When and where will I get my bouquets?

CSA subscriptions are for pickup or delivery on Fridays on a bi-weekly basis. Pickup locations will be in Old Town and downtown DC, with potential additional pickup locations to come depending on demand! We can also deliver within the DMV area - check out the order form to confirm you’re in our delivery zone.

What is a CSA and how does it work?

Community-supported agriculture is a purchasing agreement structured differently than going into a store and buying what’s on the shelf – this is a subscription planned out so that you as a customer can rely on beautiful blooms and we as a farmer can rely on eager customers! We plan and plant extensively based on these subscriptions and plan out our year with you in mind so subscription clients get the best of the best blooms.

What are the benefits of CSA subscriptions vs. grocery store flowers?

We grow locally using sustainable and organic methods, meaning your flowers are at their seasonal peak specific to the DMV, fresh and beautiful with a dramatically reduced carbon footprint. As an example, if you’ve ever bought home a bunch of peonies from the market for a steal of a price, and experienced the disappointment of having half the bunch never open, you’ve seen the downsides of imported flowers that are kept in cold storage over thousands of miles. That said, different stores of course have different sourcing methods, and we certainly hope to see more large chains buying local flowers! Beyond that, the choice is simply about the style you’re seeking and the businesses you want to support, and we aren’t here to shame grocery store flowers – we believe in more flowers for more people, period!

What if I can’t get my bouquet a particular week of the subscription? What if I’m out of town?

Not a problem! The bi-weekly structure means you can easily switch a week during the subscription period if you need. Just note when placing your order, or send us an email with the week you’ll need to miss to jordan@oldtownbotanical.com.

What kind of blooms can I expect?

The freshest and most beautiful expressions of the season! We love that gardening lets us experience nature’s ebbs and flows throughout the year, and we design subscriptions so you can partake in the same pattern. Spring CSAs will bring tulips, poppies, lilacs, daffodils, ranunculus, feverfew, peonies, delphiniums, snapdragons… the dreamiest blooms. Then as the nights warm and daylight lengthens, more summer classics and perennials reach their peak for the Summer CSA subscriptions, bringing stems like dahlias, roses, celosia, phlox, sunflowers, yarrow, and cosmos.

What do you mean when you say “local flowers”?

80% of the flowers sold in the United States are imported, per the USDA. Local flowers mean they’re grown local to the DMV. We currently grow across several different pieces of land in Alexandria, so in this case, we’re generally servicing within a 50-mile radius. Depending on the variety, many local flowers deliver enhanced vase life, stem strength, scent, and color vibrancy vs. those that have to travel halfway across the globe to get to you, spending weeks in cold storage, traveling, wrapped and boxed in extra plastic materials, and on planes. In our experience, people bring blooms into their homes because they want to connect with nature, interact with living species, appreciate the planet, and experience beauty. Most consumers purchasing cut flowers are seeking a fundamentally sustainable product literally designed to celebrate the earth. We vehemently believe local flowers deliver on that goal in a way imported flowers simply cannot.

How can I best take care of my bouquets?

Each will include a care card, but the shorthand guidance we use for bouquet care is to focus on keeping the water clean. Change it every day or every other day, and consider giving your stems a new fresh cut at the very end if you see them browning so they can get a fresh drink.

What if I want extra blooms a particular week during my subscription (such as for Mother’s Day)?

You can always purchase a bespoke bouquet for a special date. For Mother’s Day specifically within the subscription window, we exclusively offer CSA subscribers the option to add a second full-size bouquet ($75 value) for $50 - just check the box when ordering for an extra arrangement on Friday, May 8.

Do you ship?

Unfortunately we do not ship any flowers at this stage of our small business, we simply do not have the capacity to guarantee the seasonal quality we pride ourselves on when shipping and are focused on serving our local market within driving distance.

Why do I have to place my order so far in advance?

CSA subscriptions open months before they’re available for delivery. Because we grow on a small scale for the time being, we source, seed start and plant out with your subscriptions in mind, and those things take a long time. We deeply appreciate your support and look forward to growing blooms designated with your name on ‘em!