Late Spring / Early Summer Flowers: A Sneak Peek at What’s Just Started and What’s Coming Soon

It’s that in-between time again – when the mornings are still chilly enough for layers, but by the time we leave the market we’re overheating as the sun starts doing its thing. The early wake up call feels a little easier now too. And the market feels different – busier, buzzier, and bursting with new life. Some of the growers who didn’t have much through winter are back to their full three market days instead of two, and our phones start lighting up with texts about what’s looking good.

You can feel the shift everywhere. Buckets of Poppies, Anemones and Ranunculus are still hanging on – their last hurrah before the warmer days take over – while the early-summer flowers start appearing, bringing more abundance, more variety, more colour and a little more scent. Sometimes even a hint of Jasmine sneaks into our Luxe bunches, and it smells like sunshine itself.

Trailing, scented Jasmine is a special treat in our Luxe bunches when in season

Winter flowers tend to be a little hardier – often arriving in bud, opening slowly over days. Summer flowers are lighter and more delicate, usually already in bloom when they reach us. Just as fresh – just a little more expressive, like they can’t wait to show off.

Over the next few weeks, you’ll start to see these early-summer favourites appearing in our Daily Mixed Bouquet and Seasonal Flowers range – all Australian-grown, mostly right here in NSW. Think graceful Larkspur, towering Delphinium, and the first David Austin roses, whose scent fills the warehouse every October.

It’s a time of colour, character and quiet excitement – the first glimpse of Sydney’s summer flower season.

Why We Love Summer Blooms

There’s something about summer flowers that makes everything feel a little lighter. After months of buds and tight petals, the market suddenly bursts open – literally. Blooms get bigger, colours bolder, and the buckets seem to multiply overnight. It’s not just the flowers that change, though – the growers do too. You can see it in the way they talk about what’s coming through. Some have been trialling new flowers, or varieties, and this is the time of year they turn up proud, showing off the goods. Growing flowers is hard graft, but there’s genuine delight when a crop comes good – especially the really pretty ones.

Farmer Dave with his stunning summer dahlias.

For us, that excitement is contagious. There’s something quietly poetic about watching the winter flowers finish up. By this point we’ve grown used to them – they’re familiar friends – so there’s always a little sadness in seeing them go. But it’s simultaneously exciting, because their fading means it’s time for new flowers to come in. You can feel the energy shift as the new season takes hold, bringing different shapes, scents and colours. And we know we’ll feel the same way again when it all turns back the other way – that’s the rhythm of it. A little reminder to enjoy the moment – in flowers, and in life.

Sneak Peek – What’s Blooming This Summer

October is a transition time in flower land. The first wave of early-summer flowers starts to appear this month, and it’s a beauty. Here’s what’s already started to bloom:

Garden Roses:
These are the kind of roses we get excited about – the real deal. Grown right here in Sydney, not flown in in boxes from overseas. Imported roses tend to look identical, their thorns already stripped, petals a bit dehydrated from travel. By contrast, our local Garden Roses arrive lush and sometimes fragrant, with full foliage (which we lovingly strip ourselves – usually with a few thorn injuries to prove it). Every stem is different: some buds tight, some half-open, some with clusters of little buds popping out to the side. We often stop to show each other the really juicy or unusual ones – the kind of flowers that remind you nature isn’t meant to be uniform.

Locally grown Garden Roses – every stem different, every bloom full of character.

Mauve Garden Roses – soft, romantic and full of personality.

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Proper flowers. Grown by someone up the road. Better for the planet, better for the local economy, and so much prettier to receive. These beauties appear throughout summer in our Daily Mixed Bouquet and also feature in our Seasonal Flowers range – the mixed peachy-pink bunches are a current customer favourite.

Larkspur:
Tall, pretty and delicate, Larkspur is one of those fleeting favourites – here for a good time, not a long one. It comes in white, pink, and mauve, we pick the best on the day. If you love it, enjoy the season while it lasts!

Larkspur season is short but sweet – soft, tall, and perfectly delicate.

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Delphinium:
Another florist favourite. Chunky but soft, dramatic but delicate – Delphinium is full of contradictions and we love that about it. Its tall spires and nostalgic blue, mauve and white tones give any bunch that “old garden” charm that flower people quietly adore.

Florists’ favourite: tall, nostalgic Delphinium comes in the most beautiful colours.

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Paper Daisies:
Australian-grown and completely unique, these native blooms have an incredible papery texture that looks and feels special. They add beautiful structure and character to our mixed bunches from time to time and feature regularly as a Seasonal Flower when the quality’s at its best.

Not Far Behind

David Austin Roses:
Arguably the prettiest of all roses – full-petalled, fragrant and delicate. Their beauty is fleeting, which is exactly why we handle them with extra care. We only deliver them on our market days (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), so they go straight from farmer to recipient, giving you the freshest possible experience. We also work closely with our grower to choose the hardier varieties. Their scent is incredible – soft, romantic and unmistakable. Perfect for gifting, or for treating yourself (because why the hell not?). You’ll find them as one of our order now or sign up to an alert when they land here.

Dahlias:
A true summer favourite and a total crowd-pleaser. They come in all shapes and colours – from neat little pom-poms (the most robust kind) to softer, frillier varieties in every shade imaginable: pastels, hot pinks, reds, even striped or two-toned. Some delicate varieties don’t last long, so we stick to the hardier types that look beautiful and hold up well in the vase. You’ll find Dahlias in our Seasonal Flowers range once they’re in full swing and if they’re not available yet you can register interest here.

Dahlias in every shape and colour – pure summer joy in flower form.

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Hydrangea:
Summer wouldn’t feel right without them. We especially love the deep purples and blues that feature in our seasonal bouquets, though you’ll occasionally spot pale blue or white hydrangeas in our Daily Mixed Bouquet too.

Hydrangeas in deep purples and blues – one of our summer essentials.

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Peonies:
The first Peonies of the season usually arrive in late October, sometimes a little later depending on the weather. They never stick around for long, so we’d recommend you sign up for an alert to you know exactly when they drop. 

Armful of bright pink peonies held by florist

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A Word on Availability

Every flower has its own rhythm. Some bloom early and fade fast; others – like Garden Roses – linger right through to April or May. But even then, the crops and colours shift from week to week, and availability changes with the weather, so we’re always keeping our finger on the flower pulse.

That’s part of the beauty of working seasonally – it keeps us (and our bunches) connected to what’s happening in nature right now.

We work closely with our local growers to bring you the best of what’s ready, when it’s ready. That means the flowers in our Daily Mixed Bouquet can change from one day to the next – and some seasonal varieties might only be around for a short window.

So if you spot something you love, don’t wait too long to send it. These moments (and flowers) are fleeting – that’s exactly what makes them special.

How to Stay in the Loop

If you love knowing what’s in season – or just don’t want to miss your favourites – the easiest way to stay in the loop is to sign up for our newsletter. We’ll let you know when special seasonal flowers like peonies or David Austins arrive (and give you first dibs before they sell out).

You’ll also see what’s blooming day-to-day in our Daily Mixed Bouquet – our signature bunch that changes with the market – and in our Seasonal Flowers range, where the most limited crops make their short but beautiful appearance.

If there’s a flower you love, order it while it’s in season. Part of the magic is knowing it won’t be around forever – and that’s exactly what makes it worth sending.

There’s nothing quite like this time of year – the buzz at the markets, the smell of fresh-cut Roses in the warehouse, and the sense that everything’s waking up again. Early summer in Sydney always feels a bit full of promise, and the flowers are the first to show it.

We’ll keep sharing the highlights on Instagram as the season unfolds – from market mornings to bunches heading out the door. And keep your eyes peeled… the first Peonies of the season aren’t far away.