Does the thought of a trip to the flower market make your palms begin to sweat? Maybe I'm projecting, but I think big city flower markets can be a little unnerving for most people: The crowds. The hustle. The options.
The first few times I went to the New York City Flower Market on 28th Street, I left feeling as though I'd been through the wringer. I also felt like I had more flowers than I knew what to do with and less money remaining in my wallet than was probably healthy. Try though she might, a girl can't survive on flowers alone.
This week, I arranged the florals for the Remodelista Market at the Park Avenue Garage in New York and had an excuse to visit the flower market again. While I'm still no expert, I feel like I now have a sufficient number of visits under my belt to offer a tip or two. Consider this the lay person's guide to navigating New York's flower market, and use it as excuse to make a trip (or two) to the market for yourself.
Photographs by Rebecca Baust.
1. Plan ahead. I give this tip cautiously: too much planning and you'll find yourself devastated because no one had precisely the shade of coral ranunculus you were after; too little planning and you'll go in asking for holly berries in the middle of June and leave with ten tons of flowers you didn't intend to purchase. Keep in mind the budget you're working with and the color palette that you're hoping for, and then let the flowers that are available be your guide.
2. Arrive early. The market opens at 5:30 am and individual shops begin to close up around 10:30 am. If you're not a professional florist, you can likely enjoy your breakfast after the sun has risen and get there closer to 8 am and still find a healthy selection.
3. Browse first, buy later. I'm the worst at following this rule. I see something that I like and I want to snatch it up. This isn't entirely wrongheaded—there are only so many dainty bundles of tallow berries to be had—but it might also mean you don't walk away with the best deal. Don't hesitate to browse from shop to shop until you find exactly what you're looking for.
4. Plan to buy in bulk. Flowers at the market come in bundles. If you want just a stem of something, head to your local florist instead.
5. Use the shelves. Most shops in the market have metal shelves where shoppers can stash the flowers they'd like to purchase—don't hesitate to put up your unwieldy bundles while you shop. Your fellow shoppers will thank you.
6. Ask questions: the first few times I went to the market, I was too shy. Don't hesitate to ask a sales associate questions about bloom time, price, and inventory.
7. Check for freshness.
8. Bring cash. Not all shops accept credit cards, so make it easy on yourself and bring plenty of cash to make your purchases.
9. Make friends with the cats.
10. Wear comfortable shoes and a warm coat, and carry a practical bag: you'll want to have your hands free for toting home your parcels and choosing your flowers.
What to do after you're home? So glad you asked. Flowers at the market come unprocessed, so you'll have to remove excess leaves and thorns and give a fresh cut to the stems.
I used a table at the Remodelista Market as a staging area for untying my bundles and preparing my arrangements.
Above: Wintry privet berries, tallow berries, and seeded eucalyptus.
Above: I practiced my best technique for making a hand-tied bouquet.
Above: Putting the final touches on the finished product. Head to the Remodelista Market (today through Sunday, November 23, from 11 am to 6 pm, daily) to see the olive branch and eucalyptus swags that we hung from the walls. (And catch a sneak peek on Instagram.)
Remodelista has been giving us lots of excuses to head to the flower market. See Alexa's story Party Flowers: In Which I Make 12 Arrangements on a Budget of $200.