Notes from the Road: MANTS to ASCFG

Last week has been exhausting in the best possible way.

I came home from Baltimore fresh off the MANTS trade show, still buzzing from days of talking chrysanthemums with people who genuinely care about plants as much as I do. There is something incredibly energizing about being in a room full of growers, garden centers, and plant people who all speak the same language.

I eased into the weekend with my family and a little farm time, equal parts rest and reality check. Walking the property after being away always feels a bit like reading a letter someone else has been writing for you. Tunnel 5 is well on its way to becoming a fully heated house instead of “just” a high tunnel, and the mother chrysanthemums are already pushing out fresh new growth. It’s such a grounding reminder that the farm doesn’t pause just because some of us hop on the road. A few slow walks around the property in the quiet weekend made it clear that the steady heartbeat of the farm never skipped a beat while we were gone. Spring is already whispering, even if it’s doing so quietly.

Stepping away, even briefly, always makes me miss the farm and the team that keeps it running. It also fills me with a whole lot of gratitude. There’s something special about knowing things are being cared for, nurtured, and moved forward, even when you’re not standing right there.

Before I could fully settle back in, I repacked my suitcase and headed out again. Extra-early Monday morning had me boarding a plane bound for Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I joined my flower farming friends for the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers National Conference. This is an event I look forward to every two years, and it never disappoints. There’s something incredibly affirming about gathering with peers, mentors, and friends who truly understand this work and all the challenges and DEEP love that comes with it.

It didn’t take long after stepping into the hotel lobby to see familiar faces and feel completely at home. I was especially excited to learn that around 40 percent of the more than 300 attendees were brand-new flower farmers! That kind of growth in our industry gives me so much hope for the future of this industry!!

The days flew by in a blur of conversations in quick hallway chats, long dinners, impromptu brainstorming sessions, and a lot of laughter. Some of these growers have been part of my journey since the very beginning, and others I met for the first time, but the sense of community was the same. It felt like being with my people.

For the very first time, I also decided to participate in vendor night with a booth focused entirely on chrysanthemums (well a few flower frogs too!). I had the time of my life. Helping others imagine how certain mum varieties might fit into their farms, and watching their excitement build was pure joy. Somewhere between explaining growth habits and recommending varieties, I realized I was standing exactly where I was meant to be. Helping people fill their gardens with the right plants is how I build lifelong friendships, and it’s work that never feels like work.

I may have talked so much that I nearly lost my voice and thank goodness for the kind souls who kept handing me bottles of water, but aside from that minor detail, the experience was pretty close to perfect.

The travel home and the inevitable jet lag weren’t exactly glamorous, but these past two weeks have been more than worth it. I feel incredibly lucky to have a team and a family that support this work and make it possible. My cup feels refilled, my battery is fully recharged, and I’m heading into the rest of the year with a full heart, clear focus, and a whole lot of excitement.

I’m ready to get back to the gardens, back to the flowers, and back to doing what I love—alongside all of you.

XOXO, Jess