Late summer is gracing the farm with long, low rays of sun in the mornings and the evenings. The dew is heavy on the grass. The bird song and pollinator buzz are reaching a new crescendo as everyone realizes the clock is ticking for scarfing down the bounty. You won’t often hear a farmer say this so take note: it’s been an incredible growing season with just the right amount of sun, rain, and heat! I’m feeling immensely grateful to Mother Nature at the moment (halleluiah! after last year’s season-long downpour)!
The farm – and its awesome crew of hard-working female farmers – has produced the blooms for several lush summer weddings for some of the sweetest couples. I met with these couples last summer and worked with them over the course of a year to plan their celebrations and to grow every stem used in their beautiful bouquets. I’m pretty proud of our unique and intimate process here at Love ‘n Fresh. In the past few weeks, I’ve begun meeting with lots of 2020 couples and love starting the journey all over again, planning for next season’s flowers and fêtes. It’s a reminder of how life cycles through, from the initial seed of an idea to the bloom of fruition, and how everything can be new again while still being familiar. Finding the rhythm of the seasons is what it’s all about, right?
As autumn approaches, I’m turning my focus back to {flower} school with our many on-farm floral design workshops. I deeply love teaching and sharing the farm with students. There are so many moments rich with discovery and joy. It gladdens my heart to see people who normally spend their days indoors at work get reconnected to nature and their innate creativity in such a visceral way, usually with a bit of a giggle and a big grin! Watching faces go from deep concentration and perhaps even a little confusion to clarity, excitement, and pride as a student floral creation comes to completion is just an amazing moment to witness. So, yeah, I’m really looking forward to doing that again!
Well, as much as I love to write and wish I had more time to do so, it’s time to step away from the computer again and go harvest armfuls of flowers. Right now, my very favorite perennials are blooming, including caryopteris, Japanese anemones, Tardiva hydrangeas, and sweetly-fragrant Formosa lilies. And, of course, the farm’s thousands of dahlias are in riotous bloom.
Come enjoy them with me if you can!
XO,
Jennie
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