All of the florists here at Bloom de Jour are passionate about flowers and believe we have the flower or bouquet for you. We are also passionate about the city we live in and want to share a little history of the area and flowers that inspire us.
Bristol has a population of 463,000 and is the largest city in South West England. It has quite the history, too! Archaeological finds, including flint tools dating from 300,000-126,000 years ago made using the Levallois Technique; indicate that the site of the modern city has been inhabited in some form since the Middle Palaeolithic. More recently, although still some time ago, Roman villas were built near the confluence of the rivers Frome and Avon, and by the 11th century the settlement was known as Brycgstow (Old English ‘the place at the bridge’). The city continued to expand as has developed into a modern and thriving city. There is a neat symmetry to this as Bristol is now famous for the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which draws numerous visitors all year round. Throughout its long history the city has maintained close links to nature and it also boasts some notable pioneers in the field of Botany. What else is expected of a city that awarded renowned naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, the freedom of the city in 2003? In addition, Bristol was given the European Green Capital Award in 2015 in recognition of its environmental record and dedication to a greener future. This can be seen in the variety of flowers and plants on display throughout the year, and the numerous amateur florists brightening the local environment.
Bristol is often referred to as a city in the countryside, and with over 400 parks and nature reserves nearby there are no prizes for guessing why. The city is home to a variety of professional and amateur florists and some of the largest parks in the city centre are Brandon Square, Castle Park, Queen Square and Clifton Downs. If you arrive at the right time of the year, you will be able to enjoy the flowers in bloom, and you will also find they are host to some of Bristol’s biggest festivals. In addition to these areas of natural beauty in the city, Bristol is also home to numerous specialised Botanic gardens. It is also possible to view plant collections that were grown and sown by Bristol residents and achieved national Collection status at Bristol Zoo Gardens. With over 170 years of nurture and horticultural excellence the Bristol Zoo has established 12 acres of rare beauty and outstanding variety that are well worth a visit, as well as inspired numerous florists and flower enthusiasts alike.
The University of Bristol is home to a Botanic Garden, too, and is currently located in Stoke Bishop, having had two previous homes in the city. Over 4,500 species of plants and flowers are on display in collections relating to evolution, local and rare native flowers, Mediterranean and finally useful plants. The useful section contains herb gardens used in both Western and Chinese traditional medicine, including species used in Southern African and Ayurvedic medicine. Another horticultural centre established near Bristol was created in 1903, the Long Ashton Research Station, to study and improve West Country cider, a noble pursuit if ever there was one! It became part of the University in 1912 and later expanded into fruit research, especially apples, pears, plums, strawberries and blackcurrant. In the 1980’s the site specialised in arable crops and all aspects of botany. Unfortunately, the site was closed in 2003, but it is still best known for developing Ribena, a still popular vitamin-C rich drink which was distributed widely during World War Two.
These are just some of the local histories that inspire us as florists, and we truly believe the flowers we encounter on a daily basis will be perfect for whatever the occasion.
All of the florists here at Bloom de Jour are passionate about flowers and believe we have the flower or bouquet for you. We are also passionate about the city we live in and want to share a little history of the area and flowers that inspire us.
Bristol has a population of 463,000 and is the largest city in South West England. It has quite the history, too! Archaeological finds, including flint tools dating from 300,000-126,000 years ago made using the Levallois Technique; indicate that the site of the modern city has been inhabited in some form since the Middle Palaeolithic. More recently, although still some time ago, Roman villas were built near the confluence of the rivers Frome and Avon, and by the 11th century the settlement was known as Brycgstow (Old English ‘the place at the bridge’). The city continued to expand as has developed into a modern and thriving city. There is a neat symmetry to this as Bristol is now famous for the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which draws numerous visitors all year round. Throughout its long history the city has maintained close links to nature and it also boasts some notable pioneers in the field of Botany. What else is expected of a city that awarded renowned naturalist, Sir David Attenborough, the freedom of the city in 2003? In addition, Bristol was given the European Green Capital Award in 2015 in recognition of its environmental record and dedication to a greener future. This can be seen in the variety of flowers and plants on display throughout the year, and the numerous amateur florists brightening the local environment.
Bristol is often referred to as a city in the countryside, and with over 400 parks and nature reserves nearby there are no prizes for guessing why. The city is home to a variety of professional and amateur florists and some of the largest parks in the city centre are Brandon Square, Castle Park, Queen Square and Clifton Downs. If you arrive at the right time of the year, you will be able to enjoy the flowers in bloom, and you will also find they are host to some of Bristol’s biggest festivals. In addition to these areas of natural beauty in the city, Bristol is also home to numerous specialised Botanic gardens. It is also possible to view plant collections that were grown and sown by Bristol residents and achieved national Collection status at Bristol Zoo Gardens. With over 170 years of nurture and horticultural excellence the Bristol Zoo has established 12 acres of rare beauty and outstanding variety that are well worth a visit, as well as inspired numerous florists and flower enthusiasts alike.
The University of Bristol is home to a Botanic Garden, too, and is currently located in Stoke Bishop, having had two previous homes in the city. Over 4,500 species of plants and flowers are on display in collections relating to evolution, local and rare native flowers, Mediterranean and finally useful plants. The useful section contains herb gardens used in both Western and Chinese traditional medicine, including species used in Southern African and Ayurvedic medicine. Another horticultural centre established near Bristol was created in 1903, the Long Ashton Research Station, to study and improve West Country cider, a noble pursuit if ever there was one! It became part of the University in 1912 and later expanded into fruit research, especially apples, pears, plums, strawberries and blackcurrant. In the 1980’s the site specialised in arable crops and all aspects of botany. Unfortunately, the site was closed in 2003, but it is still best known for developing Ribena, a still popular vitamin-C rich drink which was distributed widely during World War Two.
These are just some of the local histories that inspire us as florists, and we truly believe the flowers we encounter on a daily basis will be perfect for whatever the occasion.
