Open Flower Network: Channeling Optimism
working with ‘cool’ flowers
Jun 26, 2025
Looking for a way to get ahead of the Spring rush? ‘Cool’ flowers are primarily annual flowers that can be planted early in the Fall, stay in suspended animation below the snow through the Winter, and then spring into action when the weather warms and the day lengthens. If you’re curious to know more, in this video, Theresa Schumilas of Garden Party Flower Farms walks you through the basics of fall-planted annuals, including varieties and best practices to get you started.
If you get really unsettled weather in the Spring, which I often get here in Southwestern Ontario … I can’t get other things in the ground, but I know I’ve got the cool flowers coming along, and they bloom in that gap post peonies but before annuals.
More resources for
Channeling Optimism
Plugging into Flower Plugs
Find out about the history and the future of the Collective Plug Order, a grassroots collaboration that has let small flower farmers in Canada pool their plug orders.
Pick Your Sales Channel
Learn about the opportunities and limitations of different flower sales channels, from on-farm sales to Pick Your Own to wedding design.
Financial support was provided under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
