Sending flowers to America

By Peggi Ridgway

Subjects: Cut flowers, History, Floriculturists, Biography, Marketing, American Florists' Exchange (Los Angeles, Calif.), Cut flower industry

Description: Local History, National Legacy - the first pictorial history of the Los Angeles Flower Market and Southern California flower farmers, sellers and designers - most of them European immigrants - who supplied fresh flowers year-'round for America's weddings and special events for more than 70 years, in pre-import days. This treasured history of the Los Angeles region is America's story, the American dream. Sending Flowers to America easily blends the unique contributions of the mostly European immigrant flower farmers, shippers, wholesalers, florists and those who built the floral industry of Los Angeles, Southern California and America with trends and ever-changing events and turning points of the region and the nation. This unique book empowers us with the American dream as played out by immigrants in Southern California over the last century. More than 350 photos partner with the stories of flower growers, florists, wholesalers, shippers and others who supplied flowers to customers all over the US, before the arrival of floral imports. Hardbound with dust jacket, its 288 full color pages are "a heart-warming tribute to all who played a role in the birth of the American Floral Industry," says Ann Quinn, executive director of the California State Floral Association. Proudly published by the American Florists' Exchange - Los Angeles Flower Market and available November 2008.