Alabama's Flower Movement: A Blooming Industry in the Wake of Covid

by Amanda Henderson

"Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities in the world.”– Ralph Waldo Emerson

In 2020, resigning myself to the fact that we’d be home a lot more often, I planted a much bigger garden than in previous years. In addition to vegetables, I added a couple of flower patches and it brought me so much joy in the midst of such a scary, strange year.

I grew zinnias and sunflowers in various colors. I had more than I could use myself for bouquets and even ended up selling a few small jars of zinnias. When 2021 rolled around, I had so much enjoyment from growing flowers that I decided that I’d grow more. I researched and planned. I found lots of new flower varieties to try and began ordering seed packets and purchasing live plants. Then, I had a big “Aha!” moment! While searching hashtags on Instagram, and through a series of “rabbit holes” I found that the cut flower industry forever changed in the United States in the wake of COVID-19, and Alabama was no exception. Flower stands, honesty tables and self-service flower bars were popping up around Alabama. Established flower farms were expanding and growing. Others, like me, decided to embark on a flower growing journey as well.

In 2020, COVID-19 shifted the floral industry not only in the United States but across the world. Before 2020, the majority of flowers sold by florists and grocery stores were shipped in from overseas. Most of those cut flower bouquets you picked up at big box stores came from South America or Europe. Shutdowns and closures caused a veritable nightmare for overseas cut flower growers as they had to dump whole crops that couldn’t be shipped out due to Covid restrictions. The wedding industry was seized up by the many cancellations and a shift to smaller, more intimate weddings. This left a lot of florists scrambling for flowers they could no longer source from overseas.

In addition to supplying local grocery stores and hosting bouquet making workshops on her farm, Kathy Gormandy from P&K Farms in Elberta, AL sells her flowers wholesale to florists. She saw an uptick in her florist customers trying to source local flowers because of the rising cost and/or the difficulty in sourcing flowers that are imported. She also saw that people wanted to get outside and have on-farm experiences.

Meagan Winningham of Alabama Eden Weddings and Alabama Eden Farm stand in Rainbow City, AL, a wedding florist veteran of five years has seen firsthand the impact Covid has had on the wedding industry. “We now have to depend on local growers. Imported flower prices have greatly increased and aren’t as reliable because of shipping and staffing challenges.” Meagan also opened a self-service farm stand on her property in 2020 in addition to her wedding floral business. She stocks her stand with fresh, farm-grown blooms and hosts floral workshops. “I love seeing people stopping by to get fresh flowers and hanging out.

”When asked why there has been such an uptick in local flower farm customers, Lily Rudd of The Garden on Windy Hill in Wicksburg, AL said, “I think people want to be outside, have fresh flowers, and are curious about where stuff [local flowers] comes from.

”After having my first year of growing cut flowers as a business, I’d add that flowers, simply put, just make people happy. In uncertain times, flowers are an easy way to brighten someone’s day, to say thank you or I love you. There is something comforting and familiar about a mason jar full of zinnias or sunflowers sitting on a dining room table. Lady Bird Johnson said, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” If that’s the case, we could all use more flowers.

All around Alabama, flower farmers are stepping up to keep up with local demand. They’re supplying subscription services, wedding florals, wholesale to businesses, flower stands, and traveling flower carts and trucks. If you’re gearing up for an event or wedding, or just want a lovely flower bunch to brighten your home, check in your area for a local grower.