“It’s easy to romanticize being a flower farmer,” says Melissa Law, co-owner of Bumbleroot Organic Farm in Windham. “Especially when the end product is so beautiful, so joyful.”
Synonymous with some of life’s sweetest moments, it is indeed easy to behold a bright, fragrant bouquet and covet the métier of the human whose hand planted those seeds; plucked those stems. But, if there’s one thing Melissa wants you to know about her career, it’s this: Life on the farm isn’t all sunshine and summer breezes. “It’s incredibly high risk. Between diseases, pests, and the weather, there are lots of elements that can cause a crop to flounder.”
While we can’t all possess the tenacity of a farmer, we can certainly appreciate what happens when—thanks to a careful combination of patience, persistence, and green-thumbed-ingenuity—their plants flourish. All we must do is visit some of Maine’s most prominent farm stands, floral shops, and flowing fields to see the fruits (or flowers) of their labor for ourselves.
We kick off our tour with a wellness check at Wild Few in Arundel, where Zoë Shwidock and Nicole Heker cultivate 25 varieties of medicinal herbs on their half-acre, no-till plot. Rather than bouquets, Wild Few blooms are ideal for soothing teas, tinctures, and tasty treats. Although dried herbs and specialty blends are shipped nationwide, it’s their CSA that sets them apart. “We think of it as an intro to herbalism,” the pair say, adding: “It includes a monthly selection of fresh herbs, our own recipe booklet, plant profiles, and more.”
Carry those good vibes up the coast to the Fresh Pickins farm stand in Cape Elizabeth. Brimming with “seed-to-shelf” goods—including bouquets and an adventure-inspired line of eco-friendly skincare products, each made with home-grown herbs and beeswax—you’ll be hard-pressed to leave empty handed. Not sure where to start? According to owner-farmer Dan Marion, the Beach Rose face oil and the Bug and Tick Spray are great “gateway products” to get you hooked.
Now that you’ve treated yourself, cruise over to Petalage(a decidedly contemporary take on a traditional floral design shop) in nearby South Portland for a show-stopping gift for a friend, loved one, or sweetheart. “The Wild Rose Wraps are my specialty,” says proprietor Michelle Glassman, who assembles the modernist arrangements with hardy, long-lasting roses, juxtaposed by delicate and surprising seasonal species. “I always strive to source local blooms for all of my designs.”
You’ll find plenty of locally grown flowers (as well as unique fine-art prints, fairy-like floral installations, and more) at the Saudade Flore pop-up, open through June at The Black Box on Washington Avenue in Portland. “Saudade is a Portuguese word that, at its essence, describes a deep, almost romantic longing for something. It’s exactly how I feel creating my designs,” says printmaker, florist, and owner Jo Ferry. Brides, take note: Jo uses her press to create bespoke wedding invitations with the same floral matter as her tailor-twisted arrangements.
Minutes away on Ocean Avenue, Backyard Blooms beckons with its charming, old-fashioned floral cart. Old friends, neighbors, and business partners Kate Hanavan Ross and Jason Aucoin combined their two backyards to start the uber-micro and ultra-urban flower farm. The pair employs intensive gardening practices to pull an impressive haul, including harvesting flowers from over 600 dahlia plants per week. Don’t miss Kate and Jason’s digital spring tuber sale if you want to try growing this popular flower in your own yard.
If we follow the dahlias, we’ll wind up in Windham at Bumbleroot Organic Farm, where co-owners Melissa Law, Ben Whalen, and Jeff and Abby Fisher also offer up certified-organic dahlia tubers to a nationwide audience each winter. “We’ve been propagating dahlia tubers for about a decade,” says Melissa. “Our sale features some of our favorite varieties.” Melissa’s favorite? “Definitely ‘Diva.’ It has large, deep purple flowers that are perfect for cutting.”
Brides-and-grooms-to-be (specifically, those with a wild, woodsy aesthetic) will want to seek out Sarah Hager, florist, farmer, and founder of Bounty O’ Blooms in Limington. “Our design style sets us apart,” Sarah says. Her bouquets and 10-quart DIY buckets (a fun option for couples who wish to craft their own arrangements) feature striking variety and texture. “We utilize florals grown on our farm—some of which are notoriously tricky to cultivate, and thus, harder to come by—in addition to foraged filler material to create truly distinctive designs.”
As you turn back towards home, you can feel good about the items you’ve plucked along the way. “Supporting local farms isn’t just a great way to strengthen the local economy. With so many flowers flown in from across the world, buying local—through farms and local wholesale collectives, like the Maine Flower Collective—reduces the carbon footprint, too,” Melissa says.
How beautiful is that?
