Why does flower availability change, and how flexible should I be?
The Short Answer
Flower availability shifts constantly with the growing season, weather in producing regions, and shipping, so the smart move is to stay flexible on specific stems while holding firm on color and mood. Flexibility gets you fresher flowers, better value, and fewer disappointments.
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Why the selection keeps changing
Flowers are agriculture, and agriculture never stands still. What is abundant and gorgeous one week can be scarce the next because of the growing season, a heat wave or cold snap in a growing region, or a shipping delay. Locally, Michigan’s calendar dictates a lot — peonies for a few weeks in late spring, dahlias and sunflowers in late summer, then a winter reliance on imports. Even year-round staples like roses swing in price and quality around holidays. This is simply the nature of a living product, and it is why a good florist’s cooler looks a little different every week of the year.
What to hold firm on, what to flex
The sweet spot is being firm about the things a designer can always deliver and flexible about the things nature controls. Color, mood, size, and budget are yours to set confidently — we can hit a blush palette or a bold autumn feel in any season. The specific varieties inside that palette are where flexibility pays off, because letting us choose the freshest stems that match your color always beats forcing an unavailable one. Think of it as directing the outcome, not dictating the ingredients. That balance gives you exactly the look you want with the best flowers available.
Planning around the calendar
If a particular flower truly matters to you, plan around its season. Want peonies without a premium? Marry or gift in late May or June when Michigan’s crop peaks. Love sunflowers? Late summer is your window. For big events, we build the palette around what will genuinely be at its best on your date, then name backup flowers in advance so a market surprise never derails the vision. For everyday gifts, designer’s choice sidesteps the whole issue. A little awareness of the seasonal rhythm turns availability from a frustration into a guide toward the freshest, loveliest options.
Planning Tips From Our Designers
- Hold firm on color, mood, size, and budget.
- Stay flexible on specific flower varieties.
- Plan around a flower’s season if it truly matters to you.
- Ask for backup flowers when planning a big event.
- Choose designer’s choice for effortless flexibility.
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