Say it with (British) flowers…

With the Lovely Hubby’s birthday being just a few days beofre Valentine’s Day (more on that tomorrow..), the annual slush fest tends to pass us by a bit.

I am have usually exhausted all my present ideas for his birthday, and we usually go out for a meal, or cook something nice, so the desire for another big meal is somewhat dampened.

And this year, it has to be Make Do and Mend too…

Where do flowers come on the whole buying nothing new thing?

I have had this debate before when trying to think of something to send some friends who were having a tough time (I plumped for homemade brownies in the end) and have still yet to reach any firm conclusions.

They are after all a perishable item, so could be lumped in with food and things.

But they are not really a necessity. And are often not particularly sustainable or planet-friendly having been air-freighted around the world from sunnier climes, and kept refridgerated to extend their shelf life.

I think I have decided that if I am going to buy flowers this year, they should be as sustainable as possible. British grown, native blooms are some of the best in the world, and if they are grown organically, and packaged appropriately, I reckon they can sneak in under the Make Do and Mend radar…

So, where does one find sustainable, organic British grown blooms in the middle of February..?

You might be surprised at just how many British flower growers there are out there! And many of them are organic. And although they may have to grow some of them under tunnels at this time of year, the carbon footprint of doing this must be far far lower than flowers that have been trawled halfway round the planet on an aeroplane, and at least you know the growers are not being exploited (well, I hope so anyway)

Here are some suggestions for you. All of them offer a nationwide delivery service:

• The Great British Florist-is based in Herefordshire and is part of the Wiggly Wigglers company, which among other things, supply great wormeries to help you use up any food waste! Heather tells me that at the moment they have ranunculus, Veronica, September flower, bay, rosemary, tulips, dogwood, berries, & more!

• The Garden Gate Flower Company-organic British grown flowers from Cornwall. Currently using helebores, hyacinths, daffodils, anemones, lots of blossom, and pretty foliage like ivy with berries, and pertosporam

• Common Farm Flowers-just down the road from us in sunny Somerset! Georgie tells me they are using tulips, narcissi, pussy willow, euphorbia, hazel catkins, grey poplar catkins and rosemary for their bouquets currently

• The Flower Mill Cornwall have some gorgeous Daffodils in their online shop at the moment
• Cornish Blooms also have some beautiful looking bouquets, with bunches of narcissi, or Seasonal Spring bouquets, which include Yellow Narcissi, White Narcissi and Daffodils from their fields, ready for Valentines Day

Other suggestion include buying good old British daffs from your local market stall, or British bulbs in a bowl.

And if you don’t fancy flowers this Valentine’s day, then here are some great Eco-friendly date ideas from Recyclebank!

Whatever you are doing this Valentine’s Day, whether you are fortunate enough to be spending it with a loved one, or  spending it on your own, have a good one, and spread the sustainable love!!