The musings and adventures of an enthusiastic grower
When I first started my cut flower business in 2022, I joined the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG). This organization was created to educate, unite, and support commercial cut flower growers, and being a member has been invaluable to me as I navigate the ins and outs of flower farming. In mid-July, I …
Continue reading "Field Trip: ASCFG Regional Conference Part One"
Spring has officially arrived! At least according to the calendar. However, I don’t think Mother Nature got the memo because this week, we are dipping well below freezing each night. With the unusually warm winter, many of our fall-planted bulbs are weeks ahead of schedule, and now I’m rushing to protect them from the freezing …
For years, I avoided succulents. Despite my fascination with them and affinity for how they look, with their fleshy, water-storing stems and leaves, they stood no chance of surviving in my household. I am loathe to admit that I have killed many a cactus in my day. When it comes to succulents such as cacti, …
September snuck up on me! As it always seems to do. Summer tends to come and go in a flurry of activity as we try to fit as much in as we possibly can, both in the field and in our personal endeavors. My son will start school next week, and for me, back-to-school always …
Continue reading "What’s Growing on in the Garden: August 2023"
It’s been a while since I put a plant in the spotlight, and I thought this week I would highlight one that is currently blooming here on the farm: Baptisia. This beautiful plant is one of my favorite perennials to grow, and if you’re not presently growing it, perhaps after reading this, you’ll want to. …
It’s time to give another plant the spotlight, sing its praises, and discuss its drawbacks. This week I chose gomphrena, or globe amaranth, as it is also known. You may remember that I included gomphrena as one of my favorite cut flowers in my Playing Favorites post in August, and I thought it was time …
It's been a while since I've shared a Plant Spotlight post, and I realized as seed packets are arriving in the mailbox, poppies are one of the varieties I'm most excited to grow in 2023. Back in elementary school, I remember vividly that each year we celebrated National Poppy Day when learning about the significance …
Each season, I like to try something new. Something I've never planted before and have limited knowledge about growing: I enjoy the challenge and exhilaration of trying a new variety. I love the learning process, from the research before planting to the harvesting and enjoyment (if I'm lucky enough to get that far). Often, I'll …
In June, you may remember that I attended a peony workshop at Bear Creek Farm in Upstate New York. Well, imagine my delight when I discovered they also offer a dahlia workshop! Since it was my first year growing dahlias, and I had already completely fallen in love with them, I decided attending the workshop …
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 …
THISTLE BE THE DAY 