Uncut Stems.
Why we’re reconsidering roses this Valentine’s Day.
As February 14 draws nearer, demand for the enduring symbol of romance, the rose, rockets. With its delicate silk-like petals, sweet pink to deep red shades and fresh green stems, roses are as synonymous with Valentine’s Day as cupid and heart-shaped chocolate boxes—with over 250 million grown each year for the big day, according to the Society of American Florists.*
Most roses available in the US are grown in warmer climates, like South America, and then refrigerated and shipped—and the environmental effects are decidedly unromantic. According to The Washington Post, in the 3 weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, 30 cargo jets make the trip from Colombia to Miami each day, with each plane carrying more than a million flowers.
“30 cargo jets make the trip from Colombia to Miami each day, with each plane carrying more than a million flowers.”
As much as we enjoy an artful bouquet—even more so when created from locally-sourced flowers and plants—this Valentine’s Day, we’re appreciating blooms firmly rooted in nature: wildflowers. A natural lifesource, wildflowers are a crucial habitat and food supplier for our planet’s pollinators, springing up on all four corners of our planet.
“Wildflowers are the beating heart of everything we know: their position at the base of the food chain means that without them we are nothing,” botanist and author of Where The Wildflowers Grow Leif Bersweden told us. “Their myriad beautiful forms stand the test of time, bring people together and make us feel things. What more could you ask of a relationship?”
Aside from being a source of food, wildflower meadows also have complex root systems, helping to mitigate flooding by holding on to rainwater—while grassland soil can sequester as much carbon as woodland, supporting us in the fight against climate change.
“Wildflowers are the beating heart of everything we know: their position at the base of the food chain means that without them we are nothing.”
At PANGAIA, we’ve long been fans of the hard-working wildflower. Our FLWRDWN™ styles are developed to utilize regenerative flowers to keep us warm (replacing typical feather or synthetic down), using wildflowers that directly support habitat conservation.
So, which wildflowers can we expect to find this February 14th? From Desert Golds (a delicate golden-yellow flower), to bright Blazing Stars (an eye-catching purple-pink descendant of the Daisy), and beyond, there’s an abundance of wildflowers to discover this month as we creep slowly toward spring. Just remember to leave your wildflowers as you find them—unpicked and untrodden.
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, from February 2, we’ll plant, protect or restore two trees with every purchase through the Tomorrow Tree Fund, powered by Milkywire. One for you, one for your loved one.
