I've decided to put in two new gardens early this spring.  One will be a  small culinary and ornamental herb garden and the other will be a demonstration cutting garden.  I'll be using the gardens as outdoor classrooms and plan to have demonstrations on floral and garden design.  I'll be documenting everything with photos so be sure to look for future blogs on how the new gardens are progressing.  If things go well I'll be adding a butterfly garden and perhaps  a medicinal herb garden too.  

The arbor garden is almost complete.  All that is needed are two vines, one more hydrangea and a nice place to sit on the patio.  I just orderd 150 hellebores from Barry Glick, the hellebore King, so I'll probably try to squeeze a few of these beauties in too.   I'll be planting most of them in a boring row somewhere in the shade out back.  For anyone interested in Hellebores visit Barry's website www.sunfarm.com.  He has some beautiful plants and hellebores are his favorites.  I'll be selling a few in gallon pots early in the spring at the farmers' market. 

I've started my annual hunt for interns.  Anyone interested in spending the spring and summer learning how to grow cut flowers please contact me.  The only requirements are that you are 18 or over, willing to work hard in all kinds of weather, be ready to work by 6:00 am ( I'll supply the coffee)  and can commit to 20 hours a week for a minimum of ten weeks.  The season starts the first week of April and ends in November.  I'm also looking for a full time field and greenhouse manager.  This position requires some education and experience in floriculture.  If you are interested in applying for either position contact me by email: kate@liliesandlavender.com or phone 215-345-7282

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.  Our white Christmas was beautiful, now I'm ready for some warmer weather!

I adopted two new kitties from the SPCA.  Dahlia and Odin are sleek, black and very fast.  They were hired to keep the voles out of the greenhouse and are doing a great job.  This sure beats using poison.  Their training is coming along quite nicely, especially now that they've started using the litter box instead of the ranunculus bed.  They had a blast digging up all the ranunculus corms.  I had to replant them twice. April likes to eat voles too, that's why I don't use poison.  

Believe it or not I'm already getting ready for spring.  It's cold outside but the greenhouse is warm enough for calla lilies,anemones, ranunculus, amaryllis , lavender, scented geranium and potted succulents as well as some new larkspur seedlings.

I've ordered lots of new shrubs to plant in April and May and will be starting more early spring seeds next week. In October I planted over 1000 tulips, tall single late tulips, brightly striped parrot tulips and soft pink peony flowered tulips.  If the cats do a good job controlling the voles I should have lots to use for spring wedding designs and farmers' market sales.  Tulips are rodent and deer candy but I've also planted some less tasty, ( to vermin ) muscari and allium. The muscari will be blooming at the same time as the tulips and the allium will bloom in early June. 

I gave myself a tractor as an early Christmas present. I've always hired another farmer to do my tractor work for me so this is an exciting new challenge!  I'm just waiting for some nice weather so I can use it for something besides moving snow!  

The Doylestown farmers' market will be starting the second week in April and the Wrightstown farmers' market will be starting the Saturday before mother's day. I will be there with lots of beautiful tulips, daffodils, lilies, calla lilies, seedlings, potted herbs, and potted shrubs. My farm stand will open with the daffodils.  Stop by and say hi.  

I

For anyone interested in Sustainability

The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture and the Pennypack Farm and Education Center are hosting a sustainablilty movie series at the Ambler theatre. Each movie delves into a different aspect of sustainability-fishing, water and farming.  Learn how your small changes can make a big difference to the world.

All showtimes 7:30pm Tickets: $10 per movie or $24 for the series.  Tickets Available at the Ambler Theater Box Office or www.amblertheater.org/pennypack

Ambler Theater 108 E. Butler Ave. Ambler, PA 19002 215-345-7855

End of the Line

Jan 12th 7:30pm - THE END OF THE LINE reveals the impact of overfishing on our oceans. Scientists predict that at the current rate of fishing most seafood will be gone by 2048. The movie points to solutions that are simple and doable and will ensure a supply of seafood for future generations. 
More information at www.endoftheline.com

Tapped

Feb 9th 7:30pm - Looks at the environmental damage and health risks created by bottled water. Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right or a commodity to be bought and sold? Just two startling facts - 40% of bottled water is just tap water (so why pay for it?) and two million tons of plastic garbage created by bottled water is in landfills, or worse, in the ocean. This movie will make you think twice before you purchase another plastic water bottle.
More information at www.tappedthemovie.com

Fresh

Mar 9th 7:30pm - A positive look at how farmers, thinkers and business people across America are re-inventing our food system to forge healthier, sustainable alternatives to agri-business.This movie will get you enthused about your food again and get you itching to be in the garden.
More information at www.freshthemovie.com

For anyone interested in Sustainability

The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture and the Pennypack Farm and Education Center are hosting a sustainablilty movie series at the Ambler theatre. Each movie delves into a different aspect of sustainability-fishing, water and farming.  Learn how your small changes can make a big difference to the world.

All showtimes 7:30pm Tickets: $10 per movie or $24 for the series.  Tickets Available at the Ambler Theater Box Office or www.amblertheater.org/pennypack

Ambler Theater 108 E. Butler Ave. Ambler, PA 19002 215-345-7855

End of the Line

Jan 12th 7:30pm - THE END OF THE LINE reveals the impact of overfishing on our oceans. Scientists predict that at the current rate of fishing most seafood will be gone by 2048. The movie points to solutions that are simple and doable and will ensure a supply of seafood for future generations. 
More information at www.endoftheline.com

Tapped

Feb 9th 7:30pm - Looks at the environmental damage and health risks created by bottled water. Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right or a commodity to be bought and sold? Just two startling facts - 40% of bottled water is just tap water (so why pay for it?) and two million tons of plastic garbage created by bottled water is in landfills, or worse, in the ocean. This movie will make you think twice before you purchase another plastic water bottle.
More information at www.tappedthemovie.com

Fresh

Mar 9th 7:30pm - A positive look at how farmers, thinkers and business people across America are re-inventing our food system to forge healthier, sustainable alternatives to agri-business.This movie will get you enthused about your food again and get you itching to be in the garden.
More information at www.freshthemovie.com

Lilies are one of my favorite flowers. They are also the number one crop I grow for several reasons:  They are easy to schedule; they have nice long sturdy stems; and they come in nearly every color except blue.  Also, they will grow in the winter with added heat and light and I can move them around (because I grow them in crates).  They don't take up much space, (a 2 1/2 by 2 foot crate holds 15-20 bulbs) .  There are many varieties to choose from.  The Oriental and Trumpet varieties have a wonderful scent and most importantly they are beautiful.

Beauty aside, they are susceptible to fungus and  have specific nutritional reqirements.  Here in Bucks county our rainy springs and humid summers mean I have to protect my lilies from diseases such as botrytis.  I spray once a week with oxidate an OMRI accepted anti-oxidant made from peroxide which kills fungal spores on contact. I also spray plant shield  twice a month. Plant shield is  a beneficial fungus which protects  plants by feeding on disease causing spores.  Lilies are heavy feeders and  during the hot summer they grow so fast they need extra calcium to keep their stems and flower petals strong. I apply fish emulsion once weekly to keep the leaves a nice dark green and the flowers vibrant. To supplement the calcium requirements I spray with organic, liquid calcium. 

Lilies look strong, but the flower petals and buds will break if they are handled roughly.  Wholesale growers who ship their lilies solve this problem by cutting the lilies before the buds develop their full color.  Unfortunately, this means many of the buds will not open and the ones that do look washed-out. I wait to cut my lilies until the buds are fully developed and almost ready to open (sometimes I get too busy and buds on some of the flowers will open before I cut).  Cutting at a later stage of growth guarantees a beautiful, vibrantly colored  flower with all of the buds opening.  In order to get my lilies to  market with the least amount of trauma, I use flower sleeves for protection.  .

Once the lilies are cut they need a preservative to maintain their beauty. Cutting lilies causes a chemical reaction leading to premature yellowing of their leaves.  In order to prevent this I use a bulb conditioner in the cutting water. Once the flowers are in the vase, they need an additional conditioner which both inhibits bacterial growth and feeds the flower.  The flower conditioner packets I give each customer ensures optium vase life and vibrant beauty for up to two weeks.

All this extra care to ensure the most beautiful lilies for every customer takes lots of time and effort.  Those who appreciate quality will understand that extra care leads to a higher selling price. 

I take special pride in the high quality, beautiful and long lasting lilies I grow  and hope you will enjoy them as much as I.

 The summer Wedding and party season has really taken off! I guess the word is out about sustainable, locally grown flowers.  I have five weddings and a party in June.  Most people want  fresh flowers  they can arrange themselves.  That's fine with me, this gives me more time to devote to planting and growing.   A few reminders for anyone planning a large party or wedding. 

Make sure you have someone who isn't in the bridal party doing the majority of the flower arranging. I have had a maid of honor and a mother of the bride call me in a panic because they didn't have time to finish the arranging.  Something always seems to happen at the last minute! At one wedding a tree blew over in a storm the night before and the mother of the bride had to direct traffic instead of putting up the chuppah.

Another common problem with amateur flower designers is not having enough flowers.  Unless you have a lot of design experience you should order more flowers than you think you need.  Chances are you're calculations are a bit off or some of the flowers will break.  It's much better to have some extra flowers, (you can always put an arrangement on the bar, or in your powder room. )  Running to the Acme or Costco at the last minute is nerve wracking and the flowers aren't very good either.

The last bit of advice is to keep your arrangements simple.   Flowers, especially Lilies, practically arrange themselves if you put them in a  a fluted vase.  Use no more than three complimentary colors, or try a monotone arrangement, ( shades of pink, yellow, or blue).  Cut your flowers to be twice the height of the vase and you can't go wrong.

Happy party planning!

May, 2008

&

Lilies and lavender 

Flowers and herbs grown in the heart of Bucks County

Hey, It really is spring!  I had my fields tilled  on Sunday just before the heavy rain on Monday.  Boy did we need that moisture.    Now I'm ready to plant!  I'm very excited.  Besides the reliable flowers I've been growing for years such as celosia, sunflowers, zinnia, larkspur, bachelor buttons and cosmos I'll be trying some new grasses, safflower, millet, sorghum, broom corn, black tipped wheat, amaranth and euphorbia, lab lab beans and grey striped giant sunflowers for bird seed wreaths.  It's an exciting time and I'm very busy.  Soon I'll also be seeding and transplanting herbs and all the other annuals I've started in seed flats as well. 

I'm adding some new perennials and shrubs this year too.  Black knight buttterfly bush, caryopteris longwood blue,  wigelia and some lilacs.

The hanging baskets for mother's day are looking great.  I have nonstop begonias and geraniums flowering or about to flower in 10 inch baskets. I also have some in 4" pots for those who would like to make their own mixed containers  and baskets or plant right in the garden. 

I'll be cutting about 200 pink and yellow lilies this week for the farmers market on Sat.  It looks like another 400 or so should be ready just in time for mother's day, and oh, the lilacs will be blooming soon too.  April and May are my favorite months of the year.

In my pursuit of becoming more sustainable I will be phasing out the plastic flower sleeves I've been using for bouquets at the farmers market and switching over to biodegradeable sleeves manufactured from corn based polylactic acid (PLA) these sleeves compost in approxiamately 45 days.  They won't decompose in a landfill however so in order to use these to best advantage they need to be put in the compost.  If you don't currently compost I will be happy to do it for you if you bring your used  PLA sleeves to the market.  Next season I will be using biodegradeable dot pots made by fertilpot.  Currently I am using heavy duty plastic seed trays which I have been disinfecting and reusing for the last five years.  The advantages of the biodegradeable pots are the multiple sizes and the fact that I will be planting the pot along with the plant.  These are the only pots currently listed as 100% organic. Most farmers use lots of plastic.  Plastic pots, plastic drip tape, plastic weed barrier, plastic green house film, plastic cartons.  Plastic doesn't decompose but can be recycled.  I've begun taking my non reuseable plastic to Zook's Plastic Recovery in Lancaster.  I feel much better that I have an alternative to the land fill. Now all I have to worry about is the cost of the gas.

My grandmother used to say every flower has a smile.  Come visit me at the Doylestown farmers market this Saturday.  April and I will be there with lots of flowers to help you have a happy start to your weekend.

It's beginning to feel like spring!  Easter was  a flurry of activity at Lilies and lavender, most of the flowers bloomed on time but a few just refused to behave.  The ranunculus was the most troublesome.  The first batch of corms rotted in the flooded basement, the second batch turned out to be a short variety sent to me by accident and the third batch has decided that it will bloom whenever it feels like it, thank you very much.   This is the first Easter I can remember without daffodils.  Lilies, tulips, alstromeria, larkspur and iris all blooming their fool heads off and no daffodils, it just ain't right!  The greenhouse is nice and warm helping the lilies to bloom but the fields were just to cold for the daffs. 

 I have a family of shrews living in my small greenhouse. They are having a grand time dining on my early lisianthus, rosemary and campanula. I found a nice note thanking me for the gourmet salad bar.  I rewarded them by putting out traps  filled with peanut butter which April and Czara thought were  great treats.  Shrews 2 lissies 0.  And 0 lissies is exactly what I will have if I can't find the shrews a nice vacation spot for the spring and summer season.  Speaking of lissies I have another 2800 hundred plugs to plant, ( in anther cold frame without shrews).  I just made a nice raised bed for them today and will start planting tomorrow.  In a few months I will be over- flowing with lissies !

It seems strange but I have no flowers blooming now. I cut every flower I had for Easter.  If the weather cooperates I should have plenty of flowers from the fields and the greenhouses  for the opening of the Doylestown farmers market on April 19.  Look for lilies, larkspur, iris, tulips, daffodils, spirea, campanula, ranunculus and maybe some azalea. 

Mother's day promises lots and lots of pink and white lilies, ranunculus, campanula and maybe lilacs and viburnum.  I will also have hanging baskets of begonia, hardy geranium and other mixed flowers.  I will keep you updated on the varietes and bloom times of all the flowers .

Happy Spring!