My last name has had many interesting spellings in the US: Florian, Florets, Flors, Florez…the list is long. And frustrating! I finally figured out a way to make sure people get it right. I say: “It’s Flores. Like ‘flowers’ in Spanish.”

Everyone understands flowers!

And not only do I understand it, but yesterday, I found my last name fleshed out in all its colorful glory at the legendary Los Angeles Flower Mart.

The Flower Mart in downtown LA is a mecca for florists and Floreses. I first heard about it from the women in my family, because many of them garden like it’s an Olympic sport. The Flower Mart is where all the flower growers in Southern California go to sell everything from the delicate Baby’s Breaths to bold Dendrobiums. I finally made up my mind to see it for myself this past weekend.

Here are some photos from that floral excursion.

Here are some classic blooms. I loved how they were all just within footsteps of each other!

Tulips

Irises

Roses

Orchids (dressed in a lovely shade of green!)

Anthuriums are my favorite flowers. Too bad they didn’t have any green (Midori) ones.

And here are some blooms that I made flowery friends with after meeting them for the first time.

Coffee Bean flowers

Bells Of Ireland

Pussy Willow

Cobra Lily

Green is my favorite color, and as luck would have it, there are ACTUALLY green roses. Who knew? But look at this variety’s name. It cracked me up.

The LA Flower Mart is at 754 Wall St., Los Angeles, CA 90014. For more details, visit their website HERE.