Botanica Floral Design and Portland Pedal Power have been partners for some time now. We got to know each other sharing space in Old Town where the fragance of Josef’s fresh, locally sourced flowers made it seem like Spring all year round. Read on to learn about Josef’s floral philosophy.
Did You Know?
85% of the flowers sold in the US are grown in Columbia and Ecuador?
Roses grown in those countries are hand dipped in vats of fungicide by workers(not provided with protective clothing) before being shipped to florists, grocery stores and other outlets here in the US?
Roses grown in Central America have been cut and out of water for about 7-10 days before reaching a local florist?!
As an eco-friendly florist I am often asked what’s not green about flowers? “But they are so pretty!” they say. Everyone seems to be surprised when I tell them that most cut flowers, like our conventionally grown produce, are sprayed with high doses of pesticides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers and have traveled long distances to get to us, thus creating a huge ecological footprint.
Luckily for us, here in Oregon we have a lot of locally and organically grown flowers available and that is what we focus on using here at Botanica Floral Design. Our first choice when buying product is to buy from many of our local and organic growers. Our next choice is to purchase VeriFlora certified sustainably grown flowers out of California and Central America. The winter months can prove to be a challenge when it comes to local and organic but we do our best to provide our customers with the best eco-friendly choices available.
We are very lucky to have a local rose grower who provides us beautiful fragrant roses, lilies and orchids year round.
