Don’t wait for a special occasion: Fresh flowers should be decking dinner tables, given as gifts and enjoyed as much as possible, at any time.
But instead of just ordering a bunch online, try a new way to get the blooms, from pick-your-own and do-it-yourself bouquets to mobile flower shops to weekly or monthly subscription and CSA (community shared agriculture) plans.
Many flower growers have faced a loss due to the pandemic and canceled events, so not only does this help them, but it also gives your days at home something extra pretty to look at. With that in mind, get picking and make life a little more colorful.
PICK YOUR OWN BLOOMS
Just as some farms let you pick berries, apples and vegetables, some places also have fields of festive blooms to pull into a bouquet all on your own. Many of these places have certain times you can come and require reservations, especially due to COVID-19 safety procedures, so make sure you plan this do-it-yourself adventure ahead of time.
Garden Sweet
“This year we are operating a little differently, due to the COVID-19 situation,” says owner Amy Kafka. “Pick-your-own flowers can only be pre-purchased online and it’s for specific reserved picking times.”
But restrictions shouldn’t stop anyone from heading to Fort Collins to stock up on an array of seasonal blooms. Rates start at $17 for a do-it-yourself bouquet and entry. Right now, the area is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Keep in mind that anyone 2 years old and up who wants to visit the garden needs to pay a $5 entry fee. The garden also has bouquets and flower pints available for curbside pickup and local delivery.
Garden Sweet, 719 W. Willox Lane, Fort Collins, gardensweet.com; email info@gardensweet.com
Infinite Monkey Theorem’s Flower Garden
What better way to while away an evening than by picking flowers and sipping on locally made wine? At this RiNo winery, part of the property has been transformed into a beautiful flower garden thanks to Amy Berryman. But she doesn’t just want the blossoms to wilt there, so on Monday and Thursday evenings between 6 and 8 p.m., Aug. 3-Oct. 8, she opens the gates to would-be flower arrangers. Clip your own blooms for $15 or have Berryman make you a bouquet for $20, and if you want to enhance the evening, pre-book a winery tour to go with the activity.
Infinite Monkey Theorem, 3200 Larimer St., 512-271-6807; theinfinitemonkeytheorem.com
Berry Patch Farms
Though the main crop of flowers is a bit late this year, customers can expect to cut their own blooms at the Brighton farm come late July, according to Berry Patch Farms owner Claudia Ferrell. That includes her all-time favorite, zinnias, as well as amaranth, snapdragons, marigolds, verbena, yarrow, echinacea, flowering basils and more.
“I really enjoy watching people wander through the flower field and seeing what they create,” said Ferrell. “Kids seem to really enjoy it also, and what is sweeter than a little boy wanting to cut flowers for his mommy?”
The farm also is partnering with Meg McGuire of the nearby Red Daisy Farms to offer a Community Supporting Agriculture program for flowers this year through a form online. Then the flowers can be picked up at various locations throughout the week, or delivered locally.
Berry Patch Farms, 13785 Potomac St., Brighton; 303-659-5050; berrypatchfarms.com
FLOWER CSAS AND SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
Another way to get fresh flowers straight into your home is by signing up for weekly or monthly flower plans. Some farms offer CSAs where you can pick up a bouquet based on what’s blooming. There are also subscription services, which work the same way. Some of the companies have sold out certain slots, but they are always adding more throughout the season.
The Fresh Herb Co.
Normally this flower farm sells its blooms and pots of succulents at farmers markets, but this year it switched up due to COVID-19 and the delayed start of the market season. That’s why owner Kristy Anderson decided to add on a subscription service.
“We really want to connect with customers who loved coming to market and buying the freshest flowers,” said Anderson, who offers contact-free pick-up at the farm. “Ultimately it is a service that can be tailored, and is all about our commitment to get fabulous flowers in people’s hands.”
Each subscription can be for one, two or four times a month, starting at $40. It includes a large bouquet as well as four single-variety bunches. You can also find her bouquets at select Whole Foods and online.
The Fresh Herb Co., 4114 Oxford Road, Longmont; 303-449-5994; thefreshherbco.com
Flora Bee Flowers
There’s still time to sign up for a CSA through this Lakewood garden. Your membership can be prorated or you can request double the flowers to make up for bouquets missed.
Flora Bee farm opened in 2019 and grows more than 100 varieties of flowers, including zinnias, dahlias, cosmos, yarrow, feverfew, statice, veronica, sunflowers and more. Pick-up is Thursdays at the farm or at the Old South Pearl Street Farmers Market on Sundays from the booth, where customers can also add to the bunches with blooms from its partner, Lakewood Grower’s Collective, a cooperative that supports female-owned farm businesses. Flora Bee Flowers owners Katie Huszcza and Aaron Elam said in the next few weeks, they hope to debut a stand at the farm, but right now it’s under construction.
Flora Bee Flowers, 7870 W. 19th Ave., Lakewood; 720-432-8265; florabeeflowers.com
For $180, fill your life with dahlias from this Arvada farm, as well as other fresh blooms that will be popping up soon. Owner Gina Schley is on her third season of growing flowers and offers seasonal CSAs, including one for late summer and fall, which features six weeks of large bouquets from August to September.
Pick up the flowers from the beautiful farm that features a remodeled 1949 farmhouse, and wander the fields to soak in a little more sweet-smelling beauty and maybe snap a photo or two.
SheGrows practices contactless porch pick-ups for members to keep everyone at a safe distance. Schley says the farm is always adding new tidbits, like a soon-to-come flower painting workshop and bouquet sales. And, she added, once the pandemic is over, there will be even more flower fun in the studio barn.
SheGrows, Arvada; shegrows.com; email gina@shegrows.com
Bloom Bar
It’s not every florist that offers bouquets straight off the truck — especially a 1967 International Harvester pickup. This subscription service starts at $105 for a once-a-month, three-month delivery of fresh flowers, picked from Bloom Bar’s Arvada garden the morning before it comes to you. Order online and have this service sent each month in Denver, Wheat Ridge, Littleton, Lakewood, Golden and Arvada.
Bloom Bar; 720-893-0442; bloombarcolorado.com
MOBILE FLOWERS AND MARKETS
Another way to pick up fresh flowers is to visit a market where the blossoms are grown or where the gardener sells them. We’re talking a stand, farmers market or even a traveling shop. Here are some examples:
Blossom and Branch
Whether you want to join a flower CSA or visit the weekly flower market, Briana Bosch’s sustainable Lakewood farm has all the perennials one could want. While the CSA program is currently sold out, there are plans to add more slots down the line. Right now, customers can visit the flower market on Sundays from 8 to 10 a.m. Bosch started the market during the pandemic as a way to get the blooms sold after so many weddings and events were canceled; each week she has a plethora of stems to sell.
“We have over 80 varieties total, and if you included colors, then we have about 50 blooming,” said Bosch, who bought the property in November 2018. “There’s such a magical thing that comes with the beauty and uniqueness of each flower, and I love the challenge of trying to grow different ones.”
Blossom and Branch, 2440 Iris St., Lakewood; 720-319-0243; blossomandbranchfarm.com
Pickletown Flower Co.
Want a bunch of blooms straight out of a delivery truck? Owner Jessica Sparzak offers just that with her darling mobile flower shop. Due to COVID-19, the truck hasn’t been hosting its usual blossom bar, a set-up where customers can pick one or 50 stems to make their own bouquet. But, said Sparzak, that will change come August.
“One of my goals is finding information about the farms we are buying from and getting to know them,” said Sparzak. “It’s fun to bring in unique products from local farms and around the world.”
Right now she works with Colorado gardens such as SheGrows, City Gal Farms, Red Daisy Farm and Reverie Fields, among others. Aside from the movable feast of flowers, customers can also sign up for the Bouquet Coterie, the company’s version of a CSA, and pick up a fresh bouquet starting at $48 each month at select locations in Denver, Golden and Littleton.
Pickletown Flower Co., pickle.town
Lucky Bee Cut Flowers
Amy and Cody Stoker started this garden in 2016, growing an array of dahlias, sunflowers, amaranthus, strawflowers, cosmos, eucalyptus, marigolds and more. They have more than 50 varieties and many can be found at the Highland farmers market on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Dillon’s market on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and in Louisville on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mix and match your own bouquets from the seasonal growers’ bunches and take home a bit of Longmont beauty.
Lucky Bee Cut Flowers, luckybeecutflowers.com
This content was originally published here.
