Flower farming isn’t just about pretty petals—it’s about timing, planning, and trusting the rhythms of the seasons. While each bloom has its own window to shine, every month on the farm brings those flowers to life. From the quiet planning of winter to the full bloom of summer, here’s a look at what the year looks like behind the scenes at Blue Star Botanicals.

January – March: Dreaming, Seeding & Building the Foundation

These months are quiet on the surface, but a lot is happening behind the scenes. I start seeds inside under grow lights and heat mats—tiny beginnings that hold so much hope. After four to five weeks, the plants move down to the greenhouse to continue growing stronger.

If the weather cooperates, I spend a few precious afternoon hours outside—building beds, amending soil, and preparing for what’s to come. I also invest in my growth during this time. I’m working through the Floret Workshop this year, and I spend mornings learning, planning, and mapping out what will go where. It’s a process that never entirely leaves my mind—there’s always a planting plan to tweak or a seed to order. By the end of March, cold-hardy blooms like sweet peas and Bells of Ireland are ready to be transplanted into the hoop house or field.

April – June: The Season Begins

As spring warms the soil, the farm starts to wake up. Most mornings, I can start working outside by 10 a.m.—sometimes earlier. Drip irrigation lines go in, caterpillar tunnels go up, and transplanting moves into full swing. Every bed is buzzing with activity.

This is also harvest season for early spring beauties: narcissus, tulips, anemones, and ranunculus begin and finish blooming during this window. It’s a blur of cutting, weeding, watering, and replanting. As soon as one crop finishes, we amend the soil, fertilize, and prepare the beds for the next round. Flowers are gathered, sorted, and made into hand-tied bouquets—each one a celebration of what’s blooming that week.

July – September: The Summer Rush

This is the season of abundance. I’m up early to harvest in the cool morning hours, getting everything into the cooler before the day's heat sets in. It’s complete, fast-paced, and beautiful. I spend my afternoons processing flowers, creating bouquets, and taking notes on what’s working (and what’s not).

By late summer, I’m already thinking ahead. Bulb orders for next year will be placed. I start reviewing notes, sketching ideas, and imagining what the next growing season could look like. But in between the planning, I pause and enjoy the beauty, because this is what all the earlier work was for.

October – December: Digging, Dividing & Looking Ahead

Things shift back to quiet, steady work as the season winds down. Dahlia tubers are dug up, washed, divided, and stored for winter—a time-consuming but necessary process. Beds are prepped again, and it’s time to sprout and plant the next round of ranunculus and anemones. Sweet peas get started and transplanted out before the cold sets in.

This is also when I tuck in new perennials—peonies, woody shrubs, roses, and others needing time to settle before their first bloom. Meanwhile, the planning continues: seed orders are placed, plugs are booked, and another season starts to take shape.

Every flower you see started with a quiet moment like this—with seeds, soil, and a whole lot of thought. The work is seasonal, but it never truly stops. And that’s what I love most about it: every month matters, every step counts, and every bloom is part of a much bigger story.