Friends Flower Farm
Andrew and Peter modeling their matching outfits at the farmers market in 2018
The family farm tractor shipped to Iowa in 2015 takes care of big farm jobs and provides memories of the family business in Washington.
Farm cat Bruce is on the prowl.
Hauling Iowa-grown Gladiolas for processing.
Our first flower harvest in 2014!
Most flowers available on the market today are sprayed heavily with pesticides. Thanks to our organic farming practices, this monarch caterpillar is having a good meal.
Arrange your own flower bucket cut in August
The farm is located just north of Ames, Iowa:
16117 550th Ave
Story City, IA 50248
If you are coming to visit us, the quickest route from Ames is to take 69North to the Casey’s corner (170th Street), travel 1 mile, and turn left (North) on 550th Ave. Go almost 1 mile and you will see the farm on the left (west) side of the road.
Friends Flowers at the Ames Farmers market on a busy Saturday morning in the summer
Our Farm Story
Friend’s Flowers is more than just our name, it’s the history of our family.
Andrew grew up on a 100 acre farm in central Washington that grew gladiolus for commercial production. His family comes from a long line of Dutch farmers traced back to the 1700's, with his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather earning their livings in flower farming. As a child, he remembers riding along in the flower van over the mountains to deliver cut glads to florists in Seattle. He grew up doing field work: planting, cutting, and weeding the glad crop. Sometimes he got to make glad bunches in the cold room, taking special pride when they sold. Andrew is now an engineer working for CIRAS at Iowa State.
The Friend Family Flower Farm near Zillah, Washington.
Naomi grew up as a “town kid” in Sioux Center, Iowa. Her mother taught her a love of gardening, plants and animals, which she learned on the family farm in Minnesota. Naomi is a horticultural explorer: she does not have a hort degree but is self-taught and has learned flower farming techniques through flower farming communities like the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. She is the floral designer, and also manages the flower varieties, seed starting, volume and planting schedule, as well as overseeing most day-to-day farm operations. Her MFA is in Art, specializing in painting and photography. See her art at naomifriend.com and how flower farming and art weave her passions together.
Naomi with a harvest of blue ornamental wheat
Andrew met Naomi while attending Dordt University in Sioux Center, IA. After they married in 2010 and moved to Ames for Graduate school, they grew vegetables in community garden plots.
Shortly after graduating from Iowa State in late 2013, Andrew and Naomi purchased an old 3.25 acre farmstead near Story City, IA. That fall they planted several hindered tulips with borrowed farm equipment. Now they cut thousands of stems each month with over 70 varieties of flowers thorough the season.
Their son Peter joined the farm in 2017. He loves tractors and being outside almost as much as his daddy! He is good at remembering the names of the many flowers, plants, and insects on the farm and is quick to help with projects, especially the ones that involve tractor rides.
Baby Susanna joined the flower party in July 2023. She is a cheerful addition to the menagerie and every day we get to know her better.
Farmer Peter with his flower harvest of deep purple lisianthus.
Newborn Susanna in August 2023 soaking in the flower experience.
Our chickens work hard clearing up bugs, including Japanese Beatles.