February 10, 2025

What Do Tariffs Mean For Flowers?

Navigating Tariffs: How They Affect Your Flowers

At Foxgloves Flowers, we’re dedicated to bringing you the freshest, most beautiful blooms, and we want to keep you informed about any potential impacts from recent trade discussions between Canada and the US. We understand that tariffs can be a complex issue, and we want to alleviate any concerns you might have.

The Current Situation: Tariffs and Our Flowers

Right now, the situation is somewhat uncertain. While the US has thr

eatened to imposed tariffs on Canadian goods, and Canada has retaliated, it’s important to emphasize that the details of the affected products are still being finalized. Crucially, the Department of Finance has not yet included the flower and plant sector in the initial round. We are currently unaffected by these tariffs.

Transparency is our priority.

We source a significant portion of our blooms from all over the world, ensuring the diversity and beauty of our offerings. However, a relatively small percentage (under 5%) of our inventory originates from the US. While seasonal varieties like eucalyptus from California, leatherleaf, and tree ferns play a role, the majority (approximately 85%) of our flowers are locally sourced. This includes the exquisite B.C.-cut flowers and potted plants, our best-selling items.

Our Commitment to Local Flowers

We are a strong supporter of local businesses. Our priority will always be supporting local farmers and flower growers. Their contributions to the vibrant flower scene in our community are invaluable. Our commitment to local sourcing allows us to offer fresh, stunning flowers at competitive prices. We believe local flowers bring a tangible connection to our community, preserving the traditions, the beauty, and the livelihoods of our local partners.

Seasonal Sourcing and Our Approach to Imports

We carefully source flowers from different parts of the world to ensure a constantly evolving selection suitable for the seasons. While we import some items, we carefully evaluate the price difference between imported and local blooms. We prioritize local sourced flowers, selecting them over imports unless truly unavailable, or if the price difference is significant enough to be unreasonable and make us unable to remain competitive.

Your Bouquet, Our Commitment

The bottom line for you, our customer, is this: we’re committed to keeping Foxgloves Flowers as affordable and beautiful as possible. Our unwavering commitment is to support local growers, and to make sure that the stunning variety of flowers in your bouquets reflects the dedication we have to nurturing and supporting our local flower growing community.If any changes to the tariff situation affect our flower sources, we will, of course, update you promptly. In the meantime, we are confident that our commitment to local flowers, our careful sourcing strategies, and our dedication to competitive pricing will ensure that Foxgloves Flowers continues to offer you a stunning variety of fresh, beautiful blooms.

Thank you for supporting local.

April 17, 2024

Amazing News! Saanich has allowed farm stands to stay!

Roadside produce stands, pop-up farm markets get green light in Saanich

*This was the headline in the Times Colonist this morning, April 17th 2024.

Read the TC article here

After four years of anticipation, the residents of Saanich are celebrating a significant milestone: the approval of permanent roadside stands. This long-awaited decision marks a triumph for local businesses like Foxgloves Flowers and a testament to the power of community advocacy.

The journey to this momentous occasion has been a journey of patience and perseverance. Since the onset of the pandemic, temporary bylaws allowed for roadside stands to flourish, providing a vital lifeline for businesses like Foxgloves Flowers. What began as a makeshift solution during uncertain times quickly evolved into a beloved local institution, fostering a sense of community and connection among neighbors.

For businesses like Foxgloves Flowers, the roadside stand became more than just a place to sell products—it became a beacon of hope and resilience. It provided a safe and welcoming space for neighbors to gather, shop, and support local agriculture. As Colleen O’Farrell, owner of Foxgloves Flowers, reflects, “It has been amazing having a little farm stand, which started quite by accident during the pandemic, but became a local fixture in the neighborhood.”

The approval of permanent roadside stands signifies more than just a regulatory change; it represents a shift towards a more sustainable and community-oriented approach to commerce. By allowing homegrown products to be shared within neighborhoods, Saanich Council has demonstrated its commitment to supporting local businesses and fostering a vibrant sense of community.

As Colleen O’Farrell expresses, “I, for one, am so glad that the Saanich Council has approved the new bylaw to allow for homegrown products to be shared within our neighborhoods. Yay Saanich!” This sentiment is echoed by many residents who have come to rely on the convenience and quality of locally sourced goods.

Moving forward, the permanent presence of roadside stands promises to enrich the fabric of Saanich’s neighborhoods, providing residents with access to fresh, locally grown produce and flowers. Moreover, it serves as a testament to the power of grassroots advocacy and community engagement in shaping the future of our cities.

In conclusion, the green light for permanent roadside stands in Saanich is not just a victory for local businesses—it is a triumph for community, resilience, and the spirit of collaboration. As we embrace this new era of sustainable commerce, let us celebrate the resilience of our community and the boundless potential of collective action.

If you have time, tune in tomorrow to CBC All Points West with Jason D’Sousa and listen to Colleen chat with him!

September 25, 2023

Big News! We developed an APP!

We now have a pretty new APP! Think “Skip the Dishes”, but for flowers! It is crazy easy on the eyes, super user friendly and even has Apple Pay to make the buying process a breeze! You can jump in and order flowers from start to finish in less than 1 minute if you know what you want to buy. The hardest part is figuring out what you want to say on the card!

I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to sponsor a Capstone Project at Camosun College in The Computer Science Department. We had an AMAZING Project Manager, Brandon Devnich (Did I mention that he is my hubby and teaches in the Computer Science Department and spearheaded this whole project!). He handled all the technical questions and support issues as that is completely out of my wheelhouse, I am much better with all the organic, beautiful things! The students did a fabulous job and learned a lot in the process. Thanks guys for all your hard work to make this app a reality.

So go check out the app in the APP Store and download it. It is free of course. Hopefully it will make buying flowers fun and easy for you! And for all you Android users, we haven’t forgotten about you. That version is in the works!

Check Out The App Here

I would love to hear your thoughts, so if you have any feedback, please drop me a line. info@foxglovesflowers.com

Cheers,

March 24, 2023

We Started a Newsletter!

Exciting News!

We have finally decided to create a newsletter to keep you guys up to date on all the happenings around the farm and flower studio! I know, about time right?

We try and keep you guys up to date on social media but it has come to our attention that some of you are not on social media!!? So in order to keep things fair across the board we now have a short little email newsletter that will pop into your inbox from time to time. My goal is not to annoy, or bombard you with useless emails. Nor be sales-y. More to educate, inspire and inform you guys of what is blooming seasonally, fun garden projects to try, inspiring weddings and events that we have been lucky enough to be a part of, early bird discounts for pre booking holiday flowers and so much more!

Want in on all this fun? Drop us a line and we will add you to the growing email list!

We are looking forward to connecting with you in the upcoming months!

March 24, 2023

Get Growing!

Spring Has Finally Sprung!

With spring finally here it is time to get out into the garden and get growing! Whether that is fruits, vegetables or beautiful annual and perennial flowers it does not matter! It does the heart and soul good to get your fingers dirty and feel the earth in your hands. It connects us with nature in a way that taking a walk or run just does not. Being outside is amazing but seeing something emerge from a seed you have planted is just pure magic!

Take the time to nurture your mind body and soul by finding a little (or big) space to plant and watch things grow. It could be as simple as a window box or a pot of herbs on your window ledge! There is research that shows the mental health benefits along with the added benefits to your physical being.

In short, the garden is MY happy place, maybe it could be yours too!

If you are looking to add a few things you your existing garden or find that pot of herbs for your window ledge, swing by our farm stand! We popped some new things out there today!

Gorgeous fresh rosemary plants, spring bulbs, heathers, succulents and so much more!