Often alongside the eponymous pastel colored Peeps and plastic eggs seen everywhere this time of year are pots of Easter lilies. A symbol of life and re-birth, the trumpet-shaped flowers are considered by many to be a symbol of spring.
But it is the arrival of lesser-known flowers such as anemones, ranunculus, heirloom narcissus, hyacinth, and hellebores that really excite seasonal flower lovers. And nothing says spring to us more than a perfectly white, lush anemone picked from our very own Morning Sun Flower Farm!
We're beyond excited to announce that Two Little Buds and Morning Sun Flower Farm are part of a small--but rapidly growing-- group of flower farmers and floral designers focused on flowers that are available seasonally and locally. And luckily for our awesome customers and couples, a new directory, Floret's Farmer-Florist Collective, lists many of the seasonal flower 'superstars' that we're thrilled to be associated with.
From frilly French tulips in the spring to dramatic dahlias in the fall, this coalition of farmers and florists is eager to showcase the best of what each season has to offer. And collectively, we are starting to change the way flowers are grown and consumed in this country. The popularity of local, seasonal flowers has been fueled, at least in part, by the popularity of the local foods and farm-to-table movements. It has also been introduced by Floret--a Seattle-area microfarm that created the Collective and whose blog, social media presence, and sold-out workshops (one of which we were lucky enough to attend last July!) have reached a global audience of flower lovers, farmers, designers, and 'dreamers.'
"I couldn't keep up with the demand for our flowers," states Erin Benzakein, the founder of Floret. "But rather than getting bigger and growing more flowers to ship across the country, I've instead focused on training others in the fine art of small-scale, high intensity flower production and natural floral design techniques utilizing seasonal blooms. This approach is more consistent with what we'd been saying for years: that the freshest, most beautiful flowers are ones that are grown in season, in your region."
Interest in buying and growing seasonal flowers continues to grow exponentially. "Now we can't keep up with the demand for our training," Benzakein shared. All seven of Floret's on-farm workshops sold out within hours of being offered. Floret workshop alumni include flower lovers from as far away as the UK and New Zealand, and fabulous floral designers such as our very own Mindy Staton and Alice Francis of Two Little Buds! "I created this Collective directory not only to highlight some of the leading farms and florists committed to growing, using, and promoting local and seasonal flowers," stated Benzakein, "but also to help consumers looking for flower farms or designers in their region who specialize in seasonal blooms."
Two Little Buds and Morning Sun Flower Farm are so happy that we can help bring this local flower movement to the Cincinnati area! Be sure to keep checking Instagram and Facebook for updates on our straight-from the-farm-blooms! And take a peek at the Collective directory to see the amazing group of flower farmers that are working so hard to change the way we use flowers everyday :)
