Here’s me ending the long season with a smile on my face, with a body that gets to finally rest a bit, loaded with a million flower dreams for 2023. When looking back over, like I do every year at the long list of amazing happenings I can’t help but wonder, what would my son, Luke think? I’m pretty sure he loves it as most of the time I feel he’s never ever really that far away. I knew for sure at the end of last year that I wanted to open our on-farm seasonal Flower Shop Market on a more regular basis but I wasn’t quite sure if we produced enough flowers…

When I first learned about Kelly Shore’s Peony Retreat that’s during the Celebration in Homer, Alaska I knew I had to join in, especially creating a floral outfit, something I’ve wanted to try ever since I saw the bontical courter design installations at the Northwest Home and Garden Festival in Seattle a few years ago.  The application process to attend had me submitting a sketch up with color pallet and outline of my design idea for the Fleur de Paeonia Bontical “dress.” The only rule was I had to use 80% peonies. I also knew I wanted to bring some flowers from my farm to celebrate American Grown flowers and the farmers who…

Incredible, touching and magical, all words I heard to describe our last Dinner Tour of the season.  The clouds parted to bless us with good weather and September crisp air elevating the night. Chef Dave as usual bringing his Alaska Grown A game that only he can create. And the flowers, top notch if I don’t say so myself. We asked the farms of the valley who I knew grew dahlias to contribute a dahlia focused arrangement to promote the Alaska Grown floral industry during the dinner tour. Let me tell you they blew my mind. Each one displayed enthusiasm of color, execution and design. When the farmers delivered their creations the smiling…