With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it is all too clear that no two years are the same in floristry. The run-up to Valentine’s Day has been the complete opposite to last year, which had little rain during the short rain season and thus minimal problems with the crops. This year, there are fewer flowers ready to be harvested. Currently, our nights are the coldest we’ve seen in years, and daytime weather is chilly, so all things green don’t grow so fast.
We therefore expect a lot fewer stems to be clock auctioned in these first few weeks. Where we were plagued by air transport problems in November and December, current projections are there will be no capacity problems at all around Valentine’s Day, if you are willing to pay. It is a fact, however, that there is structurally less capacity than before Covid, which will certainly play a role during the year.
We will take it easy this year, holding off the construction of new greenhouses for a while. Given the volatility in air cargo capacity and the bills associated, we’ll settle for a no-growth scenario for a year or so. This gives us time to spruce up the garden here and there and take up other projects. This year, for instance, we will make a proper start on composting, take a good look at our assortment – perhaps replacing more than in other years – fix and tar our internal roads and perhaps add a lick of paint here and there. We’re a bit like the average municipality preparing for a royal visit.