The June Gap in Michigan Grown Flowers

You may be wondering: Where are all the flowers?

After all, it's warm outside, the days are long, and summer feels like it's here. It would seem like the perfect time for flowers.

The reality is that June is one of the strangest months on our small-scale Michigan flower farm.

What Is the June Gap?

We're currently in what I call the June gap: the period between spring flowers and summer flowers.

Our tulip season has come and gone, and all of our summer and fall flowers have already been planted. Now we're in the waiting phase while those plants grow, establish strong roots, and prepare to bloom.

For flower farmers in Michigan, June can feel surprisingly sparse. The fields are full of healthy plants, but very few flowers are ready to harvest. While we'll have some blooms available here and there for local florists and occasionally enough extra for the flower stand, we're still waiting for the big flush of summer flowers that usually arrives in mid to late July.

Farming is often a lesson in patience, and June is one of the months that reminds me of that most.

A Slower Pace

The busiest part of our spring season is now behind us. Tulip harvests, garden preparation, and weeks of planting have all wrapped up, allowing us to settle into a slower rhythm for a little while.

That doesn't mean the work stops.

The flowers still need watering, weeding, monitoring, and plenty of attention to keep them healthy and growing. But compared to the intensity of spring planting season, June offers a chance to catch our breath and enjoy the process a little more.

I have been slowly adding perennials which helps close that June gap a bit. But, to be totally honest I actually don’t mind the gap. It is a nice break, and a chance to get away and chill with our kids and family before the summer flowers are in full bloom. 

A Spring Full of Weather Whiplash

The spring was challenging, to say the least.

One week temperatures were pushing into the 90s, and the next we were watching frost warnings. We experienced significant rainfall early in the season, and lost many ranunculus because of it.

The constant swings between hot and cold, wet and dry, made planting more difficult than usual last month.

As much as I love the changing seasons, I'm looking forward to a stretch of consistently warm summer weather. I have a feeling many gardeners and farmers feel the same way.

Flower Stand Updates

The flower stand is only open when announced through email and social media. Whenever we plan to open, I always provide at least a day's notice along with a preview of what flowers will be available.

As flower production becomes more consistent later this summer, you'll see the stand open more frequently. Until then, availability depends entirely on what is blooming in the field.

Summer Flower Subscriptions Are Coming Soon

While June may be a quieter month, summer flower season is right around the corner.

Our Summer Flower Subscription begins at the end of July and includes one bouquet each week for five consecutive weeks. Subscribers can choose flower stand pickup or local delivery within a 10-mile radius.

These bouquets showcase the best flowers blooming each week and are one of my favorite ways to share the beauty of the season.

Learning to Embrace the Waiting

In years past, I felt anxious about not having a lot of flowers blooming in June. But I have learned to embrace the waiting period, and slow down with my family. One day, I may have a lot of perennials and flowers in bloom during this gap month. But for now, this is where I am at in my business.

The garden may not be overflowing with blooms yet, but so much is happening beneath the surface. Roots are growing deeper, plants are stretching taller, and every day brings us closer to armfuls of summer flowers.

Thank you for following along through every season of this little flower farm. Whether you've visited the flower stand, purchased flowers, subscribed to our emails, or simply cheered us on from afar, your support means more than you know.

Here's to warm summer evenings, kids home from school, garden walks, and the anticipation of the first buckets of summer blooms.

I can't wait to share them with you soon.