Welcome Spring

Tulips and ranunculus come into bloom at Fudgetown Farm, marking a new season on a family farm rooted in Oxford.

Written by Lena Anderson | Photos by Joe Worthem

The anticipation of spring feels even more palpable this year, with a collective desire to bid farewell to a brutal winter and welcome its warmer, brighter counterpart.

Fudgetown Farm is answering the call, as rows of specialty tulips and ranunculus unfurl across the farm’s former pastureland, signaling the return of one of Lafayette County’s most anticipated signs that spring has arrived.

Located on Fudgetown Road, now County Road 418, the third-generation farm is run by Jordan Daniels and her husband, James Bowker, on property owned by Daniels’ grandmother. The farm takes its name from the road itself, originally named for the Fudge family, a prominent early Oxford family that once owned the original City Grocery before it became the local restaurant it is today.

Daniels grew up in Colorado but spent summers and holidays visiting her family in Oxford.

During the pandemic, she and Bowker returned to help care for the property and soon decided to stay. After completing farmer training programs and working on an established organic farm in Virginia, the couple converted one of the old cow pastures into a working cut-flower and produce farm, yielding thousands of flower stems and thousands of pounds of produce every year.

Fudgetown Farm is Certified Naturally Grown (CNG), a peer-reviewed certification that follows the same standards as USDA Organic.

“There are no synthetic pesticides or herbicides, no GMOs,” Bowker said. “It’s the same exact fine print. The only difference is who the certifier is.”

For many small farms in Mississippi, that distinction matters. While organic standards are federally regulated, the inspection process has been privatized and increasingly centralized in regions with higher concentrations of organic farms. For Southern growers, the cost of bringing in out-of-state inspectors can be prohibitive, making alternative certification programs like CNG a more accessible way to uphold the same standards.

Certified Naturally Grown emerged as an alternative that maintains rigorous standards through peer inspections by nearby farms. Growers review one another’s practices using detailed checklists and rotating schedules, ensuring accountability without the financial barrier. The result is a network of local farms operating under the same principles, even if the label looks different.

In addition to flowers, Fudgetown Farm grows greens, strawberries, root vegetables, pumpkins and more, selling through local farmers markets, restaurants and Chicory Market in Oxford. For Daniels, buying local offers tangible benefits for consumers.

“Most of what we sell has been harvested within 24 to 48 hours,” she said. “You’re getting something fresher, handled by fewer people, and it lasts longer. That’s especially true for flowers.”

Longtime customer and flower club member Wendy Pfrenger agrees.

“I love that the flowers are so fresh that I can always have one in my office and one on the table at home, since they come in faster than they fade,” she said. “And I just love the textures! Some of the bouquets will have native plants mixed in, adding color and shape so you want to touch them, not just look at them.”

Supporting Fudgetown Farm also means investing in the local community. The farm employs

two part-time to full-time workers, with hours that shift seasonally and often include students. In addition, volunteers from the University of Mississippi’s nutrition program regularly spend time on the farm, gaining firsthand experience with how food is grown. For Daniels and Bowker, sharing that knowledge is part of their work, extending the farm’s impact beyond the fields.

This spring, Fudgetown Farm is also expanding its role as a gathering place, with plans for U-pick strawberries, seasonal flower workshops and on-farm events that invite the community to engage more closely with where their food and flowers come from. By opening its fields to visitors, the farm reflects what spring represents: a return to warmth and color, and the reassurance that growth follows even the hardest seasons.

Spring in Full Color at Fudgetown Farm

Tulips: A Short but Spectacular Show

Tulips are among the first flowers to bloom each spring at Fudgetown Farm, but they’re also one of the most fleeting. Unlike garden tulips that may return year after year in colder climates, tulips grown for cut flowers in Mississippi must be replanted annually. Fudgetown sources specialty bulbs, including double and fringed varieties, chosen for their color, form and vase life. The result is a brief but brilliant window of blooms that signals the true start of spring.

Ranunculus: The “Rose of Spring”

Ranunculus are a standout favorite among customers and florists alike. Known for their tightly layered petals and vibrant hues, they resemble roses but thrive in cool early-spring conditions. Planted in the fall and harvested in late winter and early spring, ranunculus reward patience with long-lasting stems and exceptional texture. “They’re definitely a fan favorite,” co-owner Jordan Daniels said — and one of the most photographed flowers on the farm.

How Fudgetown Protects Early Blooms

Spring flowers are delicate, but Fudgetown Farm relies on high tunnels — greenhouse-like structures — to protect their most valuable crops from ice, wind and temperature swings. During extreme cold, additional frost blankets provide insulation. This layered approach allows the farm to navigate North Mississippi’s unpredictable winters while keeping flowers healthy and on schedule.

Why Ice Can Be a Good Thing

It may sound counterintuitive, but snow and ice can actually help certain cold-hardy plants survive winter weather. Ice acts as an insulating layer, shielding crops from harsher temperature drops below. When paired with proper planting timing and protection, winter weather can become less of a threat, even in years that are marked by extremes.

When to Visit

Tulips and ranunculus typically peak in March and April, depending on temperatures. Because bloom times shift with the weather, visitors are encouraged to visit fudgetownfarm.com or follow @fudgetownfarm on Facebook and Instagram for the most up-to-date availability and event dates.