Romantics across the country may find themselves in short supply of a Valentine’s Day bouquet this year, as growers Australia-wide face a later than usual blooming season.
Key points:
- Following a wet year in 2022, florists and growers may be forced to pass higher costs of flowers on to consumers
- One Ballarat florist says the price of flowers has gone up “significantly”, but says prices are justified
- Micro flower farm owners say there is huge demand for Australian-grown blooms
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the national average rainfall in 2022 was 26 per cent above the average of 587 millimetres between 1961 and 1990, making last year Australia’s ninth-wettest on record.
It has led to a carry-on effect across all areas of the agriculture industry, as farms became saturated and crop planting is delayed.
Florist and flower producer Kristy Tippett believes the growing cost of flowers is justified.
“There are lots of different variables that have come into play with the price increases … obviously the cost of fertilisers and things like that have gone up,” she said.
“If you’re a florist and you’re buying imported flowers then there is the cost of the freight.
“Prices have gone up quite dramatically … But in saying that, so they should because the growers need to be paid fairly.”
At Ms Tippett’s Ballarat florist shop, the bright store is overwhelmed with bountiful blooms which she selects by hand once a week at the Melbourne markets.
Ms Tippett says despite the difficult year, there is still strong demand for bunches of blooms.
“There has been a real rise in small-scale flower farms,” Ms Tippett said.
“I think that is great for regional florists as well. They’re getting access to some things that is more perishable that you maybe wouldn’t order, that needed to be travelled so far.”
Sixty kilometres away in Lyonville, just outside of Daylesford, micro flower-farm Fleurs De Lyonville isn’t quite fully in bloom yet.
But it is still a sight to see.
Rows of blushing pink sweet peas preen under blue skies, while orange, red and white poppies dance merrily.
Lush carpets of green dotted with purple, pink, and white flowers turn the little farm into a dreamy scene.
It is an idyllic landscape that isn’t just a business but is home for Janae and Chris Paquin-Bowden and their two children.
But many of these blooms have already been spoken for, with florists and wedding planners having laid claim to the buds months in advance.
Last year, the couple were given a grant by the state government to erect two large polytunnels, which they say makes all the difference at the farm.
“We’ve been able to calculate how many flowers we roughly need to grow … the polytunnels were an essential because we can extend the seasons,” Ms Paquin-Bowden said.
“We’re starting to do a lot more weddings and you’re telling a bride or a groom, a year in advance, oh we should have these flowers, and these colours for you, if you’re booking that far in advance we needed the polytunnels as an insurance policy,” Mr Paquin-Bowden added.
When the couple first began the flower farm in 2014, they were concerned about competition in the area, as more micro-flower farms began popping up.
But the pair say there is more than enough demand to go around and are encouraging romantics to buy local for their sweethearts this year.
“There are people who go, ‘Oh, you’re charging that amount and I just have it in our back garden — or whatever it may be,” Ms Paquin-Bowden said.
“However — there is just so much work involved… We are literally looking at every flower, every plant, every day, trying to monitor them.”
“You don’t want it to be cheap. And overall I think from the joy you get from them, they are worth it.”
