Hi friend, As we welcome September, I can’t help but reflect on what an incredible season it has already been for Utah’s flower community. Our hearts are full after the success of Utah Flower Day, and I want to extend my deepest gratitude to every grower, florist, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter who helped make this statewide celebration possible. Whether you opened your farm gates, designed beautiful arrangements, welcomed visitors, shared your story, or simply helped spread the word, you played an important role in showcasing the beauty and value of Utah-grown flowers. Together, we introduced countless people to the passion, hard work, and artistry that exists across our state’s flower farms. Thank you for representing our association and our industry with such generosity and enthusiasm. As summer begins its gentle transition into fall, many of us are entering one of the busiest, and most rewarding times of the growing season. Cooler mornings bring a welcome change, while our dahlia fields are reaching their peak, rewarding months of care with armloads of spectacular blooms. At the same time, we’re already looking ahead to next year, carefully selecting and ordering new varieties, planning improvements, and preparing beds for fall plantings. Farming has a unique way of keeping us rooted in the present while always encouraging us to dream about the next season. One of my favorite parts of our association is the opportunity to learn from one another, and I hope many of you will join us for our September Farm Tour. These gatherings are more than just a chance to see another beautiful farm. They’re an opportunity to reconnect, share ideas, ask questions, celebrate successes, and strengthen the relationships that make this organization so special. There is simply no substitute for spending time together in the field with fellow flower farmers who understand both the challenges and the joys of this work. Thank you for being part of the Utah Cut Flower Farm Association and for the passion you bring to our local flower movement. I look forward to seeing many of you at the farm tour and wish you a wonderful month filled with abundant harvests, cooler days, and plenty of beautiful blooms. Happy growing, Mollie Payne President, Utah Cut Flower Farm Association Fall Farm Tour at Mustard Seed Farm September 19, 2026 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Join us for a Fall Farm Tour hosted by Sheryl Larson of Mustard Seed Farm. Come learn how Sheryl has transformed her property into a thriving cut flower farm and enjoy spending time with fellow members taking in the bounty of the season. Register HERE. Documentary Opportunity Lily Huffman, Environmental Documentary Filmmaker in Salt Lake City Lily is in the beginning stages of producing an independent film about flower farming in Utah. This will be a short film that focuses on the experiences of one farmer (or farm), what life looks like running a flower farm, and how that person navigates the industry. If you're interested in participating in this project, please email us at hello@utahflowerfarms.com 2027 Utah Flower Conference Saturday, February 20, 2027 - Tickets on sale soon! Opening Keynote Speaker: Julio Freitas of The Flower Hat Closing Keynote Speaker: Briana Bosch of Blossom and Branch Flower Farm

Hi UCFFA, August is an exciting month for Utah’s local flower community. Fields are full, markets and farm stands are overflowing with locally grown blooms, and growers across the state are sharing the results of months of planning, planting, and hard work.

Get ready for Utah Flower Day - Saturday, August 29th

A Review of 2025 Grant Results

Hi UCFFA, July is demanding, especially in this summer heat. I’m sending encouragement to keep up the good work, take care of yourselves, and remember that you don’t have to solve every challenge alone. Reach out to members in your area, build relationships, and look for ways to collaborate and support one another.

Hi my friend, The summer solstice is upon us, as well as what my husband calls the "most forgotten holiday of the year", Father's Day. As a florist and a flower farmer, I assure you that the majority of folks "forget" about Mother's Day until the last minute as well. Father's Day has an interesting history that is closely tied to locally grown flowers. The first Father's Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington in 1909. Sonora Smart Dodd came up with the idea to celebrate her father and all other fathers after a Mother's Day church service inspired her into action. She worked with her local YMCA and the Spokane Ministerial Association to set aside the third Sunday in June as a day to celebrate fathers. She personally delivered gifts to disabled fathers who couldn't leave their homes. Children gave red roses to their fathers and pinned red roses on their shirts if their father was living and a white rose if their father was deceased. For a time, the tradition was for each child to gift their father a red rose. Over time, this tradition faded away. Father's day became a federally recognized holiday in 1972. I love the symbolism and the sentiment so much that I have revived the tradition in our family. My husband was really touched the first Father's Day that I gifted him four red roses, one for each of our children. It didn't matter that I didn't go to the store or purchase something online. The gift was multi-dimensional; the roses were harvested from the bushes that I lovingly tend and care for, grown in a yard that is filled with our family's blood, sweat and tears from years of raking rocks, hauling rocks, unloading topsoil, laying drip and planting. It took many years to get to the part where we could enjoy it. The summer solstice ushers in summertime this weekend and Utah flower farmers will soon reach the stage where we get to enjoy the fruits of our efforts. Other than succession plantings of crops like sunflowers, zinnias and cosmos, the majority of the planting season is wrapping up. Early summer brings maintenance. Weeding becomes our new best friend and the pile of weeds to compost grows weekly. Spent crops from the spring are pulled out, replanted with short season crops like sunflowers or seeded for fall crops of zinnia, cosmos, asters and celosia. I am planting my pumpkins this week too. It's the perfect time to plant them so that they ripen a week or two before Halloween. I am hoping that by mid July I can stroll through my flower field and greenhouse in the evenings and really enjoy it. I hope that you get our to your local flower farm and enjoy their hard work too! There are so many ways to connect with them during the summer. Many of our members can be found at Farmer's Markets. Other growers provide U-pick experiences or workshops on their farms. Some partner with other local businesses and sell their flowers through storefronts and coffee shops. Utah Flower Day is scheduled for August 29th. Our member growers will be celebrating all over the state with unique activities and experiences for you to participate in. The Utah Cut Flower Farm Association will have a gorgeous flower arch display at Thanksgiving Point that day as well and all of the flowers and greens will be sourced from Utah flower farmers! Exciting things are happening as we run head-long into summer. Get out and enjoy all that our growers have to offer. Fresh flowers are always a good idea! If you need me, I'll be weeding from now until the next newsletter. Warm Regards, Sara Asbridge Publicity Chair Utah Cut Flower Farm Association

June Blooming at Noon Thursday, June 18th @ 12:00 PM Working with Florists and Forecasting Trends with Sadie Mower

Get ready for Utah Flower Day Saturday, August 29th Join us in a state-wide intiative to spread awareness and education about local flowers to communities across Utah!

Hi friend, Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent farm tour. It was wonderful to see so many of you in person, connect in the field, and enjoy time together as a local flower community.

Spring Farm Tour at Foothill Farm Flowers Saturday, May 16th @ 10:00 AM ***Sorry, this event is now closed