A Year of Blooms (pt 1)
Have you ever stopped to really think about when your flowers bloom? Whether you’re in the middle of wedding planning and hoping to choose the most beautiful, in-season blooms, or dreaming of a garden that stays lush all summer long, timing makes all the difference. Knowing what flowers bloom in each season — and how to plan your beds so something is always in color — is the key to creating a space that feels vibrant from spring through fall.
That’s exactly why understanding seasonal blooms matters — not just in theory, but in practice. Every flower has its moment, and part of the beauty of growing locally is learning to work in harmony with those natural rhythms.
On our farm, we plan intentionally so that something is always coming into bloom. From the first tulips of early spring to the rich, abundant textures of late summer dahlias and the hardy beauty of amaranth in the fall; each season brings its own colors, shapes, and favorites. Here’s a look at what blooms on our farm throughout the year — and when you can expect to see each one at its best.
January - March
When you look out into the garden during the first months of the year, there isn’t much happening — mostly just a quiet blanket of white. In a warm winter, you might spot a few hopeful pops of color, but for the most part, everything is truly at rest.
Behind the scenes, though, we’re busy. I start paper whites in January and usually we have the first blooms by Valentine's. In March, we’re prepping the hoop houses and tucking young plants into their new homes for the summer ahead. Even so, there’s still very little to harvest.
Then, almost like clockwork, the very end of March brings the first real sign of the season turning — the tulips begin to bloom.
Paperwhite photo by Leo Berbee
April
By April, the farm truly begins to wake up. The tulips are coming on strong, filling the hoops with vibrant color, while the anemone, ranunculus, and poppies begin stretching toward the light, offering their first beautiful blooms.
Out in the field, the crabapples, willow, and daffodils sense the longer days and warmer sun, and almost overnight, they burst into bloom — a sure sign that spring has fully arrived.
May
By May, spring is in full swing on the farm. What started as a gentle awakening in April quickly turns into an explosion of growth, color, and abundance.
Just as we harvest the last of the hoop grown tulips, the outdoor planted bulbs come to life. With them is such a diverse group of beautiful blooms.
Inside the hoop house, snapdragons, poppies, foxglove, dusty miller, and stock are in full bloom, offering soft fragrance and layered texture in every harvest.
Out in the fields, the perennials begin their dance. Lily of the valley, bleeding heart, heuchera (coral bells), sweet pea, hellebores, Solomon’s seal, raspberry blossoms, lupine, and dianthus weave together in waves of color and form. Behind them, the shrubs and trees take the stage. Cherry and apple trees stand in full glory, while ninebark, willow, weigela, viburnum, lilac, spirea, and flowering almond send out clouds of pinks and whites, filling every open space with bloom.
June
Wrapping up the first half of the year is June. Many flower farmers would say that June is the duldrums - the void where we aren't quite into summer but the initial excitement of the spring is dwindling. But don't fear, this is where perennials are the hero. You will never be without blooms if you dig deep with perennials.
Lets start with the real star of June - Peonies. You will never regret growing peonies. They are easy, beautiful, versatile, and they will grow past your lifetime and into your kids. From the common workhorses like Sarah Bernhardt, Gardenia, Kansas, Festiva Maxima to the more exotic Coral Charm, Buckeye Belle, and the Itoh varieties.
Sadly, peony season is fleeting. (I promise I’ll share more soon about how to extend your enjoyment of them).
June has its own champions.
Yarrow and columbine bring soft movement and delicate detail. Baptisia and campanula add structure and rich tones. Lavender begins to scent the air, while lilies and iris offer bold, elegant blooms. Penstemon adds height and texture, and rhododendrons carry vibrant color through the landscape and are a great way to get lots of color from one shrub.
I hope this post inspires you to dream big and imagine all the ways you can bring your garden dreams to life. Whether you’re planning a wedding, planting your first bed, or simply learning to notice what blooms when, there’s so much beauty in working with the rhythm of the seasons.
Stay tuned for my next post, where we’ll walk through the second half of the year and all the blooms still to come.
As always, thank you for following along.
