Flower business blooms in South Marlborough

Expectations have been blown out of the water for the first season of Picks and Petals, a sunflower field and home cut flower business venture in the Flaxbourne district.

Despite a tough start to life for the sunflower field with a September–October drought, the seeds planted on 13 October have flourished to result in beautiful scenes for visitors to start the year.

“We prayed to Mother Nature and she delivered - it was bleak at first driving past the field but once November’s rains opened up, everything changed,” Picks and Petals’ Lucy McKnight say.

Lucy says she and co-founder Leah Buick expected just a few families but were stunned when more than 170 adults – many with multiple children in tow – streamed up Ure Road on Saturday, followed by 140 on Sunday and over 100 each of the second weekends days.

Lucy and Leah started the venture with help from their collective five children, all under six, who planted seeds alongside them.

“There were 70-year-old women with smiles you couldn’t wipe off, squeals of delight from kids, and our own kids were so thrilled to invite their friends out too,” Lucy says.

“Sunflowers suit the soil here – they’re drought-tolerant and don’t mind the heat but we’re also finding in bouquets from the stall has grown because people are otherwise getting them ordered and sent from around the country and paying out the nose.

“We’re already researching other tolerant species of flowers people want, just down to the conditions and limited water up here and hoping to expand to farmers’ markets next season despite how rural we are”.

The open weekends, held on 3 and 4 and 10 and 11 January, featured face painting, a barbecue and a cut-flower stall with Lucy hopeful they’ll also open this coming weekend on 17 and 18 January after forecasted refreshing rain for the flowers.

“Talking to people the last few weekends has been amazing and we’ve like to get a foot in the door with lilies and other affordable options in current shops because we’ve found locals love locally sourcing their bouquets.

“People have come up to us and said they’ve always wondered what’s up this road, so we’re hoping more will come for the adventure too.”

Connect with Picks and Petals on Facebook.