My husband, Tim, and I moved to Rockbridge County in 2012 when Tim started flying for an EMS helicopter company through the local hospital.  I worked prn as a nurse, homeschooled our three girls, and spent time in the garden when I could.  Growing up in Montana on a cattle ranch, I had deep roots in agriculture but had never grown cut flowers.  Five years ago I bought a few seed trays, dug up two sixty foot sections of our front lawn, and planted out dozens of seedlings.  I was in awe of all the things that could grow here, but with a busy family life, I was content to just enjoy a few pretty flowers every summer.  After my son was born, I resigned from my nursing job and began reading more about cut flowers, particularly "cool flowers."  I was hooked.  More seed trays and more grow lights filled the basement, and Tim encouraged me to try to sell what I grew.  He dug up six more long flower beds, and we laid compost and drip hose and started planting out the little seedlings in March. I reached out to some women from church and nearly cried when I received my first sale...two months before anything was ready!

As we look back on our first selling season, I am so very thankful to those who purchased bouquets, who brought me jars and vases, and those who prayed when sideways rain and voles threatened my plants.  I have loved seeing flowers filling up more of our landscape, but even more, I have loved  having my girls working out there alongside me with the little boy throwing dirt between the rows.​​