(c) Heather Saunders
You know you’ve got it bad when every vacation involves a visit to a flower farm, right?
My husband Bruce Brooks, a track fan in his happy place
That’s exactly how I rationalized our 4-day trip to travel from Seattle to Eugene, Oregon, in order to take in the U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials at University of Oregon’s Hayward Field last weekend. I’m married to a track fanatic. The track fanatic is married to a flower fanatic. See how that works?
Luckily, my husband Bruce Brooks is super indulgent of my passions and I like to think I’m relatively indulgent of his. Sitting on a thin piece of foam on wood bleachers for three days is a small price to pay in order to experience the thrill of watching world-class athletes compete and break speed and distance/height records. It really was fun.
But so were the “side trips,” and that’s the purpose of today’s installation of “Slow Flowers Road Trip.”
Crowley House on Crowley Road…a late 19th century farmhouse where Beth and Jason are raising children and flowers.
Beth and Jason Syphers
Last Thursday, while Bruce worked in his company’s Portland office, I headed to Rickreall, Oregon, a hamlet west of Salem, the state capitol.
I’ve been wanting to see Crowley House Flower Farm & Studio where Beth and Jason Syphers are creating a very special family business.
The Syphers are active in the emerging PNW Cut Flower Growers group and I’m so happy they are part of Slowflowers.com.
I’m not going to share all their background, because I recorded a Slow Flowers Podcast interview with Beth (including a cameo appearance by Jason), which you’ll hear later this summer.
But I will explain that they live, farm and work at a magical place in the country, at the heart of which is a late 19th century farmhouse.
Enjoy a few fun photos here with more to come!
As it was Thursday, I followed Beth over to the McMinnville Farmers’ Market, about 10 miles away.
Crowley House Flowers at the downtown McMinnville Farmers Market
Beth and I inside her Market Stall.
That’s where she sells flowers to the public each week. Beth doesn’t bring straight bunches to the Market; she’s known for her inventive and unique bouquets that range in price from $4 for a sweet pea posy to $15 for a larger bouquet. Great Prices! I hope those McMinnvillites realize how special these locally-grown flowers really are.
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