The Flower District, West 28th Street
MONDAY, JUNE 15TH 2009
AREA MAP
On 28th Street, between Broadway and 7th Avenue is what is informally known as the Flower District of NYC. You will find thousands of plants here, from freshly cut flowers to eight foot tall trees and shrubs. It is mostly wholesale, meant for events, weddings, et cetera, but a few shops will sell to the public. For an incredible selection, plan on being there between 5am and 7am.
I sauntered over around 10am to find that some shops were completely empty by this time. All that remained were a few trampled stems on the tile floor. The shops that still had stock were bustling, and I took only a few photographs because wherever I stood I was in someone's way. It was a tourist trip for me, after all, but a livelihood for them.
It seemed that every shop had a cat, which made me very happy and I spent a good portion of my time playing with kitties.
The smells remain most significant in my memory, even above the colorful blossoms and rare flora. The air was sharp and sweet with pollen and fragrance. Despite all the beautiful flowers, I was most drawn to the sections (large and small) of trees for purchase. I snatched up a 1" section of a birch tree for home decor.
I had two intents for the day: experience the Floral District and purchase succulents. The last photographs is where I purchased a beautiful selection of succulents, none of which I can name because I know nothing about them.