Tag Archives: flowers

Bloom College flower market tours

Melbourne Wholesale Flower Market Tour – Your last chance to join us in 2014.

Immerse yourself in the fast paced action, wonderful fragrances and colour of The National Flower Centre (Melbourne Wholesale Flower Market).  Be guided by Bloom College to ensure you get the best quality and value while purchasing the freshest flowers available this season.  Usually closed to the public, this is the best way to experience a market loved by those in the floristry industry.  We also introduce you to the friendliest (and best) growers and wholesalers in the market – people that we’ve come to love from our many visits there.

Once you’re armed with your beautiful fresh flowers, it’s a great chance for you to try out your new skills you’ve learnt during your floristry training at Bloom College. Or for those thinking of doing one of our floristry workshops or courses, it’s the perfect introduction to learning about floral arranging.

This will be your last chance to join us at the market for 2014, and possibly one of the last times to visit the market at it’s current site in Footscray.  Plans are in place to move it to Epping in 2015 – which will be further to travel for many people.

Florists and flower retailers from across Victoria flock to this market, so come along and see what the fuss is about!

When: Saturday 6th December, 6am – 8am

Where: 542 Footscray Road,West Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3003 (map & full details)

Cost: $55 per person

Book here

If you can’t join us on the 6th December, but would like to join a tour at another time, head here to grab your voucher for a regular tour:

Please note: The Bloom College Florist Market Tour is usually by invite only to current students but this Christmas it will be open to all. Places are limited however.  The Vouchers for non florist guided Market tours are available to everyone most weekends.

Here’s a list of other Flower Market Tours available worldwide:

Sydney

Located near Homebush Bay (15 km west of Sydney), this is Australia’s largest flower market for fresh cut flowers, and is open to the General Public. Tours can be also tailored for general and special interest groups and individuals.

New York

Located on 28th Street, this Blog will help you navigate your way around the market, get the best flowers – and leave without feeling overwhelmed.

Bangkok

Located close to Chinatown, this half-day tour will ensure you get the most from your visit through the 1.5km long main thoroughfare and maze of sub-streets that make up this popular market.

London

Located in E2 (East London), this Sunday only market is also a great way to check out the host of local independent galleries and shops selling pottery, perfume and other treasures.

Holland

This YouTube clip shows you the sheer size of the largest Flower Market in the world, located in Aalsmeer, Holland.

Twenty million flowers move through here every day, and are brought in from Dutch growers, and also from growers in Israel, Kenya, South Africa, South America and beyond.  They are then exported all around the world.

To join Bloom College at our final Christmas Melbourne Wholesale Flower Market Tour for 2014, email us at enquiries@bloomcollege.com.au or to book a tour on any given Saturday book here.

 

flowers for anam cara house

Bloom College – Helping our Community

The beauty of flowers is for all to enjoy, admire and feel. The visual beauty and energy of flowers can heal the mind, body and soul’

 With this in mind, Yvette recently visited the volunteers at Anam Cara Geelong to share tips and advice on Flower Arranging.

Anam Cara offers support to people of all ages who are seeking palliative care within the greater Geelong community.

They are a community funded, non denominational organisation made up of compassionate health professionals, volunteers and supporters working together to provide day and overnight respite and end of life care in a “home like” environment.

The hard working volunteers were treated to a lesson on how to best use Spring flowers and herbs to create beautiful floral arrangements.  Each person left with the knowledge of how they can use flowers from their own garden to create arrangements that they can enjoy within their homes, give as gifts, or use to bring some healing energy and visual beauty to Anam Cara.

Volunteers have given us great feedback on this event, and Bloom College was so happy to have been able to have been a part of such a positive experience.

 

Do you know of a local community service that could benefit from a similar event? At Bloom College we have a many causes close to our hearts and we want to contribute to them in as many ways as we can. One way is by sharing our knowledge with people who could benefit from the positive effects that come from learning more about the therapeutic properties of flowers and flower arranging.

If you would like to enquire about the possibility of a similar event, please contact us.

 

 

Bloom College Intermediate Course

Daffodils – to brighten your day

Common name Daffodil, Jonquil

Botanical name Narcissus hybrids (daffodils inc large King Alfreds; Narcissus  jonquilla (jonquils); Narcissus erlicheer (double daffodil); Narcissus  tazzetta (paperwhite)

 daffodil dayjonquils bloom college

 

How to tell it’s good quality

Daffodils should be brightly coloured with the buds not quite open

Jonquils are best if only a few buds in the head are open

If all the buds are open, choose strong stems and bright colours

Avoid anything that shows signs of wilting and stems that are curled, split or discoloured

 

Products or arrangements it’s suitable for, stem length

Daffodils are best used in vases.  If they are to be used in floral foam, the stems need too be wired. The wires are carefully inserted into the hollow stem and up to the head of the bloom. Stem length 30cm–60cm

 

Conditioning, care and storage needs

Cleanly cut 2cm–4cm from each stem and quickly put them in water by themselves for approx 24 hours; after this period they can be put in with other flowers

Don’t add preservative

Replace the water daily for longevity

Keep them cool.

 

Colours it comes in

Yellow, orange, pink, white, cream

 

Nature serves us well by delivering Daffodils at the darkest and coldest time of year, as if to say “Here, there is hope, brighten your day for Spring is on its way”

Want to brighten your day with flowers? learn floristry the fun way and join one of our many courses throughout Melbourne and Geelong. Can’t get to one of our classes download the DIY app by Bloom College