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Locally-grown Vancouver roses appeal to traditionalists for their classic appeal of sculpted petals that open out flat. About 1996, rose importers started sending reps to introduce us to the roses from the Ecuador highlands. Like Victorian cabbage roses, due to the number of petals and the size of the head, growers were offering bi-colour mixes not seen here previously as well as 'specialty' roses with trim-edges and splashes of colour. So if you're interested in the politics of rose-growing and rose-selling, read on. But if you're biting your fingernails to know whether roses are appropriate, or how many will get the attention you want, take a quick look at these considerations. And if you know only roses will do and you've surfed through the photographs at the bottom of the page, then order here.
Some say that Columbian growing conditions are more favourable to red roses, with Ecuador more renowned for coloured varieties.Columbia exports more fresh flowers than any country except Holland, with a niche market for roses. So, whatever the occasion,a rose is always wonderfully appropriate. And ignore the nay-sayers who insist that roses don't last as long as other flowers, Because if you know how to care for roses, I've basked in their beauty for two weeks. And,of course, the perfect rose deserves the perfect Art Glass
THE POLITICS OF ROSES Free Trade agreements between the Canadian and US governments about eight years ago make an impact on the local retail flower business as tractor trailers arrive at the auction house from as far away as Portland to bid on our flowers, in the past five years our local roses are not price-competitive with imports from Ecuador Mexico and Columbia that have been flown overnight from 4,000 miles away. This import-domestic competition started in 1994 when the US allowed Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru to sell flowers duty-free as a way to help them develop alternatives to cocaine production. Now they've cornered 75 per cent of the $8billion US flower market. It's a circumstance going on globally in the cut flower trade, with formerly undeveloped countries getting into the floral trade in a big way. Recent news in Thailand shows the threat to their industry from the increasing growth of China's flower exports.
According to the Ontario Flower Co-operative's data, some $100million worth of flowers--more than 15million stems--are imported into Canada annually. At Valentine's, local roses are at least one-third more expensive--wholesale--than imports. At 9,000 feet, and 12 hours of sunlight each day,and cold at night-- which is when roses actually grow-- Ecuador has perfect growing conditions for roses.A January Flowers & article says that it takes seven years to bring a rose variety from breeding to the market."In one year, the dozen or so breeders may create 750,000 new rose varieties, of which 3,000 will be tested and seven or eight may make it to the marketplace."
So if you've been lucky enough to receive titanic, konfeti,leonaidis,circus, fire and ice you might enjoy recycling the roses by growing rose stock from your bouquet. In a forum at this gardening enthusiasts' site, Get Flowers for Nothing, you can get tips on how to root your gift roses. Another gardener here says that roses love banana skins.... So, stretch your enthusiasm for that wonderful gift of Roses "Why is it no one ever sent me yet One perfect limousine, do you suppose? Ah no, it's always just my luck to get One perfect rose."--Dorothy Parker, 1893-1967 
Ethically, I favour supporting our local economy and industry, and was concerned by the articles I was reading in the New York Times about chronic lung infections of field workers--mostly women--due to pesticides. All the while, our customers were insisting on the variety available as imports --and-- the field workers were insistent that desperately-needed jobs would be lost if countries importing their roses paid heed to the health controversies. Of the 300 flower companies in Ecuador, only four have unions, but the volumne of exports is vital to Ecuadorians' improved life with day cares and consistent work. In 2004, UPS reported transporting 14.8 million stems into the USA alone, having the "biggest impact on California growers with some six to 10 per cent going out of business each year," and amazingly, roses are the number one product imported through Miami, giving the Florida industry some 250,000 jobs. In 2006, some exported Ecuadorian roses have joined the Fair Trade movement.
Imports include Mexican and California roses, with popular varieties at special occasions konfeti and blue curiosa and black magic . The blue curiosa is mauve, as a rose plant can produce potentially any colour---except blue-- as there is no genetic code in the rose's DNA for that colour although the Japanese are working on a pansy gene. Black roses aren't really black but the deepest maroon, so rare they are the "unicorns of the plant world." Not only is black an oddity, but goes against biology according to Kate Kenyon, UK Flowers and Plant Association."Black flowers often have powerful scent to attract insects, which is part of the attraction for humans." Symbolize revenge not love.
In regard to fragrance, scientists are working on methods to re-establish scent in flowers that had been removed to enhance vase-life. The odd thing is that it seems if you have a strong fragrance gene it negatively affects lifespan as in the gardenia. So roses cut for commercial purposes are never as scented as those memories of scented roses hanging over the garden gate. PHOTOGRAPHS OF ROSES
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Flowers Unlimited
A Division of Unlimited Flower Services Inc.
1675 Hornby Street, #102
Vancouver BC V6Z 2M3
Toll-free(North America): 1-800-363-9155
Phone: 604-685-6078
Fax: 604-685-6038
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