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ELMORE - When Donna Sandwisch wanted fresh flowers to match her fall décor, she stopped by The Cut Flower Farm at Bench’s, the newest attraction at Benchmore Farms in Elmore. The Cut Flower Farm features over a quarter acre of fresh flowers, from snapdragons to sunflowers, nestled in a quiet nook behind Bench’s Greenhouse and Nursery. At the farm, customers choose, cut, and purchase flowers by the piece.

“I love fall, so I got my fall tablecloth out and wanted to get sunflowers and darker rust-colored flowers to go on it,” Sandwisch said. “The flowers there are different. There are different choices and different colors.”

It wasn’t Sandwisch’s first trip to the farm. On an earlier visit, she chose snapdragons and zinnias for a fresh bouquet. Sandwisch said she was very impressed that Jill Bench, who started The Cut Flower Farm with her husband Don Bench, created such an elaborate garden in the first year.

“She has done such a fantastic job with color, and the flowers are not weak. You can just plop them in a vase and they’ll stand up,” Sandwisch said. “She gives you a basket and scissors and teaches you how to cut, so it’s great even for a novice. Educating people on what she does and how she does it makes people want to come back.”

Jill said she began making plans for the farm last summer as a way to provide another experience at Bench’s. She researched to find flowers that are long-blooming, disease resistant, drought tolerant and would work well in flower arrangements.

“We watched webinars and talked with the salesmen who help us decide what to grow in the greenhouse,” Jill said.

The variety they decided on has created a spectacular show in the fields. Bright, yellow sunflowers grow alongside multi-colored zinnias; tall feathery celosia, and delicate bracteantha. Customers are welcome to use the shed to arrange flowers, or Jill will gladly arrange a bouquet for them. Vases are available for purchase, or Jill will pack the flowers in a cup for easy transport. Flowers are purchased by the piece, and prices range from 50 cents to $2.00 per piece.

“I’ve seen a gorgeous $3 bouquet and $80 bouquets,” Jill said. “Customers can buy as little or as much as they want.”

But the farm isn’t just about choosing flowers. It is also about spending a little quiet time in the field amidst the flowers and the birds and butterflies which flutter amongst them.

“We have found that a lot of people have been enjoying the beauty and peacefulness of the flowers and fields. Not a day goes by that I haven’t seen a hummingbird, and we have yellow finches and purple martins,” Jill said. “We encourage people to take pictures and tag us in their photos, because it’s just so beautiful.”

The farm has attracted families who find it is a fun way to spend time together outdoors. Kelsey Auger of Genoa visited the farm with her sister and 7-year-old niece.

“We made a day of it. We got there about 10:30 and the flowers and the fresh air and the aroma were all just so beautiful,” Auger said. “It was a nice little getaway close to home.”

Kristen and Jeff Dominique visited the farm on a recent Sunday morning to purchase fresh flowers for their home and for family.

“We’ve always been fans of Bench’s. We shop there in the spring for our plants and in winter we go to the Christmas Shoppe,” Kristen said. “I think The Cut Flower Farm is something we needed on this side of town. It was a good Sunday morning outing to get away from the hustle and bustle.”

The Cut Flower Farm at Bench’s is at 18063 W. Ohio 105. It is open Friday through Sunday 9 a.m. to noon. Because flowers are sensitive to being cut in hot weather, hours will be expanded as cooler weather arrives.

Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.

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