Floral Notes

May 10, 2024 9:41 AM

Haidee Chu writes about Manhattan's Flower District for The City - its history, its shop cats, and its remaining vendors' opinions on which is the better holiday for florists, Mothers Day or Valentines Day. With photos by Ben Fractenberg.

“It’s funny, because men love their moms more than their wives, so they always order ahead of time for Mother’s Day, but they always ask me for Valentine’s Day stuff last-minute.”

posted by the primroses were over (4 comments total)

….. mmmmm 3am Chinatown bus arriving in the Flower District just as shops are receiving deliveries early, early on a chilly December morning, hot cup of coffee in hand, walking to the subway for an unapologetic day of playing hooky. An annual tradition for almost a decade. Just joyous. Exquisite colors and smells and memories.
posted by Silvery Fish at 10:17 AM on May 10 [6 favorites]

When I was younger, my mom took some part time evening work at a florist, whose owner was a mom to one of my fellow Junior Girl Scouts. Some days I'd go with her and do my homework in the back, but the owner also paid me in cash to do little things like restock cards and sweep. I loved to just stand in the walk-in cooler and smell all the fresh flowers. It was getting close to Mother's Day that year and I gathered the courage to ask the owner if I could work in exchange for a bouquet for my mom. She very kindly agreed, and probably only 'charged' me at cost, because I was able to surprise my mom with 2 dozen beautiful coral-pink roses for Mother's Day that year.

A lovely memory. Thank you, Barb.
posted by rachaelfaith at 11:58 AM on May 10 [9 favorites]

Anyone else disappointed by the lack of cat photos in the article?
posted by alfhild at 10:14 PM on May 10

Apologies for the lack of cat photos in the main link
posted by the primroses were over at 4:56 AM on May 11 [4 favorites]