For whatever reason, Mother’s Day makes me think of flowers. Maybe it’s because flowers seem to be the easiest go-to gift — sorry, Mom — but it’s also when Ontario flowers start to bloom after the winter. As the cliche goes: April showers bring May flowers, which is good because the Toronto Flower Market is back for its third season, just in time for Mother’s Day.
The third season of this monthly flower market begins next Saturday May 9 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The market runs every second Saturday of the month from May to October. For the past two seasons they have been located along Queen St. W., but this summer plan to switch things up by heading to the east side. “I’m not sure I can ever express how truly thankful I am for all the love and support the Queen West community has shown to us over the past two seasons. The move is bittersweet, but it has always been our intention to make the flower market accessible to all Torontonians,” said Natasa Kajganic, founder of Toronto Flower Market.
The market has partnered with Streetcar Developments at 659 Queen St. E. (at Broadview) not only to use their space for the market, but also to collaborate and create creative programing for the Riverside community; the details of which will be released later this summer.
The Toronto Flower Market features 14 different flower vendors, both local and provincial. They focus on raising awareness of flowers that grow in Ontario rather than the imports from South America, or the U.S. These include flowers like tulips in May, peonies in June, sunflowers in July, lilies in August, and mums in September and October. Buying local means helping to sustain the environment, fresher blooms, and ultimately a longer life of the flower. The Toronto Flower Market’s vendors are local growers and florists specializing in both potted plants and fresh-cut flowers.
Of course, to get the best selection of plants and flowers you need to go early, like the regulars do. Even if you’re not there to buy, it’s still nice to be surrounded by the fresh blooms after the dreary winter, and hey, there must be a reason flowers are the most popular Mother’s Day present.
