Fall Through Winter at Driftless Daughters: Quiet Work and Deep Roots
Mila standing proudly in our new greenhouse.
When the last bouquets of the season left the farm and the fields settled into fall, life at Driftless Daughters didn’t slow down so much as it shifted.
Fall and winter are often called the “off-season” in flower farming, but anyone who grows knows that some of the most important work happens when the fields are bare. This is the season of root work—the kind that doesn’t always show up on Instagram, but makes everything else possible for the blooms you enjoy in spring and summer.
Closing the Season, a Greenhouse, and 900 Tulips
As autumn arrived, we wrapped up the growing season by cleaning out beds, composting spent plants, and preparing the soil for rest. There’s a rhythm to that work that feels grounding—returning nutrients to the land, closing the loop, and trusting that rest is part of growth.
It’s also a time for reflection: what thrived, what challenged us, and what we want to carry forward. Each season teaches us something new, and fall is when those lessons really take root.
This fall and winter marked a big step forward for Driftless Daughters—we added a greenhouse. That one decision opened up an entirely new world of possibility, allowing us to extend our growing season here in the Driftless and better plan for early blooms.
Forever grateful for my husband and father-in-law and mother-in-law for their fierce support - both in helping us physically and being our biggest fans!
With the greenhouse came planning, building, learning, and a whole lot of excitement. We also planted 900 tulip bulbs, dreaming of early-season color and armfuls of spring blooms after a long Wisconsin winter.
Behind the scenes, we’ve been busy:
designing and building flower boxes
mapping out fields, bed by bed
creating detailed planting schedules
building flower availability calendars to better plan subscriptions, bouquets, and seasonal offerings
None of this happens by accident. It’s thoughtful, detailed work—often done late at night after work and sports practices, around the kitchen table, or squeezed into the small pockets of time that exist in a busy family’s life. Planning for flowers to bloom from May through September in Wisconsin is no small task, but it’s essential as we transition from a passion project to bringing consistent joy through flowers into your home.
The start of 900 tulips
Learning, Growing, and Preparing for Our First Season
This winter has also been a season of deep learning as we prepare for our first full growing season. We’ve started working through the Floret Online Workshop, soaking up knowledge on sustainable flower farming, succession planting, soil health, and building a farm that grows with intention and integrity.
We’re learning so much—and we’re excited to bring new flower varieties to you this summer. There are so many beautiful options ahead, and we can’t wait for the variety they’ll add to your bouquets.
All of This, While Living Real Life
And all of this has been happening in the middle of full, real life.
Driftless Daughters is grown alongside a full-time career, a dairy farm, three busy kids with packed sports and activity schedules, and the everyday logistics of family life. The farm lives in the margins—in early mornings, evenings, weekends, and stolen quiet moments.
It’s not always easy. It’s not always graceful. But it’s deeply meaningful.
There’s beauty in building something slowly. In choosing intention over urgency. In letting the farm grow in a way that supports our family, not competes with it. The learning our girls experience—building a business from the ground up, facing challenges, taking risks, and seeing the rewards—is truly priceless.
Looking Toward Spring
As winter begins to loosen its grip and the light slowly returns, we can feel the energy shifting. Seeds will soon be started in the greenhouse. Tulips will push through the soil. Plans on paper will begin to take shape in the field—and eventually, in your home.
We’re incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported Driftless Daughters—by purchasing flowers, sharing our story, cheering us on, or simply believing in what we’re building.
The fields may look quiet right now, but beneath the surface, so much is already growing.
May your days be slow, your hands full of flowers, and your heart light.
— Erin, Finnley & Mila
