2026: A Year of Flowers
What do we do in the winter?
Lately, I’ve been dreaming of flowers.
Picture it: on one desk, the year-end financial paperwork is spread out. Dog-eared, highlighted, and post-it notes sticking out. There’s a certain degree of organizational beauty to it all, a sort of abstract operational artwork. But I’ve also been staring at screens a lot lately: this is the annual year-end grind of owning a business.
Then, on the other desk: the seed catalogs. New ones are arriving daily from nurseries and seed growers coast to coast. Orders placed a few weeks ago have begun to arrive and have been sorted by sowing date.
I do love a good system.
This year’s crop and sowing plan for The Field, our urban flower farm just across the street, is well underway. I’m actually due to make a few updates because every time I place a seed order I inevitably add a couple things that weren’t on my initial list. I rock at impulsive plant acquisition. (Not sorry about it.)
Sourcing seeds has become one of my favorite things to do. Would you believe I hadn’t grown anything from seed since I was a kid until two years ago when I started flower farming? Yeah, me neither… (a long overdue comeback, by the way)
Researching and discovering new varieties, seeing them through a full season, and most notable – sharing the beauty they produce – has become a source of seemingly infinite joy. I also love sourcing from independent seed growers and family-owned, legacy seed farms.
I especially love finding the weird and unusual things. Things that blow your mind, things you’ve never seen before, things that make you catch your breath, maybe whisper a little “wow…” of wonder, or – in my case – a well-timed descriptive and uplifting expletive. (You really aren’t farming if you aren’t cursing a little).
In 2025 I fell in love with some special varieties: all of them grown from seed, all of them a little (or, in the case of the dahlias, a LOT) different from their siblings. At some point we’ll talk more about the dahlias. For now, I’ll just say that growing them from seed unlocks a new dimension.
They are soul changing.
There’s so many new things on the plan for 2026, and I’m diving deep into a few collections including Pansies, Sweet Peas, and Sunflowers. If you think you know any of these plants – think again. I’m so excited to begin growing them and, of course, sharing them with you. They’re also featuring in this year’s new Flower Lovers Book Club that will begin meeting monthly at the end of January.
On that note, it’s time to share how I’ll be sharing the flowers with you this year, including this year’s Flower Subscriptions, which are now available for purchase.
I’m making a few key changes to the program this year, and I’m really stoked for them.
First, you won’t be picking up your flowers from The Botany Shop. Instead, we’re teaming up with our friends and new neighbors, Counterspell Café right here in the Near Northwest, and their sibling location, Cloud Walking Cafe & Lounge in the Market District, as this year’s pickup locations. I not-so-secretly hope you’ll plan to order a delicious beverage and pastry when you pick up your bouquet each week.
I’m also streamlining the subscription options. Each subscription will run for six consecutive weeks, and you’ll sign up based on the season when you want to enjoy your flowers. I’m offering three options: early summer, late summer, and autumn.
Finally, when you sign up for a subscription before the Spring Equinox, which is Saturday, March 21, you’ll enjoy an early-bird discount. (Essentially a free bouquet!)
Flower Subscriptions aren’t the only way I’m planning to share the Field with you this year.
If you’d prefer to harvest and design your own bouquet – and, let me tell you, there’s a special, special magic being out in the rows as the sun is coming up or setting at golden hour – then you’ll want to join me for a Bouquet Magic class. We’ll walk the field together and I’ll show you what and how to harvest as we cover the basics of flower arranging. You’ll head home with a unique bouquet made by and for you.
There’s also Flower Garlands, and I’m adding more options to the palette of choices you’ll be able to use in 2026.
Tickets are now available for all classes if you’d like to save your spot early. Or, reach out about making a private group reservation – the sooner, the better!
Finally, if you’d like to sneak a peek behind the scenes, I’d love to connect with you on Instagram.
My only goal there is to share the beauty, wonder, excitement, surprise, and joy that comes with growing flowers to share with others. And some other plant-based content, of course!
Cheers to a year filled with flowers in 2026.
I can’t wait to share the beauty with you.
-Ben | Farmer, Founder, CEO