Summertime Texas Flowers: Buy Local!

As a a small independent business located in Austin, TX, we understand that our customers enjoy buying locally. Not only do they enjoy the thrill of a local blossom, but they will specifically look for what's local, which means finding certain stores that carry their locally-wanted product. It's always nice to know where your products come from, so in the spirit of this new earth-movement of grow local; buy local, I would like to tell you where our locally-grown flowers are born. (Keep in mind, not all of our flowers are grown locally, but from March-Novemeber each year, we carry a wide variety of Texas blooms).

Texas Specialty Cuts: Arnosky Family Farm

Located in Blanco, TX, this wonderful family farm has been operating since 1990 in the Texas Hill Country. Not only do they grow a wide variety of beautiful flowers, they also grow vegetables, heirloom and specialty vegetable plants, hardy Texas annual and perennial plants, and they even make artisan cheese. Owned by Pamela and Frank Arnosky, the farm is located on 130 acres with a field season in operation from March-November and greenhouse production all winter long. Their flowers range from natural Texas flowers such as coreopsis and black-eyed susans, to elegant flowers such as oriental lilies and calla lilies.

Concerned with organic growing practices and sustainable farming, the Arnoskys use organic compost, a complex, living soil that improves plant growth, retains soil moisture, improves soil structure, and helps prevent topsoil erosion. They also allow their uncultivated areas to grow naturally, allowing it to be a habitat for beneficial plants, insects, and animals. It is important to know who grows your food, plants, or anything for that matter, and small family farms are an integral part of local sustainable farming. Buying from a locally-owned family farm helps Ben White Florist further cultivate and participate in local sustainability.

During this time of year (early summer), when you come by the shop, expect to see beautiful sunflowers, asiatic lilies, snapdragons, delphinium, zinnias, coreospsis, rudbeckia, yarrow, queen anne's lace, gerbera daisies, mini gerbera daisies, and much more!

Texas Specialty Cuts: http://www.texascolor.com/index.html