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Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms
From Erin Benzakein, a leader in the locaflor farm-to-centerpiece movement and owner of internationally renowned Floret Flower Farm, Cut Flower Garden is equal parts instruction and inspiration—a book overflowing with lush photography of magnificent flowers and breathtaking arrangements organized by season. This beautiful guide to growing, harvesting, and arranging gorgeous blooms year-round gives readers vital tools to nurture a stunning flower garden and use their blossoms to create showstopping arrangements. With irresistible photos of Erin's flower farm that showcase exquisite blooms, tips for growing in a variety of spaces and climates as well as step-by-step instructions for lavish garlands, airy centerpieces, and romantic floral décor for every season, Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden informs and entices gardeners of all skill levels.
607 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 7, 2017
872 people are currently reading
2623 people want to read
About the author
Erin Benzakein
22 books181 followersCelebrated flower farmer Erin Benzakein is known for her lush, romantic floral designs. She is the author of Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers, a New York Times bestseller, and Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden, winner of the American Horticultural Society Book Award. Her work has been featured across notable publications, including Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Sunset Magazine, The New York Times, Magnolia Journal, and Country Living. She lives in Mount Vernon, Washington, with her husband, Chris, and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
May 31, 2019
This book was recommended by the teacher of a class on cutting gardens that I recently took at our local botanical gardens. It’s a lovely book but with some serious flaws. The information is good but is far less comprehensive than I expected. As beautiful as the photos are, I would have preferred more text. Especially given that the photos were not always particularly informative; for example, many of them lacked captions. The single most off-putting thing about this book was the number of photos of the author, often holding bouquets of flowers in various dreamy poses or working in her garden. These took up a lot of space that could have been used to much better purpose. For example, she suggests that it’s important to pick dahlias when they are almost fully open but not overly ripe. I would have preferred a photo of what that looks like rather the full-page one of the author picking dahlias in her garden. I would love to have seen examples of how she uses vegetables in her flower arrangements rather than just pictures of cherry tomatoes. And why was there a whole section on growing pumpkins (which have nothing to do with a cutting garden) when so many cutting flowers (stock, veronica, and scabiosa, for example) weren’t even included? I am happy that I have this book, and I did learn some wonderful tidbits from it and found it inspiring. But it fell far short of my expectations.
January 18, 2019
Let me preface this with I adore Erin Benzakein as so many do. I mean - she alone has started a movement that is changing how America grows flowers and how people garden. I was one of her early followers who couldn't wait for this book. So while it might be said that I am not the average reviewer of this book ( for as many of you know I am deeply involved with Sweet Pea and dahlia culture and have been for years), the fact that this book didn't meet my crazy 5 star rating is personal, but it should never, ever sway you from adding it to your library - my standards were just a bit unrealistic or something, but it just wasn't a book that I found useful. Yet, I am not the audience. You are, and you should invest in this book.
Naturally, for those familiar with Erin, this book is lovely. Visually it's a spectacular creation - a work of art really. So why not a 5 star read? All I can say is that for me, and maybe me alone, while this book is a beautiful one the content wasn't as helpful as I was hoping for. I turn to the book for its beauty, but never to research or as a sourcebook. This, however, should not discourage you or anyone from adding it to your bookshelf.
The many fans of Floret Farm won't be disappointed one bit. The publisher invested in the quality of this book. Excellent typography, an embossed cover and fine paper stock all adds up along with what may be the most lovely photography found in any gardening book. Better yet, this book inspires and surely has helped sales of both sweet peas farmers and dahlia growers, not to mention inspire future flower farmers. That it will do. It just won't be the bible for growers, more of a look book or an introduction to flower farming for a new generation - which is still a huge statement. Who'd have thought that chrysanthemums and sweet peas would ever make a comeback? A big part of this movement in being fueled by Erin and the Floret Farm movement.
If one is new to gardening, or just to dahlias, sweet peas, snapdragons or anemones - this book will be useful as no book guides or inspires one, compassing the home buyer towards the choicest varieties. One might have thought that Erin should have kept some of this information secret, but she thankfully doesn't, sharing the names of varieties with us all, as well as where to get them.
So If one is new to flower gardening this book certainly won't disappoint. If one is an experienced gardener this book will still offer value - but maybe for the real plant geeks, it may fall a bit short with the super-detailed info. Page count is page count though, so I certainly get it if an editor had to cut something, as that more toothy content would be the most likely thing to go.
In the end, this book provides much of the basic 101 information and it is never dumbed down so while the book doesn't really go into super-deep depth with 202 type guidelines, few will probably care.
And maybe this book didn't need to go that deep? And if one really wanted that info - the Floret Farm website has plenty of that information.
Naturally, for those familiar with Erin, this book is lovely. Visually it's a spectacular creation - a work of art really. So why not a 5 star read? All I can say is that for me, and maybe me alone, while this book is a beautiful one the content wasn't as helpful as I was hoping for. I turn to the book for its beauty, but never to research or as a sourcebook. This, however, should not discourage you or anyone from adding it to your bookshelf.
The many fans of Floret Farm won't be disappointed one bit. The publisher invested in the quality of this book. Excellent typography, an embossed cover and fine paper stock all adds up along with what may be the most lovely photography found in any gardening book. Better yet, this book inspires and surely has helped sales of both sweet peas farmers and dahlia growers, not to mention inspire future flower farmers. That it will do. It just won't be the bible for growers, more of a look book or an introduction to flower farming for a new generation - which is still a huge statement. Who'd have thought that chrysanthemums and sweet peas would ever make a comeback? A big part of this movement in being fueled by Erin and the Floret Farm movement.
If one is new to gardening, or just to dahlias, sweet peas, snapdragons or anemones - this book will be useful as no book guides or inspires one, compassing the home buyer towards the choicest varieties. One might have thought that Erin should have kept some of this information secret, but she thankfully doesn't, sharing the names of varieties with us all, as well as where to get them.
So If one is new to flower gardening this book certainly won't disappoint. If one is an experienced gardener this book will still offer value - but maybe for the real plant geeks, it may fall a bit short with the super-detailed info. Page count is page count though, so I certainly get it if an editor had to cut something, as that more toothy content would be the most likely thing to go.
In the end, this book provides much of the basic 101 information and it is never dumbed down so while the book doesn't really go into super-deep depth with 202 type guidelines, few will probably care.
And maybe this book didn't need to go that deep? And if one really wanted that info - the Floret Farm website has plenty of that information.
March 22, 2020
This gorgeous book was the perfect resource at the perfect time.
I've long wanted a cut flower garden, and have slowly implemented more and more plants. This book was everything I needed to know to fill in the gaps in my knowledge. Everything from how to keep the massive plants upright to keeping specific flowers alive longer in vases to the best strains or most vibrant colors. And not only flowers, there were sections on greenery and even appropriate vegetables.
The photos were beautiful, and since I'm in the same general area as the author, every timing tip was spot on. I got this from the library but will definitely be purchasing a copy for continuing reference.
Reread 2020: I own this now, it's such a good, quick resource on growing flowers. Skimmed through it, narrowed in on the flowers I've started this past week. Leaving it out for the rest of the growing season because I'll definitely be back.
I've long wanted a cut flower garden, and have slowly implemented more and more plants. This book was everything I needed to know to fill in the gaps in my knowledge. Everything from how to keep the massive plants upright to keeping specific flowers alive longer in vases to the best strains or most vibrant colors. And not only flowers, there were sections on greenery and even appropriate vegetables.
The photos were beautiful, and since I'm in the same general area as the author, every timing tip was spot on. I got this from the library but will definitely be purchasing a copy for continuing reference.
Reread 2020: I own this now, it's such a good, quick resource on growing flowers. Skimmed through it, narrowed in on the flowers I've started this past week. Leaving it out for the rest of the growing season because I'll definitely be back.
July 26, 2024
My pivot from HR to florist js about to be so puss. I am many women
April 17, 2024
This is the exact book I’ve been wishing I had for years. Inspiring and beautiful but practical as well. It answered so many specific questions I’ve had, and is a great place to start as a novice flower gardener.
The tending of a new baby eclipses the tending of a flower garden this summer, but I’m already planning and dreaming about what I can start this fall.
The tending of a new baby eclipses the tending of a flower garden this summer, but I’m already planning and dreaming about what I can start this fall.
March 9, 2017
Everyone's favorite flower farmer has a new book! It is full of beautiful photos and great tips on how to grow the cutting garden of your dreams. I'm a big fan of Floret/Erin's seeds, and I've grown several of her zinnias in my Oklahoma garden. Great book. Look for a giveaway next week on my blog.
July 31, 2020
I unabashedly checked this out to look at the pictures.
I'm never going to grow a cutting garden. Even if I decided to do such a thing in my little yard, I wouldn't be able to use most of the information in this book, with exception to the planning pages, because where I live, the last frost is in mid- to late-May and first frost is typically mid-September. We have June-August to grow stuff and it's a struggle.
But I didn't "read" this book (I literally didn't read this book once I got into the seasons sections) to learn how to plant a flower farm, I really did just want to look at the pictures which are lovely.
Recommended for viewing on quiet summer mornings while you're sitting outside with your beverage and maybe some sliced fruit or a pastry, or something. That's how I took this in and it was perfect.
I'm never going to grow a cutting garden. Even if I decided to do such a thing in my little yard, I wouldn't be able to use most of the information in this book, with exception to the planning pages, because where I live, the last frost is in mid- to late-May and first frost is typically mid-September. We have June-August to grow stuff and it's a struggle.
But I didn't "read" this book (I literally didn't read this book once I got into the seasons sections) to learn how to plant a flower farm, I really did just want to look at the pictures which are lovely.
Recommended for viewing on quiet summer mornings while you're sitting outside with your beverage and maybe some sliced fruit or a pastry, or something. That's how I took this in and it was perfect.
February 29, 2024
Gorgeous photos. A stylistically beautiful book. The contents is largely uninformative with few specifics. For example, the author notes she uses compost tea but fails to provide details on how to make your own or simply makes note that peonies are very easy to grow. Peonies are susceptible to mildew but there is no mention of what to do to eliminate powdery or downy mildew in an organic garden. A great coffee table book but not for those seeking practical solutions.
March 12, 2017
I love this book!!! If you have any interest in growing flowers for any reason it's a must have! I'm a novice gardener, this book has been so helpful. Such a great educational book! The photography is amazing! Such in inspiring book! Thank you Floret Team!!!!
January 16, 2024
Got this book out from the library for the second time and it keeps on giving gold! I have learned so much about flowers and gardening and soil and I’m so looking forward to getting things started for this season.
Read
March 11, 2021I basically re-read this book before summer every year. Always really helpful in helping me start my garden.
December 16, 2021
Read every word of this as a library loan and will be purchasing my own copy for Spring. What a great book.
March 10, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast read and was filled with beautiful pictures. She has practical tips + several flowers you can plant yourself. I learned a lot and am excited to start a garden this upcoming spring!
December 27, 2019
I can't say this helped me to start a cutting garden in the ways that I hoped it would, although I wasn't really clear on what I wanted to learn from it, either. How-to tips about soil, what to plant and not to plant together, how to figure out what will fit in the space you've allotted. Like that, I guess.
But I liked the whole idea enough that I've been following the author's blog about Floret Farm, her commercial flower farm, bulb and seed business since, have ordered seeds and bulbs from them, and watched her how-to videos on specific topics, which have been very helpful.
She has a book about flower arranging that I'll probably read (new in 2020): Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers: Designing Gorgeous Arrangements for Every Season.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
But I liked the whole idea enough that I've been following the author's blog about Floret Farm, her commercial flower farm, bulb and seed business since, have ordered seeds and bulbs from them, and watched her how-to videos on specific topics, which have been very helpful.
She has a book about flower arranging that I'll probably read (new in 2020): Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers: Designing Gorgeous Arrangements for Every Season.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
April 24, 2018
I got this on Kindle for $1.80. Was it worth that? Yes. Am I glad I didn't buy the actual book? Yes. There are gorgeous pictures and suggestions for which flowers to grow, but as one who is considering a cut flower garden, I was left wanting more specifics. For instance, she mentioned netting for Zinnias but not where one would find said netting. On the other hand, I thought the designing arrangements sections were TOO specific... we were shown how to make specific arrangements, but I would have liked more general design tips so that I can make beautiful bouquets with whatever flowers are available.
March 12, 2017
It's gorgeous. Most of its glory is in the photographs however. The text is largely uninspired info you can get from most flower gardening books. You won't get tons of specifics behind running a cut flower business. You will learn that "peonies are very easy to grow".
This is largely for dreamers, not for doers.
This is largely for dreamers, not for doers.
November 15, 2018
What a wonderful book! it's pretty and useful and easy to understand-- it ticks all the boxes! She starts you off from the basics of planning and starting seedlings, to dividing the year into seasonal tasks, blooms, and projects. Every aspect from fertilization to arranging is covered, and I couldn't be happier.
I also really love how the book paper is thick and substantial, and the fonts and dividers are almost formatted like a reference book in their clearness.
Sadly I live in an apartment, but the second I get space for a cutting garden I'm grabbing this book.
I also really love how the book paper is thick and substantial, and the fonts and dividers are almost formatted like a reference book in their clearness.
Sadly I live in an apartment, but the second I get space for a cutting garden I'm grabbing this book.
February 4, 2018
I've followed Floret Farm on Instagram for some time now and I love seeing all of the beautiful photos they share there. I was curious about the book and I'm so glad I picked it up. I guess this might seem strange to some, but I love reading for information and learning just as much as getting lost in a novel. I enjoyed finding out more background about the lady behind the farm and I learned so much about flowers. I really want to try my hand at some new varieties this year. Great book!
February 19, 2025
Oh my goodness this is a marvelous book for anyone who wants to learn more about growing cut flowers or anyone who just wants to look at them. The photography is gorgeous and everything is laid out extremely clearly, walking you through each flower and its properties as well as her favorite cultivars, and when to work on each element of your garden. It is informative, informational, and the quality of the printing (the cover!!) is absolutely stunning.
January 3, 2018
Gardening is my passion, we just purchased a new home, time to build a new garden after almost thirty years, I can barely sleep shaping up our new land. This book set me on fire, for twenty years I lived in my greenhouse, to start fresh is thrilling, everything she shared is how i once lived, I can't wait to make this place beautiful! Wonderful photos, great sound advice and seasonal tips, perfect for any garden enthusiast, novice to expert.
April 13, 2022
A gorgeous book of gardening tips for cut flowers arranged by season. For each type of flower, there are general growing and harvesting instructions as well as beautiful photos of some of the author’s favorite varieties. It also includes a few seasonal projects to demonstrate how you can combine the various blooms into bouquets. I’m inspired!
June 21, 2022
Fun book! We’re looking at growing a cut flower garden next year at the school I teach at, so trying to get ideas. I liked her thoughts and suggestions, just wish this was written by someone in the same climate that can grow the same plants as here. Going to look for a similar book written by someone in Iowa!
July 11, 2020
For a flower gardener, this is a book you want to own. Season by season she describes the germinating, planting, growing, harvesting and floral conditions desired by each variety. The photographs and clear descriptions are outstanding.
September 20, 2020
I have always loved flowers, and this book is gorgeous & inspiring, and I plan to take the tips from these pages and start my own cut flower garden. I read every page and thought it was so much fun to do so!
July 14, 2021
What an incredibly beautiful and inspiring book! Erin is an engaging writer and makes things easy to understand. The photography, layout, and feel of the pages made this book a treat to experience and learn from.
May 2, 2022
This is such a beautiful, helpful and inspiring book. I loved learning about so many flowers and enjoying the stunning images. I definitely want this book as a reference guide when we start growing flowers in our backyard!
March 30, 2017
Great book. Lots of photos, recommended varieties, and tips for growing, harvesting, preserving, and arranging.
April 20, 2020
Stunning photos, helpful growing tips, and details about keeping cut flowers alive as long as possible. I have read this one multiple times and reference it often.
February 7, 2021
I'm gong to have to decide between this book and "A Year In Flowers" by the same author. There is some overlap but both books are so valuable.
April 13, 2021
This gorgeous book gave me all I need to dream, plan, and execute my own cut flower garden. Of all the gardening books I’ve ever read, this is my favorite!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews