Introducing Solidago Romantic Glory and Notes on Dahlia Care in the Heat

New Plant - Solidago Romantic Glory

We’re getting the first harvest of our new Solidago, called Romantic Glory (Asteraceae Solidago Romantic Glory). This is a great bouquet filler for this time of year. It can take the heat and is fairly drought tolerant. While many varieties of Solidago have a yellow bloom, this one is almost creamy. The flower is a bit larger than other varieties too and seems like a refined feverfew. Bred for cut flower production, it has strong stems. The plant grows about 4 ft tall and 2 ft wide. A perennial, we look forward to having this for several years to come.

Protecting dahlias in the heat

We added shade to our dahlias to protect them from the 100 F heat this weekend. We are also watering them daily to keep them well hydrated. If you have some growing in your garden, try to give them some cover this weekend. Next week’s temperatures are predicted to be back in the 80’s. Rain is in the forecast too. These are both wonderful improvements in conditions for the dahlias and they will respond well! Even with the heat, these are tough plants. If the heat has made the foliage yellow or wilted, just cut it back. The tuber will produce new, healthier growth as the weather cools. The best of dahlia season is yet to come.

Coming up

Fall Wreath Workshop

We still have room in our Fall Wreath Workshop on September 20.  If you would like to join us, please register online at www.purpletuteur.com Feel free to contact us with any questions.

fall bulb sale

Our Fall Bulb Shop will open for pre-orders on September 16th. This sale includes spring bloomers like anemone, ranunculus, daffodils and peony roots.   This year we are introducing U.S. shipping for our bulbs! So now you will be able to pick up at the farm or have them delivered to your door. Order fulfillment will begin in late October, the best time to plant spring blooming bulbs in the South.

Please stay hydrated this weekend!

Linda

August Farm Update

Catching Up!

We’ve enjoyed some time off over the past few weeks! If you follow us on Instagram @purpletuteur, you may have seen some of the photos/reels of our trip to Santa Fe to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. Time does fly! We enjoyed it all and I am blessed to have a great team at the farm that is able to keep things going without me. I am about caught up on things now…

Back on the Farm

As cooler temperatures approach, we are so ready to start up dahlia season! We planted out our tubers in June and they are just beginning to bloom. We’ve added several new (to us) varieties that we look forward to seeing and sharing along with some of the favorites from past seasons.

Fall Subscriptions Start Next Week

Next week we start up the fall subscription season.  The season is sold out. Thanks to all of you that signed up. We are looking forward to getting farm-fresh flowers to your door soon.

Upcoming Events

Fall Bulb Sale

For the gardeners in the group, we will have the spring bulb shop offerings online by September 16th.  This year we will be offering farm pick up and shipping! Orders will be filled and sent mid to late October. For those who want to pick up, we will have a few dates and times to choose from.

For those who are local, we will have a few garden plants available too. We are not able to ship these at this time.

Fall Wreath Workshop – Wednesday September 20th, 10 am to noon

Join us for a fun “get ready for fall” workshop at Purple Tuteur Farm. Learn how to build your own dried flower wreath. We’ll be using a grapevine wreath and beautifully dried flowers from Purple Tuteur Farm. Take yours home and hang it on a door or in a window, just in time for fall festivities. Sign up on the website https://www.purpletuteur.com/classes

We are forever grateful for your interest and your support of our small farm. Thank you for all you do.

Cooler weather is on the way!

Linda

The Wellness Benefits of Flowers

If you are a regular reader of our blog, you love flowers and have probably experienced that lift that comes from fresh flowers. This goes beyond the visual charm. Research shows that flowers have the ability to also reduces stress, speed healing, enhance concentration, and improve mood.  Here is a recap of what the science community has to say about the wellness benefits of flowers. The links to the research papers are included in the underlined text below.

“1. Flowers Generate Happiness.  Having flowers around the home and office greatly improves people’s moods and reduces the likelihood of stress-related depression. Flowers and ornamental plants increase levels of positive energy and help people feel secure and relaxed. 

According to a 2005 study by professors from Rutgers and La Salle universities, flowers have “immediate and long-term effects on emotional reactions, mood, social behaviors, and even memory for both males and females.”

Keeping flowers around the home and in the workplace greatly reduces a person’s stress levels. Natural aesthetic beauty is soothing to people, and keeping ornamental flowers around the home environment is an excellent way to lower levels of stress and anxiety. People who keep flowers in their home feel happier, less stressed, and more relaxed. As a result of the positive energy they derive from the environment, the chances of suffering from stress-related depression are decreased as well. Overall, adding flowers to your home or work environment reduces your perceived stress levels and makes you feel more relaxed, secure, and happy. Flowers can help you achieve a more optimistic outlook on your life, bringing you both pleasing visual stimulation and helping you to increase your perceived happiness. (Brethour 2007, Collins 2008, Dunnet 2000, Etcoff 2007, Frank 2003, Haviland-Jones 2005, Hartig 2010, McFarland 2010, Rappe 2005, Waliczek 2000)”

“2. Accelerates Healing Process.  The presence of plants in hospital recovery rooms and/or views of aesthetically-pleasing gardens help patients to heal faster, due to the soothing affects of ornamental horticulture. 

Another study found that people recovering from surgery who have plants or flowers in their hospital room have better health outcomes and report lower feelings of pain, anxiety, and fatigue.

Shrubs, trees, and flowers have a practical application in hospitals: the presence of plants in patient recovery rooms greatly reduces the time necessary to heal. The soothing effects of ornamental flowers and plants are so great that simply having daily views of flowers and other ornamental plants in landscaped areas outside patient recovery room significantly speed up recovery time. Another technique to decrease recovery time is horticulture therapy, where patients care for and nurture plants themselves. Patients who physically interact with plants experience a significantly reduced recovery time after medical procedures. (Brethour 2007, Frank 2003, Friend 2008, Lohr 2000, Park, 2009, Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Assn. 2009, Ulrich 1984)”

“3. Reduce Stress. Studies show that people who spend time gardening have less stress in their lives. Plants soothe human beings and provide a positive way for people to channel their stress into nurturing.

 Participation in gardening and landscaping activities is an effective way to reduce levels of stress. Studies have shown that people who nurture plants and garden have less mental distress than others. Gardening provides people with a positive way to channel their stress and frustration into something beautiful that provides them with comfort and joy. Part of the effects of gardening come from the satisfaction people get from nurturing and helping a living thing grow. Plants and gardening soothe people because they help them turn their stressful feelings into something positive which gives them pleasure. By helping them transform their stress into a more positive emotion, gardening also gives people an excellent coping mechanism for their daily frustrations. Nurturing plants reduces stress levels and gives people a way to cope with their negative feelings. (Mitchell, 2008, Brethour 2007, Bringslimark 2007, Frank 2003, Kohlleppel 2002, McFarland 2010, Pohmer 2008, Ulrich 1991, Waliczek 2000)”

“Flowers lower stress levels and anxiety in people,” says Christine Capra, program manager at the Horticultural Therapy Institute in Denver. “Even stress levels related to depression are decreased by having flowers, whether it’s in your outdoor garden or in your home or going to visit a botanic garden.”

“4. Concentration and Memory. Being around plants helps people concentrate better in the home and workplace. Studies show that tasks performed while under the calming influence of nature are performed better and with greater accuracy, yielding a higher quality result. Moreover, being outside in a natural environment can improve memory performance and attention span by twenty percent. (Also part of the Rutgers study, noted above). 

Keeping ornamental plants in the home and in the workplace increases memory retention and concentration. The calming influence of natural environments is conducive to positive work environments by increasing a person’s ability to concentrate on the task at hand. Work performed under the natural influence of ornamental plants is normally of higher quality and completed with a much higher accuracy rate than work done in environments devoid of nature. Going outside or being under the influence of plants can increase memory retention up to twenty percent, a recent University of Michigan study showed (Sewach). The effect of nature in the home and in the workplace serves to stimulate both the senses and the mind, improving mental cognition and performance. (Bisco Werner 1996; Brethour 2007; Frank 2003; Pohmer 2008; Serwach 2008; Shibata, 2001, 2004; Yannick 2009)”

So, to sum it up, if you want to feel better or make someone else happier, get some flowers!

References

https://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/health-and-well-being-benefits-of-plants/

https://www.shondaland.com/live/body/a44131237/embrace-the-mental-health-benefits-of-flowers/

https://www.med.unc.edu/psych/cecmh/services/recovery-services/horticulture-therapy-program/

Best,

Linda

This Blueberry Season Make Some Blueberry Basil Sorbet

We grow blueberries at the farm, though not enough to sell. Some years, when the late freeze hits while the bushes are blooming, we get very few berries. Other years, like this one, the bushes are full of berries.  When we have a good year and the berries are plentiful, I like to make Blueberry Basil Sorbet.

Years ago, I first tasted this delicious desert at Ristorante Divino in Columbia. (The restaurant has since closed). While this is not their recipe, it tastes very much like the refreshing end to the meal I had there.

If you don’t have your own blueberries to harvest, the season was good here in Columbia and there are many available to purchase.  You may even want to visit Dolce Vita Farms in Eastover to harvest your own.

(https://www.facebook.com/dolcevitafarm/)

If all else fails, or blueberries are out of season, you can use frozen blueberries.

 Ingredients (makes about 1 quart)

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup water

Pinch of Kosher salt

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

½ cup fresh basil leaves (be sure that the stems have not started to bloom, as this can make the basil taste bitter)

¼ cup prosecco

1 teaspoon lemon juice

3 pints fresh blueberries (frozen berries will also work)

Step 1

Combine water, sugar, salt and vinegar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat, add the basil leaves and simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let syrup steep for 30 minutes. Pour the syrup through a sieve to remove the basil solids.

Step 2

Puree the blueberries in a food processor. (Pour them through a sieve to remove any solids if you prefer a smooth texture). Add the syrup, prosecco, lemon juice to the berries and blend everything together.

 Step 3

Pour the final solution into an ice cream maker and churn until solid.

Dahlia Workshop Fun

Photo: Karen Bickley

Friends old and new gathered for our first dahlia workshops this past week. Enthusiastic growers came out to learn more about these beautiful flowers. Some even learned that they were neighbors with a shared interest.

We started with a review of key concepts – from selection to end of season care and everything in between. With all topics in the handout, students had a reference to take home.

After discussing the concepts, we went into the field to get a look at the dahlias growing there. Concepts were reinforced with demonstrations and hands on practice.  

Demonstrations included cutting the blooms and bagging the buds to protect them from insects without using insecticides. Photo: Karen Bickley

Everyone got hands-on experience pinching and disbudding. Photo: Karen Bickley

After the lessons, each student selected two tubers to take home and grow in their garden. I am looking forward to seeing the results.

Watch our newsletter for announcements of other on-farm classes later in the year.

We will be closed the week of July 4th so we can spend some time with friends and family. Have a safe and happy holiday.

Linda

Announcing our Growing Dahlias On-Farm Workshop

Dahlias are one of the fall’s best flowers and now is the time to get them growing in the Midlands.

Come learn what is involved in growing your own during our on-farm class.

Class is held from 10 am - 12 noon on either Wednesday June 21st or Saturday June 24th

Choose the date that you want to attend when you sign up on our website.

The training begins with a presentation, followed by a walkthrough of the dahlia beds on the farm, including a demonstration of some of the growing techniques that will make your dahlias produce their best blooms.

What we will cover:

·       Dahlia classifications

·       Variety selection considerations

·       Growing conditions

·       Planting

·       Tending

·       Common Pests and Diseases

·       Harvesting

·       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.

We reserve the right to reschedule or cancel in case of severe weather or illness. Students will get as much advanced notice as possible. Refunds will be issued if Purple Tuteur Farm decides to cancel a class.

For more information and to register for the class, Class Registration

Behind the Scenes at Columbia Art Museum’s Art Blossoms Event

Note: This article will be easier to read in a browser due to the number of photos. See link at the bottom of the email.

Before the Art Blossoms event, I had never experienced building a large floral installation. It was a construction project that turned buckets of fresh flowers and greenery into a sculptural art form. Since the elements are perishable, it could not be started too early.  The result had to be ready for a reception on Wednesday evening and keep looking fresh through Sunday, Mother’s Day.

Planning had been underway for months before the event. Ann Holtschlag, museum docent and coordinator of all garden club exhibits for Art Blossoms, invited me to discuss the possibilities with Joelle Ryan-Cook, CMA Deputy Director. After some brainstorming, we agreed that I would do a talk on Cutting Gardens. Joelle was also going to follow up with Julianne Sojourner, Floral Designer and Event Planner, about using our flowers for her installation. Julianne agreed, so we were on. Julianne also did a large arrangement demonstration after my talk on Cutting Gardens

Julianne Sojourner

Wilson Bame

For the installation, construction began on Tuesday. All elements had to be brought in from the loading dock. As you can imagine, security is high, but we were expected and helping hands came to greet us. Wilson Bame, CMA Manager of Engagement was there to help and to ensure that we had what we needed.

Julianne, center, and her team, Lizzie(l) and Lynn(r)

Julianne and her team got to work on the structural support for the display.  In the background the CMA team was getting the stage ready for our presentations.  Chicken wire was wrapped around the beam and held in place with bungee cords. Julianne attached the top end of the chicken wire to a light fixture using zip ties so it would not slide as flowers were added.

With the foundation in place, some of the greenery and branches were added.  These are items that don’t need a lot of water to stay fresh.  Set up for the table arrangements and bud vases was also done. This was all the preparation we could do on Tuesday.

On Wednesday morning, Julianne’s team continued to work while I went to the farm to work with the farm crew there and to get more flowers. When I got back around noon, much progress had been made. Tammy had joined Julianne’s team and had most of the table arrangements ready.  Bud vases were also done.

The large display was really taking shape, but there was still work to be done. Oasis in Lomey bowls was used to provide water for the items on the floor and work continued.  Julianne invited me to add flowers to the display too. This was fun but I could see that I need more practice to work at the speed others could already do, so for the remainder I prepared flowers and put them into water picks (tubes of water for each stem) so the experts could work as quickly as possible.

From left to right – Julianne, Tammy, me, Lizzie and Lynn.

At last, we were done and the room really looked great. Such a fun experience for me, and a great team to work with.

One final note : This was just one of many exhibits that were set up and on display for Art Blossoms. Kudos to the CMA team and all those who contributed to the event. If you have never been, I hope this will encourage you to go next year and see the results of all the creative energy that goes into this event.

For the community and by the community, it helps provide funds for the programs at the museum. General admission tickets were $15 this year, $5 for museum members. Extra events were also offered and priced separately.  

Upcoming Flower Related Events In The Midlands

Spring is here and there are so many ways for us flower lovers to enjoy it! Several events are coming up and we wanted to let you know about them in case you haven’t heard.

Richland County Master Gardeners Plant Sale April 20-21st

Do you need some plants for your garden? Whether the December freeze zapped a few, or you are in a new house and just starting a garden, this is a sale not to be missed. Not only is there a broad selection of plants but there are Master Gardeners on hand to help you with your selections. If you have a space to fill, come prepared with the size of the planting area and whether it is in the sun or shade. If you prefer to be more spontaneous, come see what is there and take home whatever strikes your fancy. As a Master Gardener, I have donated plants to this sale and hope you like the selection!

Columbia Green Festival of Gardens April 22 and Sunday April 23rd

    In the mood for some garden inspiration? Columbia Green’s Festival of Gardens is happening Saturday April 22 and Sunday April 23. Sign up to tour gardens in Shandon, one of Columbia’s best loved neighborhoods. Purchase tickets at the website below. I will be a docent at one of the homes on Saturday afternoon, so hope to see you there!

https://www.columbiagreen.org/2023-festival-of-gardens

Art Blossoms at Columbia Museum of Art May 11 – 14, 2023  

Four days of flowers and flower related activities over Mother’s Day weekend. What’s not to like?  Displays and flower arranging classes done by professional florists. Area garden clubs show their talents for design by creating floral arrangements that correlate to museum art assigned to them. Mother’s Day Brunch and much much more. I am honored to be a speaker on Thursday 5/11 and will be talking on Having a Home Cutting Garden. Here is the link to The Art Museum’s site, for more information and to order tickets. Hope to see you there too! https://www.columbiamuseum.org/events/art-blossoms

 South Carolina Ag and Art Tour May-June

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know about the Ag and Art Tour. South Carolina opens up its farms for this free to the public event. This year 11 counties will participate. This is your opportunity to learn more about farm life and see the work of artists and artisans who come out and show their talents at the farms.

We are not a host site this year due to other commitments, but we are a sponsor. I also hope to be a tourist for this one! You can find out more about the event and the specific sites on the website https://www.agandarttour.com/

I hope that you can get out and enjoy some of these events. Want flowers at your door? Sign up for a PTF bouquet subscription, where we bring farm fresh flowers to your door. And don’t forget mom! These make a great Mother’s Day gift too.

Best,

Linda

Behind the Scenes - Our Winter Peony Project

New Peony Project

              This past winter we added another 40 peony plants to our supply. I selected two new (to us) varieties to include more colors, yellow and white. Both Sunny Girl and Duchess de Nemours are early blooming varieties. Early blooming is a requirement in the Columbia area and all zone 8 regions. They bloom before the end of May, when the warmth makes them go dormant.

We plant bare roots, so they won’t be productive until their third bloom season. They are far more affordable than potted plants and transplant easily. Bigger roots produce more flowers sooner, but they will all produce by the third year. The one shown is Sunny Girl and they are huge. They are priced accordingly.

Sunny Girl

Duchess de Nemours

Peony Bare Root

 We use raised beds for our peonies. Peonies need cool weather to grow properly. Planting them in a raised bed keeps them cooler since the air can chill the above ground soil better than planting in the ground. The beds are in full sun.

 A raised bed can be made with mounded dirt and no boards, but we use these for ease of harvest. If you are planting these at home, you can use a pot (at least 24” in diameter). If you have a retaining wall, the soil behind it is elevated too, making it a good spot.

We had a week to get this done to beat three days of rain that would have made it much more difficult.  The first day we got the supplies to the farm. The second day we built the frames. They are set right on the grass since the soil will smother it. We put hardware cloth in the bottom of the beds to deter moles and voles.

The next effort was to fill the beds with soil. We mixed topsoil and mushroom compost together. Any compost with pine bark (most of them) should be avoided. The bark carries something that the peonies are vulnerable to. Mushroom compost works well. The fertilizers were also mixed into the soil at this point. This part took two days.

The last day’s effort included laying the irrigation, planting the roots and mulching. In our climate, the roots need to be planted just one inch below the top of the soil. This will also help keep the plants cool. We mulch with coastal hay. This forms a weed barrier and breaks down easily, providing a little nutrition to the soil. 

Building the raised bed

Raised beds done!

Filling the beds with soil

Completed! Planted, irrigation set up and mulch added

Whew! We made it before the rain. Now, the test of patience before they bloom. Green plants will come up this spring. They may even have a bud or two on them. We will pinch them off. The goal is the get the best root system established before they really put a lot of energy into blooms. This will result in a much stronger plant. Since they can live for 30 years, it is important to give them a good start.

If you are growing peonies, I would love to hear how you care for them.

On the Farm - This is Columbine

As the weather is warming, we are beginning to see a shift in what is growing at the farm. The ranunculus and anemone are slowing down but the hardy annuals and the biennials are picking up steam. Next up is Columbine.

Columbine (Aquilegia spp) is technically a perennial but it is a short lived one, so we treat it more like a biennial. Biennials are a group of flowering plants that have a two-year life cycle. The first year, they develop their vegetative growth. The second year they produce flowers. 

This bed of Columbine was planted two years ago. The green growth was very lush the first year. The second year, it produced minimal flowers on very healthy plants. This year, the third year, the stems are coming on strong, so we expect to see a good flush of blooms this year.

With the time involved to grow this and our shorter and shorter attention spans, I would not be surprised if you have never seen it.  It is a really unique flower with its sculptural blooms. The bloom reminds me of a bird’s head.

We grow a long-stemmed variety that is suitable for cut flowers called McKana Giants Mix. It includes a mix of colors including blue, red and yellow.  It can be grown from seed but we buy plugs (small started plants) to save time. I don’t recommend this for beginners since it doesn’t give the encouragement of fast blooms. For those who are seasoned gardeners, you may want to give it a try.

Happy Spring,

Linda

P.S. If you are ready to get your hands in the dirt, we have a few more beautiful lily bulbs available. Thanks to all who have already ordered.  http://www.purpletuteur.com

Growing Lilies in the Midlands

March is a weather challenge for farmers and gardeners alike. Fluctuating temperatures keep us on our toes as we cover and uncover tender plants. While it is extra work, I don’t mind because we still have ranunculus, poppies and anemone until the daytime temperatures are consistently above 70.

In addition to the weather dance, we also plan and plant for summer. We start summer seeds and plant bulbs for summer between now and mid- April. Most varieties take about 90 days to bloom so we are starting things now that will bloom in June and July.

One garden favorite is lilies.  We have a good selection of lilies this year and I am wondering if some of you would like to purchase some of these large Oriental bulbs for your own gardens. We have a limited supply to offer.

Growing Conditions for Lilies

Lilies are relatively easy to grow and make a great visual statement in the garden. Find a spot that is sheltered from the wind and has afternoon shade. They can also be very successfully grown in pots, allowing you to move them to the light or shade as needed.

As with all bulbs, they need soil that is rich and drains well so that they don’t rot. Plant them 8 – 12 inches apart in the garden or no more than 3 per 16” pot. Water regularly but not heavily. Plant them 3 times to a depth equal to three times the height of the bulb. Our warm climate favors a little deeper planting.

During the season, the lily plants will get tall. You can stake them or plant them between shrubs that will provide support.  Blooms can be left in the garden to admire or cut to bring into the house to enjoy. After bloom, remove any spent flowers and slow the watering. Leave the stalks to do their photosynthesis activity and strengthen the bulb for next year’s blooms. The stalks can be removed when they are brown.

Early each spring, side dress the bulbs with a balanced fertilizer. Mulch the plants with a light layer of leaves or compost.

Bulb Sale Information

 In order to encourage people to get them planted at the optimal time, we are going to limit the window of the sale to two weeks. We will be posting the information on our website starting on Friday 3/24 until Friday 4/7.  You will be able to order for pick up or local delivery if you are interested. (Sorry, we are not shipping yet but getting closer).  These bulbs should be planted as soon as they are received, for bloom in late June or July. These are varieties that will bloom for years to come in your garden.

 Here are the three varieties that we will be offering. Do you have other favorites?

Zelmyra

Tigermoon

Pink Zsar

There is more information about these and other spring bulbs on our website, www.purpletuteur.com.

 Happy Spring!

Linda

Here Comes Spring!

With the unusually warm weather we’ve been having, some flowers started to bloom earlier than normal, giving us a welcome jumpstart into spring. We started our Early Spring subscription deliveries the last week of February which is a week ahead of plan.  Mother Nature has her reasons.

We’re busy getting the last of our winter projects done so that as the volume of flowers increases, we can stay focused on getting the flowers out of the field and into your hands.

This winter we did a lot of maintenance on the raised beds, added a new peony bed (more on that in a future post) and prepared some new beds for new plantings. We divided our Tuberose and dahlia tubers. We expect to have some of these tubers available in our summer bulb sale, a new offering for us. Date is still tbd, but we will mention it in this newsletter first.

On the farm Tulips, Poppies, Anemone, Ranunculus, Hellebore, Delphinium and Narcissus are in bloom.  The hardy annuals are also on the verge. The peonies won’t be far behind!

If you didn’t get signed up for our Early Spring subscription, we still have space available in our Spring to Summer and Summer to Fall offerings. You can sign up on our website. If you don’t like the internet world and would rather not order that way, contact me and we will work it out.

Amaryllis Care

Not sure what to do with your Amaryllis after it has bloomed?  Keep it going with light watering until September. Check out this blog post for what to do to get it to bloom again. https://www.purpletuteur.com/blog/2021/9/10/want-your-amaryllis-to-bloom-for-the-holidays-easy-as-123

Anemones and Ranunculus Harvesting Tips

For those growing anemone and/or ranunculus corms, if you got them planted by November, you should be seeing growth now. (If you didn’t get them in the ground, you can keep them in the paper bag on a closet shelf until next November. They will hold if they are kept dry and cool.

Anemones tend to come up first. The first stems are short and they get longer with each cutting. The flowers open during the day and close at night. They need to do this a few times before they are ready to harvest. The best time to cut them is when the collar, which is just below the bloom, moves about an inch away from the bloom.

Ranunculus also start a bit short and get taller as the season progresses. They should be harvested (ideally) when the bud is colored and soft as a marshmallow.

 That’s it for now! We continue to be grateful to all of you for your support of our small farm.  We couldn’t do it without you. We look forward to bringing you bundles of joy (the kind that don’t need college tuition) through out the year. Many many thanks.

Update on Our Fall Plantings

I am happy to report that the fall plantings are coming along very well. Everything has recovered from the December deep freeze and we’re seeing the first buds and blooms on the earliest varieties. March is only 34 days away and by then we should be cutting ranunculus, tulips, narcissus, poppies and anemone for our early spring bouquets.

Here are a few examples of how things look now and how they will look soon (based on last year’s activity). I hope this brightens your day! Linda

The anemones have started to bloom! They start with very short stems but after cutting a couple of times they get long enough to use in bouquets. The left photo is from last week. The other two are from last year, after they get further along.

This is a poppy in bud in our hoop house this year (left). Poppies are one of the earliest things to bloom at the farm. We grow an Italian variety that has extra-long stems and larger flowers. We plant pastel colors that we like to have in Spring.

Our crate-grown tulips are really coming along. Most of these will bloom in March but some in April too. The one shown is Apricot Impression from last year. It is among the first to bloom. We’re growing some new varieties this year, so I don’t have pictures of everything.

The delphinium is also coming along well. The left photo is the hoop house this January. The two on the right are from last year and show where we are headed! This usually starts to bloom in the second half of March.

The campanula looks great this year. It likes cold weather. This one will bloom in April, and what a show! The left photo is this year. The 2 blooms photos are from last year. Campanula is best grown under cover. The bell shaped flowers capture all the rain and it can be damaging to the blooms.

Come on Spring!

The Business of Growing Flowers in South Carolina Evolves

About 75 interested parties came together to discuss commercial flower growing in South Carolina yesterday and I was glad to be among them. The meeting included participation by the SC Department of Agriculture, the SC Center for Cooperative and Enterprise Development, Clemson Cooperative Extension, Matson Consulting, the SC Small Business Development Center, and the SC Specialty Crop Growers Association.  We also had flower farmers from the upstate, the midlands and the low country and some who are considering flower farming.  I had the pleasure of seeing some fellow flower farmers in person for the first time since Covid.

With 60+ flower farmers in attendance and another 10 – 12 that I know of that did not make it, the supply of local flowers in South Carolina is growing quickly. If we can find ways to create a consolidated supply and distribution mechanism to provide local flowers to florists, event planners and corporations, we can strengthen ties and build a stronger financial basis for the floral industry and for flower farmers in our state. For example, Charleston is a leading destination for weddings in the country.  Why not maximize the revenue that stays in the state by making it preferable to use local flowers over those that are imported from (usually) South America?

To be fair, there are florists and event planners is all 3 regions of the state that are huge supporters of local flowers. They understand that the flowers are fresher. They know that they can get beautiful varieties that cannot be shipped successfully. They are willing to utilize the decentralized distribution methods that we have today.

The complexity of buying from multiple small farms is one thing holding others back. They may not be staffed to coordinate with multiple sources.  They may not be able to purchase flowers in large enough quantities from one or a few farmers to meet their needs.  They also may not be familiar with some of the flowers that can be made available and need more education.

While this was just an introductory meeting, I am optimistic that this group has the energy to define solutions to these challenges. I look forward to our next meeting.

“If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together”. African Proverb

Happy New Year 2023!

Thank you for a wonderful 2022. Every subscription, custom order, wholesale delivery, Ag&Art Tour visit, Garden club talk and visit, our feature on Making It Grow, every farmer’s market and retail purchase and our first Holiday Open House helped us to grow. We could not do it without your support, and we feel so welcomed and inspired by your community feedback.

In 2023, we are looking forward to bringing you more joy through flowers. We’re trying some new (to us) bloomers and expanding on the most popular ones.

We’ve made it through the first weather test, Storm Elliot, with very good results. The wind and extended cold period caused some damage. Fortunately, most things are already showing new growth thanks to healthy root systems that were blanketed by the warm earth. These plants will be slowed down a bit but will be robust in Spring. We did lose our Cynoglossum but this can be re-seeded in February for a later appearance in our bouquets.

There can be an upside to the cold too. This should be a good year for tulips, daffodils and peonies. All of these plants like a cold period and should benefit from Elliot’s effects.

We hope that you weathered the storm without a lot of damage and have much to look forward to in 2023. We will continue to try to make you smile through the beauty of fresh flowers.

Happy New Year,

Linda

Last Call for Bulbs!

Thanks to all of you who came out to our first ever Holiday Garden Market! We enjoyed meeting some new flower friends and seeing some familiar faces too. Since our first year was a big success, we are looking at doing it again next year. For the second year, we will do a weekday and a Saturday for those who can’t get out during the week. Please let us know if there is anything you would like to see us offer.

Selling bulbs, forcing kits and bulb gardens is a great way for us to bridge the revenue gap between cut flower seasons. And of course, we have to offer bouquets! Our greenery bouquets have been well received too, so thank you.

This is our last week for bulbs. If you are ordering now, bulbs will not be in bloom by the holidays, but will bring some sunshine into January for whoever grows them. We have a selection of Hot Pink (Bolero) and Soft Apricot (Rilona) and White (Denver) that will be great choices, along with Sparticus, the red and white striped bloom that works for Valentines Day too. Forcing kits make a great gift for those who travel during the holidays and are home in January and February.

For the gardeners in the group, we still have a few anemone and ranunculus corms available. Check out the website for the color selection. You still have time to soak and plant them for gorgeous spring blooms!

So, if you order by 12/9, you can pick up at the farm on Saturday 12/10. For orders over $40 we will deliver next Tuesday 12/13.  We will be taking the bulb shop off our website on 12/9 at 8:00 pm

Subscriptions

For those who want to provide a bouquet subscription as a gift, or to get your order in early, we will be setting up the subscription shop on 12/12 for spring and summer subscriptions. Stay tuned!

As always, thank you so much for all of your support of our flower farm. We feel so blessed to be able to provide flowers to our community and we couldn’t do it without you!

Linda

Our Holiday Open House is Tomorrow!

We are so excited to welcome you to the farm for our Holiday Open House tomorrow, December 1, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm!  We will have our paperwhite and amaryllis bulbs for sale as well as forcing kits, which include the bulb and a nursery pot and soil. The forcing kits make great gifts for those who have a busy travel schedule over the holidays. The bulb will stay fairly dormant until it is planted and water is added. I will be closing the online store today and will open it back up on Friday, after the open house is over. We don’t want to oversell and risk disappointment!

At the open house, we will have a selection of potted up bulb gardens for easy holiday preparation or gift giving.  Along with amaryllis and paperwhites, these can include some succulents and angel wing begonia so that you have something to keep your “need for green” going through the winter. We can also help you fill your own container, if you have something special that you use for the holidays.

We are also making greenery bouquets. I love doing these for the holidays. Since most of us use artificial trees these days, a vase of fresh greenery can be just the thing to get the holiday scent going at home. Some also use the greens around the house to enhance their other decorations.

Mary Ann Adams from One Hubcap Farm will also be there with her gorgeous wreaths! She will have a variety of sizes available. She can also take orders for later pick-up if you don’t find what you are looking for.

Tina Hall-Franklin from T2K Java will also be there with her hot cocoa and coffee to keep us warmer. She also sells her coffee beans. Tina has a portable pop-up shop so think of her for your events too!

The weather will be a little cooler tomorrow so you may want to wear an extra layer! More like the holiday weather I grew up with so happy for a little chill this time of year. We will be on the front porch of the processing shed, so covered but outside.

We hope to see you there!

Linda

Final Fall Notes and A Holiday Event!

The dahlias ended their bloom period with an early frost in the middle of October. It is always a bittersweet time because the flowers are so beautiful that we hate to see them go, but their end means that we can shift our focus to our bulb sale and the work needed to prepare for spring.

Once we shift gears and begin this work in earnest, we make a lot of progress on tasks that have to wait until this time of year. Soil tests are done in the fall and beds are amended accordingly before planting begins.

Most of our early season blooms are either direct seeded or planted as small plants, aka plugs, that grow into their space. We are actively working in 78 4x8 beds and working on adding a few more.  

Irrigation is also checked for needed repairs while the beds are empty or contain seedlings. It is much easier to see any issues now.

Nigella aka Love in a Mist

As of today, we have gotten all of the cold hardy annuals in place. These are things like Larkspur, Nigella, Bachelor Buttons, Orlaya and Saponaria. The rain we have been getting has really helped with seed germination so things are shaping up nicely so far.

Tuberose

Perennials that have been in place for three years typically need to be divided. You can tell if they stop or slow down producing blooms. Yarrow and Echinacea were done last week.  Phlox and Tuberose are on the list for early spring.

Fall is also a great time to plant shrubs and trees. We planted a new hydrangea hedge that I am thrilled to finally have in place. We also planted a pussy willow which was rooted from some of our early spring bouquet material.

The spring bulbs are also in progress. Narcissus has all been planted. The anemone and ranunculus are being soaked and rooted for planting in early December.

So, these last four weeks have been very busy. Our early spring subscription season looks very promising.

Next, we are going to be on vacation for a couple of weeks. This time to see friends and family is something we have really been looking forward to.

A New Event at the Farm

After vacation, it will be great to focus on the current holiday season!

On December 1st from 10:00am – 1:00 pm, we are going to host a holiday market at the farm and you are invited!

We will be doing demonstrations on how to grow Paperwhites and Amaryllis.

We will have amaryllis and paperwhites available for sale as bulbs, forcing kits and ready to go decorations. These make great gifts too.  If you have a container that you want to use, bring it and we can help you get it planted.

We will also have Angel Wing Begonia, which is a wonderful houseplant, yarrow for planting in your garden and a few other surprises.

Mary Ann Adams from One Hubcap farm will also be there with her beautiful fresh wreaths.

So take a break and come on out to the farm for your holiday greenery. We would love to see you!

Fall Bulbs Make Spring Blooms

Our Fall Bulb Shop is Live

We know that some of you flower lovers are gardeners too. We are happy to bring some harder to find and high-quality bulbs to our community so that you can share in the joy of growing these beauties. Here are things that you can order from our website:

Anemone

Narcissus

Ranunculus

  We also have Amaryllis and Paperwhites available on the Bulb Shop again this year.

If you don’t have much gardening experience, I highly recommend trying Amaryllis or Paperwhites for the holidays. They are one of the easiest things to grow and can be grown indoors so that they bloom in December or January when it is harder to get outside.

I really enjoy seeing the photos that people send me of their bulbs in bloom. They bring such joy and there is such excitement for those who are trying for the first time. Here are a few examples:

Beginner Judy H.

Beginner Lynn E.

Seasoned Grower Karen T.

Seasoned Grower Susie

Seasoned Grower Becky H.

On the Farm

The dahlias have been good this year. We tried a few new varieties which we liked and will use again. You will probably recognize these if you had a fall bouquet subscription. They will continue to bloom until the first frost, which is usually around Halloween here in the Midlands.

Hamari Gold

American Dawn

French Can Can

Subscription season is over for this year. Thanks to all of you who participated! We’re already busy getting plants and bulbs in the ground for next spring’s subscriptions.

Next year, we will be expanding our subscription delivery area to include zip code 29169. Deliveries typically start by the first week in March, weather permitting.

Snapdragon Seedlings

These are snapdragon seedlings that we will plant in the next week or two for spring blooming. It is fun to refresh the fields and look forward to the next season of flowers.

Happy Fall,

Linda

Happy Fall! Updates From The Farm

We are enjoying the start of cooler weather and hope that you are too! Here are a few updates that we wanted to share.

 Amanda McNulty and I Talk Cut Flowers on Making it Grow

It was such a pleasure to be able to meet one of my gardening heroes and talk cut flowers with her. This being my first time on a TV set, I really didn’t know what to expect. Amanda and the crew made it very easy. Once we had mics on, I couldn’t move around, which is a challenge for me, but she kept me focused on her and the topic at hand.

The set is so comfortable and I felt right at home. After we finished, I dumped some water into the sink that you can see in the background. Oops! There is no plumbing there. There was a mad dash to wipe it up. A learning experience for sure.

The segment will be aired on Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00 pm on SCETV.

Fall Bulb Sale

We are excited to bring you specialty bulbs for your garden and home again this year!  You can order anemone, ranunculus, a few specialty daffodils, amaryllis and paperwhites from the website starting about October 15th.  There are still supply chain delivery delayss so we will announce again when e have the bulbs.

 Bouquet Subscriptions Wrap For 2022

 Our subscription season is coming to a close for the year. I want to thank each of you who participates in this service. It does my heart good to bring you flowers and I enjoy your feedback. We will start deliveries back up next March and from now until then we will be prepping the soil, sowing seed, planting bulbs and protecting the plants from the weather as best we can.

Here’s to a lovely holiday season!

Linda