The key to creativity, happiness and stress free living
I know these are bold claims, but it is true - Flowers have been shown to reduce stress and depression, improve memory and even boost creativity. (Lots of scientific references are here.) Yet, the United States is low on the scale for every day flower purchases. We buy them for special occasions, but many feel like it is a "treat" to buy themselves flowers for no reason at all. When in reality, it is an incredibly simple and affordable way to reduce our daily stress levels and increase our happiness.
I know these are bold claims, but it is true - Flowers have been shown to reduce stress and depression, improve memory and even boost creativity. (Lots of scientific references are here.)
Yet, the United States is low on the scale for every day flower purchases. We buy them for special occasions, but many feel like it is a "treat" to buy themselves flowers for no reason at all.
When in reality, it is an incredibly simple and affordable way to reduce our daily stress levels and increase our happiness.
From the beginning, I have grown flowers in addition to a variety of vegetables. Over the years I have seen them take over my thoughts, crop planning, seed purchases and plans for business growth.
The more stressed I would feel, the more flowers I wanted to grow. I still love to grow vegetables, but there are few (maybe heirloom tomatoes) that can match the feeling of bucket after bucket of freshly harvested flowers.
Right now, there is a lot of extra stress for those of us who value environmental protections, equal rights for all people, and basic human decency. When you feel like everything is turning into a gigantic dumpster fire, just buy a few flowers.
Want to learn how to make your flowers last longer? Download the handy guide below!
A quick note on growing dahlias in the hot as hell South
Being in the south, growing dahlias can be a painstaking crop to grow successfully. This year was especially challenging because it was so. f*cking. hot. Early in the season we had unusually high temperatures, coupled with two weeks of rain every single day. Many of my plants were lost to various types of rot. I had decided to just ignore them and hopefully come September the ones that survived may come around.
Luckily, they did just that.
Now, financially I’m not really sure it makes sense to grow a flower that is in the ground for at least 6 months and only gives you a small window of harvest until frost. Also taking into consideration that ½ of those flowers are probably unsellable due to insect damage if you are growing organically. AND that the vase life of those flowers is easily ½ of most flowers commonly grown on a flower farm = tough sell at farmers’ markets.
But my god….
What else in the fall is this amazing? For weddings, there is nothing to take it’s place. Nothing.
So us southern growers will suck it up and accept our complicated, emotional relationship with our dahlias because the alternative is just as awful.
Easy Breezy Summer Bride
photo: Kissick Weddings
When I was originally thinking about getting married, my dream was an elopement in NYC at City Hall (where we were living at the time) with a great dinner afterwards with friends and family. We would rent a swanky hotel room for the weekend and call it a wrap.
That is exactly what this bride did and I think it is fantastic.
Focus on who and what is important to you. Who cares about the rest.