{"id":9032,"date":"2024-02-07T17:27:44","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T17:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=9032"},"modified":"2024-05-08T16:59:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T16:59:03","slug":"best-cities-local-flowers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-cities-local-flowers\/","title":{"rendered":"2024&#8217;s Best Cities for Flower Availability"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Does your city grow the freshest blooms?<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To mark Mother\u2019s Day, <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/\">Lawn Love<\/a> ranked 2024&#8217;s Best Cities for Local Flowers.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities based on five floral categories. We looked at access to flower shops and specialty-cut flower vendors, consumer ratings, and even the number of flower festivals, among 11 total metrics.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See which cities\u2019 local floral scenes are <em>fleurishing<\/em> in our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our <a href=\"#methodology\">methodology<\/a>.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"in-this-article\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">In this article<\/h2>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"#rankings\">City rankings<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#top-5\">Top 5 close up<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#key-insights\">Key insights<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#ask-the-experts\">Expert take<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#methodology\">Behind the ranking<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"#final-thoughts\">Make your yard bloom<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rankings\"><span id=\"city-rankings\">City rankings<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See how each city fared in our ranking:<\/p>   <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"1608a0aa-b4ef-4efd-8fe6-871e41679c83\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"LL: Ranking Table - 2024&amp;#39;s Best Cities for Local Flowers\"><\/div> <p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>   <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"cb6e1158-68b0-42fb-b20d-f057829d3d0b\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"LL: Top 25 Cities for Local Flowers\"><\/div> <p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"top-5\"><span id=\"top-5-close-up\">Top 5 close up<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check out the slideshow below for highlights on each of our top 5 cities.<\/p>   <div style=\"min-height: 535px\" class=\"ub_image_slider swiper-container wp-block-ub-image-slider\" id=\"ub_image_slider_6ad4530c-5eb8-45f9-b96f-9783c4b7df7f\" data-swiper-data='{\"speed\":300,\"spaceBetween\":20,\"slidesPerView\":1,\"loop\":true,\"pagination\":{\"el\": \".swiper-pagination\" , \"type\": \"bullets\", \"clickable\":true},\"navigation\": {\"nextEl\": \".swiper-button-next\", \"prevEl\": \".swiper-button-prev\"}, \"keyboard\": { \"enabled\": true }, \"effect\": \"slide\",\"simulateTouch\":false}'>             <div class=\"swiper-wrapper\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/New-York-2.jpg\" alt=\"The concrete jungle of skyscrapers and high-rises surround the Empire State Building during golden hour in New York.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 1: <\/strong>New York | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>49.73<br><br><strong>Flower Shops per Square Mile: <\/strong>1.04 | Rank: 41<br><strong>Number of Plant Nurseries and Garden Shops: <\/strong>153 | Rank: 2<br><strong>Number of Flower Delivery Services: <\/strong>150 | Rank: 1<br><strong>Number of Premium Flower Growers: <\/strong>2 | Rank: 20 (tie)<br><strong>Average Monthly Google Searches for Local Flowers Over Past Year: <\/strong>76,400 | Rank: 1<br><br><strong>Local tips: <\/strong>Spot your favorite flowers in one of NYC\u2019s many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nycgovparks.org\/greening\/bloom-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">green spaces<\/a> with help from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nycgovparks.org\/greening\/bloom-guide\">Citywide Bloom Guide<\/a>. Add some charm to your day with a stroll through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hobokengirl.com\/new-york-flower-market-nyc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NYC Flower Market<\/a>, or get a beautiful bouquet of fresh or dried flowers from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stemsbrooklyn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stems<\/a> in Brooklyn.<br><br>Impress your beloved with a weekly delivery from <a href=\"https:\/\/mollyoliverflowers.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Molly Oliver Flowers<\/a>, which offers a locally and sustainably sourced flower subscription service.\u00a0<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/skyline-photo-of-empire-state-building-in-new-york-city-2190283\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roberto Vivancos<\/a> | Pexels | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/MIAMI111.jpg\" alt=\"Skyscrapers stand tall in contrast against the blue sky and ocean in Miami.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 2: <\/strong>Miami | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>47.2<br><br><strong>Flower Shops per Square Mile: <\/strong>7.45 | Rank: 1<br><strong>Number of Plant Nurseries and Garden Shops: <\/strong>155 | Rank: 1<br><strong>Number of Flower Delivery Services: <\/strong>28 | Rank: 5<br><strong>Average Monthly Google Searches for Local Flowers Over Past Year: <\/strong>6,100 | Rank: 10<br><strong>Number of Flower Festivals: <\/strong>1 | Rank: 4 (tie)<br><br><strong>Local tips: <\/strong>It\u2019s easy to buy blooming flowers in Miami, which has the most flower shops per square mile. You can find an impressive bouquet at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houseoflilac.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">house of lilac<\/a> or <a href=\"http:\/\/midtowngardencenter.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Midtown Garden Center<\/a>.\u00a0<br><br>Stop and smell the flowers at the annual <a href=\"https:\/\/tamiamiorchidfestival.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tamiami International Orchid Festival<\/a>.<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/tall-buildings-in-the-city-4118101\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tory Brown<\/a> | Pexels | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/SAN-FRANCISCO111.jpg\" alt=\"A woman reads on a field looking over townhomes and skyscrapers in San Francisco.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 3: <\/strong>San Francisco | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>38<br><br><strong>Flower Shops per Square Mile: <\/strong>2.14 | Rank: 8<br><strong>Number of Plant Nurseries and Garden Shops: <\/strong>67 | Rank: 10<br><strong>Number of Flower Delivery Services: <\/strong>25 | Rank: 6 (tie)<br><strong>Share of Highly Rated (4.5+ Stars) Flower Shops (With 10+ Reviews): <\/strong>49% | Rank: 22<br><strong>Number of Flower Shows: <\/strong>3 | Rank: 2 (tie)<br><br><strong>Local tips: <\/strong>Learn about rare and endangered flowers from across the globe at the <a href=\"https:\/\/conservatoryofflowers.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Conservatory of Flowers<\/a>. Explore the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sanfranciscoflowermart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">San Francisco Flower Market<\/a> or check out one of the many <a href=\"https:\/\/apassionandapassport.com\/flower-fields-in-the-bay-area-san-francisco\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">floral oases<\/a> growing in and around the city.\u00a0<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/woman-lying-on-white-textile-in-grass-field-during-daytime-61109\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Juan Salamanca<\/a> | Pexels | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Seattle11-1.jpg\" alt=\"A shot of the Seattle, Washington, skyline with a view of the iconic Space Needle framed by trees from Kerry Park in the foreground and Mount Rainier in the background\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 4: <\/strong>Seattle | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>33.18<br><br><strong>Flower Shops per Square Mile: <\/strong>1.25 | Rank: 25<br><strong>Number of Plant Nurseries and Garden Shops: <\/strong>47 | Rank: 18 (tie)<br><strong>Number of Flower Farms: <\/strong>36 | Rank: 1<br><strong>Share of Highly Rated (4.5+ Stars) Flower Shops (With 10+ Reviews): <\/strong>37.14% | Rank: 38<br><strong>Number of Flower Festivals: <\/strong>1 | Rank: 4 (tie)<br><br><strong>Local tips: <\/strong>Find inspiration and gardening tips at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardenshow.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Northwest Flower &amp; Garden Festival<\/a>, and buy fresh blooms throughout the year at <a href=\"https:\/\/swgm.coop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Seattle Wholesale Growers Market<\/a>, a sustainable and farmer-owned cooperative.\u00a0<br><br>Escape the city and head up to the <a href=\"https:\/\/tulipfestival.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Skagit Valley Tulip Festival<\/a> in April.<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/UmEYn_GYqFo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stephen Plopper<\/a> | Unsplash | <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/license\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Unsplash License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Los-Angeles-CA-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Griffith Observatory stands atop a hill overlooking the Los Angeles skyline.\" style=\"height: 500px;; \">                 <figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><strong>No. 5: <\/strong>Los Angeles | <strong>Overall score: <\/strong>31.74<br><br><strong>Flower Shops per Square Mile: <\/strong>0.66 | Rank: 92<br><strong>Number of Plant Nurseries and Garden Shops: <\/strong>145 | Rank: 3<br><strong>Number of Flower Delivery Services: <\/strong>34 | Rank: 4<br><strong>Share of Highly Rated (4.5+ Stars) Flower Shops (With 10+ Reviews): <\/strong>41.8% | Rank: 28<br><strong>Average Monthly Google Searches for Local Flowers Over Past Year: <\/strong>24,600 | Rank: 2<br><br><strong>Local tips: <\/strong>LA is home to the nation\u2019s largest wholesale <a href=\"http:\/\/laflowerdistrict.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/History-Los-Angeles-Flower-District.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">flower district<\/a>.<br><br>Find refuge from the hustle and bustle at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laparks.org\/expo\/garden\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Exposition Park Rose Garden<\/a>, which has been encouraging Angelenos to stop and smell the roses since 1928.<br><br>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/white-and-brown-buildings-2709964\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roberto Nickson<\/a> | Pexels | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pexels License<\/a><\/figcaption>             <\/figure><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>             <div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div> <div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div>         <\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"key-insights\">Key insights<\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Populous cities like <strong>New York<\/strong> (No. 1), <strong>Miami<\/strong> (No. 2), and <strong>San Francisco<\/strong> (No. 3), bloom to the top of our ranking with high access to flower shops, delivery services, and events.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scenic coasts and flowers go hand in hand \u2014 <strong>33 California<\/strong>, <strong>7 Florida<\/strong>, <strong>6 Washington<\/strong>, and <strong>5 Oregon<\/strong> cities sprout into the <strong>top 100<\/strong>. Evergreen State cities claim the best access to flower farms \u2014 <strong>Seattle<\/strong> (No. 4), for one, is surrounded by a whopping <strong>36 flower farms<\/strong>.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smaller cities like <strong>Asheville, North Carolina<\/strong> (No. 12), <strong>Bend, Oregon<\/strong> (No. 13), and <strong>Ann Arbor, Michigan<\/strong> (No. 14), stand out at the top thanks to their <strong>top-quality bouquets<\/strong>. Asheville also boasts annual flower festivals, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.exploreasheville.com\/stories\/post\/biltmore-blooms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Biltmore Blooms<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.romanticasheville.com\/arboretum_orchid_show.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Asheville Orchid Festival<\/a>.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other small cities wilt to the end of our ranking \u2014 such as <strong>Alameda, California<\/strong> (No. 498), <strong>Woodbury, Minnesota<\/strong> (No. 499), and <strong>South Fulton, Georgia<\/strong>, in last place \u2014 with little access to fresh flowers. Most cities in the <strong>bottom 100<\/strong> have populations below 200,000 \u2014 except for <strong>Toledo, Ohio<\/strong> (No. 411) and <strong>Corpus Christi, Texas<\/strong> (No. 415).<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find more interesting insights in the \u201c<a href=\"#media-resources\">Media resources<\/a>\u201d section below.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ask-the-experts\"><span id=\"peony-for-your-thoughts-expert-take\">Peony for your thoughts: Expert take<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many consumers aren\u2019t aware that 80% of the cut flowers purchased in the U.S. are imported from countries like the Netherlands, Colombia, Ecuador, and Kenya. Many also don\u2019t understand the benefits of buying locally grown flowers \u2014 or at least buying flowers from local vendors.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To help educate our readers, we asked a panel of industry experts to answer the following questions:<\/p>    <ol class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>What are the top three reasons consumers should buy local flowers?<\/li>    <li>How can consumers ensure they\u2019re buying the freshest flowers from their local florist?<\/li>    <li>What are some places to avoid buying flowers from and why?<\/li>    <li>When online floral retailers advertise discounts on flowers, are consumers actually getting a good deal compared with buying local? Why or why not?<\/li>    <li>What are three examples of local flowers that are truly associated with a city or region?<\/li> <\/ol>   <div id=\"experts-block\" class=\"experts\">     <h2 id=\"ask-the-experts\" class=\"text-2xl font-bold text-black mb-3\">Ask The Experts<\/h2>       <div id=\"experts-container\" class=\"relative lg:mt-6\" x-data=\"experts()\" x-init=\"init()\">      <style>       .expert-avatars {         scrollbar-width: none;         -ms-overflow-style: none;          \/* momentum scroll on iOS *\/         -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;          \/* disbable vertical scroll for touch *\/         touch-action: pan-x;       }        \/* hide scroll bar *\/       .expert-avatars::-webkit-scrollbar {         display: none;       }        .expert-avatars .item {         width: 125px;         flex-shrink: 0;       }        .expert-avatars .item:not(:last-child) {         margin-right: 10px;       }        \/* hacky fix for padding at the end of the.expert-avatars *\/       .expert-avatars .item:last-child {         position: relative; 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      }     <\/style>      <div class=\"expert-avatars flex overflow-x-scroll overscroll-contain px-2 mb-10 lg:hidden\">                         <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('melinda-knuth', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Melinda-Knuth_250.jpg\" alt=\"Melinda Knuth \u2013 Assistant Professor, NC State University\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Melinda Knuth <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Assistant Professor<\/div>           <\/div>                   <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('shital-poudyal-phd', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Shital-Poudyal_250.jpg\" alt=\"Shital Poudyal, Ph.D. \u2013 Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Plants, Soils &amp; Climate, Utah State University\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Shital Poudyal, Ph.D. <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Plants, Soils &amp; Climate<\/div>           <\/div>                   <div class=\"item text-center mx-3\" @click=\"openExpert('melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd', 'container')\">             <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Melinda-Lynch.jpg\" alt=\"Melinda Lynch\" class=\"mt-0 mx-auto mb-3 w-24 h-24 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-black font-medium trim-label\">Melinda Lynch, AIFD, CFD <\/div>             <div class=\"text-sm leading-4 mb-2 text-gray-800 trim-label\">Floral Design Lecturer<\/div>           <\/div>                   <\/div>                     <div           id=\"expert-melinda-knuth\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'melinda-knuth', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'melinda-knuth'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('melinda-knuth', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'melinda-knuth', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'melinda-knuth'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('melinda-knuth', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Melinda-Knuth_250.jpg\" alt=\"Melinda Knuth \u2013 Assistant Professor, NC State University\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'melinda-knuth'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Melinda Knuth <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'melinda-knuth'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Assistant Professor<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'melinda-knuth'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">NC State University<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'melinda-knuth'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('melinda-knuth', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'melinda-knuth'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('melinda-knuth')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Melinda-Knuth_250.jpg\" alt=\"Melinda Knuth \u2013 Assistant Professor, NC State University\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Melinda Knuth <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Assistant Professor<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">NC State University<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p> <strong>What are the top three reasons consumers should buy local flowers?<\/strong> <\/p> <p> 1. Buying local flowers promotes and strengthens the local economy. <\/p> <p> 2. Additionally, buying local flowers allows for more specialty selection since some flowers, such as dahlias, do not transport well. They can only be found locally. <\/p> <p> 3. Lastly, it could help reduce the carbon footprint of the flowers because they do not have to travel as far. <\/p> <p> <strong>How can consumers ensure they\u2019re buying the freshest flowers from their local florist?<\/strong> <\/p> <p> Ask the florist when the flowers came in. A well-handled flower will last the consumer 10-14 days at home. <\/p> <p> Make sure your florist has tidy coolers, the water in the floral vase is clean, and that you know how to properly use &#8220;flower food&#8221; that comes with the flowers. This is a food solution that will help them last as long as possible. <\/p> <p> <strong>What are some places to avoid buying flowers from and why?<\/strong> <\/p> <p> I wouldn&#8217;t say that there is a place to avoid. Sometimes the freshest flowers are purchased on the side of the road (i.e., next to the field). Each type of location has advantages and disadvantages. <\/p> <p> Care and handling of the flowers is very company-specific. The best tip I have is to make sure you&#8217;re purchasing from a location that is clean and where the staff is knowledgeable. If they don&#8217;t engage with you on how to care for your flowers, beware! <\/p> <p> <strong>When online floral retailers advertise discounts on flowers, are consumers actually getting a good deal compared with buying local? Why or why not?<\/strong> <\/p> <p> Again, this is company-specific. Usually, the deal is good. The reason for this is that the online company can source the flowers in bulk for a lower price than the local flower farmer can produce the flower. <\/p> <p> Because their input costs are lower, they can sell their flowers for a lower price point and still be profitable. This isn&#8217;t pulling the wool over the consumer&#8217;s eyes \u2013\u2013 this is just pure market engagement. <\/p> <p> <strong>What are three examples of local flowers that are truly associated with a city or region? <\/strong> <\/p> <p> Dahlias, zinnias, and ranunculuses are almost exclusively grown locally. They do not transport long distances (in boxes) well. Therefore, when you see them, they are probably from a location very close to you. <\/p> <p> The easiest way to find the most local, fresh flowers is to frequent farmer&#8217;s markets. Your local farmers are there. Additionally, they will be fresh. The farmers usually cut the flowers the night before or the same day as they sell them. <\/p> <p> Some cities, like here in Raleigh, are flower farmer-friendly. Supermarket chains will buy flowers from local farmers and sell them in the stores to consumers. Check with your local stores to see if they do the same.<\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>                <div           id=\"expert-shital-poudyal-phd\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'shital-poudyal-phd', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'shital-poudyal-phd'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('shital-poudyal-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'shital-poudyal-phd', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'shital-poudyal-phd'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('shital-poudyal-phd', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Shital-Poudyal_250.jpg\" alt=\"Shital Poudyal, Ph.D. \u2013 Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Plants, Soils &amp; Climate, Utah State University\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'shital-poudyal-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Shital Poudyal, Ph.D. <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'shital-poudyal-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Plants, Soils &amp; Climate<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'shital-poudyal-phd'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Utah State University<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'shital-poudyal-phd'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('shital-poudyal-phd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'shital-poudyal-phd'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('shital-poudyal-phd')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Shital-Poudyal_250.jpg\" alt=\"Shital Poudyal, Ph.D. \u2013 Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Plants, Soils &amp; Climate, Utah State University\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Shital Poudyal, Ph.D. <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Plants, Soils &amp; Climate<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Utah State University<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p> <strong>What are the top three reasons consumers should buy local flowers?<\/strong> <\/p> <p> There are numerous reasons to shop locally, but below are my top three reasons: <\/p> <p> <strong>1. Support the local economy<\/strong> <\/p> <p> Around 70\u201380% of cut flowers sold in the U.S. are imported. Buying local flowers incentivizes local growers to invest and produce flowers locally, thus reducing the import of cut flowers. It will also boost the local economy by creating more local jobs. <\/p> <p> <strong>2. Longer flower life and larger variations in flower types<\/strong> <\/p> <p> Locally grown flowers can be immediately sold to customers and can stay fresh longer. In addition, flowers that are delicate to handle and have a short life can still be grown and sold locally; therefore, consumers can enjoy more variation in flower types if shopped locally. <\/p> <p> <strong>3. Support sustainability \u2014 less environmental footprint<\/strong> <\/p> <p> Climate change and increasing global warming are challenging issues of this century. Most of the flowers sold to the U.S. are from South America and Europe. These flowers need to be packed, stored in cool chambers, and shipped thousands of miles away. <\/p> <p> If we buy locally, we would minimize the use of fuels and resources and thus contribute to lowering the environmental footprint of our actions. <\/p> <p> <strong>How can consumers ensure they\u2019re buying the freshest flowers from their local florist?<\/strong> <\/p> <p> Local florists often sell their flowers in local farmer\u2019s markets or local floral shops. Local flowers sold also tend to be seasonal. <\/p> <p> When buying flowers, observe petals (colorful outside part of a flower) for turgidity and firmness. Avoid flowers with petals that are wilted, rustic, and have brown spots. If available, buy flowers that are just beginning to open and still in the bud phase. Those flowers tend to be fresh and last longer. <\/p> <p> When flowers are not shipped or handled appropriately, buds will be soft. A fresh flower will have tight and firm buds that can easily be felt with a gentle touch. Inspect sepals (green part of a flower) and leaves; if the leaves are wilted, saggy, brown, or rustic, the flowers in that bunch might not be fresh. <\/p> <p> Also, avoid stems that are slimy or swollen. After purchasing flowers, cut 1 inch of the lower part of the stem and immediately put the flower in water; alternatively, you can also cut the stem underwater. This action will remove air pockets from the stems and facilitate water and sugar uptake, making flowers last longer. <\/p> <p> <strong>What are some places to avoid buying flowers from and why?<\/strong> <\/p> <p> There aren\u2019t any specified places to avoid buying flowers. However, flowers sold in big chain stores generally are not handled as needed. <\/p> <p> These big stores usually sell thousands of goods, and flowers are just another commodity. Hence, they do not have appropriate flower storage temperatures, employees might neglect watering, and flowers may be stored in higher temperatures and sometimes under direct heat or sunlight. <\/p> <p> Additionally, most of the flowers sold by these big bulk stores are of lower quality and are usually imported from very long distances. However, these issues are location-specific; therefore, do your research before buying flowers from these stores. <\/p> <p> <strong>When online floral retailers advertise discounts on flowers, are consumers actually getting a good deal compared with buying local? Why or why not?<\/strong> <\/p> <p> In my opinion, buying local is always a great deal. Let me explain why: <\/p> <p> When you buy flowers online, there are two primary ways to deliver your purchase. The first and standard process is where the online sales agent, who generally does not have any flower experience, takes your order. The agent then contacts your local flower growers and arranges flower delivery between you and your local grower, for which they charge a hefty commission. <\/p> <p> Because the grower has to pay the online agent (middleman) a share of their profit, the price of flowers on an online store is usually higher, even with discounts. However, online stores sometimes have lower prices, and that is usually when local growers are selling unsold inventory, which is about to go bad, for a lower price. Therefore, buying local will, in most cases, save you money. In addition, you get to see and feel fresh flowers before you buy. <\/p> <p> The second way to deliver your purchase is by online store themselves. Online stores sometimes buy a huge inventory of flowers and do the shipping, handling, and delivery. In this case, although the price of the flower may be lower, they charge additional fees for shipping, handling, and accessories, spiking final costs at the end. <\/p> <p> In addition, you do not know if the flower will be on time and what the flower&#8217;s condition will be. Therefore, you might get a good deal on flowers but get a flower that will only stay fresh for the next two days. Also, think about the hidden cost of online delivery, such as packaging and carbon emissions. Buying locally is more climate-friendly. <\/p> <p> <strong>What are examples of local flowers that are truly associated with a city or region?<\/strong> <\/p> <p> Growers always aim toward growing flowers that are high in demand, and Utah growers are no different. Local growers in Utah commonly grow peonies, snapdragons, dahlias, zinnias, sage, yarrow, cosmos, tulips, daffodils, lilies, and many more. These flowers are either grown in high tunnels or on the field.<\/p>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>                <div           id=\"expert-melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd\"           class=\"mb-10 border border-gray-200 p-4 cursor-pointer lg:block\"           x-bind:class=\"{'lg:border-theme-green block': focusedExpert == 'melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd', 'hidden': focusedExpert != 'melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd'}\"           @click=\"openExpert('melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">            <div             x-bind:class=\"{'items-center': focusedExpert != 'melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd', 'items-start': focusedExpert == 'melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd'}\"             class=\"item mb-4 hidden lg:flex\"             @click=\"openExpert('melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd', 'expert')\">              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Melinda-Lynch.jpg\" alt=\"Melinda Lynch\" class=\"m-0 mr-3 w-16 h-16 object-cover rounded-full lg:w-20 lg:h-20\">              <div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Melinda Lynch, AIFD, CFD <\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd'}\"                 class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Floral Design Lecturer<\/div>               <div                 x-bind:class=\"{'trim-label': focusedExpert != 'melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd'}\"                 class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, College of Agriculture, Food &amp; Environmental Sciences Horticulture &amp; Crop Science Department<\/div>             <\/div>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"hidden lg:block\"             x-bind:class=\"{'lg:hidden': focusedExpert == 'melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd'}\">             <button class=\"flex items-center text-theme-green open-details\" @click=\"openExpert('melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd', 'expert'); expertIsFocused = true\">View Answers <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-4 ml-2\">                 <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M12.909.258a.919.919 0 00-.007 1.294l4.275 4.282H.907a.914.914 0 000 1.828H17.17l-4.275 4.286a.925.925 0 00.007 1.294.91.91 0 001.287-.007l5.794-5.836a1.026 1.026 0 00.19-.288.872.872 0 00.07-.352.916.916 0 00-.26-.64L14.189.283a.9.9 0 00-1.28-.025z\" fill=\"#48a27a\" \/>               <\/svg><\/button>           <\/div>            <div             class=\"details fixed top-0 left-0 bg-white h-screen z-10 overflow-scroll w-screen lg:w-full lg:relative lg:h-auto\"             x-cloak x-show=\"focusedExpert == 'melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd'\"             x-transition:enter=\"transition ease-out duration-100 transform\"             x-transition:enter-start=\"opacity-0 scale-95\"             x-transition:enter-end=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave=\"transition ease-in duration-75 transform\"             x-transition:leave-start=\"opacity-100 scale-100\"             x-transition:leave-end=\"opacity-0 scale-95\">              <div class=\"bg-theme-green p-4 mb-4 pb-20 relative text-white lg:bg-white lg:pb-0 lg:text-theme-green lg:mb-8\">               <button class=\"close-details mr-4 mt-2 absolute top-0 left-0 flex items-center ml-4 lg:mt-0 lg:ml-0\" x-on:click.stop=\"closeExpert('melinda-lynch-aifd-cfd')\">                 <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 20.243 13.501\" class=\"w-6 mr-2 fill-current\">                   <path data-name=\"Icon ionic-ios-arrow-round-forward\" d=\"M7.334 13.243a.919.919 0 00.007-1.294L3.066 7.667h16.27a.914.914 0 000-1.828H3.073l4.275-4.286A.925.925 0 007.341.259a.91.91 0 00-1.287.007L.26 6.102a1.026 1.026 0 00-.19.288.872.872 0 00-.07.352.916.916 0 00.26.64l5.794 5.836a.9.9 0 001.28.025z\" \/>                 <\/svg> Close               <\/button>             <\/div>              <div class=\"item text-center px-4 w-full text-center -mt-20 relative z-20 pointer-events-none lg:hidden\">               <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Melinda-Lynch.jpg\" alt=\"Melinda Lynch\" class=\"mt-0 mb-3 mx-auto w-32 h-32 object-cover rounded-full border-white border-4 shadow-xl\">               <div class=\"text-base leading-5 mb-2 text-black font-medium\">Melinda Lynch, AIFD, CFD <\/div>               <div class=\"text-sm leading-5 mb-2 text-gray-800\">Floral Design Lecturer<\/div>               <div class=\"text-gray-600 text-sm\">Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, College of Agriculture, Food &amp; Environmental Sciences Horticulture &amp; Crop Science Department<\/div>             <\/div>              <div class=\"px-4 lg:px-0\">               <p> <strong>What are the top three reasons consumers should buy local flowers? <\/strong> <\/p> <ol> <li>For personal enjoyment <li>For a gift <li>For an event or celebration <\/li> <\/ol> <p> <strong>How can consumers ensure they\u2019re buying the freshest flowers from their local florist? <\/strong> <\/p> <p> They need to beware of what fresh flowers look like vs. older ones. Make sure they get a photo of the arrangement that was sent. <\/p> <p> <strong>What are some places to avoid buying flowers from and why? <\/strong> <\/p> <p> Grocery stores, because they don&#8217;t always have a good turnover rate, and the flowers will sit there until they are not fresh. <\/p> <\/p> <p> <strong>When online floral retailers advertise discounts on flowers, are consumers getting a good deal compared with buying local? Why or why not? <\/strong> <\/p> <p> Great question, I would have to say there is probably some sort of fee from the online vendor they are paying, and that extra fee usually will need to be paid out of somewhere. It&#8217;s hard to find out because you must trust that they are doing what they said they would do. Local is always the best way to go. <\/p> <p> <strong>What are three examples of local flowers that are truly associated with a city or region? <\/strong> <\/p> <p> In San Luis Obispo County: <\/p> <ol> <li>Farmers markets: they must be locally grown by the vendors in the area. (examples: sweet peas, ranunculus, roses, sunflowers, Iris, and foxglove, just to name a few) <li>Flower growers who don&#8217;t go to farmers markets but sell to the local florists. (roses and  dahlias) <li>At Cal Poly, we grow gerbera daisies, hydrangeas, orchids, alstroemeria, roses, statice, and strawflowers, just to name a few.<br \/>             <\/div>            <\/div>          <\/div>              <\/div> <\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"methodology\"><span id=\"behind-the-ranking\">Behind the ranking<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best Cities for Local Flowers. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 5 categories: Flower Access, Delivery Access, Vendor Quality, Local Demand, and Events. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For each of the 500 biggest U.S. cities, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each city to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A city\u2019s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked \u201cBest\u201d (No. 1) and the lowest \u201cWorst\u201d (No. 500).<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-3e0130b1-01ae-433e-b802-e403cfb392bb\" data-mobilecollapse=\"true\" data-desktopcollapse=\"true\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"false\"> <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; border-top-left-radius: 8px; border-top-right-radius: 8px; border-bottom-left-radius: 8px; border-bottom-right-radius: 8px; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-ec4e4690-4f7e-4ec8-852c-ee59be96f935\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-3e0130b1-01ae-433e-b802-e403cfb392bb\" tabindex=\"0\"> \t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-3e0130b1-01ae-433e-b802-e403cfb392bb\" style=\"color: #000000; \">Notes:<\/p> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-3e0130b1-01ae-433e-b802-e403cfb392bb\">  <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>The \u201cWorst\u201d among individual factors may not be No. 500 due to ties.<\/li>    <li>Number of Premium Flower Growers refers to the number of members in the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers.<\/li> <\/ul>  <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>  <div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"e0f5ac9a-2419-457a-9350-260de1ca29df\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"LL: Methodology Table - 2024&amp;#39;s Best Cities for Local Flowers\"><\/div> <p><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script><\/p>    <h3 id=\"sources\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h3>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em><em>Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, EventsInAmerica.com, Festivalnet, Find A Florist, Garden Club of Virginia, Google Ads, International Flower Fairs, Local Flowers, Slow Flowers, Town &amp; Tourist, and Yelp<\/em><\/em><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-thoughts\"><span id=\"make-your-yard-bloom\">Make your yard bloom<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shop local this year and surprise your mama with a bouquet of fresh flowers. Or, grow your own blooms and gift your mother figure a homemade (and homegrown) bouquet with some help from our tips below.<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Establish your own <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-flowers-for-cutting-garden\/\">cutting garden<\/a>.<\/li>    <li>Make your garden pop during the cold season with <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/winter-flowers-that-bloom-in-the-cold\/\">winter blooms<\/a>.<\/li>    <li>Fill your yard with beautiful <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/flower-bed-installation-cost\/\">flower beds<\/a>.<\/li>    <li>Learn which <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/worst-flowers-for-allergy-sufferers\/\">flowers to avoid<\/a> if you suffer from allergies.&nbsp;<\/li>    <li>Beautify your landscape with some <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/lowering-shrubs-for-your-landscape\/\">flowering shrubs<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-flowering-trees\/\">trees<\/a>.<\/li>    <li>Show some love to your local flora with a <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/design-ideas-for-your-wildflower-garden\/\">wildflower garden<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Need a hand keeping all your outdoor plants and flowers happy? <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/\"><em>Hire a local Lawn Love crew<\/em><\/a><em> to keep your landscape looking bright and colorful.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"media-resources\">Media resources<\/h2>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-053a835a-1457-489f-95d6-05b7002c246d\" data-mobilecollapse=\"true\" data-desktopcollapse=\"true\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"false\"> <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; border-top-left-radius: 8px; border-top-right-radius: 8px; border-bottom-left-radius: 8px; border-bottom-right-radius: 8px; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-b9bb8e1f-442d-4e93-89f7-b82d86495a62\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-053a835a-1457-489f-95d6-05b7002c246d\" tabindex=\"0\"> \t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-053a835a-1457-489f-95d6-05b7002c246d\" style=\"color: #000000; \">Quotes from Lawn Love Editor-in-Chief Jeff Herman:<\/p> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-053a835a-1457-489f-95d6-05b7002c246d\">  <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Ann Arbor, Michigan<\/strong> (No. 14) ties with <strong>St. Louis<\/strong> (No. 9) and <strong>Cincinnati<\/strong> (No. 21) for having the <strong>most premium flower growers<\/strong> (members of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ascfg.org\/\">Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers<\/a>).<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Despite having fewer flower shops per square mile, <strong>Washington<\/strong> (No. 34) sprouted above <strong>Alexandria, Virginia<\/strong> (No. 95), thanks to abundant <strong>plant nurseries<\/strong>, nearby <strong>flower farms<\/strong>, <strong>delivery services<\/strong>, <strong>flower shows<\/strong>, and <strong>highly rated<\/strong> (4.5+ stars) <strong>flower shops<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Sandy Springs, Georgia<\/strong> (No. 496), lands in the bottom 10 due to a lack of access to fresh flowers. However, the Atlanta suburb is <strong>budding with demand<\/strong> for local blooms. It rivals bigger cities\u00a0 \u2014 like <strong>Virginia Beach, Virginia <\/strong>(No. 127), with over 4x the population \u2014 in monthly Google searches for terms related to fresh flowers.\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>California<\/strong> produces <a href=\"https:\/\/www.petalrepublic.com\/floristry-and-floriculture-statistics\/#:~:text=76%25%20of%20grown%20flowers%20sold%20in%20the%20United%20States%20come%20from%20California\"><strong>76%<\/strong><\/a><strong> of all flowers<\/strong> grown and sold in the U.S. The Golden State is home to many blossoming cities:<\/li> <\/ul>    <div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Multiple cities are acclaimed for their <strong>roses<\/strong>, like <a href=\"https:\/\/tournamentofroses.com\/\"><strong>Pasadena<\/strong><\/a> (No. 29), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wascotrib.com\/story\/2023\/06\/27\/news\/wasco-rose-festival-is-back-with-more-fun\/4277.html\"><strong>Wasco<\/strong><\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.explorebuttecounty.com\/events\/festival-of-roses\"><strong>Chico<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Lancaster<\/strong> (No. 182) is home to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityoflancasterca.org\/our-city\/departments-services\/parks-recreation-arts\/special-events\/california-poppy-festival\"><strong>California Poppy Festival<\/strong><\/a> and is just a short drive from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parks.ca.gov\/?page_id=627\">Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Lompoc<\/strong> \u2014 formerly known as the <a href=\"https:\/\/explorelompoc.com\/blog\/a-visitors-guide-to-finding-lompocs-famed-flowers\/#:~:text=The%20seed%20industry%20was%20so,more%20about%20our%20area's%20history.\">Flower Seed Capital of the World<\/a> \u2014 is now called the <strong>City of Arts and Flowers<\/strong> and hosts an <a href=\"https:\/\/explorelompoc.com\/lompoc-flower-festival\/\">annual festival<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Smith River<\/strong> is the <strong>Easter Lily Capital of the World<\/strong>, growing about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.activenorcal.com\/the-easter-lily-capital-of-the-world-sits-right-here-in-northern-california\/#:~:text=The%20fertile%20land%20in%20Smith%20River%2C%20California%2C%20sitting%20in%20the%20very%20northwest%20corner%20of%20California%2C%20is%20home%20to%20less%20than%20900%20residents%2C%20but%20roughly%2095%20precent%20of%20the%20world%E2%80%99s%20Easter%20lilies.\"><strong>95%<\/strong><\/a> of the global supply.\u00a0<\/li> <\/ul> <\/div>  <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>   <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1DAez0eoaXqlbpkyhL553MwV4C0eEHQeRndj6mexkXWs\/edit#gid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">High-resolution images of cities<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/infogram.com\/ranking-table-2023s-best-cities-for-local-flowers-1h7j4dvxkkyo94n\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2023\u2019s Best Cities for Local Flowers ranking results<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/infogram.com\/2022-flower-shops-ranking-table-1h8n6m39m157z4x\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2022\u2019s Best Cities for Local Flowers ranking results<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Main photo credit:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/smiling-happy-caucasian-female-florist-worker-holding-in-crate-flowers-while-standing-in-greenhouse\/238988254?asset_id=238988254\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dusanpetkovic1<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/license-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">License<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does your city grow the freshest blooms? To mark Mother\u2019s Day, Lawn Love ranked 2024&#8217;s Best Cities for Local Flowers. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":22749,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[169],"tags":[348],"class_list":["post-9032","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-studies","tag-studies"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AdobeStock_238988254-1.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sav Maive","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/sav-maive\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9032","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9032"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9032\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9032"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9032"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}