IDAHO GOES DOWN By sharing her passion for flowers with the community, a local woman aims to keep encouraging others and give others a chance to do the same.
3 Girls Garden, a U-Pick flower farm in Idaho Falls, is owned by Jessica Smedley and is situated at 5959 1st Street. She runs the family company with her husband and kids, but she also has an intern from Brigham Young University-Idaho and a friend’s daughter who assist.
Smedley told EastIdahoNews.com that her flower farm, which debuted in 2020, has expanded significantly over the years. The best thing about the flower farm, I usually tell guests, is that no one leaves feeling depressed. Everyone is satisfied when they leave, and I believe that more establishments like that should exist in the world.
Smedley was intermittently bedridden during her fifth pregnancy. She felt the need to do something toward the end of her pregnancy, but she knew that she had to be sitting down to do it.
One of her favorite blogs at the time taught her a workshop called Simplified Flower Arranging. Instead of merely placing flowers in a vase, the workshop taught her how to make them seem beautiful using flowers she bought at the grocery store.
“I took this class, and after my baby was born, I started cutting flowers from my yard when people would bring food or help with the kids. Then, with the kids, we would arrange them and take them to the people who served us to say, Thank you,” she stated.
By doing this, Smedley came to the realization that more people should regularly have flowers in their homes due to the happiness they can bring.
Smedley had the notion to develop a U-Pick flower farm at that point, and she spent the winter after giving birth learning everything she could about flower gardening.
When she talked about founding the flower farm, she remarked, “I thought that would appeal to families and people who want something to do and then have that impact of having flowers in your home.”
Smedley began producing flowers in a section of her vegetable garden, which was at the time about 10 by 15 feet in size. The front two acres of the Smedleys’ property were finally covered with rototilled flower beds.
They grew and added around 400 peonies in 2022. Last year, Smedley added 150 more peony, and this fall, he intends to add another 150. Earlier this year in June, they hosted their first-ever Peony U-Pick events.
According to Smedley, their garden has more than just peonies; it also has cosmos, snapdragons, zinnias, sweet peas, celosia, gomphrena, and perennials.
At the end of July, the regular U-Pick season will begin and last through the middle of September. The hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays. Children can take part in activities like a five-sensory scavenger hunt and a children’s garden at U-Pick events.
“Whether they come as a girls’ night, with family, or on a date, we try to make sure there’s something for everybody to do,” Smedley said.
Two painting lessons will be taught by Ammon Art Garage this summer, and there will also be some yoga sessions.
Additionally, Smedley provides a variety of classes all year round. In addition to teaching people how to cultivate dahlias and a cut flower garden in southeast Idaho, she also hosts flower-arranging seminars called Peony Tea Parties, where she demonstrates how to arrange peonies in teapots.
Smedley encourages locals to visit the flower farm and establish a connection with nature.
According to Smedley, having flowers in your home is worthwhile, and it’s even better if you can serve them. Gather some flowers for yourself, then distribute them to others. Let us use flowers to spread a little bit of joy.
Visit the 3 Girls Garden website or Facebook page for additional details on upcoming events, costs, monthly bouquet subscriptions, and photo session choices.
