Growing Flowers for a May Wedding

It's March first, only a little over two months to go until the May wedding. There are some challenges with selecting garden-inspired, seasonal farm-fresh flowers in New Hampshire. Unfortunately it looks like this outside on my farm right now, not ideal for growing flowers.

My farm in March

In Whitman Massachusetts, south of Boston, they got 33” of snow last week, and in Providence, Rhode Island, the snow total last week of 38” broke the record set by the Blizzard of ’78. We only got 10” last week.

Fortunately, the bride is extremely organized and chose her color palette almost a year in advance, so we were able to pre-order bulbs last summer and get them planted last fall. So we do have some beautiful flowers just waiting under all that snow.

A beautiful spring pastel color palette for the wedding

Last September we planted some spring blooming bulbs including lily of the valley, summer snowflake (leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant'), grecian windflowers (anemone blanda), checkered lily (frittilaria meleagris), grape hyacinth (muscari 'Varerie Finnis'), and hyacinth squill (scilla hyacinthoides).

Dainty, spring blooming bulbs planted last September

In October we planted heirloom narcissus which symbolize spring and new beginnings. Narcissuss were grown in Greek gardens as early as 300 BC. Narcissus are extremely long lived bulbs and can persist for generations. White Lion and Mt. Hood are delightfully fragrant.

Heirloom narcissus planted in October are some of the earliest blooming spring bulbs

In November we planted some tulips. Tulips symbolize deep, eternal love. Tulips are planted in November after frost and when the soil is colder. It snowed here the day after we finished planting the tulip bulbs.

Tulips in a pastel color palette planted last November

Double white freesia started inside in flower boxes

In December, we started freesia and anemones from corms inside. The freesia are growing in a flower box on a sunny windowsill inside my house. It will be tricky to get the timing right, but freesia have an amazing sweet, bright fruity strawberry/peach fragrance that smells like spring. Freesias symbolize thoughtfulness, trust and enduring friendship.

first flower to bloom in 2026

In January we started ranunculus from corms, and violets and poppies from seed. Violets symbolize faithfulness, lasting loyalty and deep affection. Viola bloom from early spring to early summer as long as you keep picking them and don't let them go to seed. They thrive in temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees. The very first flower is blooming now still in its seed starting tray.

Violets and poppies started from seed in January

Anemones and ranunculus go outside during the day if it's above freezing

The poppies, anemones and ranunculus like it cold, but not below freezing. They are growing under lights in my walk-in cooler and go outside on days when it gets above freezing but then come back in at night (because nights are never above freeezing).

Anemone St. Brigid Mt. Everest

Baby anemones growing inside

Ranunculus 'Tomer Picotee'

Baby ranunculus growing happily

Corn cockle, agrostemma 'Purple Queen'

In February we started corn cockle (agrostemma 'Purple Queen'), a quick growing flower that blooms from seed in 70-85 days.

In March, we started honeywort (cerinthe 'Kiwi Blue' another quick growing flower that blooms from seed in 65 to 70 days.

Now we are just waiting for the snow to go away so we can plant our seedlings outside and grow them on to bloom just in time for the wedding, but until then...it's snowing again today.

Honeywort, cerinthe 'Kiwi Blue'