It’s Easter week and everyone is looking forward to the blooms that bring the Easter Sunday meal together. The flower for Easter is known as the Easter Lily, but there’s no restraint to just one flower. Go out into the garden and gather whatever is in bloom to create a beautiful floral piece for the table!
This week can take a lot out of a flower farmer with a loyal customer base, plus any new customers just finding your flower farm. Planning ahead makes the days run so much smoother just like anything else. But when we’re working with Mother Nature, sometimes it can be stressful to accommodate everyone’s request, so be cautious of overcommitting. You want to be sure to have extra floral pieces for any new or unexpected customers. If there are no extras to offer, their support may be lost for the life of your business. Prepare for the unknown as new customers will find you through friends, coworkers and family!
Here at the farm Easter week means we’re in preparation of creating planted baskets with decorative bunnies, chicks and eggs. However, our main focus is what’s tucked inside that will offer blooms for the coming months ahead. There are no limit or rules to what can be added to spring baskets. For example, you could include young perennials, herbs, spring bulbs, houseplants, or succulents. Not only are planted baskets being made, but the last of our winter/spring blooms are being harvested for jar/vase bouquets as well as a small quantity of wrapped bouquets.
Allow me to share with you some of our main Easter bouquets. As you can see in the above and below photos, we use lots of blooming shrubs and the foliage for filler then bring in our main focal point with tulips, daffodils, hellebores and anemones. By knowing our customers and their wants, we allot for more jar/vase arrangements, because in years past that has shown us that is what sells first and price volume is higher! It’s a win-win knowing your customer base and taking their interests into consideration!
Easter comes early some years and late others. That’s another aspect to take into consideration. What’s in bloom one year may not be the next. Creativity must step in with a bit of knowledge.
Have a beautiful and blessed Easter!
Pamela Anthony
Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden