The La Conner Civic Garden Club invited the public to hear Colleen O’Brien-Miller of Beezie + Co. Flower Farm discuss her flower business last Thursday, March 9. O’Brien-Miller’s flowers were the talk of the town among interested attendees in the Second Street building. She was peppered with questions about flora species and ideal planting strategies in the Pacific Northwest.

Her flowers grow on five of the 120 acre Fir Island homestead that has been in her family for five generations. Among the tips she shared were to store dry tulip bulbs in the refrigerator, since they like the cold; watch out for voles (a rat/mole-like creature) if you have dahlias; and plant sunflowers only six inches apart if you want them to grow smaller for bouquets.

Beyond her green thumb, O’Brien-Miller said she and her husband, Shaun, “really feel it’s important to be active in the community. Providing locally grown flowers and highlighting the ‘Magic Skagit’ is our way of participating. Flowers bring joy to people and we love that!”

Beezie + Co. provided the floral arrangements and table centerpieces for the annual Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland fundraising auction last September. She also has participated in the La Conner Festival of Tiny Trees auction for the library the last couple of years.

If you want to see some of her flowers up close, you can purchase bouquets from Enchanted Locks Hair Salon during the blooming season, or sign up for the Beezie + Co. flower subscription.

Another fun idea is to plant some borage in your garden this year. According to O’Brien-Miller “Bees love it, it’s edible, with the flavor and scent of cucumbers, and looks great in springtime arrangements.”