TIMMONSVILLE — U-pick flower farms are trending across the state of South Carolina and one is located in Florence, where you have until the end of October to pick a fresh bouquet. Anyone interested in picking can reach out to Janet or Richard Porter through the Bay Branch Farm Facebook page . The flowers are located on a small piece of land just down the dirt driveway that leads to their home in Timmonsville, where a “pumpkin house” stands tall on the side.
They use the surrounding land to also grow blackberries and pumpkins for sale. They also let others use it as a social and event space. “Just come be out in nature, be out in the fresh air,” Janet Porter said.
“Enjoy beautiful flowers and being with your friends.” A table and chairs sit by the flower farm at Bay Branch Farms in Timmonsville on July 5. The idea to step into the flower-picking business came to them when they stopped at Cotton Hills Farm on their way to Spartanburg to see Janet’s mother.
Cotton Hills Farm is located in Lowrys, but products from the farm can also be found in multiple locations in Chester. The two were growing pumpkins on an acre and a half of land at the time, and Richard wanted to learn more from the people who ran the larger-scale Lowrys-based operation that grew pumpkins on 100 acres of land. A bee sits on a flower at Bay Branch Farms.
Richard and Janet drove around the farm with the owners and talked about different aspects of growing pumpkins, such as insect and disease issues and different types of pumpkins. The Porters let people pick pumpkins and fill the holes in the walls of the “pumpkin house” with the winter squash for photo opportunities. The two didn’t know the farm also grew flowers as part of a U-pick operation, though.
“When we got there and we saw it, we were like ‘Yes, we want to go cut flowers,’” Janet said. She gave the flowers to her mother and others. The two then decided there was no reason not to try to start their own flower-picking operation, especially since they already had the equipment to do so.
They could use the equipment they used to grow strawberries to grow flowers, but could only do one or the other due to the time commitment. So they chose the flowers. “It's a way to make some money off of the property that we own, but it's also a blessing to be able to make other people happy,” Janet Porter said.
They took a batch of flowers to the City Center Farmers Market in Florence last year in arrangements in jars and sold all of them, Janet Porter said. They brought just flowers a second time but let people make their own arrangements. People can come to Bay Branch Farm and walk the rows that house perennials and annuals, with china asters and a variety of sunflowers among the many other flowers in the garden.
Story continues below Richard Porter holds a Queen Anne’s lace flower at Bay Branch Farms, July 5, 2024, in Timmonsville. He and his wife, Janet, have run this U-pick flower farm on their property for two years. Porter said these flowers are his favorite.
Flower pickers can also relax at the nearby tables where book clubs, garden clubs and a class on putting together wedding flower arrangements are sometimes held. Janet said they’re adding something every year. The Porters also host field trips in the fall and day care groups and put together activities, such as using a corn sheller.
“When I see them being happy about this, it’s a blessing to me,” Janet Porter said. Sandra Dail taught people how to make floral arrangements at the Porters' garden and said she could feel the excitement of people coming to pick flowers. She first heard of the couple's flower venture from a friend.
The two then went to the farm together and met Janet Porter. “I just love flowers, and that's my therapy,” Dail said. Dail has her own business making flower arrangements called Sandra’s Creative Styles .
Those attending the class sometimes will be able to use flowers from the Porters' garden in their arrangement, whether it be a spiral bouquet or floral art. Flowers grow at Bay Branch Farms, July 5, 2024, in Timmonsville. She said it’s fulfilling being able to teach people how to put together their own arrangements and also how to take care of them.
She also said it’s nice to support the Porters, one local business to another. A bee sits on a Queen Anne’s lace flower at Bay Branch Farms, July 5, 2024, in Timmonsville. “It's like a proud mother when you try to teach your kids how to ride a bicycle and all of a sudden they're riding it and they're just gleaming,” Dail said.
“It’s pretty much the same thing.” She and Janet Porter and are constantly sharing ideas about what can be added to the area, which has a lot of potential to grow, she said. Those interested in attending one of Dail’s classes can reach out to her through the contact information on her Facebook page.
For those interested in picking some flowers of their own from Bay Branch Farm: A quart cup of flowers costs $16 and two cups cost $30. A small bucket that can hold double what the cup can costs $25. Richard Porter holds a zinnia flower at Bay Branch Farms, July 5, 2024, in Timmonsville.
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