At a Glance
- Parlee Farms in Tyngsboro, MA has almost 3 acres of cut your own flowers.
- We have over 30 varieties of Dahlias and one of the largest Dahlia gardens in Massachusetts
- Mix dahlias, snap dragons, allium, zinnias, sunflowers, and gladiolus with colorful filler flowers to create the perfect bouquet.
- Cut Your Own Flowers is a fun way to bring a little summer home.
- Check Today’s Farm News before your visit for current hours and flower availability.
One of the highlights of summer at Parlee Farms is visiting our flower garden, where you can cut your own flowers. This is perfect whether you need flowers for an event or simply want to cut some beautiful flowers to take home. They also make great gifts! Cutting your own can really enhance the whole experience.
The best part is that you don’t have to be a florist to arrange beautiful flowers. By following a simple formula, you can create a bouquet that looks balanced, colorful, and professionally designed using the flowers growing right here at the farm.
Start with Your Statement Flowers
Every bouquet needs a few flowers that immediately catch your eye. Begin by selecting three statement flowers to serve as the centerpiece of your arrangement. You can pick as many statement flowers as you want, but three is a great number to experiment with.
At Parlee Farms, favorites like dahlias, sunflowers, gladiolus, and zinnias make wonderful focal flowers. Feel free to mix different shapes, sizes, and colors to create a bouquet that reflects your personal style. Choosing blooms that are at slightly different stages of opening will also help your bouquet stay beautiful for days after you bring it home.
Add More Color and Variety
Once you’ve selected your statement flowers, choose three additional blooms that complement them. Zinnias are especially versatile because they come in so many vibrant colors, while gladiolus add height and elegance. Dahlias can provide fullness, and sunflowers create a bright, cheerful focal point.
Don’t worry about matching every flower perfectly. Some of the prettiest bouquets combine a variety of colors and textures, creating a fresh-picked look that’s full of personality. The goal is to pick flowers and arrange them together in a way that feels good to you.
Finish with Fillers and Greenery 
The finishing touches are what make a bouquet really come together. Add two stems of filler flowers and two stems of greenery to soften the arrangement and fill in any open spaces.
Depending on what’s blooming, you may find beautiful fillers such as baby’s breath, statice, celosia, snapdragons, asters, phlox, dianthus, yarrow (achillea), or daucus (False Queen Anne’s Lace). These flowers add texture and dimension while helping tie all of the larger blooms together.
As you arrange your bouquet, rotate it in your hand every few stems. This simple trick helps keep the bouquet balanced from every angle.
An Easy Bouquet Recipe
If you’re looking for a simple place to start, try this easy formula:
- 3 statement flowers (dry ahlias, sunflowers, gladiolus, or zinnias)
- 3 companion flowers
- 2 filler flowers
- 2 stems of greenery
Of course, there’s no right or wrong way to create your bouquet. Part of the fun is experimenting with different flower combinations and creating something that’s uniquely yours.
Once you’re finished picking, trim the stems at an angle and place your bouquet in fresh water as soon as possible. Changing the water every couple of days and keeping your flowers out of direct sunlight will help them stay fresh longer.
We hope you’ll visit our Cut Your Own Flower Garden this season and enjoy creating a bouquet that’s as unique as your visit to the farm. Before heading out, be sure to check Today’s Farm News for current hours, flower availability, and the latest farm updates.