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March 27th 2017

A floral revolution


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I have a vision board with all of the amazing, impossible, unbelievable things I want to experience in life and business taped up in my office. For years The New York Times has been up there, just staring back at me.

Well, that dream came true when the New York Times featured the local flower movement in their online last week and also in their Sunday T Magazine print edition. 

I can’t tell you what an honor it was to have my new book, Cut Flower Garden, book mentioned in the article, and also be included  in the New York Times’ list of  “Favorite Florists on Instagram” alongside all of my floral heroes.  

As thrilling as it was be featured in the article, what was perhaps most rewarding was to have the seasonal flower movement spotlighted in such a prominent publication and in such a compelling story.

The story begins boldly, “This country is in the midst of a floral revolution.”

What is so refreshing to me is that it is no longer just a little flower farmer saying ‘the times they are a changin.’

Now the paper widely considered the national “newspaper of record” has detailed fundamental changes to the floral industry.

Yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.

The story describes it as “like a David and Goliath story, with something as lovely and fragile as a flower upending big business.”

For the past few years, I’ve been so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with hundreds of flower farmers and floral designers through the Floret Workshops.

I’ve seen firsthand the intense interest in both growing and designing with seasonal, sustainably-grown flowers. I’ve witnessed the emotion and nostalgia stirred up after smelling a fistful of sweet peas.

And a quick scan of my inbox or the  600+ comments to my post “Six Important Questions to Answer before You Get Started Growing Flowers” further illustrate the deep desire to cultivate beauty.

There is a hunger for change.

Recent articles in the press have helped to fuel further interest in growing and designing with local, seasonal flowers. For example:

Garden Design magazine (If you aren’t already familiar with this publication, it is a beautiful coffee-table quality magazine with no ads. Just 148 pages of beautiful gardens and plants. Learn more.)

In addition to the Cut Flower Garden Virtual Book Tour, I also had the opportunity to promote some local flower love by sharing gardening and design tips with some of my favorite blogs including:

Taproot 

Terrain 

Design Sponge

(see even more flower-related press here)

Again, while I’m truly honored and humbled by all of the praise and press coverage of the new Floret book, what makes me the most excited is seeing the giant spotlight that it shines on the local, seasonal flower movement.

The New York Times article perhaps said it best, “This country is in the midst of a floral revolution….This revolution might be pastoral and pretty, but it’s also powerful.”

A huge thank you for being part of it all!

20 Comments

  1. Mary Smith on

    FlowersWow!! awesome Blog and the best thing is I have found some relevant news from your blog. The collection of amazing pictures is a total add-on. Thanks For it. keep up the good work.

    Reply
  2. shophoatphcm on

    I feel those that are so willing to pass on their hard earned knowledged are truly talented and caring people. You have inspired me so much I have finally decided to get back into flowers and try to grow my own cut flowers. I had been a floral designer for over 25 years and was becoming discouraged to stay in the business with the choices of places to work. hoa tuoi

    Reply
  3. shophoatphcm on

    Beautiful flowers make each person’s life more meaningful. And your blog is one of those places where I find inspiration from designing beautiful and fresh flowers for my clients. I like post, https://hoatuoishop.net/

    Reply
  4. Maria on

    Maria
    It is great news your excellent work is being recognized… even if it is in the New York Times which I never read and I never will.

    Reply
  5. Anuj Agarwal on

    Hi Erin,

    My name is Anuj Agarwal. I’m Founder of Feedspot.

    I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Floret Flowers has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 30 Flower Gardening Blogs on the web.

    http://blog.feedspot.com/flower_gardening_blogs/

    I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 30 Flower Gardening Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!

    Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.

    Best,
    Anuj

    Reply
  6. Daria W on

    Just curious – the flower industry, world wide, uses tremendous amounts of industrial agricultural chemicals, or so I’ve read. What has your approach been? Obviously, less pollution because you’re not shipping from S. America but what’s involved, if I may ask?

    Reply
  7. Khang Phan on

    Congratulations to Floret!
    We have been watching you for a long time, your knowledge, beautiful flowers and much needed experience have helped us a lot in the deployment and development of the flower shop. We https://hoatuoishop.com/ to the customer better hands!
    Thanks and congratulations!

    Reply
  8. Anuj Agarwal on

    Hi Erin,

    My name is Anuj Agarwal. I’m Founder of Feedspot.

    I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Floret Flowers has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 100 Flower Blogs on the web.

    http://blog.feedspot.com/flower_blogs/

    I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Flower Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!

    Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.

    Best,
    Anuj

    Reply
  9. Elisha on

    Congratulations! Your work is amazing and the accolades are well deserved. We have a small flower shop in Battle Creek, MI and find great inspiration in your work. Keep up the great designs! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  10. Magda on

    beautyful pictures! i’m so impressed.

    Reply
  11. Linda on

    Congratulations Erin! You are indeed a “ground soldier of today’s (floral) movement”. Many thanks for your wonderful website, blog, instagrams, emails, etc.
    I live in Mount Vernon also, so your advice is especially helpful! I’m growing some new flowers this year thanks to you. Loving your book!!

    Reply
  12. Lisa Montgomery on

    I am so impressed with your blog!! Our family has been so involved with the slow food and slow fish movement for so many years (Spencer Montgomery) I was elated to see a slow flower movement!! My hat is off to you :) I will join you in this movement! I can grow flowers!! Thank you for the inspiration!!

    Reply
  13. Lori Bochner on

    Congratulations Team Floret! This is great news! I am so grateful for all the advice and inspiration you provide. We’re located in Iowa and just getting started on our flower farming journey. Your new book and your website have been invaluable. I read them over and over again, gaining something new each time. THANK YOU!

    Reply
  14. Debi Miller on

    Thank you for all your inspiration and all that you share. My local florist is extremely supportive of local flower farmers and proudly advertises they are grown locally. She never hesitates to say where her beautiful dahlias and zinnias come from. I am eager to learn all that you share so I can always provide the most beautiful blooms, preferred by florists!

    Reply
  15. Elizabeth Seymour on

    Congratulations! You and your family have worked hard for your recognition! I agree with Staci. Thank you so much for all your shared insight and advice. We live in an area with a really, really short growing season. So most market garden/ farmers focus on quick growing veggies. Your book and website has encouraged me to leap into organic flower growing. I. Can’t. Wait. For. (real) Spring!
    Elizabeth
    PS Do I see that you are growing tulips in crates? How’s that going? Can you elaborate?

    Reply
  16. Tristin on

    A beautiful NY Times article, and you are the feature! Amazing! Keep doing amazing things and inspiring others.

    Reply
  17. Staci on

    Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge, I feel those that are so willing to pass on their hard earned knowledged are truly talented and caring people. You have inspired me so much I have finally decided to get back into flowers and try to grow my own cut flowers. I had been a floral designer for over 25 years and was becoming discouraged to stay in the business with the choices of places to work. A few places I worked were nightmares. I did not have the finances I to start a business so I went back to college and became a nurse, whiçh I love, but I miss the flowers so much. Your blog makes me realize I need to start at a reasonable level, my goal is to be able to grown enough varieties to begin a business for weddings and maybe farmer’s markets.
    Thank you so much for all your advice!

    Reply

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