What if Nothing Grows?

There is nothing more terrifying than planting 400 tulips in the fall and just waiting over the winter to see if they will bloom in spring! I think the fear of the first year flower farmer is...what if nothing grows? There are so many factors that come into play when designing and planting your flower garden. These factors are amplified when you intend to earn your living by selling these beauties. Plant too late, their will be no flowers blooming in June. Plant to early, you risk a late frost and death of your pretties. For me, random summer (sometimes spring even) hail storms threaten to wipe out a bed of flowers in two minutes flat! Weather aside, there are weeds and pests to contend with. And if you are able to evade all of that, there is just the possibility that your particular seed will not germinate and there won't be any flowers despite your best effort!

So, then, why do I choose to make this the source of my income? Why fight weather, bugs, and weeds? The answer is as diverse as the colors of flowers to be sown. The smile on the face of the person that receives a bouquet of flowers, the love they may feel in that moment, the beauty of nature as recognition and joy dance across their eyes, the giggle of a little girl getting her first bouquet, and the happiness that spreads like pollen across neighborhoods and towns, these are just some of the little sparks that I long to create by introducing my flowers into my little corner of the world. Personally, flowers connect me to nature, memories, and peace in ways other practices fall short. If I can work hard and make a difference for myself and others by growing flowers, then all the potential calamities I face will be well worth it! I don't know what the future holds, but I imagine it holds lots and lots of beauty and with a little luck maybe some flowers too!