Growing Smiles

We were looking through old articles, and wanted to highlight a few as we prepare for the 2023 season! Here is an excerpt from 2012:

"Each year I look forward to and dread writing this cover letter for our newsletter. This year is no different. The topic has been on my mind for a long time now but as always the thoughts don’t always just flow out of my mind and onto the paper.

Smiles are what have been in my thoughts. 

I’m not talking about those big forced grins you need to muster up like for a picture or when you’re at a reunion trying to remember people’s names who you haven’t seen since the last time. I’m talking about the smiles that appear without even having to give any thought what you are doing. Too often we think we will find our happiness in a big trip, having great success, a new car or a new house. These things are all well and good but the joy we find in them alone is quickly fleeting.

True joy in life comes from being content. 

That’s a big word that as a human I need to be continually reminded of. When we are content we can find joy in the simple things in life like a child’s smile, a friendly look from a stranger, a sunrise or sunset, the birds singing, and yes one of my favorites flowers. Contentment plus these gifts bring joy in our lives which ultimately makes us smile. That’s why I like to think I don’t just grow flowers, but smiles. I know the plants we grow aren’t actually smiles but I like to think that each one we grow will be the reason someone does smile. 

I also know that our flowers are not in themselves true happiness but I believe that in their simplicity they remind us that it really is the simple things in life that bring us the most joy."

-Keith Scheiderer, 2012