Book: Flower Confidentiality

Leslie Woodriff

Lily Breeder best known for the “Star Gazer”

“Star Gazer”

A hybrid of an Oriental and Asiatic lily

Sun Valley Floral Farms

Ted Kirsch began this floral farm and patented many of Woodriff’s lilies.

The Plant Patent Act (1930)

Helped many breeders get financial rewards from their inventions.

John Mason - Florigene Moonvista

A research manger for the Florigene that is trying to create a blue rose

Blue roses

Using the pigment delphinidin from petunias, they are trying to insert it into the vacuole of the roses genetically. Issues have arisen with the reaction of copigments, metal ions, etc., to the delphimidin, and it is taking much longer to get results.

Symbolism of roses

Red: Passion —> Aphrodite and Adonis
White: Purity —> white rose society against nazis
Blue: No history/meaning?

Ethylene

A chemical used by plants to regulate their growth and development, particularly in ripening fruit and ageing flowers.

Abscission

Deliberate seperation of a plant part from the main body

Senescence

Ageing and everything linked with this

Italian Immigrants - Garibaldi

Don Garibaldi’s grandfather (an Italian immigrant) set up in Colma, California, growing violets.

Violets contain ionone, a compound that interferes with smell, so they have a fleeting fragrance.

The Italian immigrants focused on Violets, snapdragons and daisies.

Japanese Immigrants

Due to racism, many Japanese immigrants started to focus on agriculture, where they pioneered many growing techniques.
Chrysanthemums and Roses were their targets.
During WW2, many lost their business and had to transfer ownership to their US-born children.

Sun Valley Flower Farm - Lane DeVries

A Holland-born flower grower bought Sun Valley Farms after the company that owned it went bankrupt. The farm grows Daffodils, irises, and lilies. He runs the farm from the field, not the office, leading him to his current success.

Carlos Clusius (1593)

The botanist who first brought tulips into Holland - lead to tulipmania

Hortus Bulborum in Limmen

An important Dutch bulb garden founded to preserve historical bulb varieties, serving as a living museum.

Terra Nigra in Kudelstaart and Peter Boerlage

They are primarily breeders of gerberas and roses. There are many other flower farms on this street, and they constantly share ideas and encourage each other to grow.
It takes two years for gerberas to go from lab to shop and seven years for roses; therefore, they work thinking about the future and pushing each other to grow.

Ecuador

The flower industry has caused the country to be less self-sufficient, often relying on the US for food and low tariffs.

Andean Trade Preference Act (1991)

A US law designed to promote trade with Andean countries by providing tariff reductions on specific goods, including flowers from Colombia and Ecuador.

Agriflora trade show

An event focused on showcasing and promoting the floral industry, connecting growers, suppliers, and buyers.

Flower industry Cons:

Human rights: wage, overtime, long hours, child labour, etc.

Environmental/Health: heavy pesticide use, agricultural runoff, hazardous dumping, etc.

Sexual Harassment: Easy targets as work is solitary

Flower Industry Pros:

Provides jobs

Brings infrastructure,

Greater gender equality and safety for women who have jobs