Simpler Thymes Farmstead is a micro-farm located in Bixby, OK. In addition to growing beautiful farm fresh specialty flowers, the farm is quickly becoming a destination for U-Pick flower events, educational workshops, private parties, pop-up events with other local businesses, and photo sessions with Lil’ Red, a bright red vintage Chevy pickup truck.
Farmstead owner, Shawna Poindexter, is a successful mom, wife, business owner, and lifelong country girl that loves digging in the earth and growing beautiful flowers to bring joy to everyone she meets.
Here are her tips for making the perfect flower arrangement and keeping it fresh for as long as possible.
1. Choose a Vessel
Choosing a vessel may be one of the most important steps. It should be something sturdy that will be a strong base for your arrangement. Make sure to thoroughly clean it prior to use. Get creative by exploring unconventional options such as mason jars, ironstone, enamelware, galvanized tins, and ceramic bowls.
2. Prepare the Flowers
Upon bringing your flowers home, trim 1-2 inches off the stems and place them in fresh cold water to rest for a couple of hours before arranging. Once it is time to arrange the flowers, fill your vessel with clean cool water and flower food.
3. Build a Base
Start by building a base with your greenery, followed by adding in your focal flowers such as tulips, sunflowers, roses, and dahlias. Then add smaller filler flowers and textural details to fill in the gaps. Remember when adding these, place them at an angle to create a dome feel.
4. Get Creative
To create a more aesthetically pleasing arrangement, stick to odd numbers of 3 or 5 of each flower variety. Some fun additions to add texture, dimension, and aroma are cherry branches, flower buds, and herbs such as lemon thyme or cinnamon basil.
5. Take Care
Now that your blooms are ready for you to enjoy, remember to change out the water every 1-2 days, add more flower food, and keep away from bright sunlight and ripening fruit.
“My hope for Simpler Thymes Farmstead is to use what we have to build community and bring joy to others, whether it is a small flower bouquet, fresh eggs, or raw local honey,” – Shawna Poindexter