Have you ever wondered about where or how florists obtain the variety of fresh cut pine and greenery offered in seasonal/winter arrangements?
First, let’s explore some of our most popular varieties of fresh cut pine and seasonal greenery that we offer throughout the winter months in our shop. Our favorites include: Port Orford, boxwood, flat cedar, incense cedar, silver pine tips and boughs, white pine, mistletoe, noble, balsam and holly. Occasionally, we stock the following as well: Juniper, Douglas, Spruce, Scotch, Red Pine, Hemlock, Frazier and Pepperberry.
Why do we stock so many varieties of seasonal/winter greenery? Generally, we design our seasonal/winter arrangements with at least 2-3 types of greenery to add texture and interest to the design. Since the shape and/or density of each greenery can vary, certain types of greenery are appropriate for specific design styles. For example, we use cedar for a lacey, cascading effect. Each greenery also has a distinct fragrance which also adds another dimension to each arrangement.
Now that we have explored some specific types of seasonal/winter greenery, let’s look at where we can obtain the product. Most of our product comes from out West, in Oregon, Colorado and Washington State. We do obtain product from Florida, Michigan and right here in Indiana, too! One of our designers, Duane, harvests boxwood from his own Indiana garden for our seasonal/winter arrangements. Harvesting at the correct time, especially in Indiana, can be a tricky task! Duane watches the weather closely in October to determine when the first hard freeze will arrive. The harvesting must occur BEFORE the first hard freeze because of the effect that the cold weather has on the color and quality of the boxwood. The boxwood can be stored at cool temperatures, in water for several weeks. The greenery that we purchase from companies out of state are harvesting and packaging their products in 20-50 pound boxes throughout October and November for shipping in November and December. One company, located in Colorado, dedicates over 50% of their cold storage to seasonal/winter greenery every fall for the busy winter shipping season. Since the demand is high for a short period of time, these companies must harvest early and store their product until their customers are ready to receive shipment.
The weather and wildfires can play a significant role in the price and availability of seasonal/winter greenery. Several years ago, Western wildfires blazed through thousands and thousands of acres of farmland where greenery was to be harvested. Since there was less farmland from which to harvest, and the demand was steady, availability was limited and the price increased significantly that year. Last year, Indiana experienced a summer drought which affected the availability of local product, thereby affecting availability and driving the price up.
Our seasonal/winter greenery arrives to us via refrigerated truck just before Thanksgiving. Shipping methods vary from florist to florist, depending on the quantity and shipping costs. Because of the weight of seasonal/winter greenery, I would guess that most florists prefer a ground (truck) method of shipment versus air (plane).
Check out some of our bouquets that include fresh cut pine! Click below!
