The mainstay of the Scillonian winter economy is blooming yet again with the early arrival of several varieties of narcissus. The Flower industry has always been important to the local economy and the mild weather means that Scillonian growers can send flowers to market well in advance of their mainland counterparts.
‘Innisidgen’ and ‘Paper Whites’ (pictured) are two of the earlier varieties and fields across The Islands are beginning to glow in their trademark extravagance. The flower industry has always been important to The Islands, with farms on every inhabited Isle. The flower season overlaps well with The Islands’ primary industry, tourism, ensuring the economy retains its vigour right through the year.
Once the flowers are picked, packed and tied, they are transported to the mainland by helicopter or Freight boat. Whilst the fields are fairly sparse at the moment, the coming weeks and months will see the many different varieties bloom and be sent away for sale, many destined for high profile markets such as Covent Garden in London.