There's really nothing like having bright, fresh flowers delivered to your doorstep. Whether you order them yourself or they come from a friend or a lover, it`s something special to enjoy a carefully arranged bunch of blooms. But where do they all come from?

Large Floral Companies

The bigger florists that you find online usually have their own greenhouses where fresh flowers can be grown year round in a controlled climate. The most popular flowers will be cultivated in greater amounts to ensure they don`t run out, particularly with roses and carnations. However, these greenhouses often contain other flowers, as well, which may be more difficult to find. In many cases, the most delicate flowers are the ones that will be brought in from an outside source, if they are deemed too costly to grow on the property and not enough people buy them. These massive flower growing operations make it possible for flowers to be cut and sent anywhere in the country within hours. So, the flowers that end up on your doorstep are very, very fresh. However, this type of setup is usually only possible for those large companies that have a florist chain or a large online service with options in major cities.

Fresh Flower Wholesalers

Not all florists are big enough to have their own greenhouses. In fact, some are little more than a website and some delivery specialists in every major city. That doesn`t stop them from providing beautiful, fresh flowers, though. Instead, these smaller florist shops turn to wholesalers who can sell them the flowers they need.

Flower wholesalers usually have enormous gardens and greenhouses where every description of flower can be cultivated. These fresh blooms are then harvested and sold by the bundle to florists and flower distributors around the country. The flowers are shipped in carefully refrigerated trucks so they are as fresh as possible upon arrival, since it`s pretty tough to sell.

Smaller florists usually stock up on the most ordered flowers, along with greenery and baby`s breath, but certain flowers may be special order. Orchids and more delicate blossoms will need to be ordered ahead of time to ensure that they have them in stock for the day you need them delivered. For this reason, when ordering fresh flowers, it`s always a good idea to call at least a couple of days in advance.

Freshness Affects Pricing

Fresh flowers are often more expensive during the winter since this is when it is most costly to heat the greenhouses in order to have the flowers flourish. The only other option for most florists is to import from another country, which is usually far too expensive to consider, when given the fairly low prices available at most florists.

Freshness does affect the pricing of flowers to a certain extent, but the type of flower and how hardy it is, will also figure into the price. For example, carnations and daisies tend to be the cheapest flowers available to the public and they are also the hardiest, able to grow in a range of temperatures and they don`t usually wilt for a while after being picked. This most certainly helps their price level!

Fresh flowers make a beautiful gift, especially for mother's day, and special events, even if you are buying it for yourself. There`s really nothing nicer than a big bunch of bright to light up a room and fill it with their scent, which is why they have been a popular gift for centuries and will likely continue to be for many centuries more.