The English rose has long been a romantic symbol around the world and now it’s a central part of the Olympic celebrations.
Iconic florist Jane Packer will supply the victory bouquets for the winning athletes at the 2012 Games. In accordance with the brief, all of the bouquet’s elements are British sourced. Designed by Packer’s creative director, Susan Lapworth, the bouquet features four different types of English roses, arranged with English lavender, rosemary, apple mint and wheat.
English flowers are currently enjoying a renaissance with sales soaring at Waitrose and the Olympic bouquets can only help to increase the popularity of British-grown flowers. However, the UK flower market is so small these days that in order to fulfill the order Packer had to have the roses specially grown with the help of Landgard UK.
A company spokesman says that as the British floriculture industry that once provided cut flowers has been forced into near extinction, to achieve its aims they had to reintroduce cut-rose growing to the south of the UK.
“We simply wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without the help of our supplier partners in this project,” he added.
The 4,400 bouquets required will be made at the time of the Games with the help of floristry students from Writtle College in Essex, Bexley Adult Education College in Kent and Kingston Maurward College in Dorset.
“It was important to us that as part of our commitment to the UK floristry community, we involved the educational establishments that provide us with high calibre graduates that help develop our business,” explains the spokesman. “It also means that the wider floristry community is involved in the exciting opportunities that London 2012 brings.”
While Packer is sourcing straight from suppliers, many florists will be relying upon the services of New Covent Garden Flower Market to fulfill orders for Olympic-related contracts.
East Dulwich-based florist The Fresh Flower Company has been asked to create floral replica Olympic torches for a series of parties hosted by the American Hilton group. Owner Fran Bailey says all of the flowers, including red Singapore orchids, will be sourced from the market.
Chair of the market’s tenants’ association, Barry Porter, added that while some florists, such as Bailey, had confirmed contracts, there were many who would not know until the last minute if they were to provide arrangements.
“Florists are miracle workers. I’m often amazed at what they can create at such short notice,” says Porter. “The market is always at the ready to provide what they need but we are aware that the Olympics is going to be an especially important event for many florists. The feeling we are getting is that many will know about contracts at the last minute.
“We’re very optimistic that together we will provide floral displays that London can be incredibly proud of.” -
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