Summer Blooms at Honeydew Farm After the Storm
- Honeydew Farm
- Jul 1
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 1
Some weeks on the farm are remembered for the harvest.
Others are remembered for the work it takes to protect everything you've been growing.
This week began with one of the strongest storms we've seen this season. Powerful winds and heavy rain swept across the farm, changing our plans in a matter of minutes. But once the skies cleared, we found ourselves doing what farmers have always done—assessing the damage, working together, and moving forward one task at a time.
By the end of the week, summer blooms at Honeydew Farm were once again filling the fields, bouquets were being gathered, and the farm was reminded that every season has its challenges—but also its rewards.
Here's what life looked like around Honeydew Farm this week.
Life on the Farm This Week
As the wind picked up and dark clouds rolled across the farm, Alex headed up the hill to close one of our high tunnels before the storm could damage it.
By the time he started back toward the house, a massive tree had fallen across the driveway, leaving him stranded on the other side. With no way through, he turned around and ran back through the pouring rain.
Once the storm passed, the real work began.
Together we spent the day clearing the fallen tree, cleaning up storm damage, and putting the farm back together. Days like this aren't the ones we plan for, but they're part of farming all the same.
One of the hardest moments came when we found more than 3,000 young snapdragons lying flat after the wind swept through the flower field.
For a moment it felt overwhelming.
Instead of giving up on them, we spent hours carefully standing the plants back up and supporting each row. Thankfully, most of them were saved, and we're hopeful they'll continue growing into the beautiful bouquets we look forward to sharing later this season.
Farming has a way of teaching resilience. Every season brings unexpected challenges, but it also reminds us that some of the most meaningful progress comes one small step at a time.
Summer Blooms at Honeydew Farm
The flower fields continue to reward us with something new each week.
Bright orange poppies are now lighting up the gardens, while rich burgundy and copper irises have begun putting on a spectacular display of color.
Not every flower we grow is planted with bouquets in mind.
Some are simply here to bring beauty to the farm, support pollinators, and remind us why we love growing flowers in the first place.
Others become part of meaningful celebrations, like this week's custom bouquet, handcrafted with a collection of fresh seasonal blooms gathered from the field.
Whether they're headed to market or simply brightening the landscape, every flower adds another chapter to the story of the season.
Around the Farm
Not every beautiful flower grows in our fields.
This week we took a few moments to stop along a quiet roadside after spotting one of Minnesota's most treasured native wildflowers—the lady slipper.
These delicate wildflowers appear for only a short time each year, making each sighting feel like a special part of summer in northern Minnesota.
Moments like these are part of why we love living here. While so much of farming revolves around planning, planting, and harvesting, nature continues telling its own story just beyond the edge of the fields.
Sometimes the most memorable flowers are the ones that simply remind us to stop and look.
Projects Around the Farm
The work doesn't stop once the cleanup is finished.
This week we're also building a chicken tractor for our growing flock of meat chickens. Once complete, it will allow the birds to move across fresh pasture, giving them access to fresh grass while naturally fertilizing the ground as they go.
Projects like these often happen quietly behind the scenes, but they're an important part of building a healthier, more sustainable farm for the future.
Every season brings another opportunity to improve, and this is one more step forward.
From the Honeydew Farm Table
How to Make Fresh Flowers Last Longer
One of the best parts of bringing home a fresh bouquet is enjoying it for as long as possible. While every flower has its own natural vase life, a few simple steps can help you keep your Honeydew Farm bouquet looking beautiful for days to come.
Start with a Clean Vase
Wash your vase with warm, soapy water before arranging your flowers. Even a small amount of bacteria can shorten the life of fresh blooms.
Trim the Stems
Using clean scissors or garden snips, trim about half an inch from each stem at a 45-degree angle before placing them in water.
If you keep your bouquet for several days, trimming the stems again every few days will help them continue absorbing water.
Refresh the Water
Replace the water every two to three days and rinse the vase before refilling it with fresh, cool water.
Remove Lower Leaves
Remove any leaves that sit below the waterline to help prevent bacteria from forming.
Keep Flowers Cool
Fresh flowers last longest when they're kept away from direct sunlight, heat vents, fireplaces, and ripening fruit.
Enjoy Every Stage
One of our favorite things about fresh flowers is watching them change.
Some blooms slowly open over several days, while others gracefully fade as new flowers reach their peak. Every bouquet tells its own story, and no two arrangements are ever exactly alike.
Thank you for bringing a little piece of Honeydew Farm into your home.
What's Available This Week
Although this year's cool, late spring has delayed many of our vegetable harvests, the flower fields are beginning to take center stage.
This week you'll find:
Fresh-cut flower bouquets
Limited fresh snap peas
Custom flower arrangements
Vegetable starts
Herb starts
Honeydew Farm merchandise
Every bouquet is handcrafted using the freshest blooms the fields have to offer that week, making each arrangement a little different from the last.
This week also marks the beginning of another summer harvest with a limited supply of fresh snap peas. It's one of the first fresh vegetables of the season, and we're excited to finally bring a small harvest to market while the rest of the gardens continue catching up after a cool spring.
Because farming is seasonal, our market offerings change from week to week based on what's ready to harvest and what's blooming at its peak.
Looking Ahead
One of our favorite things about farming is knowing that every week brings something new.
As summer continues, we're looking forward to watching the rescued snapdragons recover, seeing more flowers come into bloom, finishing the chicken tractor, As summer continues, we're looking forward to watching the rescued snapdragons recover, seeing more flowers come into bloom, and welcoming more fresh vegetables to the market as each new harvest is ready.
The gardens are growing a little more every day, and we can't wait to share what's next with you.
Visit Us This Week
Thursday | 9 AM–1 PM
Saturday | 9 AM–1 PM
Near the music tent, across from Thielen Motors
Thank you for supporting local farms, local food, and local flowers.
We hope to see you at market.
Alex & Amber
Honeydew Farm
Want to Know More About How We Grow?
Bring a Little Honeydew Home
The farm doesn't stop at the market table.
Our collection of Honeydew Farm apparel, tote bags, mugs, and other farm-inspired goods celebrates the beauty of rural life and the changing seasons. While we bring a small selection to market each week, our full collection is always available online.
Whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for a thoughtful gift, every purchase helps support what we're building here at Honeydew Farm.
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