I wanted to share some recent photos from a lovely al fresco dinner we hosted on the evening of the eclipse. These were all taken by Kate Headley. I have always loved Kate's work and am still pinching myself that she came to my farm. My amazingly talented friend Arney Walker dreamed up a beautiful menu + tablescapes, made some delicious salads and orchestrated the afternoon and evening (Arney's nickname is "dream maker" -- and she is just that!). I am hopeful we will host a farm + flower - to - table dinner like this annually!

Where do I even start with the magic Arney and Kate created + captured? They looked at our farm through such different (rose colored) glasses. I see messes everywhere (trust me - there are lots of weeds and messes here!!) They made everything beautiful...

This has been an insanely intense year. Taking a day to enjoy all of the hard work and invite some of my best friends to join us around the table was such a highlight. Seeing the farm through other peoples eyes, and being reminded of the beauty here has really helped me focus on buckling down to finish out the fall strong...

Flower farming is HARD WORK -- Don't let Instagram fool you (and this is not meant as the complaint department) I've had poison ivy in some crazy places this season. I bought my very own weed whacker and its incredibly empowering to use it. I am learning (kicking and screaming) to drive the tractor. I suck at staking my plants (and MUST get better at it). I make lots of mistakes. I always have 2 laundry baskets of dirty clothes...

But it is beautiful, rewarding, exciting (stressful) and awesome. I am so glad I jumped in and didn't let my fear of failure stop me.

Thank you for following along, supporting our farm, being excited with me over the small successes and listening to me talk about all I am learning + growing. Thanks for laughing with me when I make fun of myself (coping mechanism!) Thank you for buying local flowers, supporting local farmers and the local economy, and enjoying the seasonality of the growing season - it sure is sweet.

Kate captured some of the heat lightning that mesmerized us during dinner...Magic I tell you!!!