Alpaca-grown flowers

Most people don't expect alpacas to have anything to do with flowers.

Yet every bouquet I bring to the Downtown Walla Walla Farmers Market starts with two important ingredients: healthy soil and a herd of alpacas.

One of my favorite signs of summer isn't found on a calendar - it's the moment I walk out to our little cutting garden and realize the season has finally arrived.

After months of planning, seed starting, planting, watering, weeding, and waiting, the blooms are here.

Our seasonal cut flowers are now available every Saturday at the Downtown Walla Walla Farmers Market from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and I couldn't be more excited to share them with you.

Many people know Old Homestead Alpacas for our alpacas, fiber products, private farm tours, and historic barn restoration project, but flowers have become an important part of life here on the farm as well. Tucked beside our old farmhouse is a quaint quarter-acre cutting garden where thousands of stems are grown each season specifically for fresh bouquets.

It's not a large-scale flower farm, and that's exactly the way I like it.

Every bed is planted, maintained, harvested, and arranged by hand. Throughout the growing season, I spend countless hours in the garden tending plants, observing what's thriving, and planning what will be blooming in the weeks ahead. There is something deeply satisfying about growing flowers from seed and watching them transform into beautiful bouquets that brighten someone's home.

Living on a farm means finding ways for everything to work together. While most visitors immediately notice the alpacas, they may not realize the animals play a role in growing our flowers as well.

The primary amendment used in our cutting garden comes directly from the alpacas. Over time, their manure helps enrich the soil and support healthy blooms throughout the growing season. It's a simple, natural cycle that connects the animals, the garden, and the bouquets we bring to market each week.

One of the things I love most about seasonal flowers is that no two weeks are exactly alike.

Unlike flowers imported from other countries or shipped across the nation, locally grown flowers follow the rhythm of the seasons. The varieties available in June are different from those that will be blooming in July or August. Every market day offers something unique, and each bouquet reflects what is flourishing in the garden at that particular moment.

Freshness is another benefit of buying local flowers. Many stems are harvested just before market, allowing you to enjoy flowers that haven't spent days in transit or storage. The result is a bouquet that feels connected to the season and to the place where it was grown. And most of my customers report their flowers last well over a week in the vase!

For me, flowers are about more than just appearance. They have a way of marking life's everyday moments. A bouquet on the kitchen table can make an ordinary week feel special. Flowers can celebrate birthdays, welcome guests, brighten a workplace, thank a friend, or simply remind us to slow down and appreciate the beauty around us.

That's one reason I enjoy meeting customers at the Downtown Walla Walla Farmers Market. Every bouquet has a destination and a story. Some are headed to family gatherings. Some become gifts. Others are purchased simply because someone couldn't resist taking home a little piece of summer.

Supporting local flowers also supports local agriculture.

When you purchase a bouquet from Old Homestead Alpacas, you're supporting a small family farm right here in the Walla Walla Valley. You're helping us continue caring for this historic property, tending the alpacas, preserving our heritage barn, and creating meaningful experiences for visitors who come to the farm throughout the year.

The farmers market has become one of my favorite ways to connect with the community. It gives me the opportunity to share what we're growing, answer questions, and hear how customers are enjoying their bouquets at home. Those conversations are one of the most rewarding parts of farming.

If you're looking for fresh flowers in Walla Walla this summer, I hope you'll stop by and visit me.

Whether you're searching for a thoughtful gift, a centerpiece for your table, or simply a reason to smile when you walk into a room, our seasonal bouquets are a beautiful way to bring a little piece of the farm home with you.

You can find me every Saturday at the Downtown Walla Walla Farmers Market from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. throughout the growing season. Just look for the blue flower cart facing Rose Street.

I look forward to seeing you there and sharing what's blooming in the garden each week.