Peep Peep Hooray, It's May!

Meet Erin Benzakein!

Are you familiar with the wonderful and amazing, Erin Benzakein at Floret Flower? Erin, one of the most well-known voices in the farmer-florist world, has helped shape how people think about growing and designing with seasonal flowers. She’s also a big advocate for using natural methods in her field and that’s where we come into play! Erin has a team of ducks from Metzer Farms that she lovingly refers to as the “slug patrol” and her “heavy lifters.” She has found that the ducks help her in keeping slugs, snails, and earwigs under control, so her flowers can bloom perfectly. She also adds that it's a plus that the ducks are hysterical and bring fun energy to the farm. We are so honored to be her hatchery of choice for all of her waterfowl needs!

Interestingly, Erin originally started with a mix of Muscovies, Cayugas, and Runners to see what she found to be “the very best sluggers” and this season she’s gone all-in on Runners, saying they did an especially great job. We’re not surprised, runners are known to be excellent foragers and it’s great to see that reflected in her success.

Beyond her flower fields and slug patrol, “Erin has been featured widely in the press and received prestigious awards, including the Martha Stewart American Made award for Floral & Event Design and Better Homes and Gardens’ blogger award. She is a New York Times bestselling author of three celebrated books and the executive producer of Growing Floret, an Emmy-nominated documentary television series about Erin and her husband Chris, the Floret team, and the farm, which debuted on the Magnolia Network in 2021.

A researcher and educator at heart, she has helped growers and designers from more than 50 countries build thriving flower-based businesses and gardens through Floret’s Flower Farming Workshop and, most recently, Floret’s Flower Arranging Workshop. Erin’s passion is cultivating beauty in the world and she is now devoted to breeding new cut flower varieties that will help give local growers an advantage in the marketplace." -Read more at www.floretflowers.com

Watch this awesome video to meet the Floret Flower Farm ducks! ---> Meet the Floret Ducks

This month, we were touched by the incredible story of a 23-year-old Mallard named Peter shared by a member of our wonderful community. This resilient duck has outlived four of his siblings and even one of his owners. Despite suffering a stroke and now being completely blind, he continues to thrive with gentle care and a determined spirit. His story is a powerful reminder of the bond between people and their ducks, and just how strong, loyal, and inspiring these birds can be. We’re honored to be part of a community that celebrates and cares for animals like him!