Slow flowers: New Jersey cut flower growers
Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 04:49AM 
A field of lilacs from "The 50 Mile Bouquet." Photo by David E. Perry Books about flowers are a source of inspiration for both florists and do-it-yourself floral arrangers.
In her two books “The 50-Mile Bouquet” and “Slow Flowers,” garden and design writer Debra Prinzing goes beyond the beauty to explore the environmental and social impacts of floristry.
Credited with helping to spearhead the floral equivalent to the slow-food movement, Prinzing advocates bouquets of seasonal flowers grown close to home. Her earlier book “Flower Confidential” examines the worldwide floral industry, and while researching it, she came across many independent flower growers.
She then found and interviewed the people behind numerous small American flower farms for “The 50-mile Bouquet.” Her latest book, “Slow Flowers,” was written after she challenged herself to use only flowers from her own garden and sources near her home.
Those experiments produced beautiful arrangements and provided lush images for “Slow Flowers.” Her efforts to design a bouquet a week resulted in 52 seasonal arrangements (even through winter), and are chronicled with her photographs at DebraPrinzing.com. Both of Prinzing’s more recent small-scale books are filled with beautiful images that will be appreciated by those seeking design inspiration.
Here is Prinzing’s list of New Jersey cut flower growers. Where given, descriptions were provided by the flower growers or designer:
Jeannette Polhamus - Jeannette's Bloomers
143 High Street
Leesburg, NJ 08327
(856) 785-1285
jsp55ish@comcast.net.
Jeannette's Bloomers is a farm stand/farm market on a farm, all produce is sustainably grown. Jeannette's Bloomers provides professional quality arrangements and bouquets for all occasions, utilizing as locally grown flowers as much as possible. Specializing in unique flowers typically not found at the florist or grocery store. Many flowers are grown in a sustainable manner, utilizing organic practices. Locally grown specialty cut flowers, limited bedding plants, hanging baskets. Christmas greenery - wreaths, swags, garland, and table centerpieces cut from locally grown evergreens available. Also, crafts, artistic products, and gifts.
Mary Ellen Muth - Muth Farm Flowers
Williamstown
856-629-2462
muthff@yahoo.com
MuthFarmFlowers.com
Muth Farm Flowers provides sustainably grown, fresh cut garden flowers individuals or events. They grow flowers and sell bouquets at area farmers markets and provide area restaurants and businesses with artful arrangements.
Bethany Bernard - The Flower Peddler
Bridgeton
609-381-3568
TheFlowerPeddler.net
C. English - Harrison Brook Farm
Liberty Corner
(908) 647-6711
HarrisonBrookFarm.com
Kelly Lehman - Once Upon a Garden
Cranberry
917-576-2894
kellylehman1@comcast.net
Tom Parker - Parkerhouse Nursery
Mays Landing
609-442-3182
ParkerhouseNursery.com
Parkerhouse Nursery grows more than 100 annuals, perennials and flowering shrubs to provide beautiful, exciting and original arranged bouquets. The repertoire includes both the familiar and the fragrant, old-fashioned, romantic standards that are no longer in the commercial florist trade because they do not ship well. Although the flower field is not open to the public, the nursery sells flowers at the Millville Farmers' Market. A subscription service is offered with regular deliveries of arranged bouquets.
Kathleen Fliegauf - Stone Row Acres
Oxford
908-453-4047
kathyfliegauf@yahoo.com
Floral designers
Yolanda Silverio - Fleur de Gabriel
973-981-0159
FleurdeGabriel.com
Coventry Crossing Florist
P.O. Box 595
Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
261- 96th Street, Suite 116
Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
(609) 231-5407 or (609) 368-4949
coventrycrossing@me.com
The “People’s Choice” Award Winner for commercial florist in Avalon and Stone Harbor, they specialize in gorgeous eco-friendly seaside weddings, and have designed wedding flowers for the Jersey Shore, Cape May County, Atlantic City and Philadelphia areas for more than 32 years.
Heaven Scent Floral Design
732.659.0625
HeavenScentFloralDesign.com
Heaven Scent Floral Design Studio is an eco-friendly floral design studio specializing in weddings and special events.