Spectrum Farms to offer you-cut flower picking next summer

Spectrum Farms, a flower farm in Felton, announced it will open its fields to the public for the first time next summer, offering customers the chance to visit the farm and experience their you-cut specialty flower fields.

Owners Chris and Ashley Sylvester will offer several varieties of specialty cut flowers for customers to come cut and enjoy in their homes. They also plan to offer classes, workshops and events on the farm so community members can come escape the grind, explore the artisan and establish their own traditions.

The Sylvesters have been growing flowers for three seasons now, bringing the fresh-cut blooms to Rehoboth Beach Farmers Market and Tidal Market in Frederica, as well as teaching a variety of floral arranging workshops at other local farms and venues. “The No. 1 question we get when out at events is if people can come visit the farm. While they enjoy our beautiful flowers, they want the opportunity to connect with nature themselves,” said Ashley. “On the few occasions we’ve held an event at the farm and allowed guests to come out, people are smitten. We knew the next step was to formally open a you-cut experience for our community.”

The name Spectrum Farms comes from a tree nursery that once occupied the same land in the late 1980s; it was started by Chris’s father and uncle, Tim and David Sylvester. While the tree farm was very successful, it closed after a few years when the brothers pursued other career opportunities. After that, the land was grain farmed by family, with its usual rotation of soybeans and corn. The Sylvester family has farmed the land for three generations. “We are so excited that Spectrum Farms is now in flowers, and we look forward to offering our community a different experience, one filled with beauty and nature,” said Chris.

The Sylvesters said they expect the fields to open in mid- to late June. “We will know the exact date as we get closer to our last frost,” said Chris.

Every flower that will be grown in the you-cut fields at Spectrum Farms will be started from seed or tuber, and planting out the seedlings and dahlias tubers will not begin until early spring.

“We take extreme pride in being able to provide a sanctuary to pollinators here on the farm, so you will find a lot of pollinator-friends flowers,” said Ashley.

New this year, the Sylvesters are offering a limited number of membership subscriptions, similar to a community supported agriculture share, which will allow farm supporters to receive a weekly flower arrangement, an exclusive only-members event and first access to the field, a photo session and apparel. In addition to the membership subscription, Spectrum Farms will continue to offer its weekly spring flower subscriptions with pickups at the farm in Felton, Brittingham Farms in Millsboro, and Gingham and Grace in Harbeson, as well as delivery throughout Kent County and the beach area. 

For more information, go to spectrumfarmsde.com.