While I’ve been to the San Francisco Flower Market many times before, this time was very different. I’ve always been there as a sales rep, but this time, I felt like I got to know the San Francisco Flower Market on a more personal level. I’ve always been fascinated with its history and progression over the years, but more than that, I’ve always enjoyed the grit, passion, and commitment exuded by the vendors there.

From Jeanne, the director of the San Francisco Flower Market to the various vendors I interviewed, everyone welcomed me with open arms and showed me nothing but kindness. They were

Fragrance might not be the first thing on your mind when you’re comparing pictures of roses. But when you encounter fragrant roses as part of a real-life experience, the fragrance factor is intoxicating and unforgettable.

What is it about fragrance that stirs emotions so powerfully? Part of the answer lies in the nature of our sense of smell. 

Smells of all kinds reach us via receptor cells that line the insides of our noses — as many as 10 million of them. These long nerve cells convey signals directly to a relatively primitive part of the brain called the olfactory bulb — a rounded

The end of December marked the halfway point in my term as your FNGLA President. As I reflect on the memories gained and the opportunities yet to come, I found myself struck by the significance of “half.” Whether used as a measure of distance or time, to divide equal parts, or to assign positive and negative personalities, I find myself amused by the power and emotion we assign to half.

Given the opportunity to regroup and find new inspiration, halftime can often be a major turning point in a football game. Halfway is often used as a form of encouragement, as in “you can make it, you’re

A new scholarship fund has been established through the American Floral Endowment (AFE) to support future generations of students interested in pursuing a career in floriculture. This scholarship joins 26 other scholarships available through the Endowment.

The newly established Dewar Family Scholarship Fund will be awarded to an undergraduate student (or students) in their junior or senior year, studying environmental horticulture with an emphasis and focus on a career in floriculture. The fund is established by the Dewar Family of Dewar Nurseries.

Dewar Nurseries was established in 1963 by

Millions of people celebrate Valentine’s Day with flowers, and AFE has some expert industry tips to keep blooms looking radiant for as long as possible.

“Displaying roses appropriately on Valentine’s Day means less product loss and more happy consumers who hopefully become repeat customers,” said Terril Nell, Ph.D., professor emeritus at the University of Florida, who along with Ria T. Leonard has coauthored more than a dozen AFE research reports outlining best practices for the retail display of fresh-cut roses and other flowers.

Tips for retail florists

Florists should display flowers in

Preparations for the 2022 California Spring Trials are underway as the premier breeder trade event is set to go from Wednesday, March 30 to Sunday, April 3. Entrance tickets can now be booked via www.2022cast.com.
 
The breeding companies participating in California Spring Trials gathered at the Cultivate show in Columbus, OH, last week to discuss the future of the event. Prior to the meeting, a survey was sent to CAST attendees from 2019 and 2021. Survey members were asked their preference on timing as well as the styles of displays, among other things.
 
More than half of the surveyed