When Carli Pritchett’s grandfather passed away, his wife would engage in the ritual of bringing him flowers. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and stores began to close, Pritchett noticed how “it seemed nonessential to go to the stores for just flowers. I decided I would grow them so she wouldn’t have to worry about going to the store anymore.” Pritchett’s initial decision has now expanded into Petals And Posies Flower Farm, a vibrant venture situated in Enumclaw, Washington, where weekly bouquet subscriptions are supplemented by wedding work.
We spoke to Pritchett about the romantic nature of dahlias and the shortage of healthy tulip bulbs. We also touched on the way farming life can help to cultivate kindness.
Prospering in the Dirt Factory
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Recounting her interest in farming, Pritchett points to deep roots in the field.
“Papa started one of the very first custom soil companies ever back in the 1970s. Eventually I took over for him once his health started failing him in 2012,” she explains. “I had worked there since I was 15, only taking a break from the family business to study earth science education at Boise State University. Once I graduated it was back to the dirt factory.”
The Romantic Appeal of Dahlias
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“The most popular flowers on the farm this last year were easily the dahlias,” says Pritchett as she looks back over 2021. “I started with 110 and this coming season I will have over 1,000.”
Getting into the details of dahlias, Pritchett adds that they’re “fun to grow because they all look so different and they’re very romantic!” Along with the dahlias’ ability to pair well with “almost any other flower in the field,” Pritchett says they’re also “hardy and forgiving” to work with.
Read more: Grow these old-fashioned flowers for something new in the garden.
Ice Cream Cone Tulips
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Looking forward, Pritchett picks tulips as the flowers she’s most excited about growing in 2022. Despite a number of bulb farms in the Netherlands suffering “catastrophic crop failures this season,” Pritchett was able to navigate the bulb shortage.
“I was able to buy thousands of specialty bulbs from Holland,” she explains. “Some tulips grow to look like peonies, roses and even ice cream cones!”
Magical Scottish Highland Cattle
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Along with an abundance of blooms, Petals And Posies Flower Farm also counts a Scottish Highland cow named Merida as one of its residents.
“She is a seasoned lady,” says Pritchett. “She picked up on the farm routines quite quickly and wasn’t phased by the loud dump trucks bringing in soil. And she wasn’t bothered by my being in the pastures fixing the fence. You could tell she has been around for a while and is quite wise.”
Pritchett adds that Scottish Highland cattle are something of a family tradition and recalls visiting a great uncle’s nearby 40-acre ranch and witnessing the herd looking “magical with their long hair and giant horns.”
Read more: Get to know Highland cattle, the oldest registered cattle breed.
Using Farming to Cultivate Kindness
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“The absolute most rewarding part of doing all of this is seeing my kids discover what farm life is really like and learning what’s important in life,” says Pritchett, weighing up the benefits of a farming environment. “I love providing a wholesome life for my family. Farm life cultivates kindness and appreciation—and the kids have picked up on that at such a young age.”
Follow Petals And Posies Flower Farm at Instagram.
