April 22 is Earth Day, a time to honour nature, and mark the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Here are some ideas to celebrate sustainably with flowers. 

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MINIMALIST BOUQUETS

Airy bouquets can look even more elegant than extravagant ones. The Japanese floral art of ikebana, originally developed by Buddhist monks, is the perfect example of this concept of space, structure and minimalism. The word ikebana means “living flowers,” and three stems or branches are arranged at specific angles to represent heaven, Earth and humankind, a perfect way to honour the Earth Day tradition.  

DRIED FLORALS

The fleeting nature of flowers is what makes them so precious, as Robert Frost famously wrote in his poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” But what if your bouquet was built to last? Selfridge’s department store did a range of dried floral arrangements in collaboration with Your London Florist that included dried poppies, helichrysum, glixia and eucalyptus to evoke late summer. 

Ask your florist to make a rose bouquet that is specifically meant to be enjoyed fresh and then dried so it can last for years.

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EMBRACING WILDFLOWERS, GRASSES AND BLOSSOMS

“Grown here not flown here” is the mantra of more and more florists who are incorporating wildflowers such as the abundant yarrow into bouquets. Trendy pampas grass, in both ecru and pale pink, or foraged bullrushes can also make for dramatic displays. As the Northern hemisphere heads into spring, branches of blossoms such as pale pink cherry, white plum, or bright yellow forsythia in a large vase make a sculptural statement.

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

Foam-free arrangements are becoming the norm for florists, who say no to the petroleum-based product that was a flower shop staple since the 1950s. You, too, can use alternative materials to stabilize your arrangement in the base of your vessel or vase: a Japanese kenzan (like a wire brush) or even a ball of chicken wire work well and are reusable, while a ball of willow boughs stripped of their leaves is a compostable option.

SHOPPING LOCAL AND IN-SEASON

Rather than supporting multi-national grocery chains, shopping at local, independent florists and farmer’s markets not only reduces your carbon footprint, but also stimulates the local economy, says FlyBunker, San Francisco, who use principles of sustainability in their global floral design studio. Your neighbourhood florist is more likely to have in-season options for flowers that are healthier, more fragrant, and often organically grown. 

For Earth Day, find a Fleurs de Villes-approved florist in your city here.