Seeing the Possibility: the 10 year evolution of a backyard flower farm

Farm 47 Flowers

I remember the moment when I told my parents that I was going to flower farm in my backyard. Both of whom pursued professions to escape their own farm upbringing were less than thrilled at this career shift after my own seven years spent collecting college degrees. But my time studying landscape architecture was a catalyst and trained me to see the potential of spaces and the delight waiting to take shape.

Indeed, a clean slate full of possibility was what I saw in this space when my husband and I bought our home in 2016. The house itself was an underwhelming cookie cutter that needed to be brought out of the 1980’s, but the yard was different. Unlike most 30' by 40' suburban backyards, this misshapen trapezoid felt like it stretched on forever. It had plants randomly sprinkled around, piles of debris everywhere, and it even had two concrete drains in the center going who knows where. In my eyes it was amazing.

Original view 2016

At the time my plan was to grow veggies in a hydroponic greenhouse. This wasn’t a stretch because I was already running an indoor vertical farm and teaching in a hydroponic program. I had the knowledge and will to make it happen so that’s where I began.

With visions of fresh produce in mind, my dad and I started shaping this canvas into the foundation of a future farm. We built the first hoop house and set up aquaponic systems for growing leafy greens, tomatoes and peppers. I struggled for a few years growing on and off as I worked a day job, taught at the community college, and constantly wondered why it was so much harder than I thought it would be.

First stages of construction 2016

The truth is that there was never a flower-shaped lightning bolt that struck me with a deep well of inspiration. My transition away from vegetables was a slow realization that what I was doing wasn’t working and the time, money and energy were not going to pay off.

Luckily, I came across Floret Flower Farm in Washington with their beautiful blog posts teaching and encouraging others in the pursuit of growing flowers in small spaces. I had never grown more than a 6-pack of snapdragons and a seed pack of larkspur but I was intrigued by this novel concept and had plenty of space just waiting. I already had the foundational knowledge for growing plants and working in tight spaces so it seemed like a worthy pursuit.

First season enthusasm

I started Floret’s online course to learn everything about flowers in January of 2020 with no expectations. Of course, everything changed that year and luckily for me I was able to spend more time studying flowers and starting seeds while I listened to Zoom meetings. After hours of boring calls, I poured all my pent up energy into digging new beds, shoveling compost and planting trays and trays of flowers.

First Season Sunset

That first year, as first years always are, was a blur of excitement and overwhelm. I spent hours fighting with irrigation, pulled countless weeds, and killed tray after tray of seedlings. Ever so slowly the hardpan turned into neat rows with working irrigation and growing plants. I harvested flowers, learned how to put together a nice enough bouquet and hauled them to the farmer’s market. Even though I only had blooms from June to September that season, that tiny amount of success from a mountain of effort was just enough to get me hooked.

Mountain view through the years

Now that I’m heading into my 7th season growing flowers and 10th year working with this land, I look back at all the mistakes, successes, failures, and hard learnings with humor because those moments are thankfully in the past. I’ve done a lot of things wrong, witnessed a few hoop house collapses, continued to kill too many plants to count, and yet, every year I keep growing.

I’ve heard that it only takes about 10% more effort for an individual to have an advantage over others in any pursuit. That percentage comes from the ability to keep showing up day after day when it gets hard and eventually all of that learning and effort compounds into what sets you apart. I discovered that I have the willingness to be hot and dirty for months on end combined with the strange mix of skills that makes me well-suited for this farming niche. I'm not sure exactly how it happened but I'm grateful that this winding path has led me to such a beautiful place and that I have just enough delusion to keep going.

Season 1 to season 6

As time passed and I maxed out my space packing every nook and cranny with more plants, I found myself looking longingly over the wall at the yard next door with a familiar dream of possibility. I'd watched the yard sit unused year after year as the renters came and went, as the weeds grew and died back. My eyes could only see the neat rows of flowers this unloved space was calling out to become.

Google Earth view 2018, 2023, and 2025

With more experience under my belt and an entire yard to showcase what I could do, I called the property owner. Since he doesn't live in the house, I knew he couldn't quite tell what I wanted to do. When I tell people I grow flowers in my back yard, I can only assume they picture a couple of garden beds with a smattering of blooms. As with everyone who walk through my gate, he and his wife lit up with delight and quickly agreed to my proposal. The very next day I cut a hole in the wall and started applying for grants.

2025 Expansion next door

There’s no such thing as a farm or a garden being complete. It is a process, an experience full of cycles and iterations. The life cycles of crops and insects, the cycle of seasons, and the knowledge that this is just a moment in time. As I steward the piece of earth, I understand that it was once something else and will become something different in the future. For now it is this wonderful secret garden in a place no one expects.

Summer morning 2024

As we begin another seasonal cycle, my dad and I are back at it building something new. This next structure will be part greenhouse and part floral studio and will not only help me get my workspace out of the house but will become the heart of the farm.

Construction is a slow process but we hope to have the floral studio fully complete and ready for the grand opening and launch of my Tuesday Night Flower Club in May of 2026. My hope is this will become a space of gathering and learning where I can invite more people to experience delight, joy and calm in flowers.

Greenhouse construction December 2025

Over the years I continue to find myself working against the fading light. Inevitably, the time always comes when it's too dark to work but there is enough of a twilight glow to silhouette the flowers and structures against the sky. These are my favorite moments. They are also the rare moments I take to sit back and appreciate how far this space has come. Watching the blooms fade into darkness gives me a sense of peace and accomplishment that I have yet to find elsewhere.

Thank you for being part of this floral journey so far. I can wait to welcome you into my floral haven this season to see it's next cycle of life. I'll see you soon!

Summer sunset fall 2024