A year ago, I predicted that 2011 would bring recovery but that the flower industry would continue to see challenging times. Twelve months later, it sure looks like that is about where we are.

Looking at a few specific flowers, demand for tulips continues to increase, particularly fall tulips grown from Southern Hemisphere bulbs. The number of U.S. Iris growers continued to shrink in 2011. An increasing number of customers recognize the longer vase life of the Telstar variety.

A new line of tulips will finish growing in the customer’s home rather than the greenhouse, using less energy. More energy savings occur when these growing tulips, in water, are shipped to stores in acrylic vases or biodegradable cardboard gift boxes rather than glass vases.

The Waynesboro, VA, grower and distributor offers indoor tulip, Amaryllis and daffodil plants and vase displays. Among its customers are Publix, Costco and large supermarket chains.

Well, 2011 was a year that was definitely not foreseen in my crystal ball. On Feb. 13, Congress gave flower importers an unwelcome Valentine’s gift of duties. Other than 10 years ago when the Andean Trade Preference Act lapsed for eight months, importers have not paid duties on imported flowers in 20 years.

Since this was not anticipated or budgeted, importers had to scramble to start paying duties as one of the biggest volume days approached.

The feds are counting sheep again. And flowers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, bowing to an outcry from farm trade groups and related organizations such as the Society of American Florists, has abruptly reversed a decision to eliminate dozens of longstanding statistical reports that covered a broad array of farming activities, including flower growing, beekeeping, trout farming, and sheep and goat farming.

Our crystal ball for 2011 predicted a shorter supply of trendy seasonal colors and novelty containers due to the unwillingness of businesses to speculate on the needed inventory to support these types of products. Although we have no comprehensive empirical data to support this claim, the late 2011 announcement by a major importer ceasing its in-stock availability of floral containers should be sufficient evidence that this concern exists and is real.

They didn’t go over the river or through the woods at Thanksgiving, those folks at Dos Gringos, and they had to scramble for sunflowers on the way to grandma’s house. Unseasonably hot days in mid-September in the San Diego area led to torrid soil and air temperatures that “burned the sunflower seeds in the ground” and led to serious flower shortages for Thanksgiving, according to Jason Levin, president of the grower and bouquet-maker in Vista, CA.