Detroit Abloom

Detroit Abloom Detroit Abloom is a non-profit cut flower farm growing organic flowers,native and pollinator plants The Gardens are open to all during daylight hours.

If you would like to talk to Tom or Nancy, please contact inbetween 10am and 5pm.

In spite of the tragedy at the hoophouse we are going to go ahead with our Dahlia Tuber Pre sale. Fortunately, the root ...
03/26/2025

In spite of the tragedy at the hoophouse we are going to go ahead with our Dahlia Tuber Pre sale. Fortunately, the root cellar where we store the tubers, was not impacted.
The webstore will open at 8 am tomorrow, Thursday, 8 am.
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All tubers will have eyes and are $10/each.
We do not ship, all orders are for pickup only. We will hold an Open House Day for pickups. It is currently scheduled for May 3rd. We hope the new skin for the HH will be installed by then, Also, people can get in touch to schedule a different pickup date.
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The webstore will show Sold Out until tomorrow!
Thank you to everyone for your support!
Store link https://www.detroitabloom.com/dahlia-tuber-store

I forgot to add that yesteday the Fire Marshall came. He said the fire was caused by a faulty propane tank.Several good ...
03/25/2025

I forgot to add that yesteday the Fire Marshall came. He said the fire was caused by a faulty propane tank.

Several good things happened today. Friends, and neighbors pitched in to help clean up the platform. There is much more to do. Halei and I came up with a plan. Pretty much the plan is to start all the "must haves" from seed, again. And there maybe someone who is a cut flower grower in the area wh can help us. She just reached out an hour ago!
The bad news is the Lissies are in my view decimated. I could hardly look at them today. We will see.
Tom is much more upbeat today, I'm still processing.
I wanted to post the status today, and thank you all for the support. Tom and I have been blown away by how many people have reached out.
This hoophouse replacement skin, supplies and seedling area and plants is costly. Some people have already donated thru our website, please know how much we appreciate it💜
Sabine Iafrate and Justine (DA Board Members) put together a GoFund Me.
That was the other good thing that happened today! We have a great Board of Directors, thank you ladies.

Link to GoFundMe - https://gofund.me/9aae3d01

We had a catastrophe happen at the hoophouse late yesterday.We are not sure what caused it but a propane tank that was o...
03/25/2025

We had a catastrophe happen at the hoophouse late yesterday.
We are not sure what caused it but a propane tank that was on to warm the seedlings exploded and all the shelves holding our seedlings distinigrated.
We lost thousands of seedlings Halei and I had started for the flower farm. We're not sure about the inground crops of Ranunculus, Sweet Peas and Lisianthus that were hit with the fireman's hoses.
We are trying to schedule to replace the $7,000 plastic liner and electricity and figure out how we are going manage all of this and still have a 2025 season.

We will be working on a plan today.
Anyone who can help us with volunteer cleanup help and the means to get all this done, please get in touch! We would appreciate any help and support at this time.

Five ladies and a gent make up DA Board of Directors! As we start the 2025 Season, I would like to introduce our Board o...
03/23/2025

Five ladies and a gent make up DA Board of Directors!
As we start the 2025 Season, I would like to introduce our Board of Directors!
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Tom Milano and myself (Nancy Weigandt) are front and center. Tom is our director and oversees the 2 acre flower farm and all building projects. He also oversees our Plot Farmer progrm and engages volunteers throughout the season. I handle social media, pavilion programming, the cut flower and Native Plant Nursery business.
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Halei Kurmas (far left) works with me to support the farm and hoophouse activities. She is the main cut flower support from seed starting in Feb. to Dahlia dig up and Tulip planting in the fall. Throughout the growing season she is literally my right hand. If you pickup a Native Plant order at the hoophouse it is likely Halei & I put it together. We also do all floral work from the Bouquet Share to Workshops to Wedding/events together.
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Kimi Martin, long time friend to Halei's right is responsible for coordinating our annual Vegan Fest. She first volunteered with DA as a Master Gardener in 2018. She earned her Masters in Public Health in 2020, a subject she is passionate about! Our Vegan Fest is Saturday, 7/19/25.
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Sabine Iafrate, joined DA in 2021 and coordinates our Tuesday Early evening and Saturday Community Yoga from June thru September. She also is our Volunteer Coordinator for companies interested in helping at DA. We first met Sabine at the GPPk Market in 2017 and were delighted when she approached us to join the board.
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Justine Schneider (all the way to the right), celebrates her 5th season a s a DA Board Member. Justine is our Food is Medicine Program Director. You can follow her on Instagram. She is also the founder and Director of the newly reopened Park Farmers Market in Grosse Pointe Park. In fact, we first met Justine at the GPPk Market in 2017.
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Interested in learning more, come to our events this summer to meet and greet these awesome ladies.

Explore our website to learn more - https://www.detroitabloom.com/

Anemone coronaria, Poppy Anemone💜🧡💜We have two little patches of these spring anemones growing in the hoophouse. They ju...
03/19/2025

Anemone coronaria, Poppy Anemone
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We have two little patches of these spring anemones growing in the hoophouse. They just started blooming last week and lift me up everytime I see them!
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Part of their charm is the the ring of leaflets below the flower. These leaflets were the sepals that held and protected the flower bud. As the bloom ages the stem continues to grow or elongate (photo 2) from the sepals to the bloom. There is no other foliage on the stem. The blooms close up at night! I expect to see the Mason Bees finding their way to the back of the hoophouse soon, to gatther some pollen and drink some nectar!
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The species name may jump out at you! Yes, this is a reference to our 2020 Covid virus. Coronaria means crown and refers to the intricate, beautiful center (photo 4).
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Have a great day!

Our 6th Annual Vegan Fest is scheduled for Saturday, July 19, 2025, noon - 6 pm.We are looking for Vendors! 🌿🌱🍃Do you ha...
03/18/2025

Our 6th Annual Vegan Fest is scheduled for Saturday, July 19, 2025, noon - 6 pm.
We are looking for Vendors! 🌿🌱🍃
Do you have a Vegan product you would like to sell at our Fest? If you are interested send an email to Kimi Martin at [email protected]. Be sure to include product information and any social media links you have. Kimi is a DA Board Member and is directing our 2025 Vegan Fest.
Kimi will get back to your request with details. Vendor fee is $50/10' space 💜💜💜
Link to Vegan Fest webpage - https://www.detroitabloom.com/vegan-fest

Tom and I spent some time at DA yesterday, checking things out! It was so pleasantly warm, I wanted to start diggng arou...
03/10/2025

Tom and I spent some time at DA yesterday, checking things out! It was so pleasantly warm,
I wanted to start diggng around and cleaning up. But thinking about the fact that it is still really early stopped me. Today looks to be another tease! Resist the urge and enjoy the day.
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Remember it is too early to be working the garden beds as the soil is too wet. Also there are critters in your garden, so always leave leaf litter and about 10" standing if you cut back native perennials. This protects the native bees and insects overwintering.
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Not much was growing yesterday except the Hellebores poking their heads up!
Here is an excellent post from Margaret Roach from A Way to Garden, from Margaret Roach on March Chores, She lists other chores such as cleaning out bird houses and ordering supplies that need to be completed.

https://awaytogarden.com/the-march-garden-chores/

There is a word for a weather pattern we've been seeing. That word is boomerang!This describes those 20 degree shifts th...
03/06/2025

There is a word for a weather pattern we've been seeing. That word is boomerang!
This describes those 20 degree shifts that happen in a 24 hour period. In the spring it can bring periods of high heat that cause stress and premature blooming!
Photo #1 from March 7, 2024 - P***y Willows were just about ready to bloom a month early last year.
Photo #2 is 2025 status after a "more" normal winter.
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A warmer spell is on the way. Hopefully, it won't be too hot or last long enough to cause damage when the cold returns. It's too early to work the soil, but it's a good time to get some Vitamin D and assess the garden.

Looking for Volunteers to help plant about 100 bare roots!🌿🍃🌱We just received our shipment of bare roots from including...
03/05/2025

Looking for Volunteers to help plant about 100 bare roots!
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We just received our shipment of bare roots from including Baptisia, Amsonia, and Veronica!
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We are looking for volunteers starting tomorrow, Thursday thru Saturday, anytime from 10 am to 5 pm. If you can come, get in touch with Tom, 313-434-5121 or [email protected] and let him know you can come and what time period.
Come to the Hoophouse at 305 Newport St.!
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As always, we appreciate your help! We couldn't do what we do without volunteers.

There are many reasons to plant Agastache foeniculum, Anise Hyssop.💜💜💜Also known as the licorice plant, it blooms for a ...
03/03/2025

There are many reasons to plant Agastache foeniculum, Anise Hyssop.
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Also known as the licorice plant, it blooms for a very long time! The blooms can start as early as June and last all the way through summer's end. It isn't necessary to deadhead the spires! The tiny florets keep opening a few at a time. If you look closely at the tiny florets, you can see exactly how the pollination works. The bee lands on the bottom lip landing pad while the upper lip containing the anthers and the pollen rubs against their head. Subsequent visits transfer the pollen to a stigma, also located on the upper lip! There is a lot going on here!
It is part of the remarkable Mint Family and so you get fragrance as well! Visited by butterflies such as the Great Spangled Fritillary, Skippers and Hummingbirds!
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Native Plant webstore - https://www.detroitabloom.com/native-plant-store

Our Native Plant webstore will open for preorders tomorrow, Thursday, 2/27 at 8 a.m.All orders are for pickup only at ou...
02/26/2025

Our Native Plant webstore will open for preorders tomorrow, Thursday, 2/27 at 8 a.m.
All orders are for pickup only at our hoophouse in Jefferson Chalmers Neighborhood, starting the last week in May.
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The store items will be listed as Sold Out until we open!

Link to store - https://www.detroitabloom.com/native-plant-store

Some springtime hope!🌱🍃🌿Every autumn we start some "cool weather" flowers to plant and overwinter in the hoophouse. 1. W...
02/26/2025

Some springtime hope!
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Every autumn we start some "cool weather" flowers to plant and overwinter in the hoophouse.
1. We sprouted Ranunculus and Anemone corms in October and got them in the ground by months end.
2. We soaked, sprouted and planted Sweet Pea seeds in September.
3. Trying something new! We started Foxglove Camelot variety seeds in late August.

I had reason to worry about these seedlings when the extreme cold came in Jan. Last year the back of the hoophouse blew in and our ranuncs were pretty much toast. Sad to lose your first crop before the season begins! We protected with many covers of frost cloths and row covers. The Ranuncs took a small hit as a few of the lower leaves yellowed. But the soil temps remained a steady 40 deg.
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Cool weather flowers are ones that grow best in the cooler spring weather. By starting them in the fall and overwintering them, the roots become stronger, growing plants that produce more flowers over a longer period. You could also start these plants now, but the output would be greatly reduced!

We received some questions on yesterday's Costa Rica post, so I thought another post is needed!We have traveled to CR 6 ...
02/23/2025

We received some questions on yesterday's Costa Rica post, so I thought another post is needed!
We have traveled to CR 6 times now. The last 3 trips have been to the Osa Peninsula. This area contains 2.5% of the earth's biodiversity while only taking up 0.001% of the planets landmass! We stay at to the Tropics, family-owned accommodations in Puerto Jimenez. They have many different types of lodging; from the villa we stay in to hostel type setting. 🛖🛖🛖
One third of the peninsula consists of Corcovado National Park. It contains primary and secondary forest growth. CR started reinvesting in their land some 50 years ago. As a result, many parts of CR including Corcovado were regenerated after being stripped for gold mining, cattle ranching and commercial crops. These are now considered secondary growth. Tom and I have visited Palo Verde & Cabo Blanco 2 other sites that have been turned back to nature. The Costa Ricans (Ticos) have seen the benefits of tourism and protecting rather than destroying what they have. It is a fine line to balance tourism with protection. For instance, you must have a guide to enter Corcovado Park. Trading in wild or captive bred pets such as Macaws are also outlawed. 🦅🐵🐢

Another thing that makes Osa unique is Golfito Dulce (Sweet Gulf) is one of four tropical fjiords in the world. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, coral reefs and mangroves abound in this freshwater paradise. 🐊🐬🐋

Pura Vida! The pure and simple life!
Tom and I are considering doing a class at the Neighborhood Club on Costa Rica. Would you be interested in learning more?
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1. American Crocodile We found some very secluded lagoons!)
2. Boat-billed Heron (strange looking dudes)
3. Red-lored Amazon Parrots (Leave their roost at 5:30 am and return at 5:30 pm)
4. Capuchin, White-faced Monkeys (they love bananas and watermelon)
5. Iquana
6. Spotted Dolphins inGolfito Dulce
7. Turtle
8. Anteater
9. Spider Monkey (really fast and hard to capture)
10. Macaws (mate for life, can live for up to 40 years)

Hello! We took some time off this off season to rest and rejuvinate! We're back at it now! 💜💜💜We hope everyone is surviv...
02/22/2025

Hello! We took some time off this off season to rest and rejuvinate! We're back at it now! 💜💜💜
We hope everyone is surviving the cold winter! We just returned from a glorious month in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica. The flowers are amazing, so why don't I share some here for your viewing pleasure! 🧡❤️💛
1. Torch Ginger
2. Queen's Wreath
3. Haliconia, Lobster's Claw (a keystone plant in Costa Rica)
4. Pagoda Flower
5. Sky Flower
6. Edible Banana
7. Green Bat Flower
8. Bougainvillea

12/03/2024

It's Giving Tuesday!
We are so grateful to everyone who helped to make DA a success this growing season. That includes the many daily visitors who graced our gardens, sat a spell and were amazed by our pollinators!
Please consider donating to our seasonal project. Donations this time of year help immensely!
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Link to donate - https://www.detroitabloom.com/donate

We hope everyone had a super Thanksgiving!💜🌱💜In this season of thankfulness we are appreciating our hoophouse! The warm ...
11/29/2024

We hope everyone had a super Thanksgiving!
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In this season of thankfulness we are appreciating our hoophouse! The warm fall weather has allowed us to get a good jump on 2025. One of the crops we get going in the fall are ranunculus corms. We soak the crab-like corms for an hour or two, place them in crates with soil and wait a couple of weeks until they sprout roots. Then it is time to plant them in our unheated hoophouse. By the time the snow flies, we have small plants.
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The plants may grow visably during the winter especially if we have sunny days, but the real action is beneath the soil. The roots grow stronger during the cold months and as a result the plants can produce more blooms in the spring. Our hoophouse beds never go below 40 degrees, perfect for cool season spring bloomers like ranunculus.
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We missed the ranunculus this year. We tried a new planting method in the fall of 2023 that was not successful. Also, that early polar weather during fall 2023 blew in the back of the hoophouse and we lost most of the ones that had geminated and grown! Lessons learned! I guess missing a season will increase our enjoyment this coming April 2025

Address

244 Manistique
Detroit, MI
48215

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

(313) 587-2446

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It's Giving Tuesday! We are so grateful to everyone who helped to make DA a success this growing season. That includes the many daily visitors who graced our gardens, sat a spell and were amazed by our pollinators! Please consider donating to our seasonal project. Donations this time of year help immensely! 💜🩷💜 Link to donate - https://www.detroitabloom.com/donate #givingtuesday #gardeningcommunity #nonprofit

Just in a drone shot from the Dahlia Fest! Thank you Anthony, Tom's son! 💜💜💜

The gardens are spuced up and waiting for visitors! Come tomorrow to our Dahlia Fest! Noon to 6 pm, 248 Manistique St. in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood. Food, beverage, kids activities and bouquets for sale! 💜

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Join Us in a Vision

Detroit Abloom is a cut flower farm and nonprofit organization. The revenue generated from our flowers and services allows us to provide part time work and to continue growing at the farm.

In 2015 we acquired 9 vacant lots from the Detroit land bank Authority, and since then, added 6 more lots to make a total of 15 in the middle of a residential neighborhood, the 200 block of Manistique and Ashland. In just 3 years, we (Nancy and Tom), with the help of friends and volunteers, turned the lots into an attractive urban oasis, learned how to grow over 100 varieties of flowering plants and developed a comprehensive floral service business. We see a big future in using cut flower farming as a viable way to turn vacant land (much of it blighted) into beautiful and productive landscapes. We also thrive to protect native species of pollinating insects and have partnered with bees in the D to turn Detroit Abloom into an educational center. This year we will start a native plant nursery and build a butterfly house to help the Monarch butterfly population. And we LOVE volunteers!