Industry

A Blooming Business

Flower farms are sprout-

ing up across the state. Flower farms have been blooming all over Oklahoma. And, much like the delightful products they grow, they come in a rainbow of varieties: Some allow for customers to visit and pick owers themselves, while others sell pre-picked and selected bouquets to clients or for special events. And while this may sound like a simple, pleasant afternoon in the garden, there is really quite a bit that goes into being a ower farmer. Kristin Davenport, who owns and manages Simple Acre Farm and Flowers with her husband Joel, turned to owers for comfort as a teen after losing both parents. She remembers carefully drying and pressing many of the owers after the funeral. “ ey just gave me something to love and appreciate during a pretty hard time,” she says. “It was just kind of my thing, and it gave me a way to reach people when they were hurting.” She also has fond memories of working in the garden with her mother, grandmother and great- Flower grandmother. Now, Davenport Subscriptionsenjoys sharing that joy with others. She and her family grow varieties If the idea of a collection such as sun owers, zinnias, snap- of fresh flowers arriving dragons and sweet william on their at your door once a week farm in Pocasset, near Chickasha. sounds appealing, be Simple Acres o ers ower bouquet sure to check out a local subscriptions in the fall and spring, flower farm to bring that and they are working toward open- idea to fruition. ing a wholesale location for their blooms. Both Simple Acre Farm e process to get owers from and Flowers and Wild seeds to bouquets is time-intensive. Lark Farm off er bouquet Davenport has to prepare the soil, subscription services start all the seeds before planting during growing seasons. them in the ground, run drip lines This option allows the

Kristin Davenport runs Simple Acre Farm and for irrigation and, of course, focus on weed and pest management. customer to pay ahead and receive a specially

Flowers in Pocasset. Terri Barr, owner and farmer selected bouquet weekly

Photo by Mandy Stansbury Photography at Wild Lark Farm in Claremore, or bi-weekly at home. agrees that managing a ower farm is no walk in the park.

“ ere is a lot of science involved, [and] there’s a lot of physical labor that’s involved,” she says. “It’s a lot of work out there.”

Barr, who grew up on a farm in Kansas, grows everything from tulips to larkspur to dahlias and heirloom mums, and primarily provides blooms for weddings and events. Wild Lark Farm also provides some ower subscriptions. Barr keeps up with event and wedding color trends, and grows lots of white, peach and pink for those, as well as bright pinks and oranges for other events.

“I have the staples that a lot of people grow as well; the things that grow really well here,” she says. “But then I like to try new things, see what will happen.”

All in all, growing the blooms is a labor of love for both farmers.

“When things are going well, it’s beautiful out there, and then I’m able to share some of that beauty with a lot of people,” says Barr. “ at feels good.”

Davenport contines: “Life is hard! But you’ve got to take the beauty while you can, and appreciate what you’ve got.” BONNIE RUCKER