Playing in the Dirt

Manicured nails are something I admire but something I will never have. My hands are, more prone to cuts, callouses, and dirty fingernails. A career of working with my hands started back on Garrett Farm as a child. I have never liked gloves. The feeling of the soil and stems is something I wanted to experience.

The joy of growing flowers came from my Mother. An avid gardener with rows of iris and clusters of peonies. She was constantly rooting a starting a new project. She had a green thumb and a love of floristry herself. She took me to my first floral design class at the age of 10. Offered at Durham Community College our instructor Sylvester Saunder was a character. I will never forget him. He was kind and encouraging to his youngest student. He proves a great teacher can make a huge impact.

Fast forward to today. All the history of growing flowers and playing in the dirt, literally my whole life, gave me an appreciation for our local flower farmers. The anticipation of the first local flowers is almost palatable every year. A flowering apricot is one of the first blooming items to peek out during February and March. It reminds us of the promised glory of spring. The time we get to visit with our local farmers as they deliver buckets filled with flowers to the shop.

Buying local is important on so many levels. One of the biggest advantages is to our client. Receiving the freshest flowers that have such a personality brings an aesthetic to the event that only local flowers can provide. Now, I certainly appreciate all our flower growers all over the world. Without them, we could not get to experience the full gamut of beauty. But, there is something about investing in a person and their dream. A person we get to be in a relationship with. A farmer with whom we cringe when a late freeze happens. Understanding they will have a long night covering their tender seedlings. A farmer we celebrate with when they procure new dahlia tubers to grow this season. The small subtle nuisances of knowing the journey of the flower. It is something special and it all starts with a love of playing in the dirt!