Pssst...

I am sharing a secret with you.  Well, it is actually the worst kept secret in LA.

Ok, maybe not the worst kept secret, it is LA after all...

The secret  =  The LA Flower Mart.

It is vast, it is world on to itself, and it has every flower & floral accessory you can think of within its walls.

And know what else?  It is cheap and sells wholesale to the public.

The public in the know that is - now you are part of that knowledgable public.

The Flower Mart started over a century ago when flower growers drove their blooms by horse & carriage to a central downtown location for sale to florists & other merchants.

 Two markets arose from this trade, the European and the Japanese.  This was circa 1916.

As the desire for fresh flowers grew so did the markets.  Housed across the street from each other in downtown LA the Marts are operating a brisk business 6 days a week.

Today the LA Flower Mart is the largest wholesale flower distributor in the United States.

You can stroll in, pay a $2.00 fee and feast your eyes on bloom after bloom.  Buy as many bouquets, baskets, ribbons and more that you can carry.

I did just that today with my friend Nancy.  We are working on an event for a charity organization, National Charity League. It is a mother/daughter philanthropic organization which offers us & our girls the chance to give back.  

Here we are at the Mart after scoring just what we wanted & a bit more.  

It is good to arrive at the LA Flower Mart with a plan.  Without one you'll drift along from vendor to vender wanting one of everything. F-O-C-U-S !!  Despite all the attractive distractions...

Our plan was for enough white & 'blue' flowers for 6 centerpieces & 9 nosegays, ribbon, floral foam & tape.  And we scored it all for just about $100.  

I love how the vendors wrap up the flowers in newspapers of different languages and twine.  Today ours were tucked into sheets from a Korean paper.

The trunk full of flowers we headed home.  Then I got to work...

What a lovely way to spend the day.

Here is a peak at what I came up with for our centerpieces.

More details on the arrangements next week.

It was fun to share this "secret" with you!

You have any secrets to share?  I promise I won't tell...  ;)

** Kelly **