangos...Oh-so yummy!
   
   
   
   
   
5. Last but not least, a local flower farmer is determined to get you the very best blooms: Their flowers aren’t going on a jumbo jet to get tossed over and over again. They’re going to hand them directly to you or your florist. Do you notice how farmers look at you, square in the eye, usually with a bit of a grin tickling their lips? That’s because they are proud to be handing you those flowers (or even that mango). They have worked so hard to grow them, and they know very well, that you’re going to love them.