Florals

Philosophy on Flowers:

I daydream in flowers and arrange flowers in my head over and over again.  Floral design is my form of art.  It's about balance, composition, height, weight, depth, and color.  I always learn from this process.  But design work is only a small fraction of the picture.  What happens behind-the-scenes isn't quite as romantic. I grow the majority of blooms that I use for my design work. This means starting most of our seeding indoors and babysit them 24-7 while they’re seedlings. There are lots of extension cords to provide the proper light and heat for seeds to grow (and curses when they don't), late nights weeding quack grass, fretting over wind, and too much or too little rain.  There is a permanent layer of dirt stuck under my nails and a reminder that while this is work, the final product is well worth it. 

I play with seasonality. The commercial flower industry makes this challenging because, yes, you can get a red rose in February.  The true cost of that rose to the environment, grower and system is something to be reckoned with. Yes, the upper Midwest growing season is short but that's what makes farm fresh flowers all the more captivating.  And so while my flowers are fleeting, my goal is to architect an experience with texture, sight and aroma where the memories will last a lifetime. 

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Flannery

Person holding a large bouquet of pink and purple flowers outdoors on a sunny day with a blue sky and white clouds.
A colorful flower garden with a variety of blooming flowers, a field of sunflowers, a clear blue sky, and a few trees in the distance.

U-Pick Flower Events

  • Check back for 2025 dates and times!

    How it works:
    Summer and early fall is simply the BEST time at Tailwind Acres. The garden usually starts bursting with flowers mid-July through September. We want to share that with you!

    At our U-Pick events, you will have access to this garden to make your own arrangement/s. We will have all colors of the rainbow for you to mix and match, you can expect to find zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, celosia, sunflowers, and more.

    Where to find us?
    Our address is 20302 180th St. Cresco, IA. We are located between Cresco and Protivin, IA. 2.5 miles north of the Norman Borlaug Birthplace Farm. Please note field parking is available across the street with limited accessible parking onsite.

    Cost:
    Standard vase = $20, fills a large Mason jar.
    5-gallon bucket = $60, fills about 3-4 Mason jars

    What to bring:
    This is a farm and there’s chicken manure and more so please wear sturdy footwear.
    Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses
    Scissors or floral snips - we a supply if you forget
    Vessel to put your arranged flowers.
    We accept cash, check or credit card.

    A few other things to note:
    For your comfort, we have a public restroom with flush toilet and running water.
    Please leave your pets at home.

A woman in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet of various colorful flowers including dahlias, proteas, roses, and greenery.

Scott Rokis Productions

Special Event Work

We’d love to be a part of your special event. Options include celebrant bouquets, arch installments, edibles, wearables and more. Blooms used will vary depending on availability. If you have special requests for colors and/or specific blooms I can try to honor them either by what’s grown at Tailwind Acres or what is available in our local community.

Please reach out to flannerycerbin@gmail.com for more information, including pricing.

A floral wreath made of various dried and fresh flowers hanging on a rusted metal surface.

Dried Flower Work

One of the prettiest ways of preserving flowers is by drying them for ornaments or wreaths. Some of the varieties I’ve dried include • Statice • Strawflowers • Globe Amaranth • Dusty Millers • Celosias and more.

Four colorful flower arrangements on grass, viewed from above, with person wearing red shoes in the foreground.

D.I.Y Buckets:

Do you want flowers to do your own arranging for a special event? We sell 4 gallon buckets of cut flowers for your next project. Buckets can be a mix of stems or a single variety, depending on quantities. Buckets are $60.

A decorative Christmas wreath made of pine and evergreen branches hanging on a blue window frame.

Winter Arrangements

Adorn your front door or porch pot with something festive for the winter season. Evergreen and winter foliage are wistfully arranged in an 18in metal frame for your front door. Flannery can do porch pots with birch branches and other seasonal notables and/or provide you with greens for window boxes.

Look for pre-orders in late October/early November.