The Flora Dispatch
behind-the-scene wedding secrets to houseplant how-tos
The May Edit: What’s Growing in the Hudson Valley
May is magic in the Hudson Valley. It’s the season of abundance—of color, fragrance, and finally getting your hands in the dirt without gloves. It’s also one of the most dynamic months for cut flowers. Blooms come fast and furious, each with its own fleeting window. Knowing what’s actually in season helps set the stage for arrangements that feel alive, fresh, and honest to the time of year.
Here’s what’s blooming—and what you can expect in your bouquets and Arrangements this month.
Beyond the Penny Trick: Honest Advice for Caring for Your Blooms
We get asked all the time: what's the secret to making flowers last? From pennies to bleach to mysterious powders, there are plenty of "hacks" out there—but what actually works?
The April Edit: What’s Growing in the Hudson Valley
April kicks off one of our favorite times of year—when local flowers start to appear in all their fresh, seasonal glory. Supporting local farmers and living in tune with the season means getting the absolute best of what nature has to offer, while helping build a stronger, more sustainable community.
So, what’s blooming right now?
Let Nature Set the Date: A Guide to Seasonal Wedding Flowers
Have you ever bitten into a mealy apple in March? It’s technically still an apple—but it’s disappointing. Or maybe you’ve rushed to the farmers market in April, hoping for strawberries, only to find they’re pale and watery, not quite ready. That’s the thing about nature: you can’t fake her timing. And when it comes to flowers, the same rules apply.
At Flora Good Times, we work seasonally—because that’s when flowers are at their most vibrant, fragrant, and alive. We think your wedding should be the same.
Early Spring in the Valley
March in the Hudson Valley is a weird in-between. We’re not deep winter anymore, but we’re not in bloom either. It’s mud, thaw, wind, and the first sharp hints of green.
This is the season of waiting—but also of prepping, planning, and watching closely.
What Wedding Flowers Really Cost in 2025—And What You Get at $5K, $10K, and $25K
Let’s talk wedding flower budgets. In 2025, the internet is still throwing weddings with $250,000 worth of florals at your feed like it’s normal. Spoiler: it’s not. At Flora Good Times, we’re here to keep it honest, beautiful, and real. Here's what a wedding floral budget of $5K, $10K, and $25K gets you—for a 100-person wedding in the Hudson Valley.
The Lazy Gardener’s Guide to Spring Planting
Let’s get something straight: you don’t need to be a full-time garden person to have a beautiful, blooming yard. You don’t need a spreadsheet. You don’t need to start seedlings under grow lights in January. You don’t need to overthink it.
Here’s how I approach ornamental gardening for the lazy gardener—aka, the gardener who wants cut flowers, color, and life without a ton of upkeep.
Tell us what you’re curious about.
Plants, florals, weddings—we love talking about it all.
Share your questions, story ideas, or what you’d love to see us cover next, and we may feature it in an upcoming post.
