Flower shops spark joy during "Fogust"

Image courtesy of Yelp. 

For thousands of years, humans have communicated through flowers. Whether used as symbols in the Hebrew Bible’s Song of Songs – “As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters” (2:2) – or as a cryptic mode of communication for the Victorians – flowers speak to us in myriad ways.

In the Bay Area, "Fogust" -- a portmanteau of "fog" and "August" -- descends each year bringing cloudy skies and sunless doldrums. There's no better way to brighten up during this dreary time than fresh flowers. If you can’t see wildflowers in their natural habitat, the next best thing is picking up a bouquet from a local flower shop, of which there are many in the Bay Area.

We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite BARTable flower shops and markets, many of which have been in the Bay Area for not just years but decades. Happy flower shopping!

Image courtesy of the San Francisco Flower Market.

San Francisco Flower Market

One of only five grower-owned wholesale markets in the country, the San Francisco Flower Market is home to more than 50 individual vendors, meaning you shan’t have trouble fulfilling your flower needs. With roots going back to the late 19th century, the San Francisco Flower Market is a one-stop shop for flowers in the Bay Area.

Oakland Flower Market

Serving both wholesale and retail customers, the Oakland Flower Market is smaller than its San Francisco counterpart but no less impressive. More than 90% of flowers at the market are stored in walk-in coolers – tropicals and warm weather plants are kept outdoors – so don’t forget to bring a sweater.

Image courtesy of Yelp. 

Ashby Flowers

Perched on the corner of Ashby and Telegraph avenues, Ashby Flowers has long been a mainstay for the community’s floral needs. If you’re lucky, you may spot a floral creature sitting in the shop – Ashby Flowers is known for crafting cute unicorns, bears, and more from flowers alone.

Image courtesy of Yelp. 

Lyal Nickals Florist

Lyals Nickals Florist has been crafting fine floral art and arrangements for more than 75 years. The family-owned and -operated shop got its start in Oakland in 1934 before relocating to its Hesperian Boulevard location in San Leandro in 1985, and now its new location in Castro Valley. Lyal Nickals creates beautiful floral arrangements for any and all occasions – from weddings and births to funerals and more.

Image courtesy of Yelp. 

Flower Bowl Florist

Flower Bowl Florist has served Walnut Creek for more than 70 years. Flower Bowl purchases its flowers fresh three times a week and every arrangement is made to order. The flower shop got its start in a round glass building or “bowl” in what would become Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza before moving to its current location on Boulevard Circle.

Image courtesy of Yelp. 

Flowerland Floral Shop

If you find yourself in Colma, the Bay Area’s “City of Souls,” you’ll find the source of some of the many flowers you see covering the town’s plentiful gravestones. That would be Flowerland Floral Shop, which caters largely to folks visiting the dearly departed.