Valentines Day Flowers
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — If you haven't already already made it to the Flower Market, you're probably not going to get there today. The twin markets, centered at 8th and Wall, are mainly set up to sell wholesale and by 11am or so most of the sellers are packing up and going home.
As I've told you before, the Flower Market is really the only place you should be buying flowers on Valentines Day. Once you've bought such nice flowers so cheap, it's just not possible to buy elsewhere.
The markets may be particularly packed today, but they're there all year. There's no excuse not to have some fresh flowers around living so close here in Downtown.
David Kennedy on February 14, 2007, at 11:56AM – #1
I used to come here all the time when I was single. I discovered buying flowers every week was a good way to beautify my home. You couldn't beat the prices. Still can't. The Flower Mart is also a great place to go before Christmas for decorative items. Lots of good product at great prices.
meekorouse on February 14, 2007, at 03:39PM – #2
we have cats (can't have flowers or plants around them) so no flowers for us, but they were really pushing the flowers on KTLA this morning.. sounds like a really nice deal if I knew anyone I'd give flowers to. (instead I picked up some 'mens pocky' for the hubby (I really don't like bitter choco so it's the only one I won't steal from him first! LOL!)
Michael R on February 14, 2007, at 06:15PM – #3
Will you be getting the 'mens pocky' at Famima?
Tim on February 15, 2007, at 10:42AM – #4
What are the prices like? Could someone give an example, like "I paid XX.00 for 2 dozen roses, and at a flower shop they would have cost XX.00!!" I always get flowers from Trader Joe's and am wondering if the flower mart is cheaper that that. Thanks.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on February 15, 2007, at 11:49AM – #5
I paid $20 yesterday for a dozen roses prepared into an arrangement (pictured above in the post) with a few tulips (I think... I'm terrible at flowers). Different vendors have different pricing, and that was probably the high side for that sort of arrangement. I don't know flower store prices, but I know they're much more than that.
george bedula on March 02, 2007, at 01:40AM – #6
the flower market is the only place to buy flowers? sure it is, if you're a fool who doesn't know a tulip from a daffodil and thinks he can go downtown once or twice a year and outwit the flower sharks waiting to unload the imported funk and junk they've accumulated and no florist in their right mind would buy. be honest and post this reply - the preeminent reason consumers buy flowers downtown is they are in a complicit unspoken agreement with wholesalers to avoid paying the retail sales tax - and will accept products of secondary quality, panhandlers and street muggers following them about, and ticket witches and warlocks on the prowl watching them park and waiting for their meters to expire just so they can think they were cool. oh, and did we mention the traffic? downtown blogger should reveal he has an ax to grind for his employer - cartifact - who also purports to work for the FBI - doesn't the government pay well enough so you don't have to tout your downtown map schemes?
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on March 02, 2007, at 08:33AM – #7
I do know a tulip fom a daffodil. It turns out I didn't know tulips from lilies. I've now been educated.
Kenarch on March 02, 2007, at 06:05PM – #8
George...
I'll invite you to take a morning or midafternoon walk with me through the Flower / Fashion District any time... and maybe you'll have a slightly different experience. I've been walking around here for a long time, all hours of the day, and often well into the evening - and the last thing I worry about are "panhandlers and street muggers following them about, and ticket witches and warlocks on the prowl"... If I drive over to the 8th and San Pedro area I'll pay the 5 bucks and park in a lot... though I have a loft near there so I will walk. I'm not really an agressive looking or acting guy, but those sort of people tend to leave me alone, and besides, this area isn't trying to be a suburban mega-mall. There are hundreds of Glendale Galleria type places or Conroy's to shop at if one is looking for a santized, boring, soul-deadening homogenized experience. I do buy flowers from retailers as well, and support local businesses. Have you an axe to grind with Downtown? Bad experiences? Scary shadows and dark alleys? Watching too many movies? It's not bad down here... just gritty. Welcome to the "real world", and hey - sales tax is 8.25%, not really a big deal on a $50.00 arrangement - and if one looks around a bit, one will find all quality levels. Where do you think a lot of those high-end florists get their flowers anyhow? A lot of them buy right here across the street from my loft.
Cheers!
Peggi Ridgway on February 22, 2009, at 02:02PM – #9
It's possibly important to note that the official Flower District does not include all those ratty-looking shops along San Pedro and Eighth streets. The official vendors of the Flower District are the businesses located on Wall Street from Seventh to Eighth, AND the two major Flower Markets across from each other in the 700 block of Wall Street. The rest of the bunch - the little shops on the fringes - offer the lesser quality flowers. Visit the original two Flower Markets and the vendors on Wall Street for the cool beauty of high quality flowers and economy. See http://flowerdistrict.com for hours and details.