What is Special about local flowers?

Did you know approximately 80% of cut flowers sold in the USA are imported from other countries? And of that remaining domestic 20%, about 80% are from California. Now don’t get me wrong, I believe cut flowers are wonderful no matter where they come from, and sometimes you need flowers in the dead of winter, on a whim, from the grocery store. That’s right, I buy carnations from Hannaford in January to put on my own dining table, so no judgment from me on how anyone gets their winter floral fix. All that being said though, there is nothing like the beauty of freshly cut, locally grown, seasonally appropriate flowers from a farm right here in Maine. Locally grown flowers are fresh, have a longer vase life than those that have been shipped across the country or internationally, and local farms are able to provide varieties that don’t ship well so aren’t seen in most grocery stores or major floral suppliers. Not needing to survive the rigors of long-distance travel also means the blooms don’t require chemical treatments often used on imports.

By using natural and sustainable growing practices, harvesting at the peak of freshness, and transporting minimal distances, we ensure your flowers are in prime condition upon arrival, so you get to enjoy them for as long as possible. Purchasing your blooms locally also means that money stays in the local economy, helping support a wide network of other small businesses here in Maine. 

Farming of any type is tough business, and keeping our land, Waldo County, and Maine as a whole in agricultural production is a subject near and dear to my heart. The wonderful thing about farming flowers is that our end product is beauty, and the ability to share that beauty with our friends and neighbors. I think that our cows are beautiful too, but you can’t set a cow on your bed side table. So instead, let us share some home-grown flowers with you! Maine may have a relatively short growing season, but that is even more reason to make the most of it and bring home some enchanting local blooms while they are available.

And some day I am going to figure out how to get interesting, fragrant, high-quality carnations to grow in Maine. Just maybe not in January.