June, in full bloom.

It's hard to believe we're already into July. The gardens seem to change overnight this time of year, and every week brings another surprise. One minute the sweet peas are climbing, the next they're filling buckets, and somehow the calendar keeps moving right along with them.

June felt like one of those months where a lot of little things quietly came together.

One of my favorite moments was finally settling on The Flower Guild logo. It feels so us—a garden glove holding a sweet pea. Simple, hardworking, and rooted in the beauty of growing. If you’re a farmer, you'll find it waiting for you in the Farmer Hub now if you'd like to use it on your own materials.

We also made a small change that I think will make a big difference. The wholesale shop is now open on Tuesdays as well, giving florist members a little more flexibility when they're planning their week. We're always learning as we go, and I'm grateful for everyone's feedback as we continue to build something that works well for both farmers and florists.

Our Guild family grew this month, too, which is always exciting. We welcomed Becca from River Bend Homestead to our community, along with two new florist members: Amy from The Cottages and Elegant Designs in Wellington. Every new farmer and florist strengthens the connections we're creating, and I can't wait to see what everyone grows together.

Kay's sweet peas also made their appearance this month, and if you've been waiting all year for them, you know exactly why that's worth celebrating.

Of course, June wasn't without a little excitement. That big storm had many of us watching the radar and holding our breath. Thankfully, Blute Farm came through without any major losses, and I know many of you were doing the same kind of weather watching from your own fields.

One of the best parts of this work is getting out to see what everyone else is building. I had the chance to visit the Rooted to Rise event campus and was delighted to find Becca there sharing her work. We conducted the first of many deep conversation we’re having with our farmers with Shelby from Supermoon Farm, and the story we’re going to tell is one you won’t want to miss. I can't wait to share more of her story and the wisdom she's gathered from working with the land.

And because flowers have a way of finding themselves in every part of life, I took some fresh lavender from the garden up to Put-in-Bay over the Fourth of July weekend and turned it into lavender cocktails and mocktails for family and friends. Sometimes flowers end up in a vase. Sometimes they end up in your glass. Head over to our instagram to get some inspiration.

As we head into July, the fields are really hitting their stride. The shop is filling with more variety every week, and I hope you'll keep checking in to see what's coming into season. Whether you're a florist planning weddings, stocking your shop, or simply someone cheering on local flower farming, thank you for being part of this community.

I hope you're finding a little time to slow down, enjoy these long evenings, and notice what's blooming around you.

See you in the Guild.

Sue