Hardening off means acclimating a plant to a new environment. It refers to toughening up a plant a bit, so that it’s not shocked by direct sunlight, dry conditions, and wind, and it is a term and process primarily used for young transplants. Plants that are seeded directly outdoors are naturally acclimated from the beginning […]
How (and Why!) You Should “Harden Off” Your Seedlings and Rooted Cuttings Read More »
Healthy soil is one of the most magical parts of our planet, full of organic material that supports a robust microbiome which in turn supports plant growth all over the earth. The soil in your ecological zone is special and has been shaped by your region’s specific climate and history. The soil in your county,
Why Would You Need a “Soilless Growing Medium?” Read More »
People tell me, “You’re so lucky to live such a flower-filled life.”Usually I just smile at this, but I want to ask them, “Are you sure the cold, achy, detailed work that goes into building a flower farm each year is… luck?” It’s actually: me making daily choices based more on my goals than my
Gardeners, Do the Hard Things Read More »
Dahlias hold a special place in our hearts (they ARE deservedly spectacular), but do you know we also grow more than 100 other types of flowers in our fields? Over the next few weeks, our Rose Garden is going to explode with gorgeous blooms. Summer-blooming perennials, annuals, vines, shrubs, and bulbs will follow soon after, and we
The Wonder of Willow Read More »
Here at the farm, it is time for us to pinch dahlias! We know it can feel counterintuitive and even “mean,” but pinching out the growth point of a dahlia that’s about 8″ tall will cause it to branch from that point and create many more blooms than NOT pinching would have allowed. Its stems
Our business plan has shifted a lot over the past few years, And we’re growing fewer spring cuts as a result. All in all the changes are lovely and positive… EXCEPT… somehow we did not grow ranunculus this year. And guess what? I miss them fiercely! Ordering now for next season. {Hot tip: did you
Hot Tips: When to Order Read More »
I’m a driven, goal-oriented, spreadsheet-loving, list-writing person. I show up to work with a plan of action every day.But sometimes when the job at hand is big and I have too many big tasks on my plate (hello, farm life!), it can be hard to motivate myself to start chipping away at it all. My
Sometimes when the job at hand is too big, it’s hard for me to even start chipping away at it. However, if I break it down into sections, or “bite-sized” pieces, it’s way more manageable. This is not a novel concept: we cut up our food instead of trying to eat a whole pancake or
Business Planning for Flower Farms: Bite-Sized Pieces Read More »