FLOWERS

[mickthecactus]

Locally we are frequently visited by enormous Dutch lorries who deliver directly to florists shops - not just to central markets etc.

How can they afford this?

I believe they are heavily subsidised.

[sweetleaf]

Saw one last week Mick, must admit I thought it was strange, big lorry teeny tiny florist shop!

[andy]

Horticulture is the main industry in Holland and Belgium. Their fuel for heating etc is heavily subsidised by their governments.

Some of their multi-span greenhouses stretch for miles and even have an indoor transport system to get from one part to another.

I was very fortunate to be able to go to New covent garden market when i worked in London for Rentokil tropical plants......the smell and colour and the vast array of different plants was enough to almost get me sexually aroused

[obelixx]

Actually Andy, Belgium has a highly industrialised economy and a generally well educated, highly skilled, multi-lingual workforce. Market gardening and plant nurseries abound and agriculture is widespread but not, by any means, the main source of wealth or the main beneficiary of government subsidies:-

"The Belgian industrial sector can be compared to a complex processing machine: It imports raw materials and semi finished goods that are further processed and re-exported. Except for its coal, which is no longer economical to exploit, Belgium has virtually no natural resources. Nonetheless, most traditional industrial sectors are represented in the economy, including steel, textiles, refining, chemicals, food processing, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics, and machinery fabrication. Despite the heavy industrial component, services account for 72.5% of GDP. Agriculture accounts for only 1.4% of the GDP."

It is true that they grow plants and flowers on a grand scale here and export huge amounts to the UK and elsewhere but see the above quote for a truer picture of their proportional value to the economy.

[mickthecactus]

Andy, I'm old enough to have gone to old Covent Garden.

Didn't get me going though ( Iwas only 20 then - it didn't take too much in those days!)

[andy]

obelixx said:

Actually Andy, Belgium has a highly industrialised economy and a generally well educated, highly skilled, multi-lingual workforce. Market gardening and plant nurseries abound and agriculture is widespread but not, by any means, the main source of wealth or the main beneficiary of government subsidies:-

Blimey....i certainly didn't mean to make you out as a bunch of thicko's.

I'll shut up in future

[obelixx]

I'm not Belgian. I just live here. They have special schools where plant oriented people can already begin their horticultural training at 14 and grow up to be florists, market gardeners, nurserymen, arboriculturalists and go on to do degree courses and become landscape gardeners and designers depending upon their bent.

They take it very seriously whereas the Brits generally seem to think people become gardeners because they're too thick to do anything else and try to pay accordingly.

[andy]

You have taken me totally and utterly out of context Obelixx. I never said anything about being thick in my original post.....i don't know why you needed to "jump down my throat" with it.

I can't understand why i've hit such a nerve by saying (obviously wrongly) that horticulture was the main industry in Belgium. My post wasn't offensive or inflamatory and i appologise if i've caused offence.

Oh.....and i'm obviously one of those "thick" gardeners you mention as i've been a gardener since i left school at 15....and i'm now 40

[obelixx]

You made a sweeping and incorrect statement about Belgium which I felt was unfair and ill informed. I was neither rude nor personal in my reply giving more relevant facts about Belgium's real economic strengths.

I have not accused you of being thick. You mentioned it first. I have said there is a perception that gardeners are thick but you only have to look at all the bright sparks such as Alan T, Chris Beardshaw, Roy Lancaster and a whole host of brilliant designers, writers and plantsmen and women to realise that gardening is an intellectually creative and demanding pursuit as well as a physical one.

Take offense if you like but none was intended.

[Deleted]

As an impartial observer who has just got home after a very long and busy day, I find this thread to have progressed into a tiresome tirade, and I presume the admin will watch lest it develop into teddies at dawn.

Try taking a deep breath for a count of ten, then a big smile ...

[mickthecactus]

Golly! Sorry I started this - it was just an innocent observation. Honest!