ANGLEA MILLER’S eyes sparkled upon her first encounter with a feverfew two years ago. A world of local blooms she had never heard of unfolded before her like a secret garden. This passion grew from a single, unexpected seed. Now, her own precious canvas stretches before her. Visiting her flower farm, Country Club Flower Patch, is like stepping into a bright, living painting filled with the colors and scents of nature’s finest flora.
“I’ve always been drawn to flowers and flower bouquets,” Miller began, recalling when her love for planting took a more defined shape. “But when I saw a flower in a modern florist who buys from flower farmers, I hooked right on to it, and I had to find out what it was. I thought it was so cute and pretty. When I googled it and figured out what kind of flower it was, I learned that it’s one of the most common for flower farmers to grow. It’s called feverfew. So, by learning about that flower, I learned about all these other flowers that people can grow on small flower farms or in their backyards. That’s really what got me started.”
Miller’s discovery of feverfew kick-started her journey into flower farming. With endless curiosity, she began learning about different flowers and how to grow them. However, this new adventure came with some learning curves. Thankfully, with the help of technology, Miller navigated them with ease.
“The biggest challenge,” she reflected, “[was] learning about the different ways you grow certain types of flowers. Except there’s such a bountiful amount of free information online to learn everything. So, I think if I were trying to figure things out by myself, I would have made a lot more mistakes than I have. But there’s so much information from creators on Instagram, YouTube, and flower farming blogs. I feel like those helped me avoid what would have been a lot of pitfalls.”
One of Miller’s most shocking discoveries was the reality of the flower industry. She learned that farmers often cultivated these florets under poor and unethical working conditions and with the heavy use of chemicals. The environmental impact of importing these flowers is significant. Understanding this made her more determined to grow flowers locally and sustainably.
“There’s a pretty large environmental impact with imported flowers that I never really thought about,” she said.
Miller’s flower farm operates from mid-March through late October, offering a stunning array of blooms. Sunflowers reach for the sun; zinnias unfurl their petals; and dahlias, her current pride and joy, prepare for their grand fall display. Her journey into flower farming has been as much about personal growth as it has been about growing flowers.
“At least seven or eight varieties I currently grow are flowers I had never heard of two years ago. It’s been so fun to learn about and grow new varieties.”
Beyond the beauty they bring, Miller believes flowers play a significant role in mental and emotional well-being. During the COVID-19 pandemic, so many people turned to gardening for solace. Watching something grow from seed to bloom brings many people immense joy. Flowers can also help celebrate joyous occasions and offer comfort in times of grief.
Miller is always eager to share tips with aspiring flower farmers.
She said, “Learning about soil health and choosing proper varieties for cutting is very important, as is the harvest stage and how to care for plants. One thing that a lot of flower farmers have to do is pinch or top plants or remove the top part of the plant so that it can branch and create more stems.”
Miller also shared advice for those already bitten by the gardening bug.
“I would encourage them to learn how to grow hardy annuals, particularly what Lisa Mason Ziegler describes in her book as “cool flowers.” It’s a total game changer. It’s a way of growing that I had never heard about until two years ago when I started learning about these flowers.”
For Miller, flower farming is her unique contribution to the community and the environment. Locally grown flowers are especially rare and provide vital resources like supporting pollinators, conserving soil, and bringing pure joy to people’s lives.
This past spring, she custom-made pink and purple bouquets for a dance recital, which she found to be an exciting project. Her ultimate dream is to bridge the gap between farm-to-table and farm-to-soul, providing locally grown flora that beautifies homes and uplifts spirits.
“Like” Country Club Flower Patch’s Facebook page or follow her on Instagram @countryclub_flowerpatch to stay updated on her amazing journey. Purchase a bouquet on her website for a sensory experience unlike any other. Discover the joy of locally grown flowers, support sustainable floristry, and bring a touch of nature’s beauty into your life. GN
