Arrange a Better (and more beautiful) Bouquet

A lovely bunch of flowers bought from the florist or the supermarket may have been grown in a greenhouse thousands of miles away (Kenya is the largest supplier of cut flowers to the European Union).  Apart from the environmental issue of transport over long distances, the boom in horticulture in some developing countries has a high social and environmental cost.  In Colombia, the flower industry uses enormous amounts of polluting pesticides and exposes poorly paid garden workers to chemicals that may be carcinogenic or toxic.  In drier regions, such as Kenya, horticulture requires substantial amounts of water and, as a result, overuses local water resources.


Flowers especially Roses imported into New Zealand (which let me say most Roses that we buy at florists or supermarkets are imported - I'd be surprised to find any that aren't) are dipped and sprayed with anti-fungals, virus and bacteria killing toxic chemicals.  So not only are they bad for the environment becuase they have been transported from overseas, grown using pesticides, and large amounts of water but they are really unhealthy to have in your house.  We have always had huge Lavender hedges growing around our houses, and I always plant Iceberg Roses, so we always have a supply of flowers in the garden for vases all year round.


If you want a traditional bouquet, seek out organic or Fair Trade flowers, Look for the Fair Trade or VeriFlora labels, which ensure your flowers come from farms with high environmental and labour standards.  And consider buying or giving a potted plant from a local nursery as a gift rather than a bunch of flowers.  Check out the Give Plants website on how to send a plant rather than a bouquet - gosh I'd love to receive one of these, they look amazing and it will last far longer!