How to Stay Connected to Flowers During Winter

by Alyssa Rainville

Though it’s not technically winter just yet, the cold temperatures and early nightfall of this time of year seem to make us long for the sunlight of spring and the warmth of summer.  Our Philadelphia flower farmers have finished their growing season.  The dahlia tubers have been dug up from the ground for storage, the ornamental kale (a hardy end-of-season crop) has been harvested for our Thanksgiving centerpieces, and the tulip and daffodil bulbs are in the ground, ready to sprout up next year. 

We felt inspired after reading a blog post by one of our vendors, Heidi of The Kitchen Garden Series, to share some tips for staying connected to flowers during the winter.  We hope these help tide you over until the end of March/early April, when locally grown blooms come back into season!

1) Visit a botanic garden.  Morris Arboretum shares what you can anticipate viewing in their gardens each month, and also boasts an indoor Fernery, where warmth and greenery can be enjoyed year-round.  For those who will make the trek, Longwood Gardens is world-renowned for their indoor orchid collection and bonsai display.

2) Sign up for a seasonal arranging workshop with one of our designers.  Rumor has it we added a few December dates, since the first one sold out so quickly.  If you’re signed up for our newsletter, you’ll be among the first notified when new classes go live!

3) Read a book about flowers and nature!  We recommend anything from the book club reading list from Local Color Flowers in Baltimore.

4) Give us a call and order a custom dried flower bouquet or arrangement!  Dried flowers showcase each bloom in a new, unique way, and can be enjoyed-year round and (somewhat) indefinitely.

5) Consider your light conditions and desired commitment for an indoor plant.  We have plenty available in our greenhouse, and would love to help you find a new friend to care for during these chilly months.