How can you find the best fresh cut flowers in Dickson, Fairview, White Bluff, Kingston Springs, Charlotte, Bon Aqua, Burns, and all of the greater Nashville area of middle Tennessee?
Buy local. Buy local. Buy local.
BUY LOCAL!
Seeking out your local flower farm is the first thing you should do if you're looking for the freshest flowers you can get. Not only does buying locally maximize the longevity of your flowers, but in the case of my farm and many others, they are grown without the use of toxic chemicals that can be found on imported flowers sold at your nearby grocery store or chain florist.
Not completely convinced that purchasing from your local flower farm is worth the trip? Read below to learn about some of the factors that go into producing high-quality cut flowers and the steps we take here at Acres Abloom to maximize the lifespan and blooming potential of our flowers, and then decide!
Harvesting timeframe
Did you know that the exact time of day that your flowers are cut can make a huge difference in the quality of their blooms? Most farmers know to harvest either early morning or late evening when the sugars in the flowers are the highest. Here at Acres Abloom, we harvest all of our flowers based on each specific variety's preferred harvest window, whether that means cutting them just after the first morning dew or after the sun has already set. We also try to harvest at just the right time to maximize a flower's bloom potential, which is a little sooner than most people would think. Flowers in full bloom might look great in your garden, but they make for very short-lived cut flower arrangements. At Acres Abloom, we cut them as they are just starting to open up, as they will continue to mature into gorgeous, fully developed blooms that you can enjoy for much longer.
Flower conditioning
Conditioning involves the preparation of cut plant material prior to its arrangement to ensure that there are no factors in place which might result in a shortened lifespan. Correct conditioning will maximize the longevity of flowers and foliage, providing the most value and enjoyment to the buyer. At Acres Abloom, the conditioning process starts while the flowers are still in the ground. We heavily water the morning and evening before harvesting so that they are naturally hydrated before being cut; otherwise, an airlock could form in the stem during cutting which would result in premature wilting. Once flowers have been harvested, they are stored away from sunlight in a temperature-controlled environment for at least 24 hours while they continue to hydrate and open up their blooms.
Flower grading and processing
Here at Acres Abloom, we pride ourselves on being able to provide premium, specialty cut flowers to our customers. This means that all of our flowers are graded for the highest quality through a variety of factors such as freshness, size, vibrancy, and overall appearance. We hold ourselves to the highest possible standard in every single category and can guarantee the following:
Freshness: All flowers are harvested within 24 - 72 hours to ensure that they have a long vase life and will maintain their beauty for an extended period.
Size: All flowers are planted and harvested at the appropriate time to ensure large, vibrant blooms and long, healthy stems.
Appearance: All flowers will have minimal to no imperfections and color uniformity throughout petals and leaves.
No chemicals. Period.
Nationwide studies have shown that certain pesticides may increase the risk of various cancers as much as smoking. It has been proven that florists and wholesalers who handle and arrange the flowers that are imported to grocery stores and florist chains are exposed to high levels of pesticides, and certain countries in Europe have even come together to start the Pesticide Victims Compensation Fund to help individuals suffering from the long-term chronic effects of pesticide poisoning. There is more than enough information out there to prove how harmful these chemicals can be, but unfortunately, they continue to be widely used in the commercial flower industry. If you want to avoid bringing these things into your home, it's important to find a local source of flowers that are grown naturally. Pesticides, herbicides, and other toxic chemicals are never used at Acres Abloom, so why run the risk of buying a grocery store bouquet that has likely been exposed to these toxic chemicals?
Ethylene exposure? We hardly even know her!
Contamination from pesticides is one of the most obvious downsides to shopping for flowers at a grocery store, but there is also a silent killer at play that many are not aware of. Ethylene gas is a natural plant hormone produced by aging flowers, foliage, fruits, and vegetables, so as you can imagine, there's no shortage of this stuff floating around in the air at your local grocery store. Exposure to ethylene gas in high concentrations can have some pretty devastating effects on cut flowers, resulting in wilted and/or yellowing leaves and petals, dropped florets, loss of vibrancy, and stunted growth/failure to bloom. Unfortunately, not much of an attempt is made to prevent exposure - how many times have you walked into a store to find the flower arrangements sitting right beside the vegetable section? Here at Acres Abloom, we aim to create an environment that is purely beneficial to the health of our flowers so that they can thrive. We have a large, walk-in cooler where they are able to rest and condition without exposure to harsh sunlight or extreme temperatures and humidity. Flowers do not linger in the cooler and fruits and vegetables are absolutely prohibited, so you won't find any signs of ethylene gas poisoning among our bouquets!
Cleanliness is key!
One of the easiest ways to improve the vase life of flowers is to keep things clean. Everything from your hands, knives, shears, containers, and other tools needs to be kept sanitary to prevent the introduction of bacteria and destructive organisms to your work areas. Not only do we wash EVERYTHING once it has been used, but we extensively clean our cooler and work areas each day to keep dirt and plant matter from building up. Flowers are extremely delicate, so we do everything in our power to make sure we are not doing anything that could be potentially shortening their lifespan, and a dirty environment is one sure-fire way to do so.
We may be a little biased, but our flowers are grown and cultivated to meet the highest standards of quality, and we truly believe that you won't find anything like what we have to offer at the store, which is why we offer our freshness and quality guarantees. But don't just take our word for it - give your local flower farm a try and see the difference for yourself!