In British Columbia, supporting local cut flower growers is a trend gaining momentum, especially during the holiday season. According to a recent Garden Media ‘Garden Trends Report’ for 2022, flowers are now considered the “new hugs,” capable of triggering feel-good hormones. The report emphasizes the evolving understanding of the healing power associated with cut flowers.
Local flower farms and fields in the Fraser Valley have become popular destinations, offering u-pick options and designer classes. Boutique flower businesses, with a strong presence on Instagram, have engaged the Millennial generation in creating customized and personalized floral arrangements.
The trend extends to creating outdoor porch pots using homegrown or locally grown elements like deciduous ilex berries, rose hips, hypericum, male skimmias, shrub dogwood stems, and contorted willow branches. Floral outlets provide imported items like blue eryngiums, hydrangeas, and pampas grass for unique centrepieces and bouquets designed at home.
While traditional flowers like roses, carnations, and gerbera daisies remain popular, they are now combined in new ways for a more cutting garden look. Families are actively involved in creating floral expressions, fostering creativity and artistry, and spring and summer home cutting gardens are becoming integral to gardening practices.
Edible flowers for baking and drinks, as well as flowering shrubs like forsythia and pussy willows, are also gaining popularity for use in arrangements. Over 50% of cut flowers in Canada and the U.S. are sold in grocery stores, and online sales through platforms like Instagram are on the rise, particularly among tech-savvy individuals.
These trends signal a shift towards integrating cut flowers into daily life for their aesthetic, emotional, and even therapeutic benefits, aligning with European practices where cut flowers are considered essential to well-being.
