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Florist’s Roadside Journal

Florists, do you keep a roadside journal? What is that you ask?

A roadside journal is a little notebook you keep that documents local places where and when flowers grow naturally. Often times this might be near a field, around a fence, or growing at the end of a driveway. Of course, you can’t take flowers from just anywhere, but it can’t hurt to ask! Ask the owners of the property if you could collect their wild flowers in season. Give them a coupon for a free bouquet if they do!

Wild Flowers Grow In More Places Than You Think

North Dakota State Flower, Wild Prairie Rose Photo courtesy 50states.comLook for places with an over-abundance of flowers. Right now I am seeing lilies growing along roadsides, covering ditches — they are simply everywhere! Many people don’t realize how flowers will spread over time and grow more than they can possibly handle. There are houses near mine with more hydrangeas and roses than they could ever do anything with. There are several abandoned houses in our neighborhood with roses and other summer flowers that are all but forgotten. Even trees with interesting foliage, such as cedar or magnolias can be part of your mix.

It can’t hurt to ask their owners if you could buy or trade for them? This can be a great, and possibly inexpensive way to add some local flair to your product mix. You could even turn them into a special edition line for your shop.

Keep a journal of places where you get flowers, and when they were blooming for next year. The journal is a great source when looking for something NEW for the shop. Be sure to let your customers know their flowers are local. This is a way to reach out to your community and spread the word about your shop.

Grow your own! Starting a garden is easier than you think! Grow flowers you want to use! Add uniqueness, texture and fun to your flowers!

Things To Remember:

  • If the person is hesitant about sparing some flowers, don’t be pushy! These are your potential customers, so just accept it and give them a discount coupon anyway.
  • Flowers hold many special memories for most everyone who grows them; don’t take every last flower they have unless they give the okay. Leave them some to enjoy.
  • BE SURE to prep these wild flowers well. Remove all insects, bugs, and varmints they might have.
  • Trespassing is illegal in some areas, make sure you have PERMISSION FIRST!

We’d LOVE to see pictures of your local flowers! Share them on our Facebook, or in the comments below!

 

What Is This Golden Flower Blooming In Massachusetts In September?

Ask the Expert: Can you identify this wildflower?

Yellow Flower - Solidago - GoldenrodPicture taken at the end of September in Massachusetts. Plant less than a foot tall. In rich soil – not wet. Rays generally only 3. Looks like wingstem but there are no wings on the stem. Thanks! John Kimball

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:

What you have is a type of Solidago commonly known as Goldenrod. The genus Solidago consists of over a hundred species of woody-based perennials. In Massachusetts, you will find the following Solidago are native:

  • Solidago caesia (blue-stemmed goldenrod, wreath goldenrod)
  • Solidago canadensis (meadow goldenrod)
  • Solidago juncea (early goldenrod, plume goldenrod)
  • Solidago nemoralis (gray goldenrod, old-field goldenrod)
  • Solidago rugosa (rough-leaved goldenrod)
  • Solidago ulmifolia (elm-leaved goldenrod)

I’m not sure which of these species is the one in the photo.

A Few Solidago Facts:
Fresh Flowers with Solidago

  • All Solidago flowers are always yellow.
  • There are over 100 species of this woody perennial.
  • Solidago plant prefer full sun
  • Solidago is considered a wild flower in many places.
  • Solidago can be invasive.
  • Solidago spp is used in fresh flower arrangements as a filler.
  • Solidago can be dried and used in permanent arrangements.
  • Solidago has no fragrance.

Hope this information has been helpful.

This flower identification post is brought to you by local Bloomington MN florists.  Not in Bloomington? Use Flower Shop Network’s handy directory of real local florists to find a florist near you!

Do You Know What Biking And Flowers Have In Common?

Are you into bike riding? I ride my bicycle all of the time. I’m kind of addicted to the feeling of the breeze in my face. The tightness in my abs lets me know that I’m also getting my daily dose of exercise but in a fun way. The burn in my legs drives the feeling home. I never knew that flowers and bike riding had anything to do with each other, but biking with the honey showed me how the two come together seamlessly.

We were biking together at a local state park in June (and every weekend since then) when it just suddenly dawned on me. They may not be cut fresh flowers, but the flowers scattered all over the sides of the path were absolutely gorgeous. We rode a bit farther than we would have otherwise because we were admiring the nature around us. That’s not really like him so I was quite impressed that our surrounding caught him like that also. After all, we’ve been there dozens of times before. It wasn’t until we began biking the paths that we’d walked together before that we discovered just how pretty flowers are whether in a vase or in the woods.

I hope to have a similar experience when I do my other favorite outdoor activity next weekend–kayaking. Even if I don’t, I’ll always have that surreal moment when he and I noticed together that something that we love (biking) was always surrounded by something we take for granted (wildflowers).

Smiles for Lady Bird Johnson & Wild Flowers.

My friend in Colorado emailed me today about her hiking trip. She described all the beautiful wild flowers she saw. It seems wild flowers are on everyone’s mind. The past week every newscast mentioned the passing of Lady Bird Johnson. Of course when you mention Lady Bird you must also mention her passion for wild flowers and the wild flower center that bears her name. We must also credit Lady Bird Johnson with the initiation of the wild flower highway program.

It made me realize how flowers are a part of our lives and how we need them. Whether cut flowers or wild flowers the positive energy that comes from flowers is amazing. Flowers can celebrate a birthday, an achievement, a milestone, comfort the grieving or lonely, but most of all flowers can make us smile.

As someone once told me “You can give people many things and get many reactions but when you give flowers you can be sure that the reaction will always be a smile”.

Here are a few flower arrangements to get those smiles going.

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