The musings and adventures of an enthusiastic grower
In a previous blog post, I shared my journey toward becoming a novice dahlia hybridizer. A journey spanning several years, during which my love for working with dahlias has grown. I never thought I would have the chance to share one of my dahlias with gardeners across North America. Still, when I was selected to …
Continue reading "Field Trip: Triple Wren Farms in Ferndale, Washington"
It’s that time of year again when I sit and reflect on the past growing season and look forward to the next. Goals begin to emerge as I consider what I hope to accomplish in the coming year. Each new year, I set my gardening goals, which help me envision the season ahead and chart …
Happy New Year, garden friends! It’s a new year, and you know what that means-it’s time once again for our annual seasonal reflection post. The beginning of the new year offers an excellent opportunity for reflection, and lately I’ve been thinking about what our fourth season at Whistling Bee Farm has meant to me. It …
Continue reading "Reflecting on Our Fourth Season at Whistling Bee Farm"
December started with a bang as our first snowfall brought eight inches of snow. Flakes fluttered down all day, and by morning, a winter wonderland was in place with everything covered in a white blanket. It’s beautiful, and I’m thankful that I finished all my farm chores before winter set in. Now, I can focus …
Continue reading "What’s Growing on in the Garden: November 2025"
Here we are in November, already deep into the fall season. On the farm, most of the leaves have fallen, mornings are often dusted with frost, and cooler temperatures have moved in. We experienced our first hard frost a few weeks ago, which abruptly ended our fresh-cut flower season. Flower farmers call the first hard …
Continue reading "What’s Growing on in the Garden: October 2025"
This past July, we took a trip to Seattle, Washington, as my son was competing in the Rubik's WCA World Championship there. It was a fabulous trip, and in between competing, we were able to explore the city. We had never been to the West Coast, and it was exciting to soak in all that …
The warmer temperatures this week make it seem like summer is holding on here in the Hudson Valley. For me, September is always a bittersweet month. I can see the flowers transitioning and know we are inching closer to the end of our growing season. While I miss the summer abundance, I also yearn for …
Continue reading "What’s Growing on in the Garden: Late Summer 2025"
Ah, August has arrived, and with it comes a reminder that fall is not far away. In truth, as I work in the summer heat, I’m longing for the cooler weather that fall days typically bring. I’m a sweater weather gal through and through! But fall is not here yet, and before I look ahead, …
Continue reading "What’s Growing on in the Garden: July 2025"
It has been a while since I’ve taken our readers on a field trip, so when I had the opportunity recently to visit the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle, Washington, I couldn’t wait to share the experience. The Chihuly Garden and Glass is a museum that exhibits blown glass sculptures of renowned artist Dale …
The heat and humidity have set in and have been brutal, and pests and disease have reared their ugly heads, yet, nearby, rows of flowers bloom beautifully. Such is the roller coaster ride of being a grower dependent on the mercy of Mother Nature. The weather is making it abundantly clear that summer has arrived, …
Continue reading "What’s Growing on in the Garden: June 2025"
THISTLE BE THE DAY 