May is a Month of Promise
After months of planning, seed starting, and anticipation, May is finally here—and with it comes a palpable shift in energy on the farm. The days are getting longer, the soil is warming up, and the fields are looking good. While spring comes a bit later to us here in Western Montana, there’s no mistaking the momentum that builds in May. This is the month where everything begins to move—literally and figuratively!
Getting The Plants Ready for the Great Outdoors
One of the most exciting (and slightly nerve-wracking) parts of May is transitioning the flower seedlings from their cozy greenhouse setups to the harsher, less predictable, climate of outside in the field. This month I will be beginning the process of hardening off cold-tolerant varieties, and first up is the delphinium and sweet peas! I will be slowly acclimating them to the outdoor conditions by moving them outside of the greenhouse each day and bringing them back inside at night. It’s a crucial step to ensure they can handle wind, sun, and temperature fluctuations without going into shock. The last thing I want is for them to die after the months of hard work and careful monitoring.
This time of year is all about watching the forecast closely and making micro-adjustments to the plans. Montana has a reputation for unpredictable weather—frosty mornings, surprise snow flurries, and sudden hot spells are all in the realm of possibility all through the month of May. But once the lows stay consistently above freezing, I’ll be able to start transplanting the hardened-off seedlings into the field!
I’m also beginning to direct sow seeds for some of the more robust, cold-loving flowers that thrive when planted straight into the soil outside. Ammi, dill, bells of Ireland, bachelor buttons, and orlaya are just a few of the varieties that will be sown into the ground this month. I’ll have to wait a bit longer to sow the sunflower seeds though. Sunflower seeds require the soil to be much warmer, so waiting until you’re sure the last frost has passed is key to growing tall strong sunflowers. If I’m lucky, it might just be warm enough by the end of this month!
Perennial Transplanting & Expanding Our Blooms
May is a key time for transplanting perennials, too. When I moved from Washington last fall I brought with me some of my favorite perennials that I couldn’t say goodbye to - yarrow, echinacea, feverfew, phlox, various herbs. I’ve been keeping them alive all winter and now it’s time for them to move into their new permanent home out in the field. Unlike the annuals, these beauties will come back year after year, and often stronger, rewarding our efforts with reliable blooms and low-maintenance beauty. My goal is to continue to increase the amount of perennials I’m growing each year. This will significantly decrease the amount of annuals I have to start each year and in turn, decrease the work load so I can focus my energy on other parts of the farm. This year I started trays of yarrow and feverfew and will be purchasing a few coneflower starts this month. Slowly but surely expanding the perennial garden!
First Wedding of the Season
And just as the farm comes alive, so does the design studio! This month marks my first wedding of the season AND my first wedding in Montana! Wedding work allows me to express my creative side and showcase the design skills and techniques I’ve picked up over the years. It’s a chance to further explore my personal style, experiment with new ideas, and challenge myself with each couple’s unique requests. For this wedding, I’ll be creating my first aisle meadow. I’ll be using water picks to hydrate each individual flower and stick them in the ground to create the illusion that they are growing from the ground. Stay tuned for pictures and videos of this installation coming to life!
Since this year is all about learning how to grow flowers and perfect the timing in this new, uniquely challenging climate, I’ll be supplementing my own blooms with seasonal flowers sourced from a trusted wholesaler. This allows me to continue supporting flower farmers throughout the Northwest while I build a better understanding of how to work with the rhythms of this zone. For this beautiful wedding, I’ll be working with a colorful palette of late spring and early summer flowers—including ranunculus, delphinium, sweet peas, stock, and allium. These blooms offer great texture and movement and will be thoughtfully arranged to reflect the couple’s vision and the natural beauty of the season. Wedding work in the Spring can be a bit of a balancing act of sourcing some elements from partner farms and wholesalers while the BB flowers begin to ramp up—but every arrangement still carries that personal, seasonal touch that I love.
If you or someone you know is getting married, reach out with any inquiries or complete the Wedding & Events Questionnaire. While this season is pretty full, I still have some availability in the Fall and in 2026!
Looking Ahead
May is a month of promise. The days are full and warm, the lists are long, and the sense of potential is everywhere! Whether I’m sowing seeds or designing bridal bouquets, there’s an undeniable excitement in the air. Everything I dreamed about during the long winter months is finally beginning to unfold, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
As always, thank you for following along on my journey. While things might get crazy at times, I love what I do and I’m so grateful that you’re here. Here's to a beautiful May, full of growth, blooms, and new beginnings!
Until next time,
Chase
