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My dilemma (warning - it is definitely a 1st world thing)

(93 Posts)
kittylester Sat 11-May-24 12:33:12

I love to have flowers in the house and have for years bought them weekly from the florist in the village. However, there is less choice there now and they are getting more and more expensive.

DH has taken to, occasionally, buying me flowers from Waitrose. They seem to be better value (as in bigger bunches) with more choice and last longer.

At the moment I am sort of alternating between the two. It's lovely to support the shops in the village and I love seeing everyone but Waitrose seems a better deal.

What would your advice be going
forward?

Lovetopaint037 Sun 12-May-24 06:01:36

In the house but the garden is full of flowers which I never pick as I feel like a murderer with a pair of scissors. If one falls over because of wind etc I will take it indoors and probably paint it.

Lovetopaint037 Sun 12-May-24 05:58:13

I have an amaryllis at the moment and have had orchids

grumppa Sat 11-May-24 21:47:40

If you buy your flowers from Waitrose you will have something left over to spend in your village store. Your flower purchases on their own will not be enough to keep it going, anyway.

luluaugust Sat 11-May-24 21:23:08

I always have dried flowers in the hall and fresh in the main room, mostly from whichever supermarket I am in

flappergirl Sat 11-May-24 20:04:00

Germanshepherdsmum

I must be alone in not buying flowers. Neither do I cut those in the garden except sweet peas to keep them flowering.

I was thinking the same thing. I didn't like to say that I rarely have flowers in the house. My son might buy me some for Mothers Day but that's about it.

HeavenLeigh Sat 11-May-24 19:15:00

I buy flowers weekly I find that M&S flowers and Aldi seem to last the longest

Jaxjacky Sat 11-May-24 18:00:42

I love fresh flowers in the house, at the moment I have some my son bought me, the only time I cut garden flowers is if it looks like they’ll get battered by the weather.
You could be totally honest with the florist kitty, I’d find that difficult and I doubt it would change anything.

kittylester Sat 11-May-24 17:56:59

That's a plan. Except, I love a wander along the high street, popping in to catch up on gossip village news. And the florist is lovely!

Told you it was a dilemma.

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 11-May-24 17:42:02

kitty why don’t you tell your florist that someone has bought you a flower subscription so you won’t be dropping in so often - and then buy your flowers elsewhere most of the time. My son bought me a monthly subscription from Bloom & Wild for my birthday and they always last about a fortnight. Your alleged subscription might deliver more frequently - she’s not to know unless she spots you in Waitrose.

Rosie51 Sat 11-May-24 17:32:21

I love cut flowers, and always have at least two vasefuls. I'll buy them from wherever I see ones that appeal, supermarket, florist or market. I also cut flowers from the garden, I used to take some to an old lady who lived in a flat, so had no garden. She enjoyed having a mixed bunch of whatever was in bloom that month.

Charleygirl The only time flowers may be present I will not be around to see them! and that's why I almost never send flowers for a funeral preferring to make a remembrance donation to charity. Give flowers to the living who can enjoy them, not the dead.

kittylester in your shoes I'd probably carry on buying from Waitrose, but buy a bunch from the village florist once a month.

JamesandJon33 Sat 11-May-24 17:29:56

Do you have room to grow your own.? Things like daisies and calendulas are super easy to grow. I put anything at all in the jug in my hall. Buttercups, bluebells from the garden, bits of blossom, even grasses. They don’t last terribly long but most visitors comment on them .

Charleygirl5 Sat 11-May-24 17:07:00

I have never bought a flower in my life. I used to have plants in the house but I have given those up also. Gone are the days when I received the odd bouquet. The only time flowers may be present I will not be around to see them!

kittylester Sat 11-May-24 17:00:59

Our garden is looking really green and lush at the moment and I do collect bits and pieces as I wander round and put them in a small vase on the coffee table.

But, I am unapologetic about my love of flowers in the house just confused about where my priority lies when I buy them.

As you said, GSM, only I can decide but I take an interest in the opinion of others.

Ladyleftfieldlover Sat 11-May-24 16:59:41

I love flowers in the house. We buy them from Waitrose. I never cut the garden flowers as I like them where they are.

Georgesgran Sat 11-May-24 16:38:05

I’ve always bought flowers for indoors - daffs in season, but then pink lilies or white roses from Tesco or M&S. They last at least 2 weeks.

henetha Sat 11-May-24 16:29:48

During the recent daffodil session bought two bunches every week. Only £2. Brilliant. From Tesco.
I can't really run to buying most flowers very often as they are so expensive. But I do think it's nice to support our local florist when we can.
I wish I could.

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 11-May-24 16:24:05

My feeling exactly. I have lots of colour in the garden and flowers last much longer if not cut and brought inside.

I love flowers and am delighted to receive them but would never think of buying them for myself.

karmalady Sat 11-May-24 15:43:09

I prefer my flowers growing, never buy cut flowers, no need the green in my garden is as nice as flowers, The changing seasons and right now, apple green, berry greens, sedum green, pops of colour from hardy geraniums. My living plants keep bumblee bees content and fed and do not cost air miles

Romola Sat 11-May-24 15:33:33

My budget doesn't run to buying flowers, but I have currently got a small posy of periwinkle and pink geranium (not pelargonium) in a vase. Usually I can find stuff in the garden. Last week it was lily of the valley. Next week it might be from a hedgerow, cow parsley and buttercups.

PamelaJ1 Sat 11-May-24 15:04:34

Germanshepherdsmum

I must be alone in not buying flowers. Neither do I cut those in the garden except sweet peas to keep them flowering.

No you aren’t but…..
I do buy tulips when they are in season , so far this year I’ve bought one bunch from the market.
I anyone buys me a bunch I thank them nicely and then keep them going as long as possible, tidying them up and moving them to smaller vases until they end up on the compost heap.

LucyAnna2 Sat 11-May-24 14:51:56

Germanshepherdsmum

I must be alone in not buying flowers. Neither do I cut those in the garden except sweet peas to keep them flowering.

It’s interesting that we’re all different, isn’t it? I would find it hard to never have flowers in the house. I find them cheerful, uplifting, and more so if scented.

kittylester Sat 11-May-24 14:47:55

I made a new year's resolution to always have flowers in the hall - the one NY resolution that I have managed to keep. I also love to have them in the kitchen

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 11-May-24 14:35:09

I must be alone in not buying flowers. Neither do I cut those in the garden except sweet peas to keep them flowering.

SusieB50 Sat 11-May-24 14:24:32

VenusDeVillendorf

You can blame Brexit I think!

Look at the provenance of the flowers in Waitrose. They are often a cash crop grown in fertile soil in Kenya.

Local florists have to source their flowers in the uk now as they can’t nip over to the Nederlands because the uk is no longer part of the EU.

I’d buy local, and leave the land in Kenya to support food security there.

There have been a lot of floods in Kenya recently and famine in Sudan with thousands of refugees arriving daily.
Let Kenyans grow food rather than roses for your vase.

So agree with this, I will only buy seasonal GB flowers. So often it’s green pot plants and no flowers. I’m aiming to get lots of daff and tulip bulbs in this year for me to pick next spring as I love them so much.

LucyAnna2 Sat 11-May-24 14:15:57

Perhaps, next time you buy flowers from the local florist, you can “ask for advice” re keeping the flowers lasting longer - extending it to a conversation about how rising costs of everything mean one has to eke things out more……