The musings and adventures of an enthusiastic grower
Somehow, we have successfully navigated the back-to-school marathon and all the music ensembles, athletics, and extracurricular activities that come with it. My son's event calendar was enough to keep me on my toes in September; after all, I am his primary chauffeur, personal administrative assistant, and head cheerleader at all his events. Such is the …
Continue reading "What’s Growing on in the Garden: September 2022"
I was recently asked, “What is a cut flower?” and while it seemed straightforward, the question caused me to pause. The simple definition of a cut flower is any flower or bud cut from a plant for decorative purposes such as flower arranging. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to …
There are several processes that flower farmers use to ensure customers are getting the freshest flowers possible with the most extended vase life. One of the essential factors in keeping flowers fresh is hydration. During the day's heat, flowers lose water through a process called transpiration. Warmer temperatures during the day can cause the flowers …
Continue reading "Fresh as a Daisy: 5 Tips for Extending the Life of Your Flower Bouquet"
How is it possible that it is August already? Time certainly has been flying this summer. Our lives here at Whistling Bee Farm have been hectic this past month as the annuals we are growing are finally hitting their stride. The flowers are at their most abundant, and we are trying to keep up with …
Continue reading "What’s Growing on in the Garden: July 2022"
What a busy month June has been! With the school year closing, there were final soccer games, concerts, field trips, recitals, and competitions to attend with our son. I didn't know if I was coming or going half the time! So during this busy month, I tried to squeeze in as much time as possible …
Continue reading "What’s Growing on in the Garden: June 2022"
That's right; it's official, I am taking the leap from garden hobbyist to flower farmer! It is exciting and scary and everything in between, but I'm ready for this new stage in my life. My passion for being around plants has grown drastically over the past few years, and I could no longer ignore the …
Who doesn’t love flowers? Capable of eliciting various emotions, from smiles of joy to tears of appreciation, flowers brighten our lives. We are so enthralled with blooming plants that they have become entwined within our culture, present in our celebrations, rituals, and everyday lives. When given as gifts, they have become symbols that express our …
In last week’s blog post, I discussed creating a pollinator playground garden by planting flowers that support pollinators. This week, I’d like to place a spotlight on one of my favorite plants from this garden, the zinnia. They come in a seemingly endless variety of colors, shapes, and sizes and have won my heart many …
One of my favorite activities in the garden is picking flowers, arranging them, and bringing them indoors to enjoy. Immersed in flowers, gathering the components for my bouquet, I transport into the world of the pollinator. As a result, I can get up close and personal with these amazing creatures as they flit from bloom …
We are well into harvest season, and it is at this time that many of us are up to our ears in produce as tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash abound. Late summer is typically a time for vegetable gardeners to step into overdrive, rapidly harvesting their crops and putting up their bounty for the colder days …
THISTLE BE THE DAY 