Don’t be a wallflower! Thistle be a fun way to put the petal to the metal and enjoy a bouquet of questions about local flowers, as featured at the Maine Building’s 100th anniversary display by the Maine Flower Collective.
1. Why do locally grown, fresh-cut flowers often last longer than imported flowers?
A. They’re flash-frozen before delivery
B. They’re grown with synthetic preservatives
C. They’re harvested at peak freshness and travel shorter distances
D. They’re kept in sealed boxes until use
Answer: C.
Because local flowers are often harvested less than a week before they reach consumers, they retain more freshness and vibrancy. Unlike imports that spend days in transit and storage, local blooms skip long cold-chain logistics — resulting in longer vase life and better quality.
2. How does the Maine Flower Collective help buyers work with seasonal flowers?
A. By importing flowers during the off-season
B. By offering design services
C. By providing helpful guides and seasonal planning tools
D. By stocking the same flowers year-round
Answer: C.
The Collective offers resources like bloom calendars and seasonal availability charts that help florists and event planners design with local flowers. These tools empower buyers to embrace natural rhythms and make informed, creative choices year-round.
3. How does the Maine Flower Collective help reduce the carbon footprint of the floriculture industry?
A. By banning delivery vehicles
B. By promoting flower-free events
C. By streamlining local ordering and delivery
D. By using artificial flowers
Answer: C.
The Collective centralizes sourcing from many farms into a single platform, simplifying logistics for florists and event planners. By facilitating local pickups and regional deliveries, it significantly reduces emissions associated with air freight and long-haul transport.
4. What’s one reason local flowers are considered extra special?
A. They’re made entirely of silk
B. They’re identical to grocery store bouquets
C. They showcase unique colors, textures, and types not found in mass imports
D. They’re only available once a year
Answer: C.
Local growers often cultivate specialty and heirloom varieties that aren’t available through large international supply chains. These blooms offer designers a broader palette of colors, scents, and textures, for more distinctive and reflective of place and season.
5. If you’re planning a wedding or event and want to support local flower growers, what’s a great first step?
A. Search for florists who source from the Maine Flower Collective
B. Ask your planner to use imported roses
C. Look for the cheapest flowers online
D. Use only artificial flowers to cut costs
Answer: A.
Working with florists who source locally ensures your event flowers are fresh, seasonal, and sustainable. It also supports regional flower farms and opens creative possibilities with blooms that reflect the specific time and place of your celebration.
6. Where can you typically find Maine-grown flowers for personal gifts or celebrations?
A. Local farmers’ markets and florists who buy from Maine growers
B. Big box chain stores
C. Gas station convenience stores
D. Only during the winter months
Answer: A.
Farmers’ markets and independent florists connected to local growers are the best sources for Maine-grown flowers. They offer fresh, in-season blooms and often provide insight into where and how the flowers were grown — adding a story to your bouquet.
7. What makes the Maine Flower Collective different from a regular flower wholesaler?
A. It focuses only on dried flowers
B. It’s a member-owned cooperative rooted in sustainability and community
C. It only sells flowers on weekends
D. It grows flowers in greenhouses year-round
Answer: B.
Unlike traditional wholesalers, the Maine Flower Collective is a cooperative made up of local flower farmers and florists. Its focus is on sustainability, community engagement, and transparency — offering locally grown blooms that reflect seasonal abundance while supporting small agricultural businesses.
8. Which of the following flowers might you expect to find in Maine during summer?
A. Tulips
B. Zinnias
C. Daffodils
D. Amaryllis
Answer: B.
Zinnias thrive in Maine’s warm summer months and are a favorite among local growers for their vibrant colors and long vase life. Spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils bloom earlier in the season, while amaryllis is typically associated with winter and indoor forcing.
9. Which of the following is a benefit of buying local flowers?
A. Supporting local businesses
B. Enjoying seasonal variety
C. Reducing carbon emissions through local delivery
D. All of the above
Answer: D.
Purchasing local flowers uplifts small farms, reduces the environmental impact of long-distance shipping, and connects buyers with seasonal beauty. It’s a choice that supports both ecological health and the local economy.
10. How do the Maine Flower Collective’s guides help buyers choose the right flowers?
A. They rank flowers based on price only
B. They recommend imported flowers when local ones are unavailable
C. They provide educational tools on seasonality, color, and design uses
D. They focus only on foliage, not flowers
Answer: C. The Collective’s guides are more than availability lists — they’re educational tools that help buyers understand bloom timing, color trends, and ideal use cases for each flower. This supports better planning, creative expression, and stronger alignment with the local growing season.
Bonus Question:
Is Maine the only place in New England with local flower growers?
A. Yes — all other New England flowers are imported
B. No — other New England states also have vibrant local flower farms
C. Yes — Maine’s climate is the only one that supports flower farming
D. No — but only Maine flowers are certified organic
Answer: B.
While Maine has a strong and growing local flower movement, other New England states like Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island also have thriving local flower farms and seasonal markets. Choosing local is possible across the region!
Petal Promotions
Thanks for participating! If you’d like to enter the promotion for Real Maine or Maine Flower Collective giveaways, please share your email address.
Participant disclaimer: By providing your contact information, you acknowledge and agree that it may be added to a communications email list that shares news about, and promotes Maine farms and agricultural products in accordance with the State of Maine digital communications policy. You can opt out at any time. You also acknowledge that in order to be eligible for a chance to receive promotional giveaways, you need to submit your email address and may be contacted after the Big E Fair to communicate about claiming your giveaway. Questions can be sent to dacfrealmaine@maine.gov.
