Preparing the flower field for you
By the time you’re walking the paths at Potted Blossom with clippers in hand, the field feels effortless—flowers swaying, shade sails fluttering, signs pointing you exactly where you need to go. What you don’t always see are the busy spring days that make that experience possible. While I’ve been working here and there for the last month March is the time when I really roll up my sleeves, and start turning a sleepy field back into a place ready to welcome you.
Waking Up the Water
One of the first things I tackle each spring is water. As soon as the weather starts warming, I’m out in the field checking drip lines, watching for leaks, and replacing old, damaged lines that didn’t survive winter. I turn zones on one by one, walking the rows to make sure every bed is getting the drink it needs and no fittings have popped loose.
This isn’t glamorous work—it’s a lot of kneeling, tightening, and often getting a surprise spray in the face—but it’s what lets the plants thrive once the real heat sets in. A good drip system means strong, deep-rooted flowers that can handle our sunny days and still look beautiful when you come to pick.
Clearing Beds and Making Space
Next comes clearing out the beds. I cut down any missed stems from last season, leaving the old annual roots to feed the soil, and remove any remaining flower supports. Some beds get a full refresh; others just need a gentle tidy to make room for early bloomers that overwintered in place.
As I work, I’m also watching what the field is trying to tell me—where the soil looks compacted, where weeds are already trying to gain a foothold, which spots might need extra compost or a little more love. It’s slow, hands-on work, but there’s something deeply satisfying about seeing each bed go from messy to ready.
Planting Seeds, Planting Hope
March is when hope goes into the soil in a very real way. Some seedlings have already been started indoors and are hardening off, getting ready to move into their forever homes in the field. Others are direct-sown—tiny seeds tucked into prepared beds with a wish and a prayer that they’ll germinate and the weather will cooperate. This year our freshly sown beds will be getting a row cover to keep the birds from eating the newly planted seeds.
I plant in intentional groups, thinking about color, height, and bloom times. At the same time, I let a little “organized chaos” stay part of the plan. I know some of last year’s flowers—especially those generous sunflowers—will have dropped seeds and decided to come back right where they fell. Those surprise volunteers often pop up in the middle of zinnias or other patches, adding that whimsical, unexpected touch I love. March is when those plans and happy accidents are both put in motion. It is also the month when I can tell how well the spring bulbs are doing. If our tulips and daffodils haven’t started growing by now then there is a good chance the bulbs rotted or were eaten. Thankfully, there have already been a few popping up and I believe we are on our way to a colorful spring!
Paths, Shade, and Places to Rest
Preparing for guests isn’t just about plants; it’s about how it feels to be here. Once the beds are coming together, I turn to the spaces you actually walk and rest in. I check the landscape fabric on the paths, make sure it’s secure, and clear debris so you have a clear, safe place to wander between the rows.
Shade sails and the central shaded area get some attention too. I inspect hardware, tighten what needs tightening, and start thinking about where chairs, picnic benches, and standing tables will go so you can take a break, sort your stems, or just sit and soak in the view. New bark is brought in to fill in the low areas around the tables and benches to provide stable walking. This is also when I start quietly battling goatheads, doing my best to keep them from surprising your feet once the season starts.
Tools, Buckets, and Behind-the-Scenes Details
March is also “tool tune-up” time. I gather clippers, sharpen blades, and clean and sanitize anything that will come into contact with plant material. Buckets and containers get washed, checked for cracks, and stacked so they’re ready to be filled with fresh water for your bouquets. Vases for our Mother’s Day u-pick are inspected and cleaned, so you can put your gorgeous bouquets straight in them.
I also look over hoses and connections, making sure there aren’t any trip hazards and that everything has a logical home. It might sound small, but having clippers that cut cleanly, buckets that don’t leak, and tools that are easy to find can make the difference between a smooth, joyful u-pick and a frustrating one.
As the field starts to look more like a flower farm again, I turn my attention to the little things that help you feel oriented and at ease. Signs get wiped down or remade. I check that directional signs—from parking to the flower field—are clear and easy to follow. Pricing boards, bouquet size descriptions, and reminders about policies all get updated.
I also think through how to mark “no-pick” areas, like the dahlias and roses that I cut for you with sanitized snips. The goal is to set kind, simple boundaries that protect the plants and keep everyone safe and comfortable, without breaking the peaceful, welcoming feeling of the farm.
Quiet Work for a Joyful Season
March doesn’t have the instant gratification of a bucket full of blooms, but I still love this season on the farm. The air still carries a hint of winter, the field may looks sparse, and yet underneath it all, everything is getting ready for you.
When you step onto the farm in April for our Petal Pursuit Kick off and beyond, I want you to feel like you’ve entered a space that’s been thoughtfully prepared—a place where the details are taken care of so you can simply breathe, wander, and find a moment of peace. March is when that experience is quietly built, bed by bed, sign by sign, drip line by drip line.
By the time you arrive and grab clippers, the groundwork is done, and the flowers are ready to do what they do best: bring joy, offer peace, and fill your arms with color.