Ten of Millions of flowers and plants are traded via the auction clocks on a daily basis at the FloraHolland flower auction in Aalsmeer, Netherlands.

On a recent trip to Holland to visit my sister, so recent I just got back to the States yesterday, I made the trip to the auction and saw what happens everyday between 6:30am and 11:00am.

 

For a small fee, you can enter into the warehouse space and view from above how the entire system works.

Upon walking in you see hundreds and hundreds of carts and flowers moving at a very fast pace.

 

We got there at 7:30am after the auction had already been in process for 1 hour and there were already so many empty carts.

As you walk further into the warehouse you see the trolleys pulling the carts of flowers that are about to be sold or have just been sold.  As well as…

 

all the different varieties of flowers in all sizes and colors awaiting their future…

 

 

 

There is a quality control testing room as well to make sure the product is up to par.

But The Clock is The Heart of the Auction

The auction happens inside the middle of the warehouse and this is the true amazing part of the entire place.

 

“Two auction clocks working simultaneously and independently of one another. Each clock has an auctioneer.  Buyers sit on the benches in the stands.  Using a button on the benches, they can switch from one clock to another. Any information the buyers may need is displayed on the screen.  Then the auction begins following the Dutch auction system.  The auctioneer determines the initial start price on the action clock. The first buyer to stop the clock places a bid at the highest price.  In a matter of hours, millions of flowers and plants are auctioned through ten thousand transactions, sometimes hundreds of transactions per minute.  Again and again, ever day.  Speed is important at the auction, because the sooner the flowers or plants get to you, the fresher they are.”

 

 

 

 

 

The flowers are brought into the room on carts, sold, then whisked off to be boxed up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a separate space just for the boxing up for the flowers.

 

 

Then the product is put on tractor trailers to be sent worldwide via truck, train, or airplane… It can be delivered at the latest by the very next day and the same day in some parts of the world.

 

 

 

As in Wassenaar, Netherlands, where my sister lives, the flowers were delivered later that morning…

 

The Mann Center for the Performing Arts hosts the Party in the Park Gala Celebration during the summer concert series every year.  This year marked the 75th Anniversary of the live music in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia.

The act last night featured Aretha Franklin, Condoleezza Rice, and the Philadelphia Orchestra.  The evening was enjoyed by a crowd of 8,000; 600 of which attended the Gala.

 

 

While setting up, we were able to enjoy the voice of Aretha Franklin while she was rehearsing for the performance later that evening.

The registration table gave the guests a taste of what was to come inside the tent.

The colorful zinnias that were picked from Pete’s Produce looked stunning on the cocktail tables dressed in the Glacier Linen.

The space consisted of 65 dinner tables in two tents.  Three different linens with three different centerpieces created the atmosphere for the celebration.

The overlays were provided by Special Occasions and the underclothes were by Party Rental.

White Orchid Plants on top of Marrakesh Linen.

 

Large Alocacia Leaves, Large Monstera Leaves, and Medium Monstera Leaves  with Curly Willow Branches sit upon the Sunrise Organza.

Glacier Blue Hydrangea and Cafe Dahlia compliment the Milan Organza topper.

 

Many thanks to Stephen Starr Catering for a successful event!

 

 

It was a great night to enjoy the music in the park with the Philadelphia skyline in the distance, and the bonus was that temperature was cooler too

 

 

We were asked by the talented Brian Kappra of Evantine Design to create one of the four pods of color for the MANNA Nourish Awards 2010 at the 23rd Street Armory .

Brian created the concept of four different color stories by four different designers (TableArt, Lamsback Floral Decorators, Jamie Rothstein Floral Design, and Evantine Design) to showcase Stephen STARR Events’ four different food concepts.

We had the color teal and the “El Vez” food station.

We used White Phalenopsis Orchids and White Hydrangea on top of the large central vase in our plexiglass pond for the guacamole station.

 

 

While the taco station had a giant tree of Fantail Willow and King Protia.

 

The last third of our pod had a large white ottoman with green moss balls and teal pillows.

 

It was a wonderful event and we are still so honored to have been asked to participate in this important benefit.