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2023’s Best Cities for Local Flowers
Does your city grow the freshest blooms?To mark Mother’s Day this May, Lawn Love ranked 2023’s Best Cities for Local Flowers.
They compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on five floral categories. They looked at access to flower shops and specialty-cut flower vendors, consumer ratings, and even the number of flower festivals, among 10 total metrics.
See which cities’ local floral scenes are fleurishing in Lawn Love’s ranking below. To learn how Lawn Love ranked the cities, see their methodology.
Top 5 close up
Check out the slideshow below for highlights (and lowlights) on each of our top five cities.
No. 1: New York | Overall score: 52.53
Flower Access: 2
Delivery Access: 1
Vendor Quality: 14
Local Demand: 1
Events: 4Local tips: Spot flowers blooming along the High Line, or in one of the city’s many green spaces. Add some charm to your day with a stroll through the NYC Flower Market, or get a beautiful bouquet of fresh or dried flowers from Stems in Brooklyn.
Photo credit: Roberto Vivancos | Pexels | Pexels License
No. 2: Miami | Overall score: 39.81
Flower Access: 1
Delivery Access: 9
Vendor Quality: 134
Local Demand: 13
Events: 4Local tips: It’s easy to buy blooming flowers in Miami, which has the most flower shops per square mile. You can find an impressive bouquet at house of lilac or Midtown Garden Center. Stop and smell the flowers at The Berry Farm’s flower festival until April 16, or plan to visit the Tamiami International Orchid Festival in May.
Watch buds blossom right in your backyard by planting some colorful native plants.
Photo credit: Tory Brown | Pexels | Pexels License
No. 3: Philadelphia | Overall score: 39.69
Flower Access: 40
Delivery Access: 10
Vendor Quality: 4
Local Demand: 8
Events: 1Local tips: America’s Garden Capital is home to historic horticultural spots like Bartram’s Garden and the largest and longest-running flower show. Urban flower farm Love ‘n Fresh Flowers teaches various flower workshops, and can grow personalized blooms for your wedding.
Add color to your yard year after year by planting perennials that are native to Philadelphia.
Photo credit: Kelly | Pexels | Pexels License
No. 4: Chicago | Overall score: 39.06
Flower Access: 26
Delivery Access: 2
Vendor Quality: 2
Local Demand: 3
Events: 35Local tips: Check out Chicago Botanic Garden’s American Flower Show series, featuring daffodils, dahlias, lilies, and other blooms throughout the year. Peek through petals at spring flower shows running through May 14 at Garfield Park Conservatory and Lincoln Park Conservancy.
Create a flower show right in your backyard by growing some native plants.
Photo credit: Chait Goli | Pexels | Pexels License
No. 5: San Francisco | Overall score: 37.80
Flower Access: 4
Delivery Access: 6
Vendor Quality: 7
Local Demand: 6
Events: 4Local tips: Learn about rare and endangered flowers from across the globe at the Conservatory of Flowers. Explore over 50 vendors at the San Francisco Flower Market or check out one of the many floral oases growing in and around the city.
Photo credit: Juan Salamanca | Pexels | Pexels License
Key Insights
The gist
Big cities bloom to the top alongside botanical icons like Pasadena, California (No. 11) and Portland, Oregon (No. 20), which both share the nickname “The City of Roses.”
While some Southern cities stem to the top, such as Nashville, Tennessee (No. 16), and Houston (No. 17), smaller cities and suburbs in the South wither to the bottom. Texas cities Laredo (No. 196) and Garland (No. 197) droop alongside Peoria, Arizona (No. 198), Port St. Lucie, Florida (No. 199), and Surprise, Arizona, in last place.
Standout stats
Flower empire: New York flourishes at No. 1 with a nearly 13-point lead ahead of the next-best city, Miami. NYC has an iconic flower district and boasts the highest number of flower delivery services.
Cut Flower Capital: California produces 76% of the flowers grown and sold in the U.S. It’s no wonder that 36 Golden State cities sprout in the top half of our ranking, with San Francisco (No. 5), Santa Rosa (No. 6), and Los Angeles (No. 9) budding in the top 10.
California cultivation: Santa Rosa is No. 1 in Vendor Quality and claims the most members in the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG). Los Angeles germinates the biggest number of plant nurseries and garden shops and has the nation’s largest wholesale flower district.
Urbs in Horto: Chicago lands at No. 4, living up to its motto meaning “city in a garden.” The Windy City ties with several cities for second place in the number of ASCFG members and cultivates the second-highest number of flower delivery services.
Garden gateway: St. Louis (No. 7) blossoms with the sixth-highest overall Vendor Quality. Mound City anthophiles can buy bouquets in the historic Florist Row, where flower shops and nurseries cluster in the Gate District neighborhood.
Petal parties: Honolulu (No. 10), Philadelphia (No. 3), and Lancaster, California (No. 77), tie for hosting the most flower festivals out of all the cities in our ranking. This year marks the 75th annual Floral Parade in Honolulu. Philly is home to the nation’s largest annual flower show, and Lancaster hosts the California Poppy Festival.
Peony for your thoughts: Expert take
Many consumers aren’t aware that 80% of the cut flowers purchased in the U.S. are imported from countries like the Netherlands, Colombia, Ecuador, and Kenya. Many also don’t understand the benefits of buying locally grown flowers — or at least buying flowers from local vendors.
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2023’s Best Cities for Outdoor Weddings
Which cities are best for throwing al fresco nuptials?
Lawn Love has got you covered with 2023’s Best Cities for Outdoor Weddings.
With the outdoor wedding season finally here, Lawn Love compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on eight categories. They looked at the quality of outdoor wedding venues, access to wedding planners, and sunshine, among 36 total metrics.
Plan a beautiful ceremony in the great outdoors with the help of Lawn Love rankings below. To learn how they ranked the cities, see the methodology.
No. 1: Charleston, South Carolina | Overall score: 51.71Venue Access: 1
Venue Quality: 45
Affordability: 175
Wedding Look: 11
Accommodations: 6Local tips: Conveniently located downtown, the historic Gadsden House features three private courtyards for a stunning outdoor ceremony. Cannon Green is another downtown venue with a lush outdoor courtyard and exquisite culinary options.
Photo credit: GPA Photo Archive | Flickr | Public Domain
No. 2: Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Overall score: 51.35Venue Access: 10
Venue Quality: 119
Professional Services: 1
Wedding Look: 5
Accommodations: 3Local tips: Get married by the sea with the convenience of hotel accommodations at Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach. In the nearby town of Davie, you can exchange your vows under the canopy of a banyan tree at Flamingo Gardens.
Photo credit: Kelly | Pexels | Pexels License
No. 3: Orlando, Florida | Overall score: 48.10Venue Access: 12
Affordability: 153
Wedding Look: 3
Accommodations: 1
Climate: 110Local tips: Have an unforgettable wedding day with gorgeous gardens and lakefront scenery at The Cottage on Lake Fairview. Plan a rustic ceremony at Wanderlust Okto — minutes from the airport — featuring a tranquil pond and abundant natural space with wildlife.
Photo credit: M-DESIGNZ | Pexels | Pexels License
No. 4: Savannah, Georgia | Overall score: 47.33Venue Access: 2
Affordability: 170
Wedding Look: 15
Accommodations: 2
Climate: 186Local tips: Get married in the largest private gardens within Savannah’s Historic District at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Plan your event on an expansive campus with an on-site chapel at Bethesda Academy.
Photo credit: Nkon21 | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0
No. 5: Hollywood, Florida | Overall score: 46.93Venue Quality: 30
Affordability: 66
Professional Services: 5
Reception Needs: 11
Accommodations: 4Local tips: Celebrate your love on the beach by planning an oceanfront wedding at the Diplomat Beach Resort, which offers packages for Indian weddings and kosher events. Another oceanside option is Hollywood Beach Marriott.
Photo credit: Tamanoeconomico | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0
Save the data: Key insights
The gist
Several cities in Florida and California shine at the top, with plenty of access to venues and wedding-related services. These cities stand alongside dreamy destinations like Charleston, South Carolina (No. 1), Savannah, Georgia (No. 4), and New Orleans (No. 10).
Some smaller cities and suburbs are not so great for nature-themed nuptials, such as Miramar, Florida (No. 197), Newark, New Jersey (No. 198), and North Las Vegas, Nevada (No. 199), alongside West Valley City, Utah, in last place. These cities generally lack Venue Access, high Venue Quality, Accommodations, and Wedding Look resources.
Standout stats
Darling destinations: Vow your love in charming Charleston (No. 1), which has the best Venue Access for outdoor weddings, followed by Savannah (No. 4), Honolulu (No. 15), New Orleans (No. 10), St. Louis (No. 14), and Las Vegas (No. 13).
Sunny ceremonies: Unsurprisingly, California cities have the best climate for saying “I do” outdoors. While Pasadena (No. 6), Escondido (No. 8), and Glendale (No. 9) fare well overall, some Golden State cities like Modesto (No. 191) and Fremont (No. 185) land near the bottom due to lack of venues, yard space, parks, and accommodations.
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2023’s Best Cities for Lunar New Year Celebrations
Time to gather with your loved ones and feast on fish, fruit, and dumplings to welcome the Lunar New Year.
Which U.S. cities are best for ringing in the Year of the Rabbit?
To find out, Lawn Love ranked the 200 biggest U.S. cities to determine 2023’s Best Cities for Lunar New Year Celebrations.
They looked for cities with a large Asian American population, plenty of Asian restaurants, and numerous Lunar New Year festivals and events. Lawn Love awarded bonus points to cities with a Chinatown district.
Lawn Love also considered weather forecasts, fireworks legality, and safety, among 11 total metrics.
Set your best foot forward for the Lunar New Year (beginning Jan. 22) with the help of our rankings below.
The upshot
New Year in New York
For the second year in a row, New York lucks out as the Best City to Celebrate Lunar New Year.
Home to a whopping nine Chinatown neighborhoods, NYC has the largest population of Chinese and Chinese Americans out of all the cities in our ranking. Paint the town red in Manhattan’s Chinatown, which has the largest concentration of Chinese people in America (and all of the Western hemisphere).
There’s always something going on in The City That Never Sleeps, especially around holidays like the Spring Festival. NYC has the highest number of Chinese and Asian Meetup groups and the third-highest number of Lunar New Year events and festivals.
All that glitters is not gold
Out of 43 California cities represented, only 11 landed in the lower half of our ranking. It’s no surprise California cities fared so well — Asian communities have played a significant role in building the West Coast since the Gold Rush.
This year, San Francisco (No. 2) has the most Lunar New Year events — tied with Houston — and the highest concentration of Asian restaurants. SF also has the second-biggest population of Chinese Americans, while Los Angeles (No. 3) has the nation’s largest population of other East Asians.
Unfortunately, neither of these cities has a great safety record, especially for Asian Americans. Anti-Asian violence has plagued California and escalated since COVID-19 began. Hate crimes against Asian Americans in California rose 178% in 2021.
Today, many cities along the West Coast, including Seattle (No. 8) and 19 California cities, have high rates of hate crimes. For a safer celebration destination, head down to San Diego (No. 10).
Fortune frowns
Some cities in the South and Midwest aren’t ready to ring in the Year of the Rabbit.
Apart from Chicago (No. 6), only two other Midwestern cities — Cleveland (No. 61) and St. Louis (No. 84) — landed in the top half of our ranking.
Other cities like Kansas City, Kansas; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Shreveport, Louisiana, fell to the very bottom, alongside Springfield, Missouri, in last place. Each of these four cities has low scores across the board, with few or no celebrations planned and poor safety records.
Southern cities are scattered throughout our ranking. For memorable Lunar New Year celebrations, places like Houston (No. 4) and Austin (No. 9) are your best bet. These two Texas cities have large populations of Asian Americans and plenty of festivals and events to attend.
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San Diego is the No. 9 Best City for Chocolate Lovers
Chocolate is wonderful on its own, but this luxurious treat also has the superpower to enhance the flavor of other foods like strawberries, bacon, pretzels, and coffee. To mark International Chocolate Day on Sept. 13, Lawn Love ranked 190 of the biggest U.S. cities to determine the Best Cities for Chocolate Lovers.
How does San Diego stack up?
San Diego’s Rank in Some Key Metrics (1st = Best)- Number of Chocolate Shops – 5th
- Total Reviews for Chocolate Shops – 3rd
- Number of Chocolate Museums – 4th
Where are the best cities to give in to your chocolate cravings?
Lawn Love ranked 190 of the biggest U.S. cities to determine the Best Cities for Chocolate Lovers.
They looked for cities with abundant chocolate factories and high-quality shops selling chocolate, including chocolatiers, dessert shops, and patisseries. They also considered chocolate-themed entertainment like museums, tours, theme parks, and events.
Melt into International Chocolate Day on Sept. 13 with the city rankings and analysis below.
The meltdown: Key insights
Big-city bonbons
Large cities offer plenty of spots for residents (and tourists alike) to find quality sweets.
New York takes the crown of the chocolate empire at No. 1 overall and in the Access category. The city is swimming in chocolate delicacies, being home to over 100 chocolate shops and the most chocolate manufacturers in the country. NYC also has hundreds more coffee shops and bakeries than any other city, so you don’t need to walk far for a chocolatey surprise.
Las Vegas, at No. 3, is its own Chocolate Sin City, far outnumbering the competition in dessert shops, candy shops, and ice cream shops. Chicago (No. 7) follows closely behind, with the second-highest number of chocolate stores and bakeries.
Meanwhile, smaller cities like Sioux Falls, South Dakota (No. 190), Columbus, Georgia (No. 189), and Mesquite, Texas (No. 188) gave a bittersweet performance overall, with scarce options for their small-town chocolate lovers.
Willy Wonka’s West
While California is better known for its health-food trends, the Golden State has a golden ticket in Access to delicious chocolate.
Indulgent San Francisco (No. 2) is home to industry icon Ghirardelli, in addition to a number of smaller artisans and manufacturers. Head down the coast to SoCal cities Los Angeles (No. 5) and San Diego (No. 9), where you’ll find plenty of patisseries, candy stores, and dessert shops to satisfy your cocoa-flavored cravings.
On the northern end of the West Coast, cities like Seattle (No. 6) and Portland (No. 14) also impress with many high-quality chocolate shops and bakeries, coffee shops, and dessert shops.
Charming confections
Can’t talk about the Best Cities for Chocolate Lovers without mentioning The Sweetest Place on Earth: Hershey, Pennsylvania (No. 4).
Founded by the nation’s most familiar chocolate company, Hershey’s, this town is best known for its chocolatey genesis. Hershey might not have a variety of tasty chocolate shops to choose from, but it’s the perfect place to go if you’re looking for the ultimate chocolate-based entertainment.
If you’re just searching for a good bite of chocolate, you might unexpectedly find it in small cities, such as Des Moines, Iowa (No. 19), Pomona, California (No. 26), and Garden Grove, California (No. 16). Des Moines earns the No. 1 spot in Establishment Quality, with the two Cali suburbs falling closely behind.
Behind the ranking
For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, Lawn Love gathered publicly available data on the factors listed in the table below. They replaced the smallest city in sample with Hershey, Pennsylvania, considering it is a popular tourist destination for chocolate lovers.
Lawn Love then grouped the factors into three categories: Access, Establishment Quality, and Entertainment.
Next, They calculated weighted scores for each city in each category.
Finally, Lawn Love averaged the scores for each metro across all categories. They eliminated 10 cities lacking sufficient data in a single category, resulting in a total sample size of 190 cities.
The city that earned the highest average score was ranked “Best” (No. 1), while the city with the lowest was ranked “Worst” (No. 190). (Note: The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 190 due to ties.)
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