July Celebrates Kentucky's Local Cut Flower Farms

By Blake Jackson

A splash of sunshine arrived at Dominion Senior Living in Richmond on Wednesday, as residents and staff received vibrant zinnias and sunflowers.

The flowers, donated by River Bend Blooms in Allen County, were distributed by Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell to mark Kentucky Grown Cut Flowers Month, celebrated throughout July.

“Flowers can brighten up your day and it’s an even brighter day when you know these flowers are grown in Kentucky,” said Commissioner Shell. “The beauty the flower industry adds to our great state also means you can bring that beauty inside your home, your business, or add it to your summer wedding. In July, we celebrate what Kentucky’s farmer-florists provide for consumers. Having the chance to provide that little bit of sunshine to some special people today, really emphasizes the power of flowers.”

Although roughly 80 percent of cut flowers sold in the U.S. are imported, Kentucky offers ideal conditions for cultivating high-quality blooms. The state is now home to over 220 commercial cut flower farms, with the number steadily increasing.

Among them is River Bend Blooms, owned by Michelle and David Wheeler. With degrees in agriculture and backgrounds in agricultural sales, the Wheelers have developed their 227-acre farm into a thriving flower operation now in its sixth season.

“When I tell people that we are specialty, cut flower farm, they have a tendency to think of a cute garden. In reality, growing nine acres of field grown flowers is much more akin to the management and work of growing a tobacco crop. People have rarely considered where and how the flowers they purchase were grown. I hope to raise attention to the fact that the U.S. imported over $2.57 billion in cut flowers in 2023,” Michelle Wheeler said.

“Our farm is working hard to grow the highest quality, locally grown flowers for our customers in Kentucky and Tennessee. Your flowers don’t need to take airplane rides when you choose to buy them from Kentucky farms."

To honor the occasion, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and the Kentucky Horticulture Council are hosting a month-long social media campaign, spotlighting local flower farms daily. An interactive map of Kentucky cut flower farms is available at https://uk-horticulture.github.io/KY-Cut-Flowers/.

Photo Credit: pexels-olga-divnaya