laflowerdistrict.com describes "the sweet moisture of evening and morning coastal fog intermingled with daily rations of sunlight" of Southern California as an ideal climate for "nurturing year-round semi-tropical...plants and flowers". One of my favourite floral designers, Studio Choo, is located on the American West Coast and, with great excitement, I asked Yelp about a "flower market" in LA. I was hoping to find unusual and novel cuts (at wholesale prices) unavailable to me in Canada.
The LA Flower Market comprises 2 large buildings, establishing the core of the downtown flower district.
Surrounded
by numerous independent vendors and shops, the district claims to be America's
largest wholesale flower centre. The area began its development in the late 1800s when a small number of Japanese Americans began to cultivate the land around Santa Monica and south of the rapidly expanding LA (population 50,000 by 1892) for a commercial flower industry. The Southern California Flower Market was founded by these farmers in 1913 and established a venue up the street from their current location which they moved to in 1923. The American Floral Exchange was incorporated in 1921 by a small community of European immigrants who settled in across the street.
The Flower Market website sources Sending Flowers to America: Stories of the Los Angeles Flower Market and the People Who Built an American Floral Industry and, A Scent of Flowers for further historical background.
It costs $1-$2 admission, $4-$6 for parking and I can confirm the reviews stating extremely cheap items. It is definitely the place if you are in need of a serious volume for a large event such as a wedding. I can't say the flowers are super fresh, understandable considering the prices, and I was also disappointed in the limited diversity (no ranunculus or other exotic species). There were a lot of roses, hydrangeas, gerberas, mums, and other typical blooms found in and out of season in Canada. There are a lot of inappropriate dyed blooms in unnatural colours of which, for aesthetic reasons, I strongly disapprove.
In tomorrow's interior feature you will see the arrangement I made for $30 (including admission and parking fees). The dahlia's lasted 2 days and the lithianthus started to look a bit sad after 5 days (this cut can last up to 2 weeks). The filler foliage was from a local tree that I am unfamiliar with and quite excited by. Even with the market's downfalls, it is an interesting experience and comes recommended as such, though it's hard to say if I would go each week for the deals or, instead, if I would splurge at a florist in Silver Lake and get something local, in-season and guaranteed fresh... combination of both?
In tomorrow's interior feature you will see the arrangement I made for $30 (including admission and parking fees). The dahlia's lasted 2 days and the lithianthus started to look a bit sad after 5 days (this cut can last up to 2 weeks). The filler foliage was from a local tree that I am unfamiliar with and quite excited by. Even with the market's downfalls, it is an interesting experience and comes recommended as such, though it's hard to say if I would go each week for the deals or, instead, if I would splurge at a florist in Silver Lake and get something local, in-season and guaranteed fresh... combination of both?
These are fabulous photos I love getting all my flowers los angeles from the mart!
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