The Mum Season Has Started!
This time last year, The Mum Project was just an idea — a hope to bring back the beauty of heirloom chrysanthemums to our corner of South Carolina. We’d seen the incredible work of other local flower farms reviving these lost varieties and knew we wanted to be part of it.
With the help of the ACRE grant, that vision took shape. In early spring, we began construction on our new hoop house, designed specifically to extend our growing season and give these mums the conditions they love best — cool nights, steady moisture, and protection from our unpredictable fall weather.
Next came the growing beds — carefully built, amended, and mapped for 18 varieties of heirloom mum varieties passed down through dedicated chrysanthemum societies and small farms. These aren’t your typical potted mums. They’re true heirlooms — varieties once treasured for their elegance, fragrance, and sculptural petals, now making a comeback thanks to local flower growers.
The 18 varieties we selected are divided into 6 varieties each from the early, mid-season and late-season categories. These classifications are assigned by the National Chrysanthemum Society. We do this so we don’t have the entire hoop house blooming at the same time.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing photos and stories as each variety comes into bloom. It’s been a journey of learning, growth, and joy — and we can’t wait for you to see what’s next.
Here are the first three:
Fall Charm
Peach Centerpiece
Pumpkin Eyes
Thank you for following along, for cheering us on through every stage of this project, and for believing in the power of local flowers. Send us your questions, and we will do our best to answer them in the coming updates.
Happy Fall,
Linda
The Fall Bulb Shop Is Open!
The wait is over—the bulbs have arrived, and our Fall Bulb Shop is officially open!
We’re surrounded by boxes of beautiful ranunculus and anemone corms. These are the flowers that chase away winter gray and remind us that beauty is always just below the surface, waiting for the right moment to shine.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning to explore the joy of growing your own flowers, these specialty bulbs are a wonderful place to start. We’ve selected our favorite varieties for both garden performance and vase life—rich jewel tones, delicate pastels, and everything in between.
This year’s shop also includes a few extras we think you’ll love:
🧤 Atlas Gardening Gloves – our favorite lightweight, breathable gloves for every task in the garden.
📘 Compost Tea eBook – a simple, practical guide to improving your soil health naturally, using the same methods we rely on here at Purple Tuteur Farm. Available as a digital download.
The Fall Bulb Shop will be open through October, and all orders will be shipped by November 3. Pickup and delivery options are also available, and active subscription members can even add bulbs to their next bouquet delivery.
🌾 A Taste of the Farm – Late Fall Subscriptions
If you’ve been missing fresh blooms on your table, our Late Fall Subscription – A Taste of the Farm is the perfect way to close the season. These limited three-week subscriptions feature the best of our heirloom chrysanthemums and late dahlias, hand-harvested and delivered through October. It’s a lovely way to enjoy the last colors of the field before winter’s rest. Order 1,2 or 3 weeks of blooms by October 13.
👉 Reserve Your Late Fall Subscription
There’s so much beauty still to come this season, and we’re grateful to share it with you. Whether you’re planting bulbs, enjoying the last of the field flowers, or planning ahead for holiday blooms—thank you for being part of our flower-loving community.
Experience the joy,
Linda
Purple Tuteur Farm
P.S. Holiday bulbs (like amaryllis + paperwhites) are coming soon—stay tuned for details in early November!
A Beautiful Finale: Late Season Bouquets & Our New Hoop House
Oberlin
As the days shorten and the air turns crisp, many people think the flower season has ended. But here at Purple Tuteur Farm, we’re just getting started on one of the most beautiful parts of the year. Thanks to our heirloom chrysanthemums and our brand-new hoop house, we’re able to extend the season and bring you fresh, abundant bouquets all the way through October and possibly into November too.
The Magic of Heirloom Mums
Fall Charm
Heirloom mums have a very long history but were almost lost as they were replaced in the marketplace by uniform, short-lived potted mums. For decades, chrysanthemum societies across the country quietly worked to keep these now-rare varieties alive. Today, local flower farms are bringing them back to the market—and customers are rediscovering just how extraordinary they are.
These are not your typical potted mums. Each bloom is layered, textured, and filled with character, offering a depth and beauty that is impossible to find in mass-market flowers. They come in a wide variety of forms. If you’ve seen the latest issue of Southern Living, you may have noticed their feature on Three Porch Farm in Georgia and the stunning resurgence of heirloom chrysanthemums. We’re thrilled to be part of this movement, sharing these breathtaking flowers with our community right here in South Carolina.
The Hoop House Advantage
Early season mums in bud
This year, we’ve taken a big step forward with the addition of a new hoop house, built with the support of an ACRE grant. The hoop house protects our mums from unpredictable fall weather and gives us greater control over growing conditions. The result? Stronger, healthier plants and more reliable blooms deep into the season. It’s a behind-the-scenes investment that allows us to keep delivering flowers long after the traditional bouquet season winds down.
Late Season Bouquets & Mini-Subscriptions
Saga no Yuki
We are offering a limited number of late season bouquets by pre-order only through the end of October. You can choose a single bouquet to enjoy or gift, or a 2 or 3-week mini-subscription. All orders include Tuesday delivery.
✨ Pre-orders close October 13, or sooner if we sell out. Don’t wait—availability is limited.
Each bouquet showcases the best of autumn—lush dahlias, rare heirloom mums, and seasonal textures that make this time of year unforgettable.
If you thought flower season was over, think again. Our fields (and now, our new hoop house!) are brimming with late season beauty just waiting to be shared.
✨ Experience the joy of autumn flowers—reserve your bouquet or mini-subscription today. ✨
The Fall Garden
Fall is finally here—goodbye sweltering afternoons, hello crisp mornings and garden projects we’ve been waiting months to tackle. Here are some of the highlights.
Dahlias
Dahlias
Hopefully, you are cutting and enjoying your own dahlias or enjoying those we’re delivering in your subscriptions! If you’re a grower and yours are slow to bloom, don’t give up—they’re just waiting for cooler nights. I’m personally counting the days until ‘Black Jack’ finally struts its stuff. What’s blooming in your garden right now?
For dahlias that are blooming, do not feed them any more nitrogen this year. Potassium is the key for the flowering stage of these plants. We use kelp to give them a boost and help them to keep blooming until frost.
Chrysanthemums
Mum Peaches and Cream
The shorter days may feel bittersweet, but for chrysanthemums, it’s the starting gun. Our ‘Peaches and Cream’ are just peeking out, and they’re worth the wait. We’re continuing to feed weekly and water well so they can give us their best blooms.
Peonies
if you have peonies, you should cut the foliage back to the ground. It probably looks like it is dead or deathly ill. This is normal. Be sure to throw any cuttings away and don’t put them in your compost pile. They may harbor disease, so better safe than sorry.
It’s always a little sad to cut back peony foliage—it feels like the season’s over. But be assured, this is setting them up for a stronger spring
Update on the Bulb Sale
We haven’t received the bulbs yet from our suppliers, so I’m holding the sale for now. There’s always a chance something spoils in transit, and I don’t want you to order something we don’t receive. The good news? Our bulbs are on their way from Holland—almost ready to brighten your garden beds! Keep an eye on your inbox—we’ll share the full lineup and ordering details as soon as they arrive.
Wreath Classes
We loved seeing your creativity in action at the wreath classes. Next, we’ll be shifting underground—literally—to focus on soil health. Stay tuned for our compost tea guide and more tips to grow healthy, happy flowers.
Here’s to crisp mornings, vibrant blooms, and plenty of garden joy this season. Until next time, happy fall—and remember to experience the joy!
Linda
P.S. Thanks for being here. Our newsletter community always gets first dibs on updates—your support makes everything we grow possible. 💛
A Cozy Morning in the Flowers
Our Fall Wreath Workshops are just around the corner — and there’s still time to join us! Step away from your to-do list and spend two hours surrounded by flowers, creativity, and kindred spirits.
✨ Start your morning in the dahlias
Arrive at 9:30 for a peaceful walk through the flower field. Studies show that simply viewing flowers boosts endorphins — the perfect reset before a cozy creative retreat.
☕ Gather + learn
At 10:00, we’ll head back to the workshop for coffee, water, and light refreshments. You’ll learn how we dry flowers and which varieties thrive best here at the farm.
🌿 Create with ease
Then, design your own grapevine wreath in a relaxed, no-stress style. No wires or fuss — just an effortless, natural arrangement that will last for years indoors.
📸 Share the joy
We’ll wrap up around noon with time for photos, socializing, and admiring each other’s creations.
💐 Special perks for attendees
Enjoy 10% off our perennial phlox plants, our new farm t-shirts, and even our online ranunculus + anemone bulb sale (Sept 22–Oct 10).
✨ Experience the joy of a flower-filled fall — we’d love to see you there!
🗓 Wed, Sept 17 or Sat, Sept 20
🕙 10 AM – 12 PM
📍 Purple Tuteur Farm
August Update - Looking to Fall
We’re heading into my favorite time of year on the farm. The intense summer heat is finally behind us, we’ve taken a short break to recharge, and now we can look forward to the flowers and foliage that become even more beautiful as the days grow shorter and cooler. Fall is always a busy season here, and this year is no exception.
Farm Fresh Bouquet Subscriptions
We started deliveries this week for our Late Summer to Fall bouquet subscription—thank you to everyone who signed up! We still have a few spots available for the 4-week option, with the final day to join on August 24, 2025.
Looking ahead, subscriptions for 2026 will open on December 1, 2025. Many of you love gifting subscriptions during the holidays, and we want to make sure you have time to plan ahead.
On Farm Workshops
Registration is open for our Fall Wreath Class. We’ll host two sessions:
Wednesday, September 17
Saturday, September 20
Come early and walk through our fall dahlia field, followed by a hands-on lesson in drying flowers and creating your own seasonal wreath. . More details here
Fall Bulb Sale
For those who love growing their own flowers, we’re offering specialty anemone and ranunculus bulbs again this year. Online ordering will be open September 22–October 10.
Options: pick up, shipping, or delivery
Active subscription holders can add bulbs to a scheduled bouquet delivery at no extra charge
All orders will be filled and sent by October 24
In South Carolina, November is the perfect time to plant these bulbs for spring bloom.
Holiday Bulb Sale
We’ll also have amaryllis and paperwhites available again this year—perfect for brightening your home or gifting during the holiday season. Ordering opens November 1. More details will be shared soon!
Behind the Scenes
This season, we’ve been busy planting dahlias and mums for fall bloom. Our new mum hoop house is almost complete—we put up the frame in June, added the end walls last weekend, and the final step is getting the plastic in place.
The hoop house will allow us to keep harvesting flowers for at least a couple of weeks after the first frost (which we expect around Halloween). That means we should have fresh blooms through mid-November this year!
Create a Dried Flower Wreath This Fall – Join Us on the Farm!
There’s something magical about turning flowers from our fields into keepsakes you can enjoy year-round. At Purple Tuteur Farm, we’ve been gathering and drying flowers all summer long—and now we’re inviting you to come craft with us.
Join us on Wednesday, September 17 or Saturday, September 20 for a hands-on Dried Flower Wreath Workshop. You’ll learn how to work with natural materials, design a balanced composition, and leave with a beautiful 12–14" wreath ready to hang.
Whether you're decorating your front door for fall or creating a gift for someone special, this class is a joyful way to celebrate the season. No experience needed—just come ready to get creative.
What’s included:
All dried flowers and materials
Instruction and guidance from our team
Light refreshments
A relaxing morning on the farm
Choose your date:
🗓 Wednesday, September 17
🗓 Saturday, September 20
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
👉 Reserve your spot now https://www.purpletuteur.com/classes/p/fall-wreath-workshop
July on the Farm: Rest, Reset, and Prepare
July is a month of transition here at our farm. We suspend our bouquet services because it’s hot, and we need time—time to take a break and visit with friends and family, time to catch up on the chores we can’t tackle when harvest is in full swing, and time to prepare for the glory and floral abundance that arrive in late summer and fall.
We close the farm the week of July 4th. Many of you are on vacation, the heat is rising, and we’re ready to take some time off, too. It’s always a week we look forward to after the busiest stretch of the flower season. We spend it visiting my husband’s family in Virginia, where a reunion happens over the holiday weekend, along with some dear friends who live nearby.
Irrigation Adventures
After the break, July farm work happens at a slower pace. We encourage all our employees to take vacation this month, so we work with smaller crews. The heat is something we take seriously, so we’re usually out of the field by 11 a.m.
Irrigation valve not shutting off properly due to a worn out diaphram
This past week, I started by checking all the irrigation. I’d rather get soaked in July than in January! Some parts of this job are pretty straightforward—like replacing diaphragms in the valves. Others feel like a scavenger hunt.
When we cleared the cool season plants out of the hoophouse, it was easy to see where we accidentally cut the drip line. The spray was obvious and simple to repair. But there still wasn’t enough pressure in the line, which meant another leak was hiding somewhere.
It took me about an hour to spot a small puddle just outside the hoophouse—right where there shouldn’t be any water. I started digging into the damp soil with my hands and finally uncovered a tiny hole gnawed into the hose, a vole’s calling card. It felt like finding a needle in a haystack! The repair was easy once the problem was isolated, and we’re happily back to full pressure now.
Summer Plantings and Fall Preparations
Dahlia Peaches under shade cloth
When temperatures climb above 90 degrees, many plants slow down as much as we do. Some go dormant, and the cool season annuals fade away. That frees up bed space to plant again.
Right now, we’re planting second and third successions of annuals, shifting into fall colors—zinnias, cosmos, celosia, and sunflowers.
The perennials get cut back and fed, giving them time to refresh for fall. This includes salvia, veronica, and the early season dahlias.
The fall dahlias and heirloom chrysanthemums are all planted. To help the dahlias cope with the heat, we cover them with 50% shade cloth, which lowers the temperature by 10–15 degrees and keeps them in the 70s–80s—right where they thrive.
The mums will be pinched this month to encourage branching and more blooms per plant. We’re excited to finally be growing these at scale and so grateful for the ACRE grant that helped us get here.
We’ll be incorporating these special flowers into our late summer and fall subscription bouquets and hope to offer something new in late October through early November, when the mums will be the stars of the show.
Fall Subscriptions Are Coming Soon
Our fall subscriptions will start in mid to late August. If you’d like to have fresh, beautiful flowers delivered right to your door as the seasons turn, you can sign up anytime on our website. We’d love to bring a little of the farm into your home.
We’d love to know your favorite ways to beat the summer heat!
Happy Summer,
Linda
P.S. Thanks to all of you who made it out to the farm for one of our events in June. We loved seeing so many of you during the Ag & Art Tour and at our Growing Dahlias classes. Your support and enthusiasm mean so much to us.
We’re on the Ag+Art Tour this Weekend! Come See What’s Blooming at the Farm
We're thrilled to be a featured stop on the Richland County Ag+Art Tour this weekend—Saturday and Sunday, June 7–8—and we'd love for you to join us!
This free, self-guided tour is part of a statewide event connecting visitors with local farms and artisans. At Purple Tuteur Farm, you’ll find not only gorgeous flowers in bloom but also a curated group of talented makers and plenty of space to slow down and enjoy the day.
Here’s what you can expect at our stop:
🌸 A blooming cut flower field (dahlias, heirloom mums, and more)
🧑🎨 Local artisans offering handmade goods
🧺 Fresh flower bouquets, garden plants, and bulbs for sale
🏡 A guided tour of the farm (Sat at 11 AM, Sun at 2 PM)
🚜 Time to explore, connect, and enjoy the beauty of local agriculture
Location:
📍 787 Langford Rd, Blythewood, SC 29016
Heads up: Google Maps might direct you to Arnell Court—don’t turn there. Our driveway is immediately left of Arnell Ct.
Hours:
🕘 Saturday, June 7 – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
🕘 Sunday, June 8 – 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Need-to-knows:
The event is free and family-friendly
Wear comfortable shoes—our fields and paths are grassy
Parking is onsite and easy to access
We’re excited to welcome you to the farm and share what we’ve been growing. Come by, say hello, and support local farms and artists. It means the world to us. For more about the Richland County Ag and Art Tour https://www.agandarttour.com/richland
See you this weekend!
Linda
June Events at Purple Tuteur Farm
Summer is just around the corner, and Purple Tuteur Farm is buzzing with blooms, beauty, and hands-on opportunities to learn and connect. June brings two of our favorite events of the year: our signature Dahlia Growing Workshops and participation in the South Carolina Ag + Art Tour. Whether you're a flower enthusiast, a curious gardener, or just looking for a scenic way to spend a day, we've got something magical in store.
South Carolina Ag + Art Tour – June 7 & 8
Hours: 9 AM – 4 PM on Saturday and 12 – 4 PM on Sunday
Admission: Free
Location: Purple Tuteur Farm (787 Langford Rd, Blythewood S.C. 29016)
We’re thrilled to be a stop on this year’s Ag + Art Tour—South Carolina’s largest free farm and art experience! Come explore the farm in peak bloom and see the beauty of locally grown flowers up close. Meet the farmer (that’s me!), tour the growing fields, and shop from local artists and makers who will be set up on-site.
This is a family-friendly event that’s part garden tour, part mini farmers market, part art crawl—and 100% fun.
What to Expect:
Guided and Self-guided flower field tours
Meet-the-artist booths with handmade goods
Farm-grown bouquets, plants and tubers for sale
Informal growing Q&A and planting tips
Beautiful photo ops in the dahlia patch
Come support local agriculture and the arts in one beautiful stop. Bring a friend (or two), and wear comfortable shoes—we’ll be walking among flowers and dreams.
For more on the Richland County Ag and Art Tour : https://www.agandarttour.com/richland
🌸 Dahlia Growing Workshops – Hands-On Learning
Dates: June 18 or 21 ,10 am - noon
Location: Purple Tuteur Farm, Blythewood, SC
Tickets: $75 per person – includes round table and in-field instruction, take-home materials, and 2 dahlia tubers
Registration deadline is June 15th.
If you want to add something to your garden that produces an abundance of flowers, consider dahlias. Now is a great time to get them started in the Midlands. Come learn what is involved in growing your own during our on-farm class.
The training begins with a presentation, followed by a walkthrough of the dahlia beds on the farm. While in the field, we will demonstrate some of the growing techniques that will make your dahlias produce their best blooms.
What we will cover:
Dahlia classifications and Variety selection considerations, Growing conditions, Planting, Tending, Common Pests and Diseases, Harvesting, and After Season Care
Here’s what you’ll take home:
A handout of the material covered
Two dahlia tubers from our farm stock to plant in your own garden
Maximum attendees per class is 10. Students must be 18 years or older to participate. No refunds after registering, but transfers of your seat to a friend are encouraged if you cannot attend.
June is the perfect time to get your dahlias established for a strong summer show—and our workshop will give you the knowledge and confidence to do just that.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned gardener looking to sharpen your skills, there is something for everyone in this class.
🎟️ Spots are limited. To register: https://www.purpletuteur.com/classes
We’d love to see you in June!
Follow us on Instagram @purpletuteur and Facebook @purpletuteur for behind-the-scenes peeks and reminders as we get closer.
💐 Purple Tuteur Farm – Experience the joy of locally grown cut flowers.
Mother’s Day Peonies
For the first time, we're offering a limited number of farm-fresh, Mother's Day peony bouquets — and because you're on our email list, you get first dibs before we open sales to the public.
Celebrate Mother's Day with the most luxurious flowers of the season:
✨ Vase Arrangement — $75
A lush, ready-to-gift peony arrangement featuring 5–7 premium blooms in an elegant birch bark vase. Includes an optional handwritten card.
✨ Wrapped Bunch (5 Stems) — $49.50
Five fresh-picked premium peonies, wrapped in a kraftpaper sleeve — perfect for creating your own arrangement or gifting with a personal touch.
🚚 Delivery & Pick-Up Options
Delivery: Friday, May 10 to the following zip codes:
29201, 29204, 29205, 29206, 29209, 29016, 29045, 29169, 29223, 29229Pick-Up: Saturday, May 11, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Purple Tuteur Farm (787 Langford Road, Blythewood, SC 29016)
The delivery or pick-up option you select applies to your entire order. Shipping is not available.
🎁 Sending as a Gift?
We’re happy to handwrite your personal message on our gift card. Just add it at checkout!
🌸 Quantities are limited, and once they're reserved, they're gone.
Secure your bouquet today and make this Mother’s Day unforgettable!
April On The Farm
The Fields Are Finally Starting to Bloom
The cooler temperatures have been perfect for our colder-loving flowers like ranunculus, poppies, tulips, and peonies. The Early Spring subscription bouquets were packed with these beauties!
As the days grow longer, we're seeing the field transition from bud to bloom with agrostemma, baptisia, columbine, peonies, and campanula. The pansies are starting to stretch tall, and soon we'll be able to use them in bouquets as well.
The dahlias are also making their way up. We leave the tubers in the ground over the winter, mulching them well. As the soil warms up, they begin to grow, giving us an early gauge for planting other warm-weather varieties—and the earliest possible blooms.
Though we’re seeing great progress with the dahlias, not everything has emerged yet. The cooler temperatures in March and early April have extended the spring. Because of this slower pace, we’ve decided to delay our tuber sale until June, aligning it with the Ag & Art event and our Dahlia Workshop. This will still give everyone plenty of time to grow them for fall blooms.
Spring to Summer Subscription Still Open!
There are still a few spots left for our Spring to Summer subscription season, which begins in just 10 days. The cut-off for signing up is 4/27/25. With Mother’s Day fast approaching, consider gifting a subscription! Here’s the link if you're interested.
Photo: Karen Bickley
Peony Class Recap
We hosted our first Growing Peonies in the South class last weekend. It was so much fun having passionate gardeners at the farm. We covered everything from selecting the right varieties to proper growing and care techniques for these long-lived beauties. The class sold out quickly, and unfortunately, we can't squeeze another session into our schedule this year. However, we've set up a waiting list and will poll interested folks early next spring to determine how many sessions to offer. Click here to join the waiting list.
Next Up: Ag & Art 2025
Our big open house is part of the Richland County Ag & Art Tour, happening June 7th & 8th. This free event showcases a variety of farms and artisans across the county. We’ll have both guided and self-directed tours, as well as farm-fresh bouquets, garden plants, and flower bulbs available for purchase. We hope you’ll stop by the farm! For more information, visit the Ag & Art Tour website.
Dahlia Workshop – June 18 or 21 (10 am to Noon)
Interested in growing dahlias? Join us for our on-farm Dahlia Workshop! Whether you want to grow them in your garden or in pots, this hands-on class covers everything you need to know. We’ll start with a presentation, then take a walk through our dahlia beds, and demonstrate techniques to help you grow the best blooms. Registration is open, and the deadline to sign up is June 15th. Sign up here!
Peony Growing in the South: On-Farm Workshop
This year we’ve decided to add a class on growing peonies. They aren’t hard to grow, but require patience because new peonies roots take 3 years to bloom. They are worth the wait! Here is the course description. We’re announcing the class here first. There are only 10 seats, so if you are interested please don’t hesitate. I will start announcing it on social media in a few days.
Many thanks,
Linda
🌸 Peony Growing in the South: On-Farm Workshop
Have you ever dreamed of growing peonies but assumed they just don’t grow in the South?
Good news: They do. And we’re here to show you how.
Join us at Purple Tuteur Farm during peak bloom to learn how to grow stunning peonies in Southern gardens. You’ll tour our thriving peony patch, see our process in action, and walk away with the confidence to grow your own.
📆 Class Details
Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Purple Tuteur Farm, Columbia, SC
Registration Deadline: Thursday, April 10, 2025
Class Size: Limited to 10 participants
Light refreshments provided
Sign Up : https://www.purpletuteur.com/classes/p/growing-peonies-in-the-south-an-on-farm-class
👩🌾 What to Expect
We’ll begin with a short presentation, then head out into the field for a guided walk-through of our peony beds. You'll get a hands-on demonstration of harvesting techniques that help keep plants healthy and productive year after year.
This course is perfect for beginners — no prior gardening experience needed.
🌿 Topics We’ll Cover
Peony classifications & variety selection for the South
Soil, sun, and spacing requirements
Planting & seasonal care
Common pests & diseases (and how to manage them)
Harvesting techniques
After-season care for long-term success
📘 You’ll Take Home:
A printed handout of all materials covered
A list of recommended Southern-friendly peony varieties
A printable Peony Planting & Care Calendar
❓ FAQs
Q: Is this class beginner-friendly?
Yes! This class is designed for gardeners of all experience levels.
Q: Will peony roots be available for purchase?
No — this isn’t the right season for planting. However, we may have fresh-cut peony blooms available, depending on what Mother Nature has in store.
Q: What’s the refund policy?
All sales are final, but if you can’t make it, you’re welcome to transfer your seat to a friend. In case of severe weather or illness, we may reschedule or cancel the class — full refunds will be provided if Purple Tuteur Farm initiates a cancellation.
Q: Is there an age requirement?
Yes, all attendees must be 18 or older.
Five Top Flowers in Our Early Spring Subscription Bouquets
Farm Dirt – March 2025 Edition
Early spring is finally bringing an explosion of color, fragrance, and floral beauty to our flower farm. After our long cold February, the burst of blooms is more dramatic than usual. If you're new to our seasonal flower subscription, you’re in for a treat! Each bouquet is filled with the best of what’s blooming, carefully arranged to bring joy to your home or to give as a heartfelt gift. To many of you, who have been with us for years, we’re looking forward to bringing fresh blooms to your door and we can’t thank you enough for your continued support.
Here are five of the key flowers you will see in our farm to vase Early Spring bouquet subscriptions:
1. Tulips – Tulips have elegant, cup-shaped blooms and come in nearly every color imaginable, from soft pastels to bold, vibrant hues. They are available in unique shapes including singles, doubles, parrot and fringe forms. They are phototropic, meaning they bend and reach toward light, creating a dynamic and ever-changing bouquet.
A tulip, even when cut from the bulb, will continue to grow and lengthen in the vase. If you are making an arrangement, be sure to place them a little lower in the overall scheme so that they don’t end up floating way above the rest of the flowers.
2. Daffodils – Typically the first flowers to bloom, nothing says springtime like the bright, sunny faces of daffodils! They are available in classic yellow, white, peach, and bicolor varieties. Almost everyone has a memory of a daffodil.
Daffodils have a nostalgic charm and can multiply readily in the garden, making them a great pass-along plant to share, often across generations.
3. Amaryllis – Amaryllis make excellent cut flowers. They have long stems and great vase life too. In addition to red and white, amaryllis come in corals, hot pink and even green blooms. Once we’ve cut the flowers from the bulbs, we plant them in a warm spot in the garden so they can acclimate and bloom in early summer.
Amaryllis
4. Hellebore – Also known as Lenten Rose, new breeding work in Hellebore makes this a delightful addition to our early spring line up. The new “Ice N Roses” variety has stems long enough to use in a bouquet. Their upward facing flowers make the blooms more visible. They range in color from pure white to deep burgundy with many pinks and picotees in between.
Very long lasting, hellebore will remain beautiful in your vase after everything else has faded away.
5. Ranunculus – The ‘rose of spring’ is a special flower and highly anticipated. These densely petaled flowers are often mistaken for roses, but they thrive in cool spring weather. They coming in a wide variety of colors from whites to yellows, peaches, pinks and reds.
Ranunculus
Didn’t Get an Early Spring Subscription? Don’t Miss the Next One!
Our Early Spring Subscriptions are sold out, but you can still get in on the next round of our farm-fresh seasonal bouquets.
Spring-to-Summer Subscription – May to June
Late Summer to Fall Subscription – Mid-August to Mid-October
We are a small farm, so our number of spots is limited. Sign up today to guarantee your spot before we sell out again!
Reserve Your Subscription Now!
Coming Up In April
In April we will hold our dahlia tuber sale. More information to come.
Wishing you a flower-filled season,
Linda
The Early Season 2025 Crop Report
Farm Dirt - February 2025 Edition
Hi all!
It’s the “off season”, but we have been busy working on quite a few things behind the scenes. Let me catch you up!
The early spring crops are coming along very well, though they are coming on a little slower than they have in the past few years. We had a long stretch of cold days in January that kept things dormant longer than usual. Then last week, temps hit 80F, even breaking a weather record one day. This definitely jumpstarted everything in the field! All the frost blankets had to come off so the plants could soak up the sun. Next week, we’re back to more normal weather for this time of year, including a couple of nights below freezing. So, blankets back on and slower growth again. February and March in Columbia, anything is possible when it comes to the weather!
For those who will be receiving an early spring bouquet subscription, this may mean that we are starting a little later than the first week of March. We will see how the next couple of weeks play out. The good news is that all the cold weather is great for the crops that need cold to grow their best, like tulips and peonies. We will be contacting each of you when we can get started.
Anemone
Poppies
Ranunculus
Tulips
The Mum Project
During the off season I participated in a proposal competition and was awarded a grant from the state of South Carolina to add a new high tunnel, which will be used to grow heirloom chrysanthemums. These flowers bloom in the fall, and we are going to have blooms from October – early December!
We have been growing smaller amounts of mums over the past couple of years to make sure our growing conditions are suitable. Now, we will take the next step and grow larger quantities of them. Chrysanthemums are tolerant of light frosts and can bloom when the daylength is short, give us a few more weeks of beautiful flowers in the year!
Heirloom Chrysanthemums
Specialty Chrysanthemum Saga No Yuki
Website Updates
We’ve upgraded our website so some of the issues people have experienced with their cell phone access should be eliminated now. We will continue to make a few more refinements over the year, but most of the work is complete. If you are having any trouble or concerns, please reach out and we will be happy to help you. You can send us a message from our Instagram account or use the Contact Us page to send us an email, or just email us a purpletuteur@gmail.com
Here is the new menu as shown from a laptop or personal computer. The categories of information on the menu may or may not have sub-categories. For example, if you are looking for information about our bouquet subscriptions, put your cursor on the “cut flowers” category, and a list of the various ways we provide cut flowers will be listed. You can select from those and see the page you are looking for.
Here is the view of the home page from a mobile phone. The shopping cart, that was not always visible on your cell phone before, will be visible now.
That about wraps it up from here.
We have just a few openings for Early Spring subscriptions remaining, so sign up soon at https://www.purpletuteur.com/subscription-information . Thanks so much to those of you who are already signed up.
Spring blooms are just around the corner! Happy Valentine’s Day,
Linda
A Look at January on the Farm
We hope your 2025 is off to a great start! After some much-needed rest with friends and family, we're back at it, ready for the exciting year ahead.
This time of year, crop planning and seed starting take center stage. Still, I've learned to pace myself—otherwise, I end up planning for double the space we have! So, I'm also clearing closets and attic spaces, tackling tasks we don't have time for once the season ramps up.
Outside
Things are quiet in the field now, at least above ground. Underground, the root systems are extending and strengthening. Even above ground, in the hoop house, we’re seeing buds form on the poppies and blooms on the pansies. The lone bloomers outside are the hellebores and they are a welcome sight.
Despite the record cold we’re experiencing this week, it won’t be long until we see the early bloomers. The Persephone period, when daylight lasts fewer than 10 hours and plant growth slows, ended for us on January 6th. With more light and warmth coming, the early bloomers will soon make their debut. We can't wait!
Inside
Farmhouse repairs are progressing after a water pipe burst last fall. With plumbing, drywall, and flooring replaced, we're adding a new back door and bathroom vanity top next. Painting and final plumbing are next, and we're optimistic about finishing before flower season gets busy.
Bouquet Subscription Season is Coming Up!
Looking for a Valentine’s Day gift or a little joy for yourself? A bouquet subscription might be just the thing! New this year, we’re offering Friday pick-ups at Molly Creek Company in Ridgeway.
We look forward to serving you in 2025.
Best,
Linda
Amaryllis Care
Amaryllis Care Guide: How to Grow for Blooms Indoors and Outdoors
Amaryllis are treasured for their ability to produce large, vibrant flowers indoors during the coldest months of winter. Their low-maintenance care and potential for reblooming make them a favorite among indoor gardeners. Follow this guide to enjoy the beauty of amaryllis year after year indoors, or to transition them outdoors to enjoy in your garden here in Columbia.
Amaryllis Cape Horn
Choosing Your Amaryllis Bulbs
Look for firm, unblemished bulbs, similar to how you would choose an onion. Larger bulbs produce more stems and flowers. For a more impressive display, choose the largest bulbs you can find. The flowers are already formed in the bulb when you receive them, so larger bulbs will have more and larger flowers.
While red and white varieties are the most common, amaryllis is also available in shades of pink, burgundy, orange, yellow, and even green.
Select bulbs from the southern hemisphere (sometimes referred to as “Christmas Blooming”) if you want them to bloom for the holidays, or as fast as possible (4-6 weeks). Bulbs from the northern hemisphere (sometimes called “shelf stable”) will bloom after the holidays, since they are going to take longer to acclimate to the warmth of your home. Typically, these take 6-10 weeks to bloom and are wonderful to have in bloom in January and February,
How to Grow Amaryllis Indoors
Preparing Your Amaryllis Bulb
Wake the Bulb: Soak the roots in warm water for about an hour, then allow them to drain completely.
Planting: Use well-draining potting soil and pot the bulb, leaving about one-third of the bulb above the soil surface.
Initial Watering: Thoroughly soak the soil with warm water after planting, then refrain from watering until green shoots appear.
Placement: Keep the pot in a warm, dark spot (70-75°F) for two weeks to encourage root development.
Pro Tip: If your bulb has already started sprouting, don’t worry. The stem will naturally straighten as it grows.
Encouraging Blooms
Move to Light: Once roots are established, place the pot in a bright, warm location (70-80°F). A sunny windowsill or a spot near a heat source works well.
Watering: Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to bulb rot.
Patience is Key: Growth may take several weeks. Keep the pot warm and avoid excessive watering.
Rotate for Even Growth: When the stem begins to emerge, rotate the pot daily to ensure the stalk grows straight.
Caring During the Bloom period
Prolong Blooms: Once the flowers open, move the pot out of direct sunlight to extend bloom time.
Deadhead Regularly: Remove fading flowers by cutting them near the base of the stalk. This can encourage additional blooms.
Trim Spent Stalks: After all flowers have faded, cut the stem back to about 2 inches above the bulb. Leave green leaves intact to nourish the bulb for next season.
How to Save Amaryllis Bulbs for Reblooming Indoors
Post-Bloom Care: Place the pot in a bright location and continue watering when the top inch of soil feels dry. Fertilize monthly.
Summer Outdoors: Two weeks after the last frost (mid-April in Columbia), move the pot outside to a sunny or partially shaded area to promote leaf growth and strengthen the bulb.
Fall Dormancy Preparation:
In early fall, cut the foliage just above the bulb.
Bring the pot indoors and place it in a cool, dark location (50-60°F) for 8-10 weeks.
Do not water during the dormancy period.
Restart Growth: After the dormancy period, follow the initial growth steps to encourage blooming once again.
Note: Amaryllis bulbs thrive when slightly pot-bound. Repotting every year is not necessary, allowing for easy long-term care.
By following these steps, you can enjoy beautiful amaryllis blooms during the winter months and cultivate healthy bulbs that rebloom season after season.
Growing Amaryllis Outdoors
Amaryllis also makes an excellent garden plant and is cold hardy in South Carolina through USDA planting Zone 8. This means Amaryllis grown indoors during the holiday season can be moved outdoors in the spring after the threat of frost has passed, generally around mid-April. Gradually acclimate the indoor plants to brighter light by moving them to a porch or patio area before planting them in the garden.
find the right location
Amaryllis, like all bulbs, need soil that drains well. A raised bed may be necessary to ensure good drainage if your soil has a lot of clay in it. A soil rich in organic matter will provide the best growth, so add compost if your soil is lean like ours. Plant bulbs directly into the ground, spaced about a foot apart. Plant with half the bulb tip above ground, leaving the tops barely covered with soil.
Select a sunny spot in the garden that receives afternoon shade. Avoid placing the bulb where it will dry out excessively. Apply mulch, especially during the fall and winter months. Leaves work well for this.
Fertilize
Fertilization determines the size and quality of the flowers and foliage. For garden plantings, fertilizers containing low nitrogen, such as 5-10-10 or 6-12-12 analysis should be used. Use quantities as defined on the fertilizer bag. Make the first fertilizer application as new growth begins, then repeat the application when the flower stalk is 6 to 8 inches tall, before blooming. Do not feed while the plant is in bloom. Apply a third application immediately after flowering. Remove spend stalks/blooms but keep the leaves on the plant.
Amaryllis grown outdoors are deer resistant. They will grow lush foliage outdoors over the summer, storing energy for future blooms.
A Versatile Bloom for Every Season
Whether you’re decorating your home for winter, planning thoughtful gifts, or adding beauty to your garden, amaryllis is a wonderful choice. With its vibrant colors and easy care, it’s a simple way to brighten any space.
We carry amaryllis bulbs each year starting in early November. You can find our selections at this link : https://www.purpletuteur.com/garden-bulbs
Our 2025 Bouquet Subscriptions: Fresh Flowers Delivered to Your Door
Looking to brighten your week? Our farm-fresh bouquet subscription delivers vibrant, seasonal blooms right to your doorstep. Choose from weekly or bi-weekly deliveries throughout the season, and enjoy the beauty of locally grown, handpicked flowers. Select Tuesday or Friday as your preferred delivery day, and receive a thoughtfully curated bouquet featuring the best of our harvest.
How It Works We make it easy and contactless: simply leave a vase or a bucket of fresh water outside, and we’ll take care of the rest, delivering your flowers right to your door. Each bouquet is unique, as we choose the best available flowers for the season, so you can look forward to something new with every delivery.
Perfect for Gifting Looking for the ideal gift? A bouquet subscription is a thoughtful and ongoing present. When you order as a gift, just provide the recipient's name and delivery address within our service area. Let us know in the comments if you'd like us to announce your gift via email, or if you'd prefer to let the recipient know personally.
Flexible Scheduling Worried about missing a delivery while on vacation? No problem! We can easily reschedule your deliveries to accommodate your schedule. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we guarantee it!
Service Areas We offer delivery to the following zip codes: 29201, 29204, 29205, 29206, 29209, 29016, 29045, 29169, 29223, 29229.
Are You in the Ridgeway Area?
We’re thrilled to announce a new partnership with The Molly Creek Company! As a small farm, we’ve had some limitations on where we can deliver, but thanks to this collaboration, we’re excited to expand our reach. Starting with our 2025 subscriptions, you can now sign up for a Friday bouquet subscription and pick up your flowers at The Molly Creek Company.
Molly Creek Company will be opening in January 2025 at 1051 Hwy 21 South in Ridgeway, 29130, just 5 miles north of Blythewood. They’ll be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, giving you plenty of time to visit before we begin deliveries in March!
While you’re there, be sure to explore a fantastic selection of locally made products, including food, art, refinished furniture, and the amazing Molly Creek soaps. Don’t forget to follow @MollyCreekCompany2025 on Instagram for updates on their progress as they prepare to open!
Limited Availability Our subscriptions are available in limited quantities and may sell out for the season. Be sure to place your order soon before they're gone. We also reserve the right to limit deliveries to certain areas.
Click the link for more information and to sign up : Subscription Information
Last Call for Holiday Bulbs!
We still have a few amaryllis and paperwhites available for you on our website. Our last pick up date is Friday, 12/14. Our final delivery date is Tuesday, 12/19/24.
Thank you so much to all of you who have supported our farm in some way this year. We are grateful for your interest in our flowers. We look forward to more flower fun in 2025!
Wishing you a happy holiday season,
Linda
Amaryllis and Paperwhites: Easy Indoor Blooms for the Winter Season
I recently gave a talk to a garden club about growing amaryllis and paperwhites and was surprised to learn that many of the members had never tried growing these delightful bulbs. Both are easy to grow and offer a welcome indoor floral display when it’s too cold for outdoor blooms.
Amaryllis: Your Winter Weather Showstopper
Amaryllis bulbs take about 6–8 weeks to bloom, depending on the variety. To get started:
Pot them up and place them in a low-light location for the first week to 10 days. This helps their roots establish.
Once the stems begin to emerge, move them to a warm spot with indirect light
Turn the pot occasionally to keep the stems growing straight.
Did you know? Each amaryllis bulb already contains the flowers that will emerge—this is why bulb size matters. Larger bulbs produce more stems and more flowers per stem, creating a more dramatic display.
Amaryllis bulbs also make fantastic gifts! They remain dormant until potted and watered. One holiday season, I gifted amaryllis forcing kits to friends. Watching them share pictures of their blooms was so rewarding—it’s a gift that keeps giving long after the holidays.
Paperwhites: Quick and Elegant
For those seeking quicker blooms, paperwhites are the instant-gratification bulbs of the season, blooming in just 3–5 weeks. If you start now, you could even have blooms for Christmas! As with amaryllis, larger paperwhite bulbs mean more abundant flowers.
Most commonly, you’ll find the variety ‘Ziva’ in stores, known for its strong scent. However, newer varieties with milder fragrances and even touches of color are becoming popular.
A bonus: After the holidays, if your paperwhites were grown in potting soil, you can plant them in your garden. Add compost and a little bone meal to the soil, and you can enjoy their blooms for years to come here in Columbia.
Tips for Long-Lasting Blooms
Keep blooms cooler and away from direct sunlight to prolong their beauty.
Avoid high temperatures, which can cause stems to grow too long and fall over. If this happens, cut the stem at its base and display the flower in a vase—it makes a gorgeous cut flower!
A Fun Cornell Trick: Blooms on “The Rocks”
A study from Cornell University found that using alcohol—yes, gin, vodka, or tequila—helps keep stems of both amaryllis and paperwhites shorter and sturdier. Here’s how:
Mix one part alcohol to seven parts water.
Use this mixture for weekly watering once the stems start to grow.
Avoid beer or wine (too much sugar!) and keep the solution mild—too much alcohol is toxic (we knew that, didn’t we?).
Tip: Rubbing alcohol works just as well if you don’t have liquor on hand.
Local Holiday Bulbs
This weekend, we’ll have amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs available for sale at the Dolce Vita Farms Open House:
📍 1715 Congress Rd, Eastover, SC 29044
🕚 Hours: 11 AM – 3 PM on Saturday, December 7.
Amaryllis bulbs started now won’t bloom for Christmas, but they’re a joy to experience after the holidays.
If you’re looking for something blooming in time for Christmas, stop by Cottage and Vine:
📍 4619 Forest Drive - Suite 2, Columbia, SC 29206
🕙 Hours: M–F 10 AM–5:30 PM | Sat 10 AM–4 PM
📞 803.550.9409 | 🌐 www.shopcottageandvine.com
Nancy has beautiful, gift-worthy pots of amaryllis and paperwhites ready to go.
Wishing you a holiday season filled with love and blooms,
Linda
The Art of Dried Flowers: From Field to Fall Wreaths
As the seasons shift and the days grow shorter, our flowers take on new life. Throughout the growing season, we carefully harvest blooms at their peak—just as they reach the perfect growth stage. While many of these flowers find their way into arrangements and bouquets for weekly business needs, others embark on a different journey: drying.
Drying flowers is an age-old tradition, and over time, we’ve experimented with various methods. After much trial and error, our favorite approach remains simple and effective: hanging flowers upside down in a cool, dark space. This method not only preserves their beauty but also ensures they retain their vibrant colors and unique shapes. However, one crucial tip we've learned is to start with flowers in their prime condition. A bloom that’s past its peak will not yield a quality dried flower.
By carefully drying blooms all season long, we’ve built up a stunning collection of dried flowers in a variety of hues and textures. And as the frost approaches, these preserved beauties take center stage.
One of our favorite ways to showcase dried flowers is in fall wreaths. A couple of weeks ago, we hosted a fall wreath-making class in our processing shed. The space transformed into a buzzing creative workshop where attendees let their imaginations run wild. The results? Stunning, one-of-a-kind wreaths filled with the warmth and charm of autumn.
One woman who signed up for the class couldn’t make it in person, so she picked up the materials and created her wreath at home—a lovely reminder that creativity knows no bounds!
This year, we’re excited to share even more ways for you to enjoy dried flowers. For the first time, we’re offering dried flower bundles on our website, available for local pickup and delivery. Whether you want to craft a wreath, decorate pumpkins, create framed art, enhance gift wrapping, make potpourri or bath products, design holiday ornaments, or even incorporate them into a wedding, we’ve got you covered!
And if you love the look of dried flower wreaths but don’t have the time or inclination to make one, no problem—we have a selection of ready-made wreaths available for you to take home and enjoy.
Dried flowers are more than just a way to extend the life of blooms—they’re a celebration of nature’s cycles and the artistry it inspires. Whether adorning a front door, decorating a gift, or enhancing a festive centerpiece, these preserved blooms bring beauty and joy long after the growing season ends.
So, whether you’re looking to get creative or simply enjoy the beauty of dried flowers, we invite you to explore all the possibilities they offer.
Join Us at the Blythewood Farmers Market Holiday Artisan Market!
📅 Date: Saturday, November 23rd
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Kick off your holiday season with us at this annual community event! The Blythewood Farmers Market Holiday Artisan Market is the perfect place to start your holiday shopping with a variety of locally crafted gifts and décor.
Be sure to stop by our booth to say hello and explore our festive holiday botanicals, including paperwhites, amaryllis, dried arrangements and holiday greens bouquets—perfect for decorating your home or gifting to loved ones.
Enjoy live music and a variety of food trucks while you browse the market. It’s a fun and festive way to support local artisans and embrace the holiday spirit.
We can’t wait to see you there! 🎄✨