A Day in the Life of a Small Flower Farm Owner in Cornwall

5:30 AM
The soft trill of my alarm stirs me from sleep. I can already hear the distant crash of waves against the cliffs. Cornwall has a way of welcoming you to the day with its rugged beauty and salty breeze. I pull back the curtains to check the sky—it’s clear, with just a hint of pink on the horizon. A promising start for my little flower farm.

After a quick breakfast of tea and toast with local honey, I pull on my wellies and head outside. The farm is quiet, save for the occasional call of a gull overhead. My fields are dotted with rows of colorful blooms: daffodils, sweet peas, and anemones, each thriving in Cornwall’s mild, temperate climate.

6:00 AM
My first job is to check the polytunnels. They house the more delicate flowers, like ranunculus and lisianthus, protecting them from the unpredictable Cornish weather. I step inside one tunnel, and the warm, earthy scent of damp soil greets me. I walk down the rows, inspecting the plants for pests or diseases. Today, I spot a few aphids on the roses—nothing too serious, but I’ll need to treat them later with an organic solution.

7:00 AM
The day’s harvest begins. I focus on the flowers that need to go to market: creamy narcissus with their delicate scent, tulips with glossy petals, and some stems of fragrant lavender. Each bloom is cut at just the right moment to ensure it lasts in someone’s vase for days.

As I cut and gather, I can hear my dog, Poppy, sniffing around the edges of the field. She’s my constant companion, always keeping me company as I work.

9:00 AM
The flowers are sorted and bundled in the packing shed. I tie bunches with raffia, keeping the look rustic and natural—just the way my customers like it. Many of my sales are to local shops and florists who value fresh, seasonal blooms. I also prepare a few custom orders for my online shop: a “Cornish Wildflower” bouquet for a wedding and a box of dried flowers for a craft enthusiast.

The packing shed is my pride and joy. It’s small but functional, with wooden shelves stacked with jars of dried blooms, twine, and paper. The scent here is a mix of lavender, dried strawflowers, and a hint of eucalyptus.

11:30 AM
It’s time for a tea break. I sit on a bench overlooking the fields, enjoying a Cornish cream tea (jam first, of course!). This moment of quiet is my favorite part of the day. The sea sparkles in the distance, and the hedgerows hum with life—bees, butterflies, and the occasional chirp of a robin.

I jot down a few notes in my planner: jobs for the week, planting schedules, and ideas for expanding the wildflower patch near the orchard.

12:30 PM
After lunch, I head to the lower field to plant some new seedlings—larkspur and cosmos, which will bloom in a few months. The soil is soft and rich, thanks to the compost I’ve been turning all winter. As I plant, I can’t help but think about the joy these flowers will bring to someone’s home or garden.

Cornwall’s weather can be a challenge—it’s as likely to rain as it is to shine—but today, the sun stays out, warming my back as I work.

3:00 PM
The afternoon is spent delivering flowers to local shops. I load up my old van, which always smells faintly of blooms, and drive along the winding Cornish lanes. The villages are postcard-perfect, with stone cottages and gardens bursting with color.

At one shop, the owner tells me how much her customers love my bouquets. It’s moments like these that make the hard work worthwhile.

5:00 PM
Back at the farm, I tend to the wildflower meadow. It’s not just for show—it’s a haven for pollinators, and the bees are already busy among the poppies and cornflowers. Maintaining this meadow is my way of giving back to the land that sustains my business.

Poppy runs ahead, chasing after a hare that darts into the hedgerow. She never catches anything, but she enjoys the game.

6:30 PM
The day winds down, and I take a moment to walk through the fields. The evening light is golden, casting a warm glow over the flowers. I spot a few that I missed during the morning’s harvest and make a mental note to gather them tomorrow.

Back in the house, I clean up and prepare dinner—fresh fish from the local market with roasted vegetables from the garden. My partner joins me, and we talk about the day. Running a small flower farm is demanding, but it’s a labor of love, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

8:30 PM
Before bed, I write a quick update for my farm’s social media page, sharing a photo of today’s harvest and a glimpse of the wildflower meadow. Customers love seeing the behind-the-scenes life of the farm, and it helps build a connection with them.

As I drift off to sleep, I’m already thinking about tomorrow—more flowers to harvest, seeds to plant, and the constant, beautiful cycle of life on the farm. Cornwall may be rugged, but it’s the perfect place for a flower farmer like me.