A Path Unforeseen
Idlewild Flower Farm Visit
Anne Hartshorn, head grower and farmer of Idlewild Flower Farm
For many, farming is a family trade that is passed down through generations, partially because land cost seems to become more valuable with each generation, but also because farming is marked by hard physical labor, a life of working in the sun, and a communal sort of relationship with the earth that is not always appreciated by the masses. For others, however, farming is an inevitable calling that creeps into their lives. They are called out of the offices, the cities, and the crowds… slowly getting pulled into the love of the land, of hard physical labor, and unpredictable seasons. Anne Hartshorn of Idlewild Flower Farm lands in the latter category, finding an unlikely path to starting her cozy 5 acre farm with the Flatirons and Longs Peak gracing the background, and making beautiful creations from years of expertise in designing gardens.
Anne grew up as a tried and true New York gal bopping to her own beat in Brooklyn. Her father spent his working years in a museum and gave her a passion for creativity at a young age. But when it came to the outdoors, the concrete jungle she grew up in didn’t exactly lend itself well to an appreciation of dirt, roots, and bugs… in fact, Anne has vivid memories from childhood of going on field trips to Prospect Park, a little scared and unnerved by the amount of nature surrounding her. The bustling sounds of the city were her familiar tunes and the fast-paced life of New York was the rhythm she knew best.
It wasn’t until Anne graduated from college that she decided to move West and enjoy some warmer weather and of course (like a good Coloradoan transplant), the excellent skiing this state has to offer! Upon landing in Colorado, Anne knew that she had a love for physical work, so she decided to go back to school to become a massage therapist where she could work with her hands daily. Quickly she discovered this career was not for her and ultimately burnt out from the profession. Still with a desire to work hard but with a more refined understanding of her gifts, she found a job from a local garden designer that put her faith in Anne’s ability to muster physical energy regardless of her meager gardening expertise at the time. Anne quickly found a passion for the work and soaked up as much as she could, eventually starting her own garden design business. For over seventeen years she ran a thriving business in Boulder that employed over 20 people!
After having honed her mastery of gardening and garden design for two decades, she once again felt the pangs of burnout and the whisperings of needing to master another skill. For Anne, the next (big, audacious) thing to work on was farming the flowers themselves. It would help her see the big picture - from seed to flower, planning and planting. Six years ago, Anne and her family purchased what is now Idlewild Farm to start the new flower farming adventure. The theme of metamorphosis that ultimately led to Anne’s current farming career is in itself a uniquely human characteristic. To adapt, to alter, to grow, and to evolve is the current in which all the farmers at the market have to live by. In order to succeed in an ever changing world, our farmers continually learn to adjust their practices and lean into the next stage of betterment.
I’ve always imagined flower farming to be absolutely dreamy… I love the image of rows and rows of flowers plotted out front, honeybees bouncing from bloom to bloom, and bouquets designed for the market. As Anne discussed the intricate dynamics of flower farming, I found myself having to reimagine the work (often the case when you peek behind the curtains). While it certainly is dreamy, and creative, and beautiful, being a flower farmer that distributes to both wholesale flower collectives as well as selling at the market, she needs to take into account color, productivity, and demand. Her entire farm is planned on a spreadsheet that is derived from the previous year’s successes and failures, florist requests, and market demand. The work of flower farming can be heavily math oriented in addition to just creative. And of course, farming in any form can be an immense amount of work just to maintain day-in and day-out, not to mention unpredictable weather - the classic nemesis of front range farmers.
Like many things in life, growth is essential. When visiting Anne, a fast paced New Yorker at heart who developed a love of the slower, more methodical work of flower growing, we got to experience first hand the beauty that a life-pivot and rededication can provide. From gardening to farming, Anne provides our community with aromatherapeutic powers, freshness, and beauty from fresh cut flowers weekly at the market. When you snag a bouquet from the Idlewild Flower Farm tent, recall the transformative journey that got her to where she is, the hours of learning to master a new discipline, and the laborious task of growing that goes into each of her mixed flower bouquets!