Wildflowers

Wildflowers are EVERYWHERE right now. From t-shirts at Target to Tom Petty (“You belong among the wildflowers…You belong somewhere you feel free.”), from bridal consultations to the FAQ list about photo sessions, we talk *a lot* about wildflowers.

The funny thing is that we don’t, technically, have any. Here’s what I mean:

• Nothing we grow is a wildflower in the sense that it grows natively in that space without human intervention or effort. Prior to being a flower field, the land was a sheep pasture, meaning it had a lot of native grasses (which have taken approximately one forever to get rid of. They’re mostly gone now, but they put up quite the fight). Any flowers that are there now are because we added them!

• We also don’t grow random mixes of flowers just everywhere or anywhere. We use flower beds and plant in rows, with a few exceptions.

• The flowers we grow are chosen for the ability to be cut and last in a vase for a good amount of time (5-10 days, typically). Wildflowers, as a category, are not known for their vase life.

But, at the same time, there are a lot of ways that what we do is reminiscent of wildflowers:

• We grow a huge variety and diversity of flowers. Don’t ask us what our favorite flower is; we love too many of them to give a good answer. We love giving you lots of options when you come to cut flowers with us!

• We want the flower field to feel very natural and unforced. This is why we use grass paths and plan the field really carefully with an eye to layering flowers and colors across rows, beds, sections, and the field as a whole.

• We grow flowers that are locally grown specialties. You aren’t very likely to see them in a grocery store because, while they last fine in a vase, they don’t handle being shipped very well. That localness gives them a wildflower feel.

• We do have some mass plantings of airy, delicate blooms. They’re so pretty, and they make such a good photo background!

• Wildflower inspired floral design is whimsical, spontaneous, very natural, seasonal, and unforced. Color, texture, variety are all valued and encouraged. It’s a good description of the kind of floral design I’m drawn to and that I think the flower field excels at providing flowers for.

When we first started the farm, I’d bristle on the inside of someone called what we did “wildflowers”. Now, I take it as a compliment. You want to tell me you think what we have built and grown seems beautiful, effortless, spontaneous, whimsical, and free? As Tom Petty sang, “Far away from your trouble and worry / You belong somewhere you feel free.” We’d be honored if that place was our flower field. 

So, yes, talk to us about wildflowers - we love them!

Xoxo, Katie 

So what are we?

 So what are we? (And why do this?)

If you are reading this, welcome to the inaugural edition of the flower farm blog! I (Katie) know that no one has been waiting with baited breath for me to tell them more about the flower farm (and, if you have been, congrats! You’ve been upgraded to one of my Favorite People). The voice behind this blog and all the social media accounts is mine, Katie’s. I own the flower farm with my husband, Chris, and we farm on his family’s farm in Wilmington, Illinois. 

So why a blog?

2024 will be our 8th season in business. The flower farm (like ourselves) has grown and evolved so much in those 8 years, there’s a lot I’d love to fill you in on and talk more about!

In particular, as social media evolves and changes, a blog lets us directly reach the people that want to hear about the flower farm (algorithms are not always showing your content to your own followers). In addition, a blog is a good place for me to talk about some topics in greater detail than is fun to read on Instagram or Facebook.

One of those topics, and the one I want to address here, is what is a flower farm - or, more specifically, what is OUR flower farm like. Characterizing a flower farm is about as fruitful as characterizing a coffee shop or bakery – there are almost as many variants of the theme as there are businesses that use that title. An exercise in contrasts may be enlightening. So, what are we not?

• We are not a garden center or nursery. We don’t sell potted plants or houseplants. We only sell cut flowers, primarily those that are locally grown specialties or fan favorites. We celebrate seasonal flowers and our pollinators, so everything we grow is pesticide free.

• We are not a brick and mortar flower shop. We are florists, we love arranging flowers, and we have a jam-packed 2024 wedding season ahead of us. But we don’t have a flower shop you can walk in and leave with a pre-made arrangement or order one from a menu. I love love love special orders and executing your unique floral vision. Everything we offer is personalized and customized to the client and the order.

• We are not a wholesale operation. We love interacting with our visitors to the flower farm! We don’t sell wholesale stems to florists. We sell directly to the public for their personal enjoyment (not for re-sale).

• We are not a public park. The flower farm is a family farm, and our kids are the 5th generation of the family to care for this land. My in-laws live on the farm, so we are open by appointments/set times only. We do not let the public wander around, even if it’s ‘only’ to take photos.

If you strip all of those things away, you’ll find we’re a pretty unique form of flower farm. 

• We take great pride in growing a beautiful setting for you. We use grass paths, incorporate principles of garden design, and leave our field as naturally beautiful as possible. The flower field is so serene when you’re picking flowers at one of our public or private you-pick events, and it really lets you shine in photo sessions.

• We adore the wild whimsy and effortless beauty of seasonal cut flowers. We’re a robust floral studio that offers full scale wedding florals using what we grow on the farm; we take your florals from seed to ceremony! With almost 90 weddings under our belts, we know local, seasonal flowers and how to make them create floral magic for you on your wedding day. We bring that experience to bear on every special order and arrangement we do. 

• We are a small, family owned and operated farm with big ambitions! Of course, flower season is our favorite season of the year, and we don’t ever want to waste any of the glorious days with flowers in them. We sell flower bunches from our roadside stand, attend the Wilmington farmers’ market, host webinars/tours/events, and hold how-to workshops. Add in weekly deliveries for subscription bouquets and special orders, and you’ll have a pretty good list of the products and services we’ve refined over the last 8 years.

It’s a lot, we know. But we love it. Isn’t it amazing what passion can do? 

Thanks for being here on this beautiful journey of ours. I am excited to share more of it with you here (next post I’m going to dive into “wildflowers” and all that means/doesn’t). See you then!

Thanks, flower lovers!

XO Katie