Why Local Flowers Matter (Even in Summer)
- Ilana Williams
- Jul 11
- 3 min read
Published by Grey Dog Flowers, Mills River, NC
Why Local Flowers Matter (Even in Summer)
In summer, flowers are everywhere - grocery store buckets, last-minute arrangements at big box shops, even convenience store counters. It’s easy to think all flowers are the same.
But when you look closely, the difference between local flowers and mass-produced ones is striking.
At Grey Dog Flowers, fresh cut flowers are grown and arranged right here in Mills River, North Carolina. Every bouquet is part of a bigger story—one that supports sustainability, seasonality, and local community.
1. Local Flowers Are Fresher—and Last Longer
Imported flowers are often cut 7–14 days before they reach the customer. They've been shipped in boxes, stored in refrigeration, and treated with chemicals to prolong their appearance.
Bouquets from Grey Dog Flowers are harvested the day before (or the morning of) being sold. That means longer vase life, better fragrance, and colors that haven’t faded in transit.
Tip: Ask your farmer about specific care tips—local growers know their flowers best.
2. Local Flowers Support Local Farms and Families
When you buy local, your money stays in your community. It helps cover the real costs of growing flowers—seeds, tools, utilities, infrastructure, and future plantings. You're not supporting a faceless supply chain; you're sustaining a small, independent business. Unlike grocery stores or big-box retailers - which often sell flowers at or below cost to drive overall sales, not to support growers - small flower farms depend on making a profit from every stem in order to stay in business.
We’re not anonymous suppliers. We’re your neighbors.
3. Local Flowers Celebrate the Real Seasons
Mass-market flowers disconnect us from natural rhythms. You can buy roses in July or tulips in September, but it’s not real seasonality - it’s an illusion built on chemicals and cold storage.
Local flowers honor the flow of the year. In summer, that means zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, sunflowers, rudbeckia, and so much more.
You learn to wait, to anticipate, and to savor what’s fleeting.
4. Local Flowers Are Grown Sustainably
At Grey Dog Flowers, only organic practices and natural methods are used. Soil health, plant diversity, and pollinator-friendly crops are prioritized, and no synthetic sprays, chemicals, or preservatives are used.
The flower stand itself is part of that sustainable ethos - off-grid by design, decorated with repurposed materials or those with low environmental impact, and passively cooled.
Compare that to international flower farms, where levels of pesticides can be underregulated (depending on the country) and blooms are flown thousands of miles using carbon-heavy systems.
5. Local Flowers Offer Unique Varieties
Most shipped flowers are chosen for durability, not beauty. That means limited selection and lots of repetition.
Local farmers can grow varieties you’ll never see in a grocery store: double tulips, sweet peas, cosmos, larkspur, strawflowers, and dahlias in every shape.
Local flowers are grown for love, not because they ship well.
6. Local Flowers Build Connection
Buying flowers from someone you know - or whose farm you’ve visited - adds meaning. Better yet if it's a farmer you've come to know through their flowers. You start to recognize what’s in season. You look forward to a certain bloom’s return.
You build relationships with flowers, and with the people who grow them.
7. Why It Still Matters—Even in Summer
Summer is peak flower season. But it’s also high-pressure for small farms. Labor is intense, flowers are in abundance, and there’s a constant push to harvest and sell before blooms go over.
Supporting local now helps farms stay sustainable year-round. Whether you’re picking up a bunch or sending flowers to a friend, it matters.
How You Can Support Local Flowers in Western NC
Here’s how you can be part of the local flower movement:
Visit the Grey Dog Farm Stand – Open weekly with seasonal bunches and bouquets. Located at 110 Grey Haven Dr in Mills River.
Order Flowers – Order online and choose delivery to select Asheville-area zip codes.
Come to a Workshop – Join the bouquet-making workshop on Saturday, August 16, or the holiday wreath making workshp in December. Spots are limited.
Follow on Social Media – follow on both Facebook and Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates and bloom highlights.
Join the VIP email List – Get early access to events and seasonal availability.
Get fresh, local flowers delivered
Summer bouquet making workshop
Grey Dog Flowers Fall Flower CSA
Final Thoughts: A Better Way to Buy Flowers
Local flowers aren’t just fresher—they’re better for your vase, your values, and your community. Choosing to buy what’s grown nearby supports a system that’s smaller, slower, and more beautiful.
So even in summer, when blooms are everywhere, make your bouquet count. Choose flowers that are rooted in place.
Choose local.
Comments