The defining characteristic of Urban Desert Flora is that we view ourselves as an ambassador to nature. I believe that florists have the unique ability to influence how people interact with nautre. Sustainability starts with examining the systems upon which traditional floral design has been built. Understanding how what I do affects communities, the economy, and the planet shapes my why. I view my business through lenses of sustainability starting with the most crucial facets, my materials and flower source.
Sustainable Floral Design
I honestly thought the flower industry would be greener than most. I was taken aback by the amount of plastic waste produced and the lack of composting across the board. Three years ago, sustainability in flowers, especially in AZ, was not on the radar. It pushed me to find educators outside of AZ and flower sources close to home.
It is my curiosity that allowed me to discover sustainable floristry, and that mission was something I align with very much. In September of 2021, I opened Urban Desert Flora with the idea that I would be the change that I wanted to see in my industry. I am proud to say that I am pioneering sustainable floristry in the state, and paving ways for other like minded florist.
When it comes to materials I choose to bring into the studio, they must either be recyclable, reusable, or compostable. That criteria alone takes out almost all single-use plastics, especially floral foam. In the 1960s, floral foam was a revolutionary product. It allowed florists to create in new ways. It has the ability to soak up 500x its weight in water, and mimics the vascular system of the stems so well that hydration is essentially seamless.
This doesn’t dismiss the fact that floral foam is a petrochemical convenience product that has zero guidelines for proper disposal. Bringing us out of balance with nature.
Foam-Free Florals
To use a brick of foam, you must soak it in water. What’s left in the vessel is a green slurry of plastic water that many people dump right down the drain. However, I am not placing shame or blame on florists with that practice. Smithers-Oasis gives zero guidelines for proper disposal. I would even argue that there is no way to properly dispose of floral foam.
Bottom Line: We are finding floral foam microplastics in our freshwater ecosystems and freshwater organisms. Floral foam is a convenience product that the industry, as a whole, is incredibly reliant on.
So, what happens when you remove the main medium of design from your toolbelt? A lot of fun and ingenuity. I won’t lie… stress on occasion, but most importantly more opportunities for me to be creative and intentional throughout the entire design and construction process. On one hand, I have taken my studio back in time pre-1960s using sticks, rocks, flower frogs, and chicken wire. On the other hand, I am pioneering foam free event design in Arizona. I am looking to utilize old techniques to open new doors.
In 2024 the Arizona State Florist Association invited me to participate in their 8-Minute Circuit at the annual convention. The 8-minute circuit is like a speed dating for floral techniques! We did 8-minute demonstrations 6 times in row. I had a blast. Plus, I was allowed to showcase sustainable mechanics and techniques that my studio uses to create eco-friendly floral installations. This was a big deal considering in many professional circles going foam-free is still taboo!
Local Flower Sourcing
The largest obstacle with sustainability in Arizona is sourcing locally grown flowers. This is specific to our state as many flower farms are spread apart and do not offer a delivery service like a commercial flower wholesale does. This barrier alone has kept the florists who know we can grow flowers here from connecting with farms and purchasing locally grown flowers. In 2021 there was essentially no flower supply chain in Arizona. I would even argue that I became the local flower supply chain!
Here’s why:
I would connect with every farm that I needed to buy from. I acted as my own flower broker and wholesaler. I would then schedule out my driving route, pick up times, and coordinate it all with the farms. Finally, I’d return to my studio to begin my flower work. I was essentially doubling the amount of work that I needed to do. For reference, many florists place an order online or directly with their wholesaler, approve substitutions, but ultimately place the order and pick up on the specified dates.
The hands-on approach to flower source was never a burden to me. I love my little road trips and singing in the car. More importantly, I love meeting growers and learning about how to grow in our arid soil! I even love the opportunity to get in the gardens or fields and cut my own blooms for clients.
For larger events, I may be traveling 150-200 miles over 2-3 days in order to gather all of my blooms. Even with that large distance traveled, my flowers still had the lowest carbon footprint of any in the state.
Arizona’s Seasonality
Most flowers available in Arizona travel 10, 12, maybe even 14 days to get here. Not only are they traveling long distances, but their impact is even greater than you’d like due to the fact they are a cold chain product. This means that at every step of the way the flowers must be cooled.
The industry has expanded into regions of the world where the climate is more favorable for growing year round. Between growing closer to the equator and in large green houses, the industry has essentially made every flower available at any time of the year. Bringing us even further out of balance with nature and muddling with what’s truly in-season!
So, part of what I had to learn was the true seasonality of flowers and then specifically the seasonality of flowers in Arizona. This led me to learn about the growing zones across our state and that understanding allows me to get the full bloom period out of each variety.
For example, ranunculus is available in the valley in March (zone 9), but out of season by mid april. In Prescott (zone 7) ranunculus is coming into season around end of march early April. A couple months later, ranunculus bloomed out of season in that zone, but popping up in the Show Low / White Mountains area (zone 6). It’s a time-sensitive dance each year to source all of the flowers needed for events! I get better every year!
The Big Picture
Flower industry leaders are beginning to grapple with the effects of running a global flower supply chain, and looking for opportunities for eco-conscious changes.
In Arizona, we are looking for ways to cut down that heavy carbon footprint and meet the needs of a new floral consumer. Many clients are looking for ways to make their events less impactful on the environment, and flowers can be a big step towards achieving that goal. I can only speak for myself when I say that I am hungry for educational opportunities that help push the industry forward. In short the flower industry’s missing piece is local flower access and native plant education.
The industry cannot fully embrace sustainability without bringing locally grown and native flowers into the conversation. It is through the efforts of people like myself and flower collectives across the nation that will bring much needed balance into the flower industry.
Last year I had the privilege of attending a panel discussion on sustainability at the Society of American Florists Conventions (SAF). The panel consisted of representatives from large commercial farms across the globe. There are many points to take away from the discussion, but I want to highlight 2:
- International farms are creating a standard for sustainability certification and showcasing their process changes lie rainwater collections, pesticide use, bloom choice, etc.
- Arguably the most important takeaway addresses the idea that sustainability is another trend that we need to hop on. Because some florists feel this way, they are not going to make the changes needed. However, I think we all know that sustainability isn’t a trend.. It is a necessity. This panel member blatantly stated that if SAF members did not “hop on the bandwagon” that their business would cease to exist in the next 3-5 years.
While conversations are great steps towards lasting change, this panel discussion room was not filled. These leaders are not able to educate on the intricacies of eco-conscious floristry within their own communities. It is going to take efforts of local flower collectives and passionate sustainable florists to round out industry needs.
Your Ambassador to Nature
I am proud to say that in 2024 Arizona has it’s first flower collective, the Arizona Flower Collective. I am a founding member of this organization that is composed of a few sustainable florists and primarily flower growers in Arizona. Our mission is to connect our community to locally grown flowers and support growers via networking events, educational opportunities, and group buying power.
Urban Desert Flora is your ambassador to nature! We are your local flower connoisseur. Most importantly, I am actively working to fill the gaps within floral education here in Arizona by lowering the barrier of access to local flowers, and designing foam-free.
