Their goal is to only choose flowers that are in season and grown locally.
They promise they’ll never dye, bleach, or preserve a bloom.
It’s about not messing with nature, and it’s how Newcastle-based creative Ashleigh Palmowski became known as The Naked Florist.
Together with her team she has been handling flowers in their rawest form for six years.
A record $95.4 million worth of fresh flowers were imported into Australia in 2021.
Ashleigh and her crew are striving to return a love of Australian blooms to reduce this number.
It’s what she calls a back-to-basics approach and she’s hoping Novocastrians will embrace the thinking.
IN SEASON
“I’m all about presenting flowers in their natural state and, to do that, it is best to honour them in their best season,” Ash says.
“Trends are not good for the environment.”
August is the final month of winter and, while most brides opt to exchange nuptials between March and May or September and November, Ash says native flowers are at their best now.
“I encourage brides to consider winter weddings,” she says. “At the moment there are some stunning natives at full bloom.
“They’re longer lasting, they’re hardy, they’re not too precious.”
Blooms to watch out for this month, she says, are daffodils – earlicheer and jonquils.
“They are all cousins of the daffodil and they’re all beautiful, so fresh and lovely at the moment.
“There are also lots of poppies, lots of soft, floaty flowers, and then there’s the stunning natives, the kangaroo paws, banksias, wax flowers and some wattle.”
KEEP IT REAL
As part of her commitment to sustainability, Ash and her team promise to never use dye on their blooms or chemically treat bunches to make them last longer.
“If you want to keep your cut flowers longer choose a reputable florist, change the water every one or two days and you can add some sugar and lemon juice,” she says.
“This acts as a stimulant, offering an extra feed of energy if it’s needed.”
SUPPORT LOCAL
For businesses that value sustainability and have ecofriendly practices Ash recommends Botanica Bird, As Sweet As Jasmine, and Valenteen Florals – all Hunter-based retail businesses.
For weddings and event flowers she’d add Film and Foliage and Flowers by Sophia Jean to the list.
ETHICS
“All I encourage is that as a consumer you make sure you look into who you are purchasing from and whether their practices align with your values. Please consider sustainability in your decision.”
