If you’re missing plants and flowers as much as we are then, you might be considering purchasing a few some florals or house plants to brighten your home, or perhaps something beautiful for the garden. Florists, garden centres and nurseries may have temporarily closed their doors for the foreseeable but fear not, with the help of the internet you can still support local growers and get your green finger fix.
The below is by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully, it will give you some inspiration! These businesses have been hit during these times with months’ and years’ worth of work and dedication being put into their product. We’re hoping this post will spread them a little love and of course, a lot of flower power.
Chelsea Flower Show Exhibitors
Sadly back in March, the RHS announced that Chelsea Flower Shower would be cancelled this year – the first time in the show’s 107 year history! Some good news for horticultural fans, however, is that there will be a ‘Virtual RHS Flower Show’ during what should have been Chelsea week, 18th-23rd May (more details of how this will be on the RHS website in coming weeks).
The show usually showcases dozens of suppliers, all of whom will have been growing and nurturing their produce for months on end and now, for want of a better phrase, these plants are all dressed up with nowhere to go. This friends is where you are in luck! Hop onto the RHS website, and you will find a full A-Z list of all the show’s exhibitors - many of them independent, small business specialists – who are now selling their plants online. You might be lucky and snap up a plant that could have won a prestigious award at the Chelsea Flower Show! That flower will give you something to brag about, … you could even get glammed up and host an awards ceremony for your plant … too far? Ok, just us.
Find the full list of exhibitors here.
PlantSavers
A relatively new initiative in the wake of recent events, the lovely lot at PlantSavers are working with garden centres and growers that have been hardest hit by the lockdown by buying up their stock and selling it from one handy website. This idea is quite literally saving over a million plants from going to waste and also preventing these independent nurseries and garden centres from going bust. What’s more, £1 from every sale is going to the ‘Meals for NHS’ charity. So come on, it’s a no brainer, right?
Currently delivering to all London postcodes and around the South-East (full list on their website) it’s a fantastic way to support the British plant industry. Plants are sold in affordable bundles at discounted prices than you would typically find in stores (with bags of compost included!), and there will be new promotions added regularly.
Check out these plant heroes here.
The Real Flower Company
This company have been a firm favourite of Pinstripes & Peonies for many years. Based primarily in Hampshire, these English flower farmers and florists are still operating. What’s more, they’re still offering next day delivery of bouquets nationwide! A perfect way to bring a smile to all those birthdays and anniversaries happening in lockdown, or you know, to say hi to someone you love but can’t see.
The Real Flower Company specialise in scented flowers, grown as nature intended and their produce is genuinely stunning. So as we’re stuck indoors, why not fill your home with a beautiful floral fragrance? It will quite literally bring you a breath of fresh air! Their bouquets are full of seasonal beauties including a Pinstripes & Peonies favourite, the sweet pea, grown on their farm near Chichester.
More about these flowery farmers can be found here.
Flowers from the Farm
On the theme of local flower farms, now more than ever is a fantastic time to celebrate British Flowers and celebrate all the glory of spring. Flowers from the Farm aims to champion the British grown with its collective of over 700 nationwide flower farmers, micro growers and everyone in between. Take a look on their website, and you will find a list of growers near you who are still working and offering contactless delivery.
What’s more, Flowers from the Farm have started a new social media campaign, #VirtualBritishFlowerShow in lieu of all the cancelled shows. It’s a fantastic way to see what’s in bloom as the season changes and the work that is still ongoing in the industry.
Find out more about this initiative and how you can help the industry here.
As mentioned at the beginning, this list isn’t exhaustive, but hopefully, it gives you a springboard as to what is still happening in the industry at a time when it feels like everything has stood still. We’re sending all our best to the flower growers, nurseries, florists and everyone in between at this strange time!
Peace out & flower power,
Team Pinstripes & Peonies.