A Sanctuary in Bloom: The Heart of Rookie Blooms Flower Farm

A Journey Through the Prairie

Tucked away at the foot of a mountain near the BC–Washington border, a hidden garden blooms with quiet magic, wild beauty, and deep resilience.

The drive to Rookie Blooms Flower Farm takes you through the peaceful Sumas Prairie, where lush fields stretch to the horizon and the noise of everyday life begins to fade. Along the way, swallows swoop and swirl in front of the truck like dolphins leaping at the prow of a sailing ship, guiding you gently toward something sacred.

As you pull onto the property, the sweeping branches of a giant weeping willow arch overhead - a soft green curtain that feels like the entrance to The Secret Garden. It’s a rite of passage into a world that feels both lovingly tended and wonderfully untouched. Moose, the farm’s gentle giant of a dog, trots out to greet me with a bark and a happily wagging tail, and Lindsay meets me with a warm, grounding hug.

From the first moment, I know: this is no ordinary flower farm.

The Dream and the Devastation

Rookie Blooms isn’t just a place to gather bouquets, it’s a place of healing, reflection, and deep connection to the land. When Lindsay and her husband purchased the acreage in 2021, it was the realization of her life-long dream. But just months after planting her first seeds, the catastrophic 2021 flood swept through the region, drowning her dream in six feet of water. In the pitch-black hours of early morning, Lindsay and her family were forced to evacuate with their animals, leaving everything else behind. When they returned, the land was unrecognizable - ravaged, broken, and silent.

Grief set in. The loss was devastating. For a while, the dream seemed lost entirely.

Healing in the Garden

But nature has a way of calling us back.

As Lindsay slowly began to reclaim what remained by pulling weeds, turning the soil, and nurturing anything still alive, she discovered that the act of gardening was healing her too. With each new bloom, a little piece of her spirit returned. What she had lost, she began to rebuild - patiently, intuitively, in tune with the land and with herself.

A Sanctuary for Others

As we wandered the rows of blossoming flowers together, Lindsay shared her vision for the future. She dreams of Rookie Blooms not just as a farm, but as a sanctuary. A place where people can come and rest. To sit quietly among the blooms with a glass of wine or a cup of coffee, undisturbed. No sales pitches. No pressure. Just peace. Just beauty. Just space to breathe.

It’s her gift to others: a soft place to land when life feels heavy.

Gathering Around the Table

This ethos is present in everything Lindsay does from outdoor yoga sessions to long-table dinners under the sky. These beautifully-curated events are rooted in community, nature, and nourishment. The proteins are sourced from neighboring farms just down the road, and the vegetables are hand-picked from Lindsay’s own thriving garden - a lush, overflowing patch of zucchinis, cucumbers, cauliflowers, and more. Every ingredient is harvested with care and intention, only steps from where guests gather to share the meal. It’s not just a dinner, it’s a deep expression of place, connection, and love.

What Grows Here

She walked me through her overflowing vegetable garden, where the leafy green giants tower above your waist and burst with life. In the midst of the foliage is a beautiful greenhouse she built herself one afternoon using leftover materials from around the farm. It’s so cozy and full of charm, it could easily pass as a guest cabin. 

The flower fields at Rookie Blooms are a tapestry of colour and texture with flourishing rows of fragrant sweet peas, whimsical craspedia, ruffled snapdragons, elegant lupins, strawflowers, classic garden roses and so many more stretching out in vibrant bloom. Lindsay’s deep love for her farm is unmistakable. This year alone, she’s already put in 15,000 plants including 175 peonies with plans to add another 200 peonies for next season. It’s a true labour of love, and the results are nothing short of breathtaking.

Symbols of Her Story

Her logo tells another chapter of her story. It features the greenhouse she built, flanked by two dragonflies. One represents her daughter, who lives with a rare genetic condition. The second is for her son. The logo is simple, yet rich with meaning: resilience, transformation, family, and love.

Listening to the Land

Lindsay’s philosophy is gentle but powerful. She doesn’t see herself as the owner of the land, but as a steward of it. She listens, rather than dictates. Her growing style is intuitive and responsive. She doesn’t try to force the earth into something it’s not - she lets it speak, and she follows its lead.

“What do you need?” she asks the land. “What wants to grow here?”

This deep respect for nature is woven into every corner of Rookie Blooms. It’s what makes the flowers brighter, the meals richer, and the space more healing. Every detail, every petal, plate, and path, reflects Lindsay’s values: sustainability, community, authenticity, and love.

What Blooms After the Storm

Rookie Blooms isn’t just a flower farm. It’s a story of loss and rebirth, of tending to dreams even after they’ve been washed away. Lindsay’s journey is a living reminder that when we care deeply, listen closely, and nurture patiently, life has a way of blooming back... sometimes more beautifully than we ever imagined.

Thank you so much, Lindsay, for the incredible afternoon with you at Rookie Blooms Flower Farm and for welcoming me into your world and your space. Your story and vision are so inspiring and I can’t wait to see how the farm grows and evolves as you continue to realize your dreams.

Please click through the following links to attend one of Rookie Blooms’ amazing workshops, book a private event, or reserve your spot at one of their exceptional long table dinners. Rookie Blooms also offers subscription boxes, a Bloom Bar rental service, an online floral shop, and an incredible “Sponsor a Senior Home” Program where for just $20, you can sponsor a senior home to receive a beautiful bucket of fresh flowers. Last but not least, if you're in the area, don't forget to check out their super-cute side-of-the-road farm stand where you'll find farm fresh bouquets, eggs, and seasonal produce - find it here on our website or the Farm to City BC App (coming soon)!