Flower Power

I am a huge fan of the San Francisco Flower Mart. The Mart is designed primarily for the wholesale trade and florists arrive in the middle of the night (as early as 2 a.m. to be exact!) to fetch fresh flowers for local shops. But it's also open to the public every day from 10:00am - 3:00pm, except Sundays. I try to make a habit of going on Fridays just before lunch to pick up flowers for the weekend. It's a really nice way to make your place look great without a lot of expense. You can spend a lot, or very little depending on your taste. There are several vendors to choose from and I have found over the years Passanisi Nursery to have the best prices, and the nicest service. They're also very helpful in guiding you through plant maintenance should you have a bit of a black thumb. There are also loads of orchids, living potted plants and herbs for your garden, all at really reasonable prices.






The origins of the San Francisco Flower Mart go back to the late 1800's when local flower growers could bring their product to Lotta's Fountain in downtown San Francisco three days a week, selling their flowers to local florists. It then moved to a larger more central location at 5th and Howard Streets in 1924. As flower production expanded, the need for a larger, more modern and permanent facility led to the design and construction of the present-day market at Sixth and Brannan Streets in the SOMA area of San Francisco in 1956. There's even a great diner on the premises, should taking in all the floral aromas make you hungry. So, not only are you getting lovely flowers and plants for your home at very inexpensive prices, you're visiting a piece of San Francisco history, too. It's one of my favorite city things to do.