On shoes or skis, Denver florists are sure to make your flower delivery.
Denver, Colorado is nicknamed the “Mile High City” due to the fact that its elevation is close to one mile above sea level. Because its high altitude, the air in Denver is rarefied – this means that it has less pressure. Golfers will appreciate this as it’s been noted that balls travel 10% farther thanks to this rarefied air.
The cheeseburger and the ice cream soda were invented in Denver and the city also brews 80 different beers. This is more than any other city in the nation but perhaps a lesser known story is that of the Denver flower industry.
Denver was once considered the Carnation capital of the world. Thanks to the high altitude combined with warm days and cooler nights, carnations were the best choice for Denver flower growers to cultivate. Flower production grew rapidly in the late 1800’s and the invention of the greenhouse allowed Denver flower farmers to continue their operations year round. In the industry’s early days, the greenhouse carnations grown in the colder months were transferred to local Denver flower shops by horse drawn buggies with charcoal heaters keeping the flowers from freezing. Denver flower growers continued to dominate the carnation market until the mid 1970’s when South American flowers began to make their way in to the United States. Today, several Denver flower farmers have taken to growing specialty niche flowers and plants like roses and poinsettias as there is less competition from their South American counterparts.
The Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Growers Association works to support the production and marketing of greenhouse flowers and plants throughout the state. Denver flower farmers as well as Denver florists have benefitted from association memberships in finding new and creative ways to keep themselves in business. Most Denver flower shops purchase their product from Denver flower wholesalers who mostly deal in imported flowers, leaving their livelihoods at risk.
In the face of potential crisis for Denver flower growers, a point of contention is that many of Denver’s flowers are actually grown in greenhouses operated by the city’s Parks Department. Denver boasts the largest city parks system in the country. Over 200,000 flowers are grown by the Parks Department, and are planted throughout the Denver area. If you laid all of these Denver flower beds side by side, they’d cover 56 miles! Growing their own may result in cost savings for the city, but it is also business that could help to support Denver’s flower farmers; an industry that was once a driving force in the city’s economy.
Denver Sights and Sounds
- The Black American Western Museum
- Denver Art Museum - contains one of the largest Native American art collections in the world
- Red Rocks Park - natural amphitheater carved into red sandstone rock formations that are 70 million years old
- Larimer Square - offers century-old buildings with shops, restaurants, brewpubs and nightclubs
- LoDo - the Lower Downtown area
- The Rockies
Our florists in Westminster or Lakewood flower shops can help deliver beautiful flower arrangements right to your front door. Littleton florists and flower shops in Aurora that are located right in the neighborhood can guarantee the freshest flowers available. You can trust real Englewood local florists and Thornton flower shops for reliable florist-delivered flowers.