Vday is on the way!

The HIVE is in full glory heading into the weekend before Valentines Day. Color, fragrance and fabulousness in every corner! Florals have begun to arrive and we have lots of processing to do! So much beauty, so much busywork. We have stocked up on wraps, ribbon, snips and supplies. There’s a nice stack of pre-orders growing each day for which we are thankful beyond measure! Pre-orders make things go so smoothly for us. When the crazy day hits and guys and gals are frantically calling last minute, the pre-orders are already made fresh and out the door on delivery.

Here’s the truth about the oh so romantic holiday. I’m an anxious wreck. It would be a total fib to say I’m sleeping soundly at night as the most stressful holiday in the floristry year approaches. So many folks have no idea just how much goes into offering Valentines Day as a flower shop. Back in the beginning of December our full flower order list for the February holiday came due. When I want to be wrapping gifts for solstice and decorating our December tree, I have to pour over last years Vday notes and create flower recipes, plan specials and think up an advertising schedule. The jacked stem prices alone are enough to give me a stomach ulcer. Add onto that having absolutely no idea if even one order will be placed and you may as well dig my young grave. Will I order enough, will I order too much? Can we afford staff? How is our weather wrap inventory? Does the typewriter need new ink? Who will drive? My head spins! The investment for the day of love is a huge gamble every single year. The giant order of flowers, the extra supplies and seasonal vases, the advertising, the extra staff and so many other little expenses compound onto us like a brick in the face.

With every minute of planning we do, there’s still just no way to be completely prepared for what actually happens next Tuesday. I will be the soul designer in the shop with two helpers to make sure I eat lunch and greet customers while I’m on the phone. Eric plus one other driver to accommodate delivery requests as best we can. The night before I’ve designed the pre-orders and tried my best to stock the shop. As people call, I’m the one with the knowledge so I have to step away from my design station and chat on the phone. Every 15 minutes I have to check the website for online orders, the Facebook page for messages, our Snapchat, our Instagram. The calls come in and more orders stack up demanding delivery by noon! I alone, am the one creating these orders and trying to keep it flowing so they can be ready for the next round delivery. The helpers make the cards and weather wrap, they consolidate buckets and sweep up my artist mess. Every 4th call is the delivery driver with a problem I have to fix. “This person isn’t home.” “I think we have the wrong address”. “This person isn’t even employed here”. So I send them to the next stop and track down the sender as quickly as I can. People stop in and peruse what I have made and guess what, there’s nothing they like. So again, I halt the list of orders to make an all yellow and pink bouquet with tulips, but NO ROSES, daisies and greens. Wrap it up for them and send them on their way so the next customer can do somewhat of the same. The day moves on with my heart racing the whole time. My “dogs are barking” and my literal dogs are also barking. I haven’t gone to the bathroom since 6 a.m. An upset sender I took an order from just one hour before calls and is asking why it isn’t delivered yet. A bride for 2024 calls mid-day when we have 5 customers waiting in the shop (it never fails) asking if I can adjust her proposal since one maid dropped out and send it over quick. Lol I’m not trying to manifest these insane situations, it’s really the truth! I’ve lived it years past and i’ll live again next week. The fact is, that I WILL indeed live through it. Say a prayer for me, if you can.

Things this week haven’t been all bad. One thing I adore about this holiday is getting a tiny peak into the love and joy in your lives. The card messages are sweet, our ride or die clients are excited to see us. The recipients are always shocked and giddy and our drivers can see their physical joy when they realize the grand bouquet is for them. It’s the best part of all of it, hands down! We’ve made some homestead moves this week amongst the holiday chaos. Eric has started the first wave of snapdragon seeds in our basement nursery and his new venture of growing mushrooms is going well! Craspedia seeds will be planted today and more varieties closely to follow! Spring excitement is in the air here no matter how much snow is on the ground.

Eric and I have actually set aside time to enjoy our first Valentines as husband and wife. We have a date night out of town this Friday to see a fun string band and have dinner. It’s important to take all the advice we’ve been giving couples leading up to this holiday and appreciate each other. We definitely do! Married life has been absolutely awesome. It is pretty insane to me that we will have 6 months of marriage in the books soon. We actually have an official honeymoon coming up in the end of February. After Vday and my figure skating season wraps up with a bow, we will hop a flight to Puerto Rico. You bet we have plans to explore the rainforest! Our stay is a tiny cabin in the mountains outside of San Juan. Eric wants to try surfing and I’ve also heard hints from him for zip lining and waterfall swims. Honestly just being away together is all that’s on my list so I’m along for the adventure!

So with 5 days left until Valentines Day, drop the hints to the guys that Green Bee is the place to go! I’ll be panic breathing and nail biting until we can total everything up and maybe have a cocktail after 8 p.m on Tuesday. Send us your well wishes and happiest energy! We sure love and appreciate you all!

XOXO

Our vows

Eric asked me to be his wife on June 10th. Hours after picking up my finished, one of a kind ring, he couldn’t keep it to himself. After garden chores, we were enjoying the early summer evening in the backyard. The dogs played around us and the ducks went about their foraging and peeping in the garden. We watched the sun just barely start to touch the trees on its way to a vibrant sunset. Chit chatting details and ideas for the next day which was to be our first big flower field planting on our homestead. With that symbolism in mind and his own excited impatience, he got down on one knee. He caught me off guard, hair in a messy clip and crocks on my feet. There was laughter, there was tears. Easiest yes of my life.

Neither of us wanting to wait much longer to be married, we set a date for the coming September. It came together as easily for me as breathing in and out. The day of our dreams. Where to get married? Home. So obvious. With hopes of having a very intimate day, we planned a guest list of immediate family and closest friends. First order of business was ordering sweet, simple green invitations accompanied each by a cute Polaroid of Eric and I in the flower field. The table settings? Years of hoarding glass and I had us covered there! Tables and chairs? What connections don’t I have in the wedding world by this time? It was covered! The food? With our passion for home grown sustainable food, our dinner was the aspect of the day we had the most fun with! A family full of talented gardeners and cooks and we had a plan of action! With a tent, a homemade bar and a few Edison bulb strands, we had ourselves the perfect party!

Friday September 9th crept up on us and our excitement grew! The evening before, some of our friends started to arrive from far and wide. We served our favorite sandwich shop subs, chatted around the garden and the fire. Polaroid photo flashes and glasses clinking. Everyone understood their roles and most importantly what this day would be about! Not just Eric and I but all of us. Our friendships and our family. Life. The twists and the turns that lead you where you need to be! We were ready to celebrate.

Early morning on our vow day, Eric and his great friends got a suckling pig roasting on a spit in the yard. We put coffee on and family started to arrive. Tables were placed, then the chairs. Lights were strung. Kate steamed my gowns up the the bedroom and sweet gifts were exchanged. A country block away food prep was rocking at my Mom’s. Tia took the lead with Wendy and Lisa on the food dream team. With fresh veggies, herbs and sauces from our gardens they went to work! Pesto pasta salad with tomatoes, cabbage slaw, cheesy potato bake, breads, candied peppers, bruschetta, watermelon, salsas you name it! Last minute projects were completed like Mark putting together a stone fire ring and Matt and Josh installing the door to my greenhouse. The whole farm was truly buzzing!

The guys prepped the spot for our white oak tree which would be planted during our vows. Our friends set up the music, Dane stocked the bar. Lindsey and Marissa wrapped the floral bouquets in ribbon, placed beautiful vases along the tables. Very quickly, morning turned into afternoon and I had to tuck myself away in our bedroom to get ready. Yes I was getting ready but mostly, I was getting to work on a very special floral project I had planned as a surprise. Paige helped me with that and with my elegant natural makeup look. A sweet local hair artists arrived and put my beautiful blonde locks into a timeless WOW French twist. The locally made cheesecakes arrived. The pig came off the spit and Eric’s friends went to work again to get it pulled. Chickens went on the smoker. I stepped into my gathering gown while laughter rang up from the backyard. Family heirloom earrings in each ear and a beautiful pearl collar to match secured around my neck. A spritz of my perfume. Grandmother’s hanky in my hand. It was almost time!

Our photographer friend arrived and tucked herself away in a corner of our bedroom when at 4:00, Eric entered to get me. Our first look. The hanky came in handy. He wore a sleek green vest with dress clothes and has never looked so handsome. A boutonnière on his chest of our home grown florals to match my bouquet. He led me down the stairs and out to the orchard where we shared our vows from the heart and a perfect moment alone.

Guests continued to arrive or return to our home, all fancied up and dressed in greens. The cocktails started flowing and we joined right into the fun, greeting all of the people we hold most dear. Eric poured a whiskey. I went “to work” pinning on boutonnières, tying on flower crowns. Every special guest got a little floral something, of course. Sweet violin notes flowed through the garden rows, a tune from The Lord of the Rings. I couldn’t stop smiling.

The splendor was a bit overwhelming and I’ll hold it in my heart until the end of my days. Our guests explored the garden, admired my mismatch chalice collection. Lots of hugs! Eventually folks settled in to whatever seat they wanted.

Almost 6:00 and our families emerged from the kitchen like a wave with beautiful white ceramic dishes filled to the top with the best food I’ve ever had. Curiosity and awe! Our guests were ready to eat so with a sweet little welcome speech, we set them loose. Every dish was phenomenal! We are still in awe of how everyone came together and offered their very best for this day! Thank you!

With full happy bellies, Eric invited our guests to grab their gold chairs and move them into the center of the garden. I slipped inside with Rose and Paige to change into my surprise gown. An elegant cream mermaid with a bodice of breathtaking fresh florals. I’ve never felt more radiant. The girls snuck me around the front garden gate and we tip toed in behind the greenhouse. I peaked out through the glass windows and my heart pounded. I saw our closest friends smiling, family laughing. Bandit chasing my nephew down the cosmos row. Eric waiting. We giggled.

“The Luckiest” by Ben Folds began with smooth piano notes and we took the first few steps out from behind the greenhouse. Arm in arm with my baby sisters we walked towards the heart of the garden where everyone was gathered.

Tia guided our sweet vow ceremony including personal stories and nerdy quotes. Rose stood and read aloud some beautiful Billy Joel lyrics. Eric and I held hands. In awe of each other and how far we’ve come. We stated our most sincere intentions. Eric’s dad spoke from the heart and his friend, Trevor spoke to Eric’s character. My dad said a little something and Frani spoke on our friendship and life. Every word meant the world to us.

Our Moms helped us plant our tree to an Elton John song called “Love Builds a Garden”. The tree sits beside the gate from our flower field to the backyard where we hope it will grow strong for many years to come.

Our intimate crowd said “we do” to supporting our union. We exchanged our rings with perfect words and happy tears. Tia made the coolest reverend! Our closest friends stood around us. Family beside us.

We promised forever. We said “I do”.

Tia announced us as Mr. and Mrs. Cychosz and the joy erupted! The music picked up! Hugs and kisses all around. The dancing began.

Dane poured drinks, Cole popped champagne. The music played and the kids danced! The cheesecakes came out and the yummiest homemade toppings to go along with them. Everyone loved the desserts and the day. Punk rock played on! Eric and I invited our guests to join us in a first dance. “Can’t help falling in love” -Haley Reinhardt. I saw nothing but Eric. Every moment somehow better than the last. It was the most joyful day of our entire lives.

The string lights burned well into the night. After a bit of dancing, we simply enjoyed our small gathering of dear friends. I roamed around with my Polaroid and snapped photos I’ll treasure forever. Folks wrote sweet and funny messages in our green book. Our dogs were tuckered out and napped right in the middle of the party. The little kiddos weren’t far behind. Our friends made a circle of chairs and we began sharing good stories and playing games. I sat on my husband’s lap and gave him a smooch. Most of that day is a joyful blur now but this moment I remember. It was perfect. I looked around and noted how in love with Eric and my life I am. How I wouldn’t change a thing. I reflect on our day with bliss, and true love.

We close this entry with nothing but gratitude. To those who were here with us, we thank you! To those who wished us well, thank you. If you helped with the food, got ordained just for us, brought a drink, shared from your garden, sent a gift, sent us love we will forever be grateful. Our vow to you all is to take the love and commitment we felt on this day and carry it with us throughout our marriage. May it be a long, beautiful, happily ever after.

Growth

The first of the autumn leaves are floating down and the frost has started to bite our beautiful garden. In just a weeks time we went from hosting our very first “U-Pick” evening to pulling full length rows out prepping for winter. I have to extend my happy gratitude to those that came out and tried out our “U-Pick”. On Sept 21st we hosted guests who came from far and wide to enjoy a walk through our garden. We put out fancy snacks and tea, blankets for folks to hang out on. Everyone communicated to us that they truly enjoyed cutting their own bouquets and we surely felt the same watching all the fun. It was such a joy filled event! This created so much excitement for the year to come for both us and our customers!

And why are we so excited for the next growing season? Well, the 2 acre country farmhouse investment we made sure has a lot to do with that! Yes folks, we found our homestead!

Eric and I are so happy to share that we will be going into business together full time for Green Bee starting in October. We have enormous plans for our little slice of the earth starting with a much bigger cutting garden that will be open to YOU!
Not only will we “grow” our flower farm operation to source the hive, we will also have our garden open for “U-Pick” starting mid summer 2022!
The hive itself is relocating to our farm as well. Our home has a beautiful all season room that will work as a design space for now. It’ll be small but that’s not anything we haven’t worked with before -hehe.
It is beyond bittersweet to be finishing up my time at the depot in downtown Medford. I’ll miss my little ticket booth dearly. Memories and friendships made here will last me a lifetime. I’m so grateful for every second of these beginning 3 years of business!
Our hope is to build a workshop out of recycled materials on our acreage that can be a groovy and functional design studio. It will be a retail space showcasing fresh dried and pressed floral products and decor. It will be a classroom. It will be a gathering space for events. It will be anything and everything we’ve dreamed of.

Our agenda for the fall season is not a restful one. There are fences to mend and move. We have raised beds to build and a large no till garden to prep. There’s bulbs to go in the ground and shrubs to trim. Our sweet old farmhouse is cute as a button but comes with a fair amount of maintenance. There’s walls and trim to paint and the lights have been flickering? Oh, and don’t get me started on the kitchen backsplash!
Some of the acreage had been a horse pasture and this is the space we will convert into our cutting garden. Our hope is for a non traditional garden flow that feels more like a whimsical walking path. We will be hard at work designing this over the winter!
Up front in the pasture sits a horse stable that is currently full of $h!t (literally) and covered with old tin. Come spring, I want that baby cleaned up and surrounded by tulip beds! Our hope is to pull off the old tin and add some extra framing. We will collect old windows and secure them all around the old stable with recycled doors for the entrance. This will act as our self serve checkout where you can pay your fee, borrow a snippers, pick out your vase and then head out into the garden.
Picture clusters and borders of colored blooms, vine covered arbors, a big sunflower patch in the back…. The sky is our limit.
I’m giddy at all the possibilities.

What does this move mean for you going forward?
I will make fresh florals just like I do now YEAR ROUND! Summer, of course, will have a lot going on out here! During the winter months we will have unique garden products such as the stunning pressed frames. We have trusted fresh flower wholesalers for the months we are unable to grow our own. Weddings, birthdays, promotion, it’s Tuesday and I love you!!! Any time you need fresh flowers, you know we got your back! Deliveries in the Medford area and now the Rib Lake community too. Large events all over the mid west. As always, we offer unique and personal sympathy designs any time you are in need. For coming holidays, we will set up pop up shops in locations TBD. We will see you at area farmers markets as well!
Photography sessions will be a unique thing we offer during peak blooming seasons! I absolutely must thank Carlye Baker for coming out during our U-Pick evening and capturing these phenomenal moments for us. Thank you Mariah Higgins also, for trying out your vintage chairs in the garden. Adorable!

Our wish going forward is that you’ll continue to follow the Green Bee journey. What a ride it’s been so far! I can only imagine the wonderful moments in store. We truly do hope to see you out at the Green Bee Garden next summer, if not sooner ;)

Wedding season

It’s rare that I agree to do just a bridal bouquet for a wedding. Especially one with such a detailed flower list! (Hehe) The design plan had made an impression on me and I couldn’t be parted with the bridal bouquet. I was so thankful Maria chose me to deisgn this for her. I’m also thankful MH Photography came to my shop on short notice for this bouquet construction! The beautiful set of photographs were first seen just days ago in the July Issue of a Midwest Florist magazine.
“Wisconsin Upper Michigan Floral Association”, thank you for thinking of me as your featured designer/ shop in the July issue! I had such a rush writing that article and sharing the Green Bee story! Thank you also for the invitation to compete at the state fair this summer. I did hold first place title from 2020, which is still so exciting thinking back to it. Awesome opportunity then and a great one they offered now to compete at a higher level. Unfortunately I am booked with a very special wedding and have to decline this time. I appreciate being connected to other florist friends through this awesome organization.

It’s no secret I get a little insane in the middle of summer and it’s not from the heat. Weddings this time of year are stacked one after the other. One, two, sometimes three in a weekend. There’s plenty of excitement along with added opportunities to learn! It’s a rollercoaster ride from Monday to weeks end. Post covid year is the strangest floral blowout ever. Weird supply issues and farm level and growing issues overseas; “Will what I ordered months ago arrive? Will I open the rose box to find damage? Will the white anemones come in white or will they be pink for some reason? SURPRISE!!! They’re actually purple. “Will that not work for your all white wedding?” Siiiggghhh

Things haven’t been all bad, fortunately! I have connected with local growers who have swooped in during these times of import floral drama and saved the day. Not to mention filling my cooler for day to day orders! You’ve saved me, many times! This is just one more reason to move as completely locally grown as possible. I’ve gotten to set up at venues that are outstanding and new to me. Worked with other great vendors and made new friends. Jadyn has gotten more hands on event training and Lindsey pops in and works some incredible artistry!!!! Eric is doing more and more behind the scenes to help support the business and grow. He has a few years of experience in the word of logistics which is so completely not my thing. My Dad has been a great source of support as well. He’s outstanding in the tech world. He is, after all, a software guy! I’m enjoying the connections we are forming within the Bee Team and our community.

Happiest Wishes to Ann & Matt

06.19.21

BluebirdPhotography

Wedding Bells Are Ringing;

July 17th

Erin & Jon, Andi & Dylan

July 31st

Maggie & Jack, Makenzie & Ruben

Hannah & Justin

Our Hearts are Joyful for April & Caleb

06.05.21

AlySarenePhotography

Blessed&BeautifulPhotography

Blooms are just starting to really pop up out at the garden plot. This garden has truly challenged us. The late frost after a month of warmth, then there was the heat and the continued lack of rain. Chickens aren’t my garden’s friends. Neither are rabbits, deer, gophers and especially not our two romping doggies.

We work in the early mornings and evenings when we can. Though some of our garden visits have been frustrating, we have learned so much. Basically I’ve learned I don’t want chickens. (Haha…but seriously, get out of here ya mothercluckers!)

Farmers markets have been such a treat to be a part of. Love the folks that I talk to and how proud I feel offering locally grown stems.

Eric and I are so hopeful for the perfect property to expand the flower farm. The dream is a homestead where we can sustain ourselves almost completely from the land there. Our home. We will wait with excitement to see what life offers to us! As always, I continue to feel grateful every single day.

To be here. To be happy. To be alive!
I hope you do the same.

Until next time, Buzzzz 🐝

Seed Season

Heading into year 2 of starting seeds and planting a flower field. Growing was not really in the business plan until covid hit in 2020. Over half the wedding business we had booked fell through. Devastating blow to Green Bee to lose the main focus and income for the summer. Panic set in but only temporarily because we quickly decided to switch gears and start seeds. Why not take these empty Saturdays and be at the local farmers market? A Green Bee grown cut flower garden sounded like a pretty cool avenue to explore. Let me tell you, folks, the transformation I went through learning to grow a beautiful bloom from a tiny seed; extraordinary!
We started our first wave of seeds back in March and have been babying them each day since. Some varieties have been up-potted, some need to be still. Some are just peaking through the soil, others have developed their unique characteristics. Each day we water and move fans, adjust the lights and heat mats, a little of this a little of that.
This week we will start to give our plant babes some real outdoor exposure. An hour or two a day for a while so they aren’t shocked when planting time arrives.
To get the plot ready, I was out pulling the dried plants of last year and removed stakes and netting. (Things I should have done in the fall LOL) We still have to get out and do a few waves of rock picking. We plan to add in some good compost and lime to the soil as well.

Target dates for planting are set for May 22nd and 23rd. We will make lovely rows of our baby plugs as well as direct seed so many other beautiful varieties!

Some of the flower varieties I’ve been working on in the seed nursery are;

-cosmos-status-asters-scabiosa-gomphrena-craspedia-amaranthus-rhudbeckia-poppies-

Eric is all about the plants that will end up on the side of a venison steak this summer! He has planted tomato varieties, cauliflower, peppers, melons, strawberries, and more. It’s been a very connecting experience to plan and pursue this year’s garden together.

Outside of floral activities, I’ve been working diligently with some other lovely ladies of the Medford community on a dog park! Eric and I have two dogs. My little guy, Oscar. His boy, Bandit. We walk our good boys morning and evening which can be extremely therapeutic when work is getting stressful.

Bandy-boy loves being down in the basement while we take care of the plants. Oscar wants to lay anywhere you might walk in case he can distract enough to get some pets. Both the boys enjoy time out at the garden plot. Wide open spaces and lots of sniffs to sniff.
I love my home life and couldn’t be more thankful for the love and support that gets me through a crazy day at the hive.