Maddi Fard is a local mom and flower farmer based in Glen Arm, Maryland. I recently spoke with her to learn more about her business, Magnolia’s Mushrooms. If you’ve driven down Long Green Pike, you may have come across her flower stand with the hand painted ‘Fresh Flowers’ sign. Magnolia’s Mushrooms had its first official season in 2023, and has grown each year (pun intended) since. 

Early Beginnings

Maddi started on her flower farming journey in 2020 during COVID, when she began growing plants from seeds. Prior to that, she hadn’t grown anything before! She started everything in egg cartons & strawberry containers, and over time developed different techniques for effectively growing in a designated space. She credits Instagram, seed catalogs, and seed websites for learning the process and making it easier for beginners such as herself. 

Inspired by Family

In 2021, Maddi got pregnant with her daughter, Alana. The name Magnolia’s Mushrooms was inspired by Alana’s middle name (Magnolia) and the mushrooms Maddi and her partner, Chris, grew about a year before growing flowers. Chris is a local arborist and owner of Tattersall Tree Experts. To grow mushrooms, he would bring home logs from the tree company, inoculate them by drilling spores inside, and seal them with a wax coating. The pieces would then be stacked in a log cabin formation for efficient arrangement and to provide air flow.

Business Growth

Magnolia’s Mushrooms has evolved since the early flower stand days. In its first season, Maddi had a card table with a broken beach umbrella to set up her flower arrangements at the end of her driveway. She found a piece of wood and painted ‘Fresh Flowers’ on it, which she still uses. Her first customer was her mailman, and he continues to support her business today. The current stand was built two seasons ago, made locally by a good friend of Maddi's. This beautiful, well-designed wood structure will last a lifetime.

For payment, the stand uses an honor system with a cash box and a QR code for Maddi’s Venmo information. This allows Maddi to spend more time with her daughter, which is her top priority. At the end of the day, she created this business to support her family.

Over the years, Magnolia’s Mushrooms has gained traction from people driving by, through partnerships with local businesses (including The Roast and The Market at Long Green, which are just a short drive down the road), word of mouth, and through social media. In its second year, Magnolia’s Mushrooms began building its social media presence and following. Maddi would post photos of flower arrangements, photos from events, plus behind the scenes photos from her garden. Alana has grown up immersed in the process of growing and tending the space. At just 4 years old, she is now able to identify flowers and make her own bouquets. She also has a child-sized bee suit because Maddi and Chris keep bees on their property. 

The business has expanded each year since the beginning. Maddi and Chris use Chris’ tree equipment to clear out space in their yard and extend/maintain the growing area. They do not use sprays or pesticides on their flowers, everything is organic. They get mushroom compost from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (the mushroom capital of the world) to mix into the soil.  

This Season and Beyond

A lot of thought and preparation goes into flower farming, where planning begins 2-3 seasons ahead of time. Maddi grows everything in a spare bedroom in her house, with 120-160 seedlings fitting on a cafeteria tray using a technique called soil blocking. To prepare for the 2026 season, she grew many more spring flowers than in previous years: 3,000 seedlings planted in the ground for spring (overwintered in October). This included Lisianthus, Strawflower, Winged Everlasting, and Snapdragons. She also grew tulips for the first time, with the first patch ready right after Easter. 

Get in Touch

Follow along on Facebook & Instagram
Email: magnoliasmushrooms@gmail.com

Events

PYO for littles (once a month)- check social media for upcoming events
Arrangements- dances, weddings, elopements, baby showers, maternity photos, and other events

Hours

Magnolia’s Mushrooms is open on weekends during the spring (upon availability)
Open every day June-October (stocked) 

Location

11639 Long Green Pike
Glen Arm, MD, 21057