Episode 79: How Janniebird Farm Thrives in Zone 4 with Flower Farmer Annie Amrich

How do you grow flowers in a region known for long winters, short seasons, and frequent frosts?In this episode, we are joined by Annie Amrich of Janniebird Farm, a Zone 4 flower farmer thriving in the high-altitude climate of Gunnison, Colorado. Annie shares how she forces thousands of tulips each year, grows without greenhouses, and keeps flowers blooming nearly year-round in a place where frost can arrive any month of the year.Annie’s journey — from athletic training and medical sales back to the creativity she grew up with — is a beautiful reminder that it’s never too late to follow what feels true. She opens up about leaning into hardy crops, building community in a small mountain town, and developing a new perennial field designed for workshops, gatherings, and connection.What You’ll Learn in Episode 79: How Annie grows successfully in Zone 4 without tunnels or greenhouses What it takes to force thousands of tulips for winter and holiday blooms How she markets flowers in a small town and builds loyal community support Lessons from rehabilitating new soil and planning a perennial-focused expansion Encouragement for anyone growing — or dreaming of growing in a cold climateShow Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/12/23/ep-79-zone-4-flower-farming-with-janniebird-farm/Connect with Annie: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janniebirdfarm/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janniebirdfarm Website: https://www.janniebirdfarm.com/ Connect with Jennifer, Host of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast: Website: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/ Follow the Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thebackyardbouquetpodcast/Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletterJoin Us At The Profitable Dahlia SummitThe first-ever virtual summit focused exclusively on growing dahlias for profit is here!Whether you’re dreaming of a small side hustle, saving for your next vacation, or building a full-fledged dahlia focused business — this 2-day online virtual event will show you how.Join us March 3–4, 2026 to learn from experienced dahlia growers who are selling bouquets, tubers, CSA shares, event tickets, and more — and doing it profitably.You’ll walk away with real strategies to turn your passion into income, even if you're just getting started.🎟️ Early bird tickets start at just $49 through January 11, 2026.Save your spot here: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.mykajabi.com/profitabledahiliasummit/ *** Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet ***If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes.New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!