Frequently Asked Questions

Here is the answers to frequently asked questions I receive. Please email hello@thejoyfarmer.com if you have questions.

Where do you grow your flowers

Flowers are grown rurally in Tarras, 30 minutes from Wanaka on a high country station that has been in my family for over a century. I also grow a few flowers in my home garden in central Wanaka to supplement.

What is your favourite flower

Every season I fall in love with a different flower, but I particularly love scented blooms and a beautiful garden rose.

What variety of flowers do you grow?

I grow small amounts of a lot of varieties I have curated because I personally love them or they grow well in my region. I lean more heavily on perennials which I mix with classic annuals like cosmos, nigella, ammi, cornflowers, corncockle, zinnas, marigolds & scabiosas.

Can I visit your flower farm?

Unfortunately my farm isn't open to the public. My cutting patch is partially integrated into my parent's homestead garden and out of respect for their privacy I don't have visitors.

Can I choose my flowers?

I work differently to most florists who order specific blooms to a brief. I am led by what is available and seasonal in the garden. I never know exactly what I will have until the time of picking.

Being 100% field grown weather plays a huge role in what is available, crop failures, storms, temperature fluctuations can alter the timing and availability of blooms from previous years so if I am vague about what could be flowering at the time of your event that is why! I am putting my finger to the wind and hoping for the best.

I do allow you to select a colour preference on my booking forms and I reference your requests when picking and do my best to accommodate these where possible. But it isn't a guarantee. It is helpful for me to know what you are using the flowers for such as table flowers or bouquets etc so I can tailor them as best I can to your event.

If you are set on specific flowers or colours I would recommend working with a local floral designer to ensure you get the exact blooms are you looking for.

Do you offer different styles?

My work has been described as informal garden style - clients have used words like whimsical wild, loose, rambling, or free spirited to describe my flowers to give you an idea. My styled is inspired by what I have to work with and by how I see the flowers in the garden. It is full of movement and characterful blooms.

If you are looking for a specific style or design, I recommend using a local floral designer.

How many flowers do I need?

This is a million dollar question! It depends on many factors. You need to consider things like the style, variety mix of blooms as they are all different shapes and sizes, fullness, number & type of items you wish to create, if you want foliage or flower heavy arrangements. I have a calculator I can share with you to help with your planning.

The best thing I can suggest is mock up a similar scale arrangement and count the number of stems or count the numbers of stems you can see in a picture and double it for the other side as a guide. Then multiply this number by the number you need to make.

Broadly I recommend a bundle for bridal bouquet + buttonhole. For brides maids bouquets depending on size you will get 1.5-2x smaller bouquets from a bundle. Table flowers consider how many stems per vase and numbers of vases per tables you are populating. Larger ceremony arrangements depending on scale and fullness and if you are using foliage, you will probably need at least a bundle per arrangement.

How many flowers do I receive in a bundle?

Every stem is worth a different value so the mix varies, you will receive at least 50 stems in a standard mixed bundle. If I have agreed to supply you a specific variety the quantities or pricing maybe different.

Is DIY right for me?

Consider your personality type, skill sets and available time. Creating your own blooms for an event is a beautiful personal element & a lovely way to include friends & family in the build up for your event. On the flip side it requires a good chunk of time and can add an additional layer of stress or complication. I do offer an option to split the workload by creating your table flowers for you so you can focus on the statement pieces.

When should I create my flowers

I usually suggest you pick your flowers up in the afternoon two days out from your event so you have your blooms ready to get into designing your flowers the day before your event. I do not recommend creating your flowers on the day of your wedding. Its surprising how busy the morning leading up to a wedding is, and you don't need added stress on your wedding day if things don't go to plan!!

How do the flowers come?

Flowers come as loose stems conditioned in a bucket of water which you get to take with you and keep. I hate waste so if you have no use for the buckets and wish to return them to me, they will be gladly accepted and reused in my business.

From experience of carting buckets around, I suggested bringing a plastic fish bin, washing basket or the like to put your buckets in for safe transportation to the venue.

If you are hiring vases or picking up premade table flowers, these will be packed into wooden crates or plastic bins ready for transportation. These packing containers must be returned with the hired goods otherwise I will charge for replacements.

What do I do with my flowers when I get home

You will receive a care card with your order. Otherwise refer to my care tips for extending the life of cut flowers here.

For bundles I would put them in your coolest shady spot - maybe a garage or even outside tucked under an eve or tree. Think about where the sun is going to hit during the day.

The morning of the event I would top up vessels you have designed into with fresh cool water to keep things looking hydrated, you can also mist flowers.

If something is droopy you can try recutting and dip the stem into boiling water for a few seconds before returning to cold water to unlock air bubbles that maybe blocking the stem from drinking water.

You will be surprised how much perkier your flowers will look after a cool night in water.