The Blog
Business, Design, Farming, and Gratitude
Welcome to our blog! Here you’ll find the writings of Sharon, the founder of Sweet Piedmont Academy and the owner of Sweet Piedmont Flower Farm. We cover crucial business topics like revenue streams, sales, marketing, and product development. We discuss the art of design through our Bouquet Blueprint™ framework and share what color palettes (and varieties within) make buying local flowers absolutely irresistible. And of course, interlaced through it all is the work and processes of flower farming. If you can't tell, we are incredible grateful to be able to do the work we do, to have captured knowledge from a decade of farming, and to share it with all of you right here on the blog. Thank you for reading and sharing!
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Color Commentary: The “Pumpkin Spice” Sweet Piedmont Signature Floral Color Palette
Ever wondered how a simple pumpkin can inspire a whole floral color palette? In this blog, I dive into the warm, comforting hues of the Pumpkin Spice palette—a celebration of everything from creamy peach to burnt ochre. I also share my story of trying to create a full Martha Stewart-style Thanksgiving from scratch (spoiler: I do not recommend). Join me as we explore the beauty, psychology, and photographic tips for this cozy autumn palette. Perfect for anyone who loves the warmth of fall without the three days of cooking prep!
Color Commentary: The “Birthday Cake” Sweet Piedmont Signature Floral Color Palette
Inspired by the simple joys of childhood birthday cakes, the Birthday Cake floral palette brings together bright pinks, vibrant oranges, and creamy whites—just like those frosting flowers we all loved as kids. This blog explores how these colors evoke warmth, nostalgia, and playful celebration while sharing practical floral photography tips and design ideas. Dive into the fun and find out how to make your next bouquet burst with that same sense of innocent joy.
The 4 Essential Decisions That Could Make Or Break Your Flower Farm
The difference between a profitable season and one riddled with losses often comes down to four critical decisions. We’ll walk you through them in this blog, so that you can start taking steps to conquer each one!
From Surplus to Success: Transforming Farmers Market Leftovers into Opportunities
Flower farmers often face the challenge of unsold inventory after a market, but these leftover blooms don't have to go to waste. From building a professional portfolio with stunning bouquet photos to honing floral design skills and exploring dried flower products, leftover flowers can be a valuable resource. This post explores creative ways to turn leftover market bouquets into marketing assets, improve your design abilities, and give back to your community—all while staying true to the value of your work and preserving the integrity of your flower farm business.
Root Ready: Five Reasons to Plant When the Frost Bites
A commonly overlooked fact of flower farming is that late fall and early winter are excellent times to plant trees and shrubs! Many landscape perennials provide excellent foliage ingredients or flowering branches that are considered fabulous filler flowers when making bouquets using the Bouquet Blueprint™ methodology. Discover the five reasons why planting in cool weather is so advantageous for flower farmers!
My Journey to the Bouquet Blueprint™: A Tale of Trials, Triumphs, and Tons of Flowers
Our journey of learning how to make the perfect mixed bouquet was long but worth it! With the Bouquet Blueprint™, you can strike the perfect balance of ingredients for flower bouquets that SELL. We show you the transformation of our wildflower bouquets over the years so you know what flowers look good together.