For some time it has become established to show 'love' by giving flowers and other presents to intimate partners. A date dictates when this act of affection should take place. While the x-mas lights are still dangling from houses, another 'festive season' is placed on the agenda.
The tradition of Valentine's Day is a predominately anglophone custom, but has spread to other industrialised nations. The day was no invention by the floral industry, but has its roots in a middle age poem about the "game of love" that Geoffrey Chaucer presented to his king. Saint Valentine's Day as a Christian celebration goes way back.
So where do the tonnes of bouquets come from?
Most OECD countries have rationalised their gardens away with high density. If some green spaces are allowed to exist, they must be a lawn monoculture with tidy topiary box hedges. Herbicide will not allow any flowers to appear between the cracks.
Long stem blood red roses and other cut flowers are being flown in, cooled and plastic-wrapped from far distant lands. Many are grown in the country where hippopotamuses splash about in the lake and flamingos wade on the shores.
"Kenya's Lake Naivasha is one of the most perfect places to grow flowers—at a high altitude, with plenty of water and sunshine. And flower farms employ people and generate income. [But] they are also big water and pesticides users." (source)
"The flower farms provide cut flowers for export, of which 97 percent end up in bouquets in European cities." (source)
Locals are turned into paupers, virtual water flows into a commodity stream and deprives humans and wildlife of their habitat. Left is polluted water and a pesticide legacy.
In the 'developed world' a possibly toxic floral arrangement might grace the dinner table. The plastic wrapper is discarded and the CO2 impact of the air-freight flowers is forgotten.
The by now established public culture for mourners to place large bouquet memorials of flowers as a gesture of condolences could also be reflected. Mother's Day is another such event.
It might be a better idea to donate the resources bestowed on the flower industry to the protection of wildlife and its habitat or any other ethical purpose you see fit.
IMAGES
Flamingos in the Palais Rose in Vesinet, Giovanni Boldini
Hippopotamus, Brehms Thierleben
(Garden) Roses, Lovis Corinth
