a morning in the Garden with

May, Goodwood Flowers

july 31, 2026

I first discovered May through a good old fashioned Instagram rabbit hole. Like many others, her Salpiglosses stopped me in my tracks. One tag led to another, and I found myself lost in the digital bounty of her feed.

I finally had the chance to meet May IRL last month when I visited her plot in Goodwood. We spent the morning touring through her gardens, chatting about her favourite varieties, and of course, snapped a few photos along the way. May's energy was bright and kind - her passion for flowers was hard to deny, but her love and admiration for her family stood out to me the most.

Read along for more.

What are your earliest memories of nature? Have any of those memories made their way into your garden today?

My earliest memories of nature are from growing up in a small rural town in Yunnan Province, China. I didn't move to Canada until I was 17. I remember my parents taking me to forage for wild mushrooms and berries in the woods near our home. We lived very close to nature and had a small vegetable garden at home. Every season, we gathered wild vegetables and edible flowers. Back then, we didn't buy everything from the grocery store the way we do now - it was simply a different way of life.

I also remember seeing fields of pink cosmos blooming in the wild. Cosmos was my favourite flower as a child, and it still holds a special place in my heart.

Those early memories have found their way into my garden today. I've always loved being outdoors, and growing flowers and food allows me to reconnect with nature despite living such a busy modern life. I love the simple joy of harvesting something I've grown myself, and every year I make sure there's room for cosmos.

What drew you to flowers?

It was their beauty.

I actually started with vegetable gardening during COVID. Before that, I'd occasionally buy potted flowers, but they never survived for very long. Then one day I bought a pink dahlia from the grocery store, and it just kept blooming. That little success gave me the confidence to try growing more.

Around that time, I came across Erin Benzakein's book about growing cut flowers. As I turned each page, I was completely captivated by the incredible diversity and beauty of the flowers. I remember thinking, I want to grow flowers like Erin. That night, I decided I was going to become a flower grower.

What continues to draw me to flowers is that I see them as an art form. I've always loved drawing. Instead of paint, my medium is flowers. Each one has its own colour, texture, shape, and movement. Growing them feels like creating living art, and that's what inspires me the most.

Is there a specific time in the growing season that you look forward to most, and why?

I love spring because it's the season when I can finally spring into action! All the plans I've been making throughout the winter can finally begin to come to life. The garden may look empty to most people, but I see it as a blank canvas waiting to be painted.

How would you describe the land that you grow on, and what does it teach you each year?

Our property is 3.5 acres and sits beside a 100-acre farm. I recently learned that our land was originally intended to become part of a road, which is why it's so long and narrow. 

I think of the land as loving and generous. It gives me the space to grow all the flowers I've dreamed of growing. In return for the care and effort I give it, it rewards me with incredible abundance.

It has also taught me to slow down, pay attention, and become more patient and observant. Over time, I've come to appreciate that I'm sharing this land with so many other living things - birds, bees, butterflies, turtles, frogs, snakes, and countless tiny insects. Seeing all of these creatures reminds me that this garden isn't just for me. It's part of a much bigger ecosystem, and I feel grateful to share it with them.

How has living in a multi-generational home, and taking this on with your parents, shaped your experience of gardening?

I've learned so much from my parents. They are a wealth of knowledge. Both are experienced gardeners, and my dad is trained as an agronomist.

They're incredibly resourceful and creative. Instead of buying new materials, they often find ways to use what nature already provides, whether that's making their own fertilizer from compost or building trellises from branches. Watching them has taught me that gardening isn't just about growing plants; it's also about creativity, problem-solving, and making the most of what you have.

When we first started, my parents were always correcting me because I was still learning. But over the years, I've gained experience too. Now we exchange ideas as fellow gardeners, and they've come to trust my instincts. It's been really rewarding to grow alongside them, not just in the garden but as a family.

Is there anything that your children notice about the garden that reminds you of yourself or your childhood?

It's been so sweet to watch my children discover nature through the garden. They're always asking me the names of the flowers, and they're just as fascinated by the birds, insects, frogs, and other little creatures that live here.

Watching their curiosity reminds me of my own childhood. I learned about nature from my parents, and now I get to pass that same sense of wonder on to my children. It feels like the tradition is continuing into another generation.

When they think back on their own experience, what do you hope your children remember about this chapter of their lives?

Moving from Toronto to the countryside was a big leap for our family. When we first arrived, there wasn't a garden - we built everything from the ground up together.

I hope my children remember that they helped bring our dream to life. I hope they feel proud of what we created together and remember that beautiful things take time, patience, and hard work.

I also hope they'll remember that we were willing to take a different path. We stepped away from city life and took a chance on building a flower farm. It wasn't the conventional choice, but it has given us a life that's deeply connected to nature, creativity, and one another. I hope that's something they carry with them wherever life takes them.

What is something about the process of growing flowers that you wish more people knew or that was discussed more often?

When people think of flowers, they often picture someone in a sundress wandering through a field of blooms or "playing" with flowers as if it's an easy, carefree job. The other thing I often hear people say is that flowers are too expensive.

What I wish more people knew is that growing flowers is incredibly hard work. There are countless hours of behind-the-scenes labour that most people never see or think about. Farming means working with nature, and nature doesn't always cooperate. There are pests, unpredictable weather, and a very short growing season here in Canada. On top of that, the cost of seeds, bulbs, tubers, fertilizer, supplies, and equipment are very high. Every beautiful bloom represents months of planning, care, problem-solving, and physical work.

Being a flower farmer is a unique combination of scientist and labourer. We have to understand soil health, plant biology, pests, diseases, irrigation, and harvest timing, while also doing physically demanding work every single day. Growing beautiful flowers takes both knowledge and endurance.

I also feel a little sad when I hear people complain that flowers, especially wedding flowers, are too expensive, as if flower farmers and florists are simply trying to make more money. I wish more people knew how much skill, time, and artistry go into creating them. Wedding flowers are works of art. Every bouquet, centerpiece, and installation is carefully designed by talented florists, using flowers that have been nurtured for months by growers.

For example, I volunteered to make six simple mason jar arrangements for my kid's school in June. From harvesting the flowers to creating the arrangements, it took me an entire evening. That experience made me appreciate even more the incredible work florists do for weddings. When you see a breathtaking floral arch or a room filled with beautiful arrangements, you're looking at the result of many hours of craftsmanship, creativity, and teamwork. Flowers may look effortless, but there's an extraordinary amount of work behind every bloom.

Is there a tool that you reach for most, and if so, what do you love about it?

Definitely my flower snips. I find cutting flowers incredibly satisfying.

I love any tool that feels comfortable in your hand and makes the work effortless. My favourite pair is the Japanese ARS HP-130DX pruners. They're lightweight, razor sharp, durable, and surprisingly affordable. They're one of those tools I reach for every single day during the growing season.

Is there a crop that you enjoy growing most, and if so, what do you love about it?

I love growing phlox.

It's a delicate little flower, but it's one of the most magical ingredients in floral design. It instantly makes an arrangement feel softer, more romantic, and more natural. It's not as showy as a focal flower, but it's the supporting character that quietly brings everything together. I think that's what makes it so special.

Is there a "weed" that you like to keep around, and if so, what do you like about it?

Dandelions!

I think dandelions are one of the most underrated plants. In early spring, their bright yellow flowers light up fields with the happiest colour after a long winter. Then, as the flowers fade, they transform into those magical white puffballs that almost no one can resist picking up and blowing into the wind.

They're also incredibly useful. My parents pick the flowers to make tea, and we eat the young leaves as a vegetable. They've long been valued for their medicinal properties as well. On top of that, they're amazingly resilient - they can thrive almost anywhere. I think there's something admirable about a plant that's both beautiful and so determined to grow.

Lastly, what do you hope people feel when they bring your flowers into their designs or into their homes?

I hope the first thing they notice is the quality - the freshness, the beauty, and the care that went into growing every single stem.

More than anything, though, I hope my flowers bring people joy. That's exactly how I feel when I'm growing and harvesting them. Seeing beautiful flowers makes me genuinely happy, and I hope everyone who brings them into their home or incorporates them into their designs experiences a little of that same happiness.

Keep up with May's garden:
@mays.home.garden