Despite the snow still blanketing the fields at Eleven Mile Farm in Allegheny County, flower farmer Becca Ringham is busy forcing spring to arrive a little early.
"People love getting flowers. People love seeing and smelling flowers. As soon as you walk in and see this display, our bodies are responding to it — and really, flowers are magical in that sense," Ringham said.
To survive Pittsburgh's winters, Ringham grows indoors using hydroponics, meaning the flowers are grown in water, not soil. This method allows her to grow thousands of specialty tulips, including fringe and double-bloom varieties not typically found in grocery stores.
"That was a goal of mine — to have fresh, locally grown flowers available for customers for Valentine's Day. There is definitely a science and a technique behind it, which I have been working on for the past three years, but I think we have a spectacular offering this year, so we really nailed it," Ringham said.
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