Starting Small With Growing Flowers Makes All The Difference

I wanted to grow a full acre of flowers this year. I dreamed of rows and rows of bright blooms, giant dahlias, and simple sweetpeas. I researched all winter, ordered seeds & even started many indoors in March. However, an entire acre may have just killed me.

I'm writing this in mid-July, and I cannot tell you how happy I am we are only growing a 15' x 30' space. That's right; our garden is 15 feet wide and 30 feet long.

Chances are if you're reading this, you're a 'go-getter.' You've started your own business, are dreaming of starting one, or create using flowers in your spare time. You dream in fields of blooms & hunt antique shops for the most unique vessel around. So you get where I'm coming from. I wasn't going to "just grow a small cutting garden." However that's exactly what I did, and I couldn't be happier.

The toughest challenge was mentally getting over a block I had created. I somehow thought that if I stayed small in the garden this year, it meant the business wasn't thriving. I was so embarrassed at the beginning of the season when people came over I wouldn't show them the garden. Because somehow bigger = better to me.

As the summer continued, my small garden didn't seem so small. It felt like a huge problem the day I lost all my sunflowers to rabbits. Or the afternoon I spent 6 hours creating a deer fence. Every afternoon I spent in the garden it felt bigger. It felt… perfect.

When the blooms arrived, I couldn't believe my eyes. Zinnias in the brightest of hues. Sweet peas that smell like heaven. Sunflowers that will pop any day now! Dahlia starts that are strong and getting stronger each day.

Starting small doesn't mean your dreams are small. It means you're practical. We have 28 weddings this season, so there is NO time to fret over a large section of flowers. I haven't weeded the cutting garden more than 45 minutes at a time, and it's still not enough. Can you imagine if I had gotten in over my head?

Start small. Start intentionally. And start by growing things that thrive in your area. Having success your first year is so important to keeping you motivated for the next year. Find other growers in your area who can mentor & help you with questions about slugs and ants and rabbits. And most importantly, have fun. Make your garden space you enjoy going out to each morning — not something you dread. Dream big, but keep it small.