Ringing in Spring at the New York Flower Market
Spring has sprung! The city is awakening after its wintry slumber — store mannequins are sporting summer apparel and the trees are beginning to blossom. What better way to celebrate than by exploring the New York Flower Market to find the perfect bouquet!
There’s no better way to get into the springtime mood than by adding some beautiful, vibrant flowers to your home, hotel room or office. While you can often find some decent ready-made bouquets at any corner deli or bodega, the best place to find the freshest and highest quality flowers is at the New York Flower Market, located in NYC’s Chelsea neighborhood on W28th street between 6th and 7th avenues. Alongside my friend Betsey, an extremely talented and knowledgeable floral designer, I set off to immerse myself in the history and greenery of this one-block urban jungle.
The Early Bird gets the Flower
The first piece of knowledge Betsey imparted to me is that you must shop early. The market opens at 5:30am, and many vendors begin closing up around 10am. Betsey also advised that Tuesdays and Fridays are the best days to come as that’s when the shops receive their shipments.
While shopping at the market is certainly an early morning activity, as an everyday shopper and not a wholesale buyer, you can probably get away with shopping after the sun has risen. Betsey and I arrived in the area around 9:30 and had a good deal of options to choose from.
Strolling through History
As we strolled along the foliage-lined sidewalk, Betsey gave me a rundown of the district’s history and its many changes over the last ten or so years. In the tail-end of the 1800s, many flower vendors set up shop along W28th street to be closer to higher clientele such as department stores and the luxurious residences along 5th Avenue. The market truly blossomed in the late 1970s and positioned the Big Apple as one of the most popular places to buy and sell flowers, second only to Amsterdam.
Unfortunately, new real estate developments and increasing rent over the past decade have driven many vendors to close up shop permanently. Though the district is certainly not as large as it was even a few years ago, there still remains enough shops to create a strong sense of community among the vendors and buyers. And as Betsey demonstrated, buying flowers is not just a skill or hobby, but is truly an art and an entire social experience.
Picking Flowers like a Pro
With more than enough markets to find almost any type of plant you can imagine, I got the scoop from two market pros on how to weed out the distractions and find the best blooms.
Jeff from Foliage Garden suggested that one of the most important things is to do some research before heading to the market. Since some places specialize in certain types of plants or only sell wholesale and not to individuals, you should have an idea of what you’re looking for and which shops you might find it in.
If you’re an orchid-lover like me, I highly suggest checking out Foliage Garden. Orchid heaven!
Chris from Dutch Flower Line added that it’s important to know the longevity of the flowers you’re picking. He explains that to get the most out of your arrangement, you should pick flowers of the same freshness and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
As for Betsey’s tips, she said the most important thing is to remember that flowers are all about the experience they create for you, so pick what you like. She also suggested using herbs like rosemary or mint in your arrangement to pack an extra-sensory punch.
If you ever find yourself in need of the perfect floral arrangement or just in the middle of New York City with an early morning to kill and a desire to invigorate your senses and brighten your mood, look no further than this little paradise nestled between bustling avenues. And now that you know where and how to shop for your flowers, creating that perfect arrangement to liven up your space should be a breeze!
