Hi Lovelies,
First my apologies that I didn’t to complete Blog-tober. Something which required travel came up unexpectedly and believe me, I’m kicking myself more than you know. Though I’m still away, I felt I needed to make this post and am attempting to do so via mobile phone – thus, the lack of photos and possible abundance of errors.
My flower farming roots began through growing vegetables. The primary importance of growing my own food were growing open-pollinated, non-genetically modified varieties that have been grown for hundreds of years. As someone who began their college career in the Sciences, there’s no doubt that I’m amazed by what can be done using GMO technology and all that jazz. Alas, the possibilities of this are absolutely terrifying once my mind goes running wild. Believe it or not, GMOs are alive and well in cut flower production, as well. Is this any different? Of course, flowers aren’t meant to be eaten – but does this make a difference in terms of whether or not it should even be done? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to know what you think, seriously!
A video popped up this morning in my YouTube subscription list which got me thinking. It was called, “How to Change the Color of Flowers with Paint”. I’ll admit, it immediately made me feel angry. Insanely angry. What’s the point? Why would you take something beautiful and want to spray chemicals all over it? (Did I mention that natural, organic flowers aren’t swimming in chemicals?) One argument in the video is that “Young people love unexpected colors”. Well, I’m not quite over the hill yet – and I would be ready to flip a table if a florist gave me a bouquet of blue spray paint flowers.
I guess my point is that this is an enormous reason why I sincerely believe that locally grown, natural flowers are best. When you go into the grocery store, you’ll see hundreds of flowers that have been intravenously tinted obnoxious colors like bright blue or rainbow. Don’t get me wrong, rainbows are great every once and a while. But, there’s nothing natural about them, and I really think it serves as a huge insult to nature. Fresh flowers are so beautiful, I can’t see them ever being needed to be “covered up”.
Sorry for my rant, but I guess I’ve never been a fan of change. To me, all of these factors just add to the need for the slow flower movement. In my small opinion, locally grown fresh flowers will always be better than anything that’s been massed produced on the other side of the world. In the future, I don’t plan on growing GMO flowers in my garden – and now that I know they’re out there, I’ll definitely be checking my suppliers twice.
PS – The day that I spray paint a flower is the day that I quit farming forever.
You rant. Unnaturally blue or rainbow coloured flowers are most definitely a step too far. As you say, an insult to nature and quite unnecessary.
Imagine if we took to tinting edible fruits. I don’t think the public would respond well to blue bananas. Lol.
I don’t imagine the European Union would stomach blue bananas. They even have rules about how curved they normal yellow ones can be!
“I don’t imagine the European Union would stomach blue bananas.”
Meanwhile, the EU does not allow across the EU the use of biofungicides like Serenade and Sonata, but it does allow glyphosates from Monsanto. And, ironically, Sonata is made by Bayer, a German (EU) company.
I agree 100%!!! Years ago, they painted little baby chicks when it was Easter, that finally stopped. Maybe someday tinting flowers will too. Buy unfortunately, some brides wants JUST the right shade of something that doesn’t occur at the time of the wedding or even in nature and they won’t take no for an answer. I don’t take these clients, but those brides will keep the tinting going. Keep on ranting, I love it and have enjoyed all your blogs this last month. Paula-windmill Farm
I’m glad! I’m trying to be consistent with posting! I remember seeing those poor little chicks. I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one not afraid to try to reason with a bride. After putting the work into growing the flowers, the last thing I want to do is make look like something you can buy at the grocery store 🙁
This reminds me of an experiment my class did in high school of placing cut roses in vases filled with food coloring and water. I found it interesting that they would tint with the food dye. Of course, it was to teach us how the fluids travel through the plants, but it also showed me how chemicals become a part of the plant. It made me think about how chemicals sprayed on plants don’t just stay on the outside. This has given me pause when I tend my own garden, that what I treat my seed babies with will become a part of them, and later, my family and myself.
Sorry for the random thoughts. Your article just triggered that memory for me. 🙂
Great thoughts! I remember doing the same experiment. We can really learn a lot when we stop to think how what we eat is really impacting our bodies!
OMG, spray painted flowers? No, just no. I walked into my office one day a few years ago to find a poor orchid that soemone gifted me with that had had its flowers dyed blue. Actually, I think some fool had injected blue dye into the plant itself, because even though its next blooms came out white, parts of the stems were blue. Then, there was my sister in law’s wedding bouquet last month. White roses throughout, except for the outer ring of roses, which were dyed blue. I don’t know what people insist in dyeing flowers that should not be blue, blue, or any other color for that matter. In my mind it just ruins them.
I’ve seen blue wedding flowers a lot recently. I hope it’s not the next trend. Blue flowers kind of remind me of bright red flowers. Bright red flowers can be really harsh because the hue is so pigmented, so you have to be careful using them or things could potentially start looking not so good and overwhelming. With blue, I feel like the same effect is multiplied x1000. I understand that blue flowers aren’t as common as others, but there’s still blue larkspur, forget me nots, nigella, and even hyacinths – I just can’t bring myself to turn a rose blue!
Reblogged this on The Allotment Wife.
Rant away. You are right
Haha! I just needed to “say it” somewhere! I don’t think the nice lady at the market would have wanted to hear me complain! Lol.
You are so right. Those tinted flowers are so tacky. I’d rather a bunch of bare branches.
I’m so glad to hear that I’m not the only one who’s been thinking this before! Lol.
Like you I love the real thing. I wanted to stop by and view your blog, wonderful, wonderful! so glad I stopped by my favorite flowers first thing I seen when I got here, can’t go wrong by that. I hope you have a wonderful day, Thank you for your visit, also.
I was once given a bunch of lovely roses – covered in glitter and spray paint. Still a mystery why when a rose is , quite simply beautiful! 🙁
Glitter, too! Part of me wonders if the reason for coloring is to hide things. Many roses are shipped from other continents, and it’s not exactly a short journey – so I imagine that quality may sometimes suffer?
They were just odd. All I could think was – why gild a lily? 😳
I remember trying the same thing Anna’s Bonne Bouche mentioned, the food colouring and the flower stem experiment, and from a learning point of view it was great but as you rightly say there is nothing so beautiful as a natural flower, why fix what ain’t broke? A friend sent me a picture of a dreadful bright blue strawberry that has been GMOed for the Japanese market. I hope never see one and it will not be passing through my lips if I do!
Bright blue strawberries!? I don’t think I want to eat anything like that anytime soon! I’m already grumpy enough when they pick strawberries before their peak ripeness!
Don’t care for dyed orchids or cacti either. Flowers are already beautiful and modifying them this way is a turn off to most plant lovers. BTW, I read an article about how “edible flowers” are of greater interest today – people like plants with a purpose as well as beauty. What does it do for me? Thus, flowers which may be used and eaten are popular, so in that case, the GMO issue may be more prevalent. Thanks for a great post, Cathy T
Great point! I didn’t even think about edible flowers! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the great comment! 🙂 Hope you’re having a really great day!
hello freshcutky its dennis the vizsla dog hay its just like hyoomans to think they kan improov wot duz not need improoving!!! all to mayk a kwik buck i am shoor!!! ok bye
I disagree with the use of your word “small” here: ”In my small opinion, locally grown fresh flowers will always be better than anything that’s been massed produced on the other side of the world.” I agree with the rest of your opinion! Most flowers grown by the mass producers are sprayed with numerous pesticides and other harmful chemicals. I prefer buying flowers grown naturally and without chemicals.