Thursday, 15 August 2013
Sydney Flower Market
We met before dawn. My mum, sister and I.
While most were tucked up, warm in bed, cloud shapes formed on our breath as we hugged at the designated meeting spot. The scene before us was already awash with movement, market stall vendors and florists hustling, the bright lights and colour snapping the last of sleep from our minds and into the moment.
The lovely ladies of Sydney Flower School who ran the tour we had come to join, brought some calm and sense to the chaos by introducing us to favourite vendors, educating us on seasonal blooms, how to choose the freshest buds and find a good bargain.
Despite this being the most delightful morning, I was shocked to learn that the vast majority of the vendors are now turning to cheaper imported flowers to cope with rising farming costs locally and staying competitive. But perhaps the biggest surprise of the day, the distinct lack of fragrance. In a quest for enhanced or unique colours or perhaps longevity, a flowers natural scent is the first thing to be compromised. I expected to be hit by a wall of heady fragrance with so many blooms in one place, but it was only in pockets.
Isn't that so sad!
As the sun rose and glowed peach in the rafters, we returned to vendors selling local and fragrant flowers. We filled our arms with natives, roses, blossoms, freesias, marvelling at stories shared of cultivating rare natives and wishing we lived closer so we could do this every Saturday morning.
Huge thanks to Judy and Kylie from Sydney Flower School, for being so generous with their knowledge and time. I'd absolutely recommend joining their Sydney Flower Market tour if you're so inclined, it's a gorgeous way to start your day.
Belinda x
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What a beautiful thing to do as a family! The flowers are just stunning, but you're right, it seems so sad scent has been lost. Why can't we have colour and scent? Or is that just greedy! Love the photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kirsty, it really was a lovely thing to do as a family. I should have mentioned the Sydney Flower markets are free to the public. Worth the trip for sure. Belinda x
Deletehow delightful!
ReplyDeletePositively :-) Bx
Deleteoh I would so love to do that tour!....freesias are a fave that's for sure. you will have to do one in summer as well and capture some summer blooms. lovely pics. Al x
ReplyDeleteYep, I reckon this is right up your street Al! Great idea, will definitely go in the summertime too. B xx
Deletewowsers there is some serious beauty here for the eyes...but how sad no scent! i went to the gardens of david austen roses this summer and the scent was the very best thing! x
ReplyDeleteJane! I took home some David Austen roses that day! They were one of the few that still had their scent, absolutely beautiful. B xx
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