In Bloom at Blomma Flower Farm
Around this time last year, a ding went off in my Instagram messages.
It was a flower farmer who was new to the area and wanted to meet up for coffee; little did I know that from that small gesture, I would have been gifted one of the most incredible friends I could have on this earth.
Harvesting zinnias in Tiffany’s open-pollinated patch.
The Small-Scale Zinnia Breeding Movement
If you have been bitten any bit by the zinnia breeding craze from Floret Flower Farm and Dawn Creek Farm, amongst a sea of other small-scale breeders, you may be familiar with who I am going to talk about in this post.
My dear friend is an incredible lady who laughs and smiles freely, has the biggest heart, and, oh yeah, happens to be the author of the zinnia breeding book appropriately named “The Zinnia Breeder’s Handbook.”
Tiffany Jones of Blomma Flower Farm!
If you haven’t heard of Tiffany and her zinnias, perhaps you saw her mentioned in Floret’s Favorite Specialty Seed Source. If you still haven’t, you will know her by the end of this post, and be ready to fall for her and her beautiful zinnias, as I did!
Tiffany and I met for coffee and have been good friends since that wintery day, whether it’s a road trip on the other side of the mountain to go antique shopping, having four-hour lunches, hiking and cutting down our Christmas trees, or spending time at her beautiful quaint property, we have quickly become like family.
Though I could continue to gush about Tiffany as a friend, in this post, I want to gush about how she is moving mountains in the world of zinnia breeding and how that will greatly benefit us, small-scale flower farmers.
Visiting the (Zinnia) Field of Dreams
Over the summer, Tiffany invited my whole clan (Graham and the girls) and me to see her amazing zinnia field, which became our second home, along with her adorable workshop.
She wanted input from another grower and designer on the zinnias, which, of course, my response was, “I LOVE THEM ALL!”
Although that was probably not the answer she was looking for, I could see a purpose and potential for each of the varieties of zinnias she had in her field.
Seeing a breeder’s field in full bloom is magical!
Tiffany even allowed us to roam her precious zinnia patch freely one August evening. I truly felt like a kid in a candy shop!
We took photos and were told to harvest as many stems as we wanted; I thought I was greedy, but Tiffany later told me I didn’t take enough! I felt spoiled.
Tiffany’s zinnia breeding patch is quite the field of dreams, holding endless possibilities for the cut flower industry.
It takes your breath away.
This is why I want to take this cold February day and invite you to join me as I remember last summer. When the crickets were loud, the sun setting behind the mountains was a relief as we wandered Tiffany’s field at Blomma Flower Farm.
My new love, Tawny zinnias!
Over multiple visits, Tiffany and I spent hours looking at all the tiny nuances of shifts in color from all angles, the difference of color in the centers, the coloration of the back of the petals, and the different characteristics from a younger flower to an older one. There would be icy pinks and lavenders in one row, then next to them blushy zinnias with warm hues of amber, reminding me of the combination of eating ice cream in a waffle cone. The open-pollinated rows were filled to the brim with happy summer hues of salmon, honey, and coral reminiscent of a beach sunset. I especially loved her varieties, where the soft orange centers were way different than the neon reddish pink centers commonly seen.
Exploring each row had me slowing down and truly appreciating the small details of each zinnia. It was a different pace than I have grown accustomed to in our field. The entire patch was filled with flowers in various cheery and fun hues. In Tiffany’s words, “[M]y number one goal is to play and have fun,” which translates through her beautiful blooms. On each visit, I felt the joy and ease in Tiffany’s field, which was refreshing and welcoming.
Her small patch is a treasure trove of so many beautiful zinnias; Tiffany has an incredible eye! Her eye is one of a handful of breeders changing how we see zinnias as cut flower farmers.
Zinnias are Luxurious
When you walk through Tiffany’s zinnia field, you will notice something at once: each flower head is large and can easily compete with some of the larger informal dahlia flower heads. Tiffany shared her why:
“As Kori of Dawn Creek Farm pointed out, each breeder infuses their own personality into what they choose to keep and dismiss. One of my goals is to help bring zinnias that can be used as focal flowers to the market. Larger zinnias can be used as focal flowers in market bouquets and installations, taking up more space, therefore reducing the number of flowers needed and reducing costs.”
Tiffany says that she wants to change the industry’s perspective of zinnias being a supporting flower or “cheap” to replace the more giant zinnias that come in scarlet red or bright purples into more focal flowers that can be used for elevated design work: “[m]y next goal is to unlock all the mysteries that zinnias have which have been kept under wraps by large scale breeders who grow mostly for landscape purposes, rather than cut flower purposes. As a result, they have only allowed the brightest, most eye-catching colors on the market because that is what sells for people who are buying plant seeds for their landscape. Instead, I breed for forms and colors that are desirable for florists and event designers and that catch my eye. That’s always a must for me; I must love them.”
It’s Time for Flower Farmers to Take a Second Look at Zinnias
Zinnias are considered a low barrier to entry flower in that they are rather easy to grow and productive. Tiffany is taking that trait that some may see as a negative and flipping it around into a positive, “[zinnias are] easy to grow in a number of situations; even kindergartners sometimes start zinnias in paper cups to learn about growing plants. They were the first plants fully grown from seed to bloom on the International Space Station. That’s how easy they are to grow. That means any farmer can be successful growing zinnias.”
Zinnias can be accessible for growers in colors that are in high demand and can compete with some of the more expensive flowers, such as dahlias or garden roses. Beautiful zinnias that will set the small-scale flower farmer apart. To take a flower that is considered relatively common and to make it an advantage to the small-scale growers, as Tiffany said, “[z]innias are remarkably generous. They produce loads and loads of flowers…In addition, zinnias do not travel well. As a result, a smaller-scale farmer can supply zinnias to their local market because zinnias do not ship well. The more nuanced colors I breed for are rare, so growing them also sets a local farmer apart.”
The global cut flower industry makes it difficult for small-scale flower farmers to compete with prices, even for the more specialty flowers such as ranunculus and tulips, which are readily available year-round at the wholesalers. By focusing on flowers that are not only best from a local grower, since we all know the ranunculus and tulips we grow are also superior, but remove the wholesalers from the game or, even better, leaving them to rely on purchasing the flowers from a local grower as well!
Tiffany’s salmon mix would not only be fun in event work to give a “wildflower” aesthetic for the bolder wedding couples but can be equally impressive in a mixed CSA bouquet or for a U-Pick operation. The muted tones, of course, got me in my heart; after using some of her unreleased varieties in wedding work last year, I am still drooling! The muted tones have been in, and I think they will be highly sought after by event florists, but they can also be gorgeous in a humble mason jar arrangement. Each of these different zinnias provides an opportunity for the local flower farmers to offer spectacular and cutting-edge varieties where there isn’t an easily accessible alternative.
A quick moment of silence for Graham’s Favorite…
While exploring Tiffany’s field, Graham fell in love with what we now call “Graham’s Favorite.” Alas, a handwritten tag was no match for the swiftness of the shovel, and Graham’s favorite was put to rest before the seed could be collected. Graham still mourns the loss of his favorite and wanted to share its beauty one last time, ever-living in this photograph.
You can leave condolences for Graham in the comment section at the end of this post.
Now, back to the blog!
Until slowing down in Tiffany’s growing patch, I must admit, my perspective on zinnias was that they’re nice, but why give up space for them when you could have dahlias?
As I’ve been looking to simplify my crop selection increasingly, zinnias have been wavering on the edge. Though the Queen series can make a decent bridge color, they are small and lack vase life. Plus, sometimes the colors could be almost muddy, which is off-putting to many customers. The Oklahomas can be nice but are not the size of a focal flower; the Zinderellas offer lovely colors, such as peach and lavender, but rarely shoot out a desirable flower head form, and the dahlia-sized zinnias, such as Benary Giants, lack desirable colors. We only grow Benary Giants’s Salmon Rose; even that one is a little bright for wedding work, and after years of growing it, I’m pretty bored with it.
The lack of valuable colors for our events is a substantial reason zinnias have been teetering on the edge of the chopping block for us. With limited growing space, we need varieties, colors, and forms suitable for event work and mixed bouquets. As a cherry on top, having colors that other event florists would also desire can be great for a more luxurious design look or “wildflower” or “country-chic” aesthetics.
This is why I geeked out as I walked Tiffany’s breeding patch and revisited the zinnia. After all, there had always been much to love about zinnias. They are frilly, dynamic, robust, and prolific. Plus, after the ranunculus fades each July, but the dahlias are still growing, zinnias save us.
After harvesting armfuls of Tiffany’s zinnias, I quickly discovered that her zinnias are exceptional in more than just size and color.
My Experience Using Blomma’s Zinnias
Sometimes, zinnia petals brown, or they don’t last long enough even when harvested at the optimal stage. I found this frustrating, and once again, I saw this heavily with the Queen series. With so many of Tiffany’s gorgeous zinnias at my disposal, I decided to experiment and watch them.
I left some neglected in the hot dining room and tucked others into the cooler. Yes! I said it: the cooler is set at about 37F.
What were the results?
One last zinnia tucked into a rainbow bridal bouquet.
The zinnias lasted forever, the older ones on the edge of being an everlasting flower, ever unchanging, just more crunchy and slightly browning in the center. Even the zinnias from the cooler I pulled out over a week later and used for a wedding stayed terrific!
I stuck zinnias in agrafoam on arbors in the summer heat, in bouquets, compote arrangements, and bud vases, and they excelled in each situation.
The zinnias left in plain water on our kitchen table, which would get baked by the hot afternoon sun each day, stayed beautiful for over a week.
The hardiness of the zinnias post-harvest is mind-blowing and, I think, truly speaks to Tiffany’s ruthless quality control in her breeding program.
I asked Tiffany how she thought her zinnia breeder efforts could benefit the small-scale flower farm, and she responded, “I want growers to have inexpensive, cut-and-come-again flowers that are showstoppers. I think zinnias, which have a longer vase life, could replace something like dahlias in terms of interest and demand one day. Plus, seeds are easier to store than tubers.”
I witnessed the shift of Tiffany breeding zinnias for cut flowers rather than the big breeders who focus on landscape and hobby gardens, and it comes down to so much more than simply color, shape, and form. Her zinnias, without question, outlasted the dahlias, even the ball and pom ones, in terms of vase life.
Looking back, standing in Tiffany’s zinnia breeding patch, I knew I was witnessing the brink of a cut flower revolution.
Tiffany’s 1200 square feet holds incredible potential for our industry. As a fellow small-scale, “backyard” flower farmer, I find her inspiring in what she has been able to do with her limited space and time. She encourages other flower farmers interested in zinnia breeding, no matter how much space they have, “If you save the seed from a few flowers, you have the potential of hundreds of plants.”
The possibilities are endless, and these zinnias- Tiffany’s, Erin’s, Kori’s, and others- are truly turning the role of zinnias as cut flowers on its head.
This is beyond exciting!
Join Tiffany This Summer for Her On-Site Zinnia Breeding Workshop!
I realize I am fortunate to have an incredible human as a friend who has given me a peek behind the scenes. Tiffany has taught me about breeding traits and techniques and allowed my girls to help separate the seeds from the dried flower heads using her “making meatballs” technique. All in between laughter, she is encouraging and has challenged me to look on life, family and business with a fresh perspective.
I asked Tiffany if she had any advice for aspiring small-scale farmers, and she responded, “Start small and get good at growing what people in your area want that works in your soil and your climate. Then keep track of every penny and be honest about what is profitable and manageable and what isn’t.”
The exciting part of this tale is that twelve other aspiring flower farmers, zinnia breeders, or just passionate flower lovers will, too, have the opportunity to go behind the zinnia breeding scenes with Tiffany through her two-day workshop. The chance to spend two days in Tiffany’s breeding patch while she teaches you everything that took her years to learn and research with a hands-on approach. She is bringing her book to life, which is excellent for all those hands-on learners! Tiffany is a wonderfully patient teacher who will have you belly laughing the entire time!
If you want to join her for a zinnia breeding experience this summer, signups open on her website this Thursday, 2/15/24.
Win a Packet of Blomma Flower Farm Zinnia Seeds!
Ahh, but there’s more!
Tiffany offers an annual fundraiser where you donate $50 to her zinnia breeding program, and along with supporting her great zinnia breeding program, you also receive a packet of her zinnias. Tiffany’s 2024 seed fundraiser has passed, but she graciously gave us a packet for one lucky winner!
Visit our Instagram and see Tuesday’s 2/13/24 post for details! The giveaway closes Thursday, 2/15/24, at 6 pm PST.
Until next time, we are looking forward to helping you hand blooms soon!
- Jessica & Graham
Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links to products we wholeheartedly believe in. Your purchases through these links help us bring you more valuable flower-arming content. Thank you for being so supportive!
If you are interested in learning how to breed your own zinnias or even want to up your growing game when it comes to zinnias, I highly recommend Tiffany’s Book The Zinnia Breeder’s Handbook. It is a beautiful resource that, while reading, you truly feel like you're conversing with a good friend! Written understandably, you will leave the book feeling like a zinnia breeder pro (and your brain will still be intact!).
