Rungis Flower Market

We had an opportunity to visit Paris recently and our hosts, Nancy and Paul Godbout of New Hampshire, suggested we visit the Rungis National Market... specifically the flower and plant section. The market is a square mile of wholesale vendors of every type(meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, fruit, and, of course, flowers and plants.

What an experience!

The barn shown above is but one of several and there are at least three or four aisles as shown above. Each with a great variety of products.

The above shot is typical of the depth and breadth of supply at each of the vendors.

The supply of holiday goods was astounding and this is just a sample.

Paul Godbout pictured in one supply vendor's warehouse... which was three stories!

Holiday Ribbons available in patterns and colors for every taste.

An incredible experience that is off the beaten track if you ever visit Paris:
Marché d'Intérêt National de Rungis

May Birth Month Flower is Lily

Lily of the Valley

Botanical Name :	Convallaria majalis
Common Name :	Lily of the Valley
Product Use :	Cut Flower
Pronunciation :	kon-va-LAH-ree-a mah-JA-lis
Family Roots :	Member of the Liliaceae (lily) family. Native to Europe. Related species include lily, tulip, asparagus, daylily.
Personality :	Nodding, bell-shaped flowers occur in loose, one-sided clusters at stem ends. Stems 8-10 inches long, bearing 6-8 clusters of flowers. Plant is a herbaceous perennial from a rhizome, classed as a monocotyledon, leaves mostly parallel veined. Flower fragrance is sweet, mild.
Availability :	Mainly spring but some year-round.
Flower Color :	White, pink.
Decorative Life :	3-6 days.
Ethylene Sensitivity :	More research needed
Ethylene Comments :	Likely to be ethylene sensitivity but unknown at this time. To be safe, treat with an anti-ethylene product.
Post Harvest Care Opportunities :	Recut stems under water and place into a fresh flower food solution. Flowers tend to wilt quickly if exposed to heat or poor air circulation, green buds may not open.
Storage Specifics :	30-32F for 2-3 weeks if rhizomes still are attached, store cut stems at 32-34F in water or dry for up to 5 days. At 36-40F, unopened flowers turned yellow, pathogen growth increased and vaselife decreased.
Tidbits :	From the Latin "convallis" (a valley), referring to where the plant is found. The specific epithet name majalis means May, in reference to when it flowers. Flowers are used in the perfume industry, rhizomes have medicinal properties. With over 3000 species, the lily family includes many medicinal and food species in addition to ornamental species. Some references suggest placing stems on ice to revive if limp. Single and double flower forms are available. More information available at: http://www.hoogasian.com/ and May Birth Month Flower

50% Off Fresh Flowers Today!

April 1st is the anniversary of the day Harold B. Hoogasian met his wife for life, Theresa. Honest, April Fool's Day 1949 is an important date in the Hoogasian Family and to celebrate the day, all walk in customers can buy any flowers in stock for 50% off retail.

The occasion and place of the meeting was that Theresa's sister, Martha, gave birth the day before to Cynthia. Theresa stopped at the flower stand Harold Sr. operated at that time (located at Ellis and Powell Streets) to buy a bouquet for her sister. The rest is history. Ask Harold Jr. or Larry Hoogasian about the details, it's a great story. Check out the Hoogasian Family Story.