Speaking of "sticker shock"

[Deleted]

Today is one of my best friends' 50th birthday. She lives in Australia. It's also her DD's 21st birthday. Our DDs were very close friends for many years. The girls are still FB friends, but not nearly as close anymore. My friend and I are still EXTREMELY close.

Last year, when my DD was doing her internship in California, my friend asked me for DD's address so she could send her flowers, "because 21 is a HUGE deal in Australia". She is the type who NEVER forgets a birthday. So I have made sure to remember hers / her DD's. 

We'd planned to do the same for her DD, and to send my friend flowers too, since it's both of their birthdays, and they are having a big party at home to celebrate both birthdays. For years, my friend used to make her DD fabulous parties, and joke that maybe one day she would finally get to celebrate her BD again, but probably not before her DD was 21 and she was 50 (since they share the same birthday). So I wanted to send flowers to both of them, not just her DD, since that day she has joked about for years is today.

SOOOOO ... I contacted several florists in Sydney, and blithely asked how much it would cost to send 21 roses to my friend's DD. I got a range of quotes ... 240 Australia dollars, 260 Australian dollars, 280 Australian dollars.

260 Australian dollars = 228 USD. OMG!

Long story short, I ordered the daughter 21 irises for 89 Australian dollars, and my friend 5 sunflowers for 25 Australian dollars (I know she will LOVE the sunflowers which are typically French). Total cost, with delivery, 130 Australian dollars (= 114 USD).

I just couldn't believe the quotes for roses. Even more surprising, after I heard the prices for the roses, I asked about tulips, since I love tulips (most people don't here because they don't last for very long). Believe it or not, they were even more expensive than the roses!!!

I know I could have gotten a bouquet for cheaper, but I wanted to give her DD 21 of something, not just a bouquet. 

[dannylion]

It probably has to do with the cost of importing and storing fresh flowers.  It is unlikely that Australia produces much in the way of fresh flowers domestically.

[Deleted]

Dannylion, you're absolutely right, but I was REALLY surprised by that. I know that agriculture is an important part of the Australian economy (livestock), so I wrongly assumed they grew at least some flowers too. Apparently not. 

[sesfw]

Hmmmmmmmmm maybe you should send your friend some seeds. Maybe she could start a trend. 

You are a good friend.  I'm sure they will love the thoughts and flowers.

[Deleted]

My friend is a fantastic gardener Ses, she doesn't need seeds LOL. 

But thank you. I know she went to great expense to send 21 roses to my DD (although I had never realized to what extent) and I wanted to return the favor, and do something for her as well. 

She is a great friend too.

[Deleted]

dayjawho, I like the irises too!

The sunflowers are more of a "wink" to France. People call them "soleils" (suns) here. My friend lived here for many years before going back to Oz, so I know she'll enjoy them.  

I actually called the florist back to ask her to please send me a photo of the bouquets before they are sent. She told me she doesn't have access to a computer, but she told me what to look up on their website, she described the similarities and differences, and I'm very happy with both choices. 

[Deleted]

I know about the wineries LOL!

Sydney has gone through periods of great drought. Those years, my friend sets her alarm for 3 am so she can go out there with a watering can to water her plants by hand. She always says, I know one of these days I'll get arrested, but at least you already know why. LOL. 

To bed with me! Day, what part of the US are you in? 

ETA: You are right about the cost being less since DD was in Cali, but still. 

[Tennesseer]

Fortunately, Debthaven, she and her mother are only 21 and 50 (respectively) once in a lifetime.  

[Deleted]

Exactly, Tenn. :-)

[shanendoah]

Everything is expensive in Australia. My brother lived there for about two years. My mom went and visited him once. Everything they both reported about prices seemed shocking. 

[busymom]

You are a great friend, Debt. I agree, that is a LOT of money for flowers.

I had a former coworker who lived several years in Hawaii. Everything there, of course, has to be shipped in.  He was living on Oahu, & said there was only ONE large ship of fresh Christmas trees that arrived there every year. Obviously, due to demand, the price was VERY high!

[tloonya]

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[cronewitch]

Sept 26, 2014 18:51:09 GMT -5 sesfw said:

Hmmmmmmmmm maybe you should send your friend some seeds. Maybe she could start a trend. 

You are a good friend.  I'm sure they will love the thoughts and flowers.

Mom loved flowers but hated deciding where they went in the flower beds. She had an October birthday so several years I gave her flower bulbs for her birthday then planted them for her so she would have flowers for Mother's day, two gifts in one but Mother's day was a hanging basket or two also.