I’M LOOKING forward to a happy Mother’s Day weekend. The clocks are going forward, real daylight is back and, according to the weather lady, we’re due a heatwave. A beautiful bouquet of flowers will be the cherry on the cake.

We all enjoy the traditional flowerbed displays in our towns and villages and when visiting gardens in Scotland’s Gardens Scheme. We marvel at the beautiful flowers, shrubs and plants that enthusiasts grow, inspired to try even harder in our own plot.

It’s not surprising, then, to learn that Scotland’s climate lends itself well to growing flowers, with high-quality soil, fewer pests and less disease.

Today, as much as 90 per cent of cut flowers sold in Scotland are imported, grown mostly in Africa and shipped here via Holland, with a high carbon footprint. Transported on the lumbering, fuel-guzzling pantechnicons from Holland, they dominate the market.

But that is starting to change. A burgeoning and inspiring new industry of flower-growers is blossoming right under our noses. Flower enthusiasts, horticultural entrepreneurs and climate-aware activists are on a mission to reduce the cut flower and plant market’s dependence on importing from abroad.

A collective of commercial growers in this little-known sector, members of the ‘flowers from the farm network’, are starting to make their voice heard. Growing on Scottish farms, using sustainable practices and poly tunnels, they are cultivating flowers for retail and wholesale trade here on our doorsteps. ‘Grown not flown’ locally grown bouquets and floral displays are now appearing on our high streets, farmers’ markets and online.

And it’s also happening here in East Lothian.

Based just outside Haddington, eastlothianflowerfarm.com grow chemical-free, locally grown sustainable flowers to supply retail and sell online.

Another is pyrusbotanicals.com, flower growers based in a three-acre Victorian walled garden in West Saltoun, providing naturally grown, seasonal cut flowers to supply Scottish florists.

You can also visit both growers.

So bypass the bunch of flowers at the petrol station and choose a local grower – your mum will be chuffed.