Well, we’re keeping pretty busy out here in the country. Weddings are off and running and once again we think we have the sweetest brides in the TriCities. Love this pic taken by ALM Photo of Alix’s bouquet from our first wedding of the season.

Our first ever Flower CSA sold out quickly and we’re enjoying creating bouquets each week that are picked up Saturdays at my favorite store, Reclaimed Inspired Goods in Johnson City.

CSA bouquets ready and waiting

We have a Farm Tour scheduled for this Sunday,  June 25 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Click here for more details and to reserve a spot. Roy will be telling Civil War stories and we’ll visit all the run down old buildings and flower beds.

photo by Mark Peacock

And we’ve added a Centerpiece Workshop July 15th that includes a bucket of flowers to take home. A percentage of the profits from this workshop will go to benefit the Mid South Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in Kingsport. (these 2 photos by the talented Anna Hedges)

Finally,  I’ll be on Daytime TriCities this morning, Monday, June 20th at 10 a.m. WJHL

Always fun on Daytime

Soooo, I guess you could say we’re keeping busy. Would love to have you join us for the Farm Tour or Centerpiece Workshop. Life is busy with flowers and farm but still love time we get to spend with our grandsons. Keller is 5 and Jackson is 2 and we’re so thankful they seem to love the farm too.  Well, and Roy just happens to be the best Granddad around these parts.

So many blessings we can’t keep count. Thank you all for sharing our love of flowers and all things farm. You add richness to our lives.

Birds’s Nest Flower Farmer Style!

Our little farm is waking up early from its winter’s nap. Daffodils are blooming down by the chicken coop and we’ve cut our first anemone in the hoop house. A few ranunculus are in bud, pussy willow and curly willow are already cut and stored, and several thousand seedlings are sprouting in trays. So, while we still have a little time to breathe thought we’d share a bit of our farm and our early blooms with those who might like to visit. Saturday March 18th (please note date change if you watched Daytime TriCities :)  we’ll gather at the Homeplace where each will create a Bird’s Nest centerpiece that will keep all Spring and beyond and then a fresh Spring bouquet. All materials, including moss from the old road bed, dried and fresh flowers, and an assortment of things found in our fields and woodlands will be available as we assemble a flower farmer’s version of a bird’s nest and bouquet. We’re also saving two spots for single moms at no charge. So if you know a single mom, why not offer to keep her kiddos so she can have a free morning at the farm!

Daffodils have arrived early. . . 

Spring branches are opening . . . maybe even wild peach by then

and lenten roses and anemone will join us for sure!

And of course light refreshments will be shared.

If interested, please call or text Linda at 423-367-0361 to check availability, or e-mail auntwillies@gmail.com. Nonrefundable $55 registration fee must be prepaid. Checks sent to 385 Bruce Doan Rd., Blountville, TN 37617. Minimum 7 and maximum 12 participants.

And remember, we’re saving two spots for single moms at no charge!

First off, this morning I was on  DayTime TriCities and here’s the link if you’d like to take a peek.

So much to tell you all – so many more sweet brides and a “Happily Ever After” 3 day design workshop two weeks ago that has been a dream of mine for some time.  But that will have to wait, as we’ve decided to invite you to join us on our farm when it’s prettiest in all it’s fall-foliage-finest.

Many of you ask if you can come and visit and we usually have to say no because we’re a spread out working farm with groundhog holes and cow manure to step in, but we try to open it up at least once a year for folk to visit. So, please join us Oct 26 if you’re willing and able.  We’ll start at the Homeplace where Roy will share a bit about the old farm including stories from the Civil War times when the Homeplace was being built, then we’ll tour the dahlia beds, hoop house, chicken coop, Aunt Willie’s house and all the flower and perennial beds talking flowers and farm the whole time. We’ll have jars ready for you so you can nip here and there to create your own ball jar bouquet. Cost is $20 and includes tour and ball jar bouquet of flowers. Limit 20 participants.  Click here to visit web page with more details.

a pretty spot in the world

baring a freeze, which is not forecast , there will be dahlias a plenty!

So come spend an afternoon on the farm with a couple of old farmers. We’d love to have you join us.

Wow! 25 down and 15 to go!  Still have kindest, dearest, prettiest-inside-and-out brides in the TriCities! I’ll just post bride bouquets again just to give you a glimpse of my lovely world. If you would have told me even 5 years ago I’d have the opportunity to work flowers and sweet brides all summer long I would have laughed out loud. Never underestimate what your future can hold and the blessings that are in store. Enjoy a peek at my world.

Kristen and Serg, July 10 Chateau Selah

Laura and Logan, July 3 The Millstone

Kelley and Matt, July 2 Storybrook Farm

Cleo and Aaron, June 26 at The Millstone (modeled by Sarah)

Jerry and William, June 25 at The Foundation

Lee and Jeff, June 25 at Grandview Christian Church (I didn’t get a good pic of Lee’s bouquet so here I am handing to her – pic by Meagan Roland)

Emilee and Jay, June 25 at Nolichucky Vineyard (here’s Sarah again only this time with cows:)

And that was actually just the last three weeks worth of weddings. I’ll post our early spring weddings in another post.

And have to end with our view from the deck yesterday evening.  Can you see why I love this farm (and the farmer who goes along with it :)

Photo by Erin McCall Photography

As most of you know I’ve fallen in love with weddings. While they’re lots and lots of work and stress they come with the prettiest flowers and the loveliest brides! My plan to post after every wedding as it happens somehow went awry so I’ll play a bit of catch up and just post pics of brides bouquets from some of our weddings this spring, working backwards. Will do another post with earlier weddings soon.  We’re just about at the halfway point with 18 weddings down and 22 to go.  Weddings where I’ve received photos from the wedding photographer I’ll try to post as separate blogs as time allows – which probably means November :)  But it’s been a sweet ride so far and looking forward to more fun and flowers as the summer progresses.

I’m much better at Instagram so if you’d like  more frequent and detailed glimpses, you can follow me there or like my Aunt Willies Wildflowers facebook page and follow me there.

We’ll try to work in a workshop or two and will post as those develop. In the meantime you can buy our flowers Saturdays at the Johnson City Farmer’s Market where our farmgal Katie Cachiaras is set up street side not far from the donut truck! Look for her blue canopy and signs for New Seeds Farm.

Hillary and Zack, June 17 at Allendale Mansion

Stacy and Jim, June 4 at Grandview Christian Church

Laura and Grant, June 4 at Hidden Meadows

Amy and Jake, May 27 at Bristol Train Station

Brook and Andrew, June 3 at Meredith Valley Farm

Lauren and Dusty, May 28 at The Old Farm in Bristol

Alyson and Adam , May 28 at a Private Home in Bristol

Madison and Drew, May 21 at Storybrook Farm

Bethany and Don, May 21 at Triple J Farm in Roan Mt.

Can see why I love what I do?  Every day is new and different on a farm and each morning holds the hope of new blooms and new blessings. Thank you all for following us on our journey, and now please get out and enjoy this first day of summer!

Suddenly it’s Spring!  Daffodils are blooming down by the chicken coop and we’ve cut our first anemone in the hoop house. A few ranunculus are in bud, forsythia are coloring, pussy willow and curly willow are in full bloom, and 22 seed trays are full and overflowing.  So, while we still have a little time to breathe thought we’d share a bit of our farm and our early blooms with those who might like to visit. Sunday, March 20 we’ll gather at the Homeplace where each will create a  Bird’s Nest centerpiece that will keep through Easter Sunday and many Sundays after and then create a fresh arrangement as well. All materials, including moss from the old road bed, dried and fresh flowers, and an assortment of things found in our fields and woodlands will be provided. $55 fee must be prepaid. Please call or text Linda at 423-367-0361 to check availability. Click here for registration information. Minimum of 7 participants. SOLD OUT Thank you all!

Bird’s Nest  Farmer/Florist style

Daffodils, spring branches, and lenten roses

These warm temps should coax open the first of the ranunculus

My favorite window

lenten roses aptly named and beautiful

light refreshments of course

And, if you’re not in a hurry after the workshop we’d love to show you what’s happening around the farm in the hoop house, chicken coop, and fields.

My Ohio Snowbelt roots have been very happy lately. Thought I’d share what our century family farm looks like painted white :)

Homeplace built by Roy’s great grandfather in 1870 wears her winter coat well

This lonely girl is a devon/angus cross cow who doesn’t mind the winter

The old sheep barn

We had a name this cow contest on instagram. I’d like you to introduce you to Lady Cora! I do best at keeping up with pictures via instagram, so if you’re on it and would like to follow please do.

Queen Anne’s Lace reigning in the fields once again

old well house on the left and blacksmith shop on right

These girls like the camera and come round whenever I’m out

Even got to this fox squirrel to pause and enjoy the moment with me.

Stay warm!

Loretta and I have been friends since I moved to Tennessee 33 years ago. Her grandson Ian married Alexa December 29th and I was able to put together bouquets for this sweet couple with most material harvested from the farm.

feathers, fern, pussy willow, eucalyptus, dusty miller, cedar, purple anemone, and scabiosa all from field of hoop house. . .

Anemone blooming early and the scabiosa hanging on late. Who knows what April will bring but I’ll enjoy what I have.

fun little bout

a little smaller version for the maids. Pine is a nice soft touch

A final look at Alexa’s bouquet at Emmanuel Christian Seminary where their wedding took place. Wishing much happiness to Alexa and Ian and their families!

p.s. Anxious to see professional pictures from Anna Hedges Photography!

Un-wreath workshop

I so enjoyed our two Christmas Workshops this year! Many lovely ladies and even a gent, balmy weather, lots of Christmasy greens, and a few sweet treats combined for good times and good memories. I’m always amazed at the kindness and talent of our guests! There are many more pictures of the Centerpiece Workshop because Erin Dalton returned to East TN just in time to be photographer – thank you Erin!  So, here’s a glimpse into Christmas frolicking at the Doan Farm.

Centerpiece Workshop

So, thanks to each of you for sharing your day and your talents with us! A very special thanks to Katie and Kristin for helping in more ways than you can imagine!

 Finally, Roy and I  wish a blessed and Merry Christmas to all our flower friends!

Hope everyone had a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving. Posting tonight to let folk know I’ll be on Daytime TriCities tomorrow (Monday, Dec 7th) at 10:00 a.m.

Also, the Dec., 12, Centerpiece Workshop filled to overflowing quickly. Thank you all for supporting local!  It’s been a few years since we’ve done Christmas workshops and I’m excited to be back at it. There are still spots available in tomorrow’s (Monday’s) Un-Wreath Workshop at 1 p.m. if anyone’s free and interested. For more details click here, but since it’s so last minute, just send an e-mail to auntwillies@gmail.com  if you’re able to come.

And finally here’s a wreath I made today from and old iron wheel with wooden spokes. This wins the heaviest ever wreath award. I intended to take to DayTime but then realized it wasn’t going anywhere. At any rate, it’s always fun to make something out of the all the good “stuff” we have on the farm. I think it looks like it kinda belongs on the old woodshed.