'Love is in the air', say Australian flower growers as they prepare for Valentine's Day

Record ID: 1965241

  • Title: 'Love is in the air', say Australian flower growers as they prepare for Valentine's Day
  • Date: 13th February 2025
  • Summary: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (FEBRUARY 13, 2025) (REUTERS) POINT OF VIEW OF TROLLEY OF FLOWERS GOING THROUGH MARKET RED ROSES VARIOUS OF PERSON ARRANGING FLOWERS POTS OF FLOWERS ON SALE PERSON BUYING FLOWERS COLOURED FLOWERS FLOWER GROWER, MICHAEL BAGALA, PICKING OUT FLOWERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLOWER GROWER, MICHAEL BAGALA, SAYING: "I think it's going to be a great year this year, everyone’s in a really good mood. I think there's a lot of love in the air, I don't know what's going on, but yeah it's happening, it's definitely happening this year. 2025 seems to be a big year. Thank you. It's great. So Friday, I think it's going to be a big one". VALENTINA SALO SINGING TO PEOPLE INSIDE THE FLOWER MARKET AS SHE DELIVERS COFFEE VARIOUS OF VALENTINA TAKING COFFEE TO FLOWER SELLER (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLOWER GROWER, MICHAEL BAGALA, SAYING: "Not everyone's into the red rose, but these days, you know what, it's about giving something special to someone special, cheering them up, telling them that they love them, if they don't love them, just say we're good mates, you know, but giving them something bright, cheerful, but red is also, for us is the real tradition." RED ROSES ON BAGALA’S COUNTER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BROWSING FLOWERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLOWER BUYER AND SELLER, SARAH NGUYEN, SAYING: "I make up arrangements and then I just sell it from my corner, near my house. Yeah, so I just save a lot of neighbours from their marriage because they forgot about Valentine’s and flowers and gifts till the last minute. PEOPLE BROWSING FLOWERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLOWER BUYER, DYLAN NDHLOVU SAYING: "So today I'm going to be doing some flower arrangements for my girlfriend and my brother's girlfriend. The colours that I’m going to be using are like, reds, pinks, and oranges". NGUYEN PAYING BAGALA FOR FLOWERS PROTEAS IN A BUCKET ORCHIDS ON SALE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FLOWER GROWER, MICHAEL BAGALA, SAYING: "Unfortunately, yes, cost of living has increased a bit of pressure for us guys, you know, water, chemical, obviously, the sprays have gone up, wages have gone up. But we're doing our best to try to keep as sharp as possible. So at least I know everyone can enjoy, still buying a rose or a nice bouquet at a reasonable price. I think flowers, giving flowers at the end of the day, it's a special thing. It's an occasional thing and I think, you know what, if they gotta spend that little bit extra to keep someone happy, why not?" SALVO SINGING TO CUSTOMERS TIMELAPSE OF FLOWER MARKET
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Australia Sydney Sydney Flower Markets Valentines Valentines Day bouquets florists flowers love red roses roses
  • Location: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
  • City: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA001099412022025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:With buckets full of freshly cut flowers, red roses took centre stage at Australia’s largest flower market on Thursday (February 13) as local growers and florists prepared for their busiest and biggest day of the year: Valentine's Day.
    At the Sydney Flower Market, a singing barista serenaded love-struck customers as local growers and florists gathered to buy and sell their finest blooms.
    Michael Bagala from Bagala Bros Australia, a local grower, said he has prepared 65,000 stems of red roses for the special day.
    "I think it's going to be a great year this year runs in a really good mood. I think there's a lot of love in the air, I don't know what's going on, but yeah, it's happening.” Bagala told Reuters. “So Friday, I think it's going to be a big one"
    Despite the rising cost of living, which has impacted the flower industry through increased costs of water, fertiliser, and wages, Bagala remains optimistic.
    "We're doing our best to try to keep as sharp as possible. So at least I know everyone can still enjoy buying a rose or a nice bouquet at a reasonable price,” he said.
    “Giving flowers at the end of the day, it's a special thing'" Bagala added. "It's an occasional thing and I think, you know if they got to spend that little bit extra to keep someone happy, why not?"
    (Production: Stefica Nicol Bikes, Jill Gralow)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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