There is always good conversation with Henk and before we know it we are pulling up to the unloading docks. The large warehouse-like space is filling up with beautiful flowers from all kinds of growers who have their specialties and the flower racks are being assembled for the pull-through train which presents buyers with the products. I remember from my early days of teaching that I had several students from Queensborough who helped pay their school tuition by working these early shifts and then making their way to school, mostly on time. The photo I took of a photo may well be one of my students from that time.
Before the auction begins there’s time for coffee and more conversation with other growers, Eric and John whom I know from church, and others, join and talk turns to the good season they are all enjoying so far. Then its auction time with the Dutch style auction clock with its descending prices stopped only by a key stroke of the buyers, in house or online. From there the flowers are assembled by crews of workers for each buyer, with logistics managed by Audrey whom I also know from church. Within a few hours the warehouse empties and the flowers are on their way to someone’s flower vase. We fit in breakfast and a delivery before we head back to Langley.
There is a Chinese proverb that goes, “When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. That is great wisdom and especially honors those like my dad and people like Henk who have to get up at 3.30 am either to deliver flowers or bake bread. Two good and beautiful things in this world.