How do I place an order?

Create a wholesale account at RootedFarmers.com Browse our inventory and add items to your cart. Select Pickup or Delivery Complete your order. Pay only upon inspection of your flowers.

Where can I see your products?

We update every Tuesday prior to opening for orders at 10 a.m.on Tuesdays. Our availability list is dynamic, and growers add items throughout the week.

Can I place an order at anytime?

Seasonally, orders open every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. ET, and close at noon on Monday.

How do I get my order?

Our growers will harvest Tuesday, and your order will be fresh and ready for pick-up and delivery each Wednesday. Pick-up Wednesdays at Historic Savage Mill. Add a note to your order what time you can pick up. Delivery is also available between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesdays for a fee of $15 within ten miles of Historic Savage Mill and $35 within 50 miles. Alternative delivery days can often be arranged. Contact us if Wednesday doesn’t suit your needs.

Where is Savage Mill?

istoric Savage Mill is centrally located in Howard County, Maryland. Our address is: 8600 Foundry Street Cotton Shed Building Savage, MD 20763 DIRECTIONS TO HISTORIC SAVAGE MILL From Baltimore and Points North South on I-95, or MD 295 (B/W Parkway) to MD 32 If on I-95, exit onto MD 32 East If on MD 295, exit onto MD 32 West (directions continue below) From Washington, DC and Points South North on I-95, or MD 295 to MD 32 If on I-95, exit onto MD 32 East If on MD 295, exit onto MD 32 West (directions continue below) From Frederick and Points West East on I-70 to MD 32 Exit onto MD 32 South (becomes “East” in Clarksville) (directions continue below) From Annapolis and Points East Take US 50 to I-97 North Exit onto MD 32 West (directions continue below) Exit onto US 1 South Right onto Howard Street Bear Left onto Baltimore Street (Howard Street ends) Left onto Foundry Street At traffic circle, take first exit into Savage Mill complex As you enter, our building is on the Left, and parking is on the right (terraced surface parking lot) We are in the “Cotton Shed Building,” which is to the left of the main building as you are facing it. Our entrance is on the Right (South) side of the Cotton Shed Building. If coming to pick up an order, you may park right next to the entrance to load.

I want to know more about your collective!

To keep you informed, our member growers will take turns writing blog posts to give you the inside scoop on what’s in our fields, our stories, and our commitment to ensuring you the product you want to wow your customers. Check out our blog !

12 Native Plants that Attract Pollinators – Chesapeake Flower Exchange

Support Biodiversity & Boost Flower Farming Yields

Buying local flowers has been gaining popularity in recent years, with an increasing number of small-scale farmers growing and selling flowers locally. While flower farming is often associated with beauty and aesthetics, it also plays a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and providing habitat for pollinators.

Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, play a vital role in the reproductive cycle of plants. They transfer pollen from the male to the female parts of the flower, enabling the plant to produce seeds and fruits. In addition to their ecological importance, pollinators also play a critical role in the economic viability of farms. Pollinator-dependent crops, including many flowers, are estimated to be worth billions of dollars annually in the United States alone.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

To support pollinators on flower farms, it’s essential to provide a diverse array of native plants that bloom throughout the growing season. Native plants are adapted to local conditions, making them more resilient and better able to provide the resources that pollinators need. In addition, many native plants are host plants for specific species of butterflies and moths, making them an essential part of the food web. These plants are not only important for local ecosystems, but they are unique, fragrant and provide interest to arrangements and bouquets.

Below are some tried and true native plants for North American flower farmers to support pollinators. Hover/tap on each image to learn more!

Milkweed

(Asclepias spp.) – This essential plant is a host plant for the monarch butterfly and a nectar source for many other pollinators.

Goldenrod

(Solidago spp.) – This hardy plant blooms in late summer and is a vital source of nectar for many pollinators.

Bee Balm

(Monarda spp.) – This colorful plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and is a favorite of many bees.

Purple Coneflower

(Echinacea purpurea) – This attractive plant is a favorite of bees and butterflies and has medicinal properties

Black-eyed Susan

(Rudbeckia spp.) – This cheerful plant is a favorite of many bees and butterflies and blooms throughout the summer.

Joe-Pye Weed

(Eutrochium spp.) – This tall, showy plant is a favorite of many bees and butterflies and blooms in late summer

Mountain Mint

(Monarda citriodora) This fragrant plant is wonderful as a filler and attracts many pollinators from bees to wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers and beetles.

Culver's Root

(Veronicastrum virginicum) – This elegant plant attracts a variety of pollinators and blooms in midsummer

Swamp Milkweed

(Asclepias incarnata) – This beautiful plant is a host plant for the monarch butterfly and attracts many other pollinators

Blazing Star

(Liatris spp.) – This tall, striking plant blooms in late summer and is a favorite of many butterflies and bees. Incorporating native plants into flower farming not only supports pollinators but also adds diversity and beauty to the farm. By providing habitat and resources

Wild Indigo

(Baptisia australis) – This striking plant attracts many pollinators especially native bees and has medicinal properties

Swamp Sunflower

(Helianthus angustifolius) – This late-blooming plant is a favorite of many bees and butterflies and is excellent for wet areas

Patty Engler

I graduated from the University of Maryland with an Agronomy degree and started working with plants immediately after graduation. Growing flowers using sustainable agriculture is my passion. I love the synergy and beauty that flowers and bees present. I am committed to growing in an environmentally responsible way and enhancing pollinator habitat on my property.

See more articles by Patty Engler