Tulips bloom year-round at Californian grower

Horan began growing tulips for her business, Cold Creek Flowers, after walking past a neighbor’s peony garden in full bloom. In the wake of her evacuation during the 2021 Dixie Fire, she felt a deeper pull to bring serenity back to her community. She began growing and selling flowers.

Originally from Southern California, Horan landed in Plumas County through a summer job in the heat of 2020. She quickly decided this landscape was home. A multitude of good fishing spots, easy access to pristine outdoor adventures and encouragement from friends led her to purchase a fixer-upper home in Clear Creek near Westwood. Horan is a keen observer and that first winter she noticed that documented growing zones do not always dictate what types of plants can thrive in harsher conditions. She began to research microclimates and discovered that tulips could not only be successful at high elevations, but a diverse variety can thrive here despite snowy winters.

Horan’s desire to learn about and grow flowers stems from her inherent love for knowledge. She holds two Master’s degrees, one in library information science and a second in the science of instruction design technology. In addition to her flower business, Horan maintains full-time employment as a librarian at a community college in Southern California aimed at serving and assisting working adults in their pursuit of education.