Heatwaves, Hosepipes & Hopeful Blooms – July at the Flower Farm
July has swept in with blazing sunshine, thirsty soil, and the kind of relentless heat that makes even the toughest flowers wilt—and to be honest, we’ve felt a bit wilted too!
It’s been one of the driest starts to July we’ve had since starting Evie & Flo, and this month has been all about adapting: watering smarter, harvesting earlier, and protecting every petal from the heat.
So we thought we’d give you a little behind-the-scenes peek into what summer looks like here on our little patch of flower-growing heaven in Great Cornard.
The Challenge: Hot Days, Dry Soil & Droopy Stems
You’d think that flowers love sunshine—and they do, in moderation. But this kind of heat, without a drop of rain in sight, is tough on everyone.
We’ve had to:
Water twice a day, sometimes more, especially in the raised beds and greenhouse
Adjust harvest times to early morning and late evening when it’s cooler
Bring freshly picked bouquets straight inside to condition in cool water
Keep stand flowers indoors on hot days to stop them collapsing before you’ve even had your morning coffee
We’ve even lost a few crops early—our sweet peas, for example, started to crisp up in the heat far earlier than expected. It’s one of those moments where you take a breath, snip what you can, and say thank you for the beauty they did give.
What’s Blooming Right Now
Despite the heat, there’s still a parade of colour happening on the farm. Some flowers are showing us just how resilient they are—and we’re in awe of them.
Here’s what’s shining this July:
Sunflowers – tall, bright and blooming! The heat has sped them up, and they’re soaking up the sunshine.
Strawflower & Statice – loving the dry weather and holding their shape beautifully.
Snapdragons – they’re surprisingly tough and still giving us gorgeous stems.
Scabiosa, Ammi & Cornflowers – the soft, romantic touches in our summer bouquets.
Calendula & Marigold – blazing orange and gold, thriving in the sun.
A few surprise stars – like our late-flowering anemones and early zinnias that are starting to open up earlier than expected.
We’re picking carefully, conditioning thoroughly, and still managing to make up dreamy bunches full of scent, colour, and texture—every bouquet tells its own little summer story.
Behind the Scenes: Real Life on the Farm
It’s been sweaty, dusty, and chaotic—but we wouldn’t change it.
Between hosepipe mishaps, sunburned shoulders, and Evie trying to “help” by watering her shoes, July has had its fair share of comedy.
Life on the Farm: A Little Chaos, A Lot of Heart
Running a micro flower farm during a heatwave is no small task, especially when juggling everything else—like a toddler, a full-time job, and a body that doesn’t always cooperate.
There have been:
Hosepipe tangles and surprise waterings (me, not the plants)
Midday scrambles to dash bouquets inside as temperatures soar
Very early mornings (coffee in hand!) to cut blooms before the heat hits
A lot of listening to the land—watching for signs of stress in the plants and adapting day by day
And yet… there’s still such joy in it. When you all tag me in your pictures of flowers in pride of place it makes the tired arms and dusty knees worth it.
At the Stand or Market – What to Expect
As the weather affects what we can pick and when, we’ve had to make a few changes at the flower stand:
Fridays and Sundays are now pre-order only – (Sundays may still have some blooms from Saturdays.) This helps us pick only what we need and reduce waste.
Bouquets are kept indoors on hot days – If you don’t see flowers, don’t worry! Just knock or message—we’ll bring them out for you.
Earlier pick-ups are always welcome – Just let us know what suits.
Our flowers are delicate and seasonal, so we always want to make sure they’re at their absolute best when you get them. We’re never about mass production—we’re about meaningful, magical flowers, grown slowly and lovingly.
Stay in the Loop – And Win a Bouquet!
If you haven’t already, we’d love you to sign up to our monthly newsletter. We share:
What’s in bloom
Exclusive early access to bouquet pre-orders
Behind-the-scenes farm updates
And one lucky subscriber wins a free bouquet each month!
Looking Ahead – What’s Next?
Coming soon to a bouquet near you:
Zinnias – in all the colours of a hot summer sunset
Rudbeckia & Dahlias – big, bold and beautiful
Celosia, Verbena, Cosmos – textures, trails and frills galore
We’re also prepping special blooms for three lovely local weddings, and fingers crossed, the weather plays ball!
💛 Thank You
We’re endlessly grateful for every order, every kind message, and every bouquet photo you tag us in. It means the world. Running this little flower farm through all seasons isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.
So if you see us looking a bit sunburnt and covered in compost at the stand or market… just know we’re smiling behind the sweat 😅
With love and sun cream,
Caroline x
Evie & Flo – The Sudbury Flower Farm