If you ask a regular visitor what they would most readily associate with Scilly, more often than not, you would be greeted with the reply of the flowing golden fields of Narcissus flowers coupled with their sweet scent which can drift for what seems like miles. Traditionally, Narcissus flowers from the Islands have always flowered earlier than their counterparts on the mainland; this year is no exception.
Flower farming has remained a relatively dominant industry in Scilly for the past 100 years, ever since, in fact, transport links became sufficient to transport the flowers to market on the Mainland. Because of the Island status, the climate is slightly warmer than on the mainland which means that flowers are ready for wholesale sooner than the ones on the mainland.
Growers this week have started the first substantial sending of the year as the Narcissus flowers, ranging from the traditional Paper White to the more extravagant Innisidgen have started to bloom.
There are flower farms on all the Islands, in the past, a helicopter has been used to lift flowers from the off Islands but the Lyonesse Lady, the inter Island cargo boat, is now used. You can expect to see ‘Isles of Scilly Flowers’ for sale in various mainland markets for the next few months as well as around the country from mail order specialists on the Islands.