March 8th is International Womans Day in Eastern Europe and as a result we are expecting the price of chrysanthemums and roses to rise next week. As usual, here at Triangle Nursery , we will be keeping a keen eye on prices & offering customers the best deals around!

Originally International Womans Day was observed on the 28th February in the USA following a decloration by the Socialist Party of America. Rapid world industrialisation and economic expansion led to workers potesting over working conditions. On the 8th March 1857 woman from the textile factories protested against poor wages & bad working conditions. The very same women created their labour union two years later.

In most countries International Womans Day has now lost it's politcal focus and has become an ocassion for men to express their love to women - a mixture of Mothers Day & Valentines all rolled into one! Flowers have become the gift of choice & now that many Eastern European countries are prosperous the demand on wholesale flower markets has become significant. All varieties of flowers are effected, especially chrysanthemums and roses.

According to the Kenyan Flower Council, flower exports fell by 6.5% in 2009. Farmers have cut back production due to low prices and weak demand.

Exports fell from 40 billion Kenyan shillings to 32 billion and shipments declined from 93,000 metric tons to 87,000.

Europe accounts for approx. 30% of Kenya's flower sales, the main markets being Holland, Germany, the UK, France and Switzerland.

As a result, farmers have put their expansion plans on hold until demand increases.

We are pleased to announce our guaranteed prices for foliage in the run up to Valentines Day for florists. All prices are ex VAT & delivery charges, (if applicable). We have negotiated these prices with the growers & you will all notice how competitive they are! All orders are required by 3pm on Monday 8th February at the latest, for delivery to customers on Wednesday 10th & Thursday 11th February and we can deliver to any UK address!!!!

To order please call the Triangle Nursery sales office on (01255) 864263

Large Pitto Ilan Varigated x 100 stems @ 21p per stem
Large Pitto Ilan Varigated x 200 stems @ 19p per stem

Aralia Medium (40cm) x 100 stems @ 19p per stem
Aralia Medium (40cm) x 200 stems @ 17p per stem

Aralia Big (50cm) x 50 stems @ 23p per stem
Aralia Big (50cm) x 100 stems @ 21p per stem

Leatherleaf Medium (40cm) x 15 bunches @ £1.30 per bunch
Leatherleaf Medium (40cm) x 30 bunches @ £1.20 per bunch

Leatherleaf Extra (50cm) x 15 bunches @ £1.50 per bunch
Leatherleaf Extra (50cm) x 35 bunches @ £1.40 per bunch

Leatherleaf Vacuum Packed (50cm) x 35 bunches @ £2.29 per bunch

Aspidistra 60cm x 150 stems @ 15p per stem
Aspidistra 60cm x 300 stems @ 14p per stem

Euc. Parvifolia 200gm x 10 bunches @ £1.75 per bunch
Euc. Parvifolia 200gm x 20 bunches @ £1.65 per bunch

Euc. Cinerera 200gm x 10 bunches @ £1.79 per bunch
Euc. Cinerera 200gm x 20 bunches @ £1.70 per bunch

Salul Tips x 15 bunches @ £1.87 per bunch
Salul Tips x 25 bunches @ £1.80 per bunch

Salul Big x 10 bunches @ £4.00 per bunch
Salul Big x 20 bunches @ £3.90 per bunch

Kentia Palm 60cm x 100 stems @ 13p per stem
Kentia Palm 60cm x 200 stems @ 11p per stem

Soft Ruscus 130cm x 10 bunches @ £2.40 per bunch
Soft Ruscus 130cm x 20 bunches @ £2.30 per bunch

Hard Ruscus 60cm x 200 stems @ 16p per stem
Hard Ruscus 60cm x 500 stems @ 15p per stem

Beargrass 70cm x 20 bunches @ 89p per bunch
Beargrass 70cm x 40 bunches @ 83p per bunch

Valentines Day is perhaps the only day of the year where giving flowers to the one you love is written in stone! Flowers can be very expensive at Valentines Day due to supply & demand but other flowers, apart from roses, do have romantic meaning, so there should be a flower bouquet to fit everyones budget.

Orchids
Tropical orchids, such as Cymbidiums, Phalaeonopis and Dendrobriums are readily available at this time of year in a wonderful range of unique colours. All orchids are known for their outstanding beauty and long vase life. (These elegant stems actually like the warmth, and are perfect for an indoor arrangement). Orchids are generally known for mystique and refinement - a perfect alternative to red roses on Valentines Day!

Tulips
Tulips are in abundance at this time of the year and therefore at their cheapest! Red tulip varieties are the only colour that really rise in price due to demand at Valentines Day. Tulips are traditionally given as a decloration of love for the first time, and often given as a constant reminder of love throughout their short season. Tulips will always bend their supple necks towards the light, so a good idea is to turn your vase around on a daily basis. The sap form daffodils will kill tulips, so never mix the two flowers together in an arrangement.

Lilies
Lilies are available all year round, but at this time of the year are a little expensive. Saying that though, lilies will outlast most other flowers for vase life. Lilies should always be in tight green bud when purchased - if they are beginning to open it is a fair guess that they are over a week old! There are four main varieties available commercially (1). Aziatic - available in bright colours, such as yellow, red, orange & pink. Aziatic lilies have no fragrance. (2). Longiflorum - available mostly in white with a few pink varieties. These lilies have a trumpet shaped flower that points downwards. Some longiflorums have a scent, but not all. (3). L.A. - a cross between Aziatic & Longiflorum Lilies. L.A. lilies have a wide colour range covering all the bright colours & include beautiful pastel shades such as pale pink, peach and cream. Most L.A. lilies have no fragrance. (4). Oriental Lilies - this is the big bloomed scented variety and the most expensive of all. Famous varieties include Stargazer, (pink & white bi-colour), Cassablanca, (pure white), Pompeii, (white & yellow bi-colour), and Cobra, (cerise). Oriental lilies are typically taller, with sturdier stems and have larger flowers than other varieties. A beautifull, long lasting Valentines flower and a cracking alternative to Red Roses.

Chrysanthemums
At the bottom end of the price scale with tulips, Chrysanthemums are known for devotion and purity. Originally from Japan, the Chrysanthemum is grown all year round commercially & available in a huge amount of varities and colours. By re-cutting the stems on a regular basis, chrysanthemums can achieve a long vase life, even though your Valentines arrangement will get shorter by the week!

Roses
Roses have always been the star of the show at Valentines Day and are generally regarded as the most romantic flower in the world. Red Roses are the most expensive at this time of year, but because demand has risen for other colours over the years, all rose prices increase dramatically for Valentines Day now.



Since the introduction of Smithers Oasis Quick Clip letters florists have not been happy. Smithers intended these letters to take over from their original Foam Backed letters, but florists have found that the clips are brittle and snap easily. Because of this, here at Triangle Nursery, we have decided to ditch the Quick Clip range entirely and revert back to Foam Backed letters. We are pleased to say that our customers are delighted with this descision.

Smithers claim they recieved a faulty batch of clips and as soon as the problem became apparent were removed from production and scrapped. The improved clips are made from a new, stronger material and will not break.

Let's hope that Smithers don't decide to plough on with their Quick Clip letters & discontinue the Foam Backed range. From our experience, florists have tried the new product and rejected it out of hand, so please Smithers - "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

You can visit the Smithers Oasis web site by clicking here