A Visit to a Flower Farm

Though Oldham's no longer have a farm in Huttonville, we still see our old neighbours each Saturday when we visit the Brampton Farmer's Market.

A few weeks ago I stopped by the family's busy market stand to buy a bouquet of dahlias and got an invitation to go out to see the work they had done at their new farm near Rockwood Ontario.

What gardening enthusiast would down such an invitation?

And so it was that I found myself standing chest deep in a big field of dahlias one 

beautiful Sunday morning.

This is a busy time of year at the flower farm.

The dahlias are at their peak and it was all hands on deck at corporate headquarters (a.k.a. the barn).

There was the odd slacker (this is Maya asleep on the barn floor), but everyone else was busy cutting and packing flowers for a big order when I stopped in to visit.

Out in the field, the dahlias were looking spectacular.

Dahlias range widely in height and foliage color, as well as bloom size, variety and shape. "Dinner plate" varieties may have blooms as large as 12" in diameter.

Dahlias tuberous-rooted perennials native to Mexico and Central America. They tolerate a wide range of soil types, but like well drained conditions (too much moisture will cause the tubers to rot). Always grow dahlias in full sun. 

Tubers should be planted in the spring after all danger of frost has been passed. The proper planting depth for dahlia tubers is 10-15 cm (4-6 inches). 

Taller varieties may end up needing to be staked later on. If you are not careful however, the stake can damage tubers so it is a good idea to position your stake at the time of planting.

Place your dahlia tuber horizontally in the planting hole with the eye pointing upward. Dahlias are heavy feeders so it is a good idea to mix in some organic matter and a handful of bonemeal when you plant them.

To promote a compact, bushy plant, pinch back your dahlia once it has grown about a foot high. It is also a good idea to feed them every two weeks before they begin to set bud with water soluble, bloom promoting type of fertilizer.

Side buds at the end of each branch can be removed if you want to encourage larger flowers.

The farm also produces other flowers like these zinnias and snapdragons.

Gladiolas used to be an important flower crop, but the family 

tells me that they are not as popular in recent years.

Growing Lavatera as a cut flower was an experiment tried

for the first time this summer.

Lavatera trimestris: Lavatera are annuals that are easy to grow from seed. You can start them indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost or sow them directly outdoors two weeks before the last frost date. 

Lavatera dislike being moved, so avoid moving young plants if possible. Grow them in moist, average soil (rich soil will lead to lush foliage and fewer flowers). In growing them myself, I discovered that full sun is best. These are tall plants that may require some staking. Height: 2-4' Spread: 2-3' USDA Zones: 2-9.

Dahlia, 'Wizard of Oz'

Pompom dahlias have a ball-shaped flower that makes me think of a honeycomb. Pompoms come in a rainbow of colors and have nice long stems that are perfect for flower arranging.

Dahlia 'Yellow Pow'

Dahlia 'Jess'

Dahlia 'Jess'

 

In an upcoming posts, we will look at "Dinner plate" dahlias, as well as a few of the other flowers grown on the farm. I will also have some tips for storing dahlias over winter to pass along.

More Information:

Butt's Berry & Flower Farm

5838 5th Line
Rockwood, Ontario
(519) 856-0270

You can't beat the freshness of locally grown flowers!

Delphinium, dahlias, and a variety of other flowers are grown on the farm. Orders for special events such as weddings are welcome.
There is no catalogue at this time, but dahlia tubers are available for purchase each spring. 
The farm also produces a wide range of vegetables, pumpkins and berries.

Visit the Butt's Berry& Flower Farm Facebook page

It's Officially Time to get Gardening!

This is the first long weekend of the summer season here in Canada. Yippee!

Diehard enthusiasts like myself have already been gardening for a while, but for many Canadians the Victoria Day long weekend is the traditional time to finally get digging. The danger of killing frosts have passed and it is usually safe to begin planting tender annuals and tomatoes.

So for those of you heading to the nursery or garden centres for the first time this season, here are a few ideas to get you inspired:

Plant something pretty: Bee Balm, Monarda 'Marshall's Delight'

My favourite new plant of last summer: Dwarf Calamint, Calamintha nepeta ssp. nepeta

Plant something fragrant: Thyme or Lavender (below)

Create something whimsical

Think outside the box when it comes to container plantings

Plant a fruit tree...

even if you have a small yard.

Add some interest to the edges of your flowerbeds. This gardener neatly edged the grass and then she added a trough of pea gravel. Stones mark and elevate the permitter of the flowerbeds and...

low growing succulents keep the whole thing looking tidy.

Don't forget to think about adding some late season color with ornamental grasses and late flowering perennials like sedum, phlox and rudabeckia.

Plant some old fashioned annuals that nobody else in the neighbourhood has thought off.

Snapdragons

Lavatera

Don't forget to plant some Morning Glories

and maybe some Cosmos.

Some sunflowers would be nice too.

Have a great weekend!

To be or not to be a Master Gardener? That is the question.

I don't mean to rush things, but I have started to think about the coming shift in the seasons. There is still plenty of summer left in the warm afternoons, but fall has already laid claim to the evening hours. In the middle of the night, I awoke shivering and reached out for a blanket for the first time in weeks.

Perhaps because of all those early years in school classrooms, September seems like a time for fresh starts and new beginnings. I have begun to think about college classes and the directions in which I want to move my life.

Should I take a class in small business accounting? It is bound to be terribly dull, but has practical purposes. I have no idea how to balance the books or manage the money my jewellery making and photography has begun to bring in.

Maybe I should take a class in photography? That certainly sounds like way more fun. I do fine enough with my camera, but imagine what I could do if I really had a clue.

And how is gardening going to fit into my future? Though a life-long passion, gardening has always taken the form of a hobby, not a vocation. But as the years have slipped by, I have begun to feel a bit restless. Is blogging about gardening enough?

In the late spring, I investigated becoming a master gardener and I now must decide soon if I want to proceed. The challenge of mastering something I love to do seems very appealing to me. And even after years of practical experience, but there still are gaps in my knowledge.

The only thing that gives me pause is the direction. If you look at what I like to write about most in this blog, it is garden design that seems to capture my imagination. Maybe it is actually landscape design I should study?

Do you ever feel this conflicted about the direction your life should take? Tell me I am not alone!

Anyway... it is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, the last such celebration of the summer and we should take a look at what is blooming in the garden.

The recent rains have really refreshed the garden.

My roses have begun to re-bloom. This one is an Austin rose: L.D. Braithwaite.

The phlox along the white picket fence have been blooming now for a number of weeks. They are just starting to fade a bit and will need to be pruned back to coax a second round of flowers before fall frosts arrive.

Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata 'Laura': Has purple flowers with a cream colored eye that have a very subtle fragrance. Height: 90-107 cm, Spread 60-75 cm, Care: Full sun and average soil.

Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata 'Eva Cullum': Has clear pink flowers with a maroon colored eye This phlox also has a very subtle fragrance. Height: 60-80 cm, Spread 60-75 cm Care: Full sun and average soil. My only issue with Eva Cullum is that the leaves are susceptible to brown spots. Both these phlox wilt if not watered during times of drought.

Ballon Flower, Platycodon grandiflorus: This star-shaped flower is one of my last perennials to emerge in spring. The young shoots look almost asparagus-like and the plant's carrot-like roots mean it is difficult to move. If you like this tall, late bloomer, there is also a white and pink colored single, as well as double varieties.  Height: 45-60 cm, Spread 30-45 cm, Care: Will grow in normal, sandy and clay soils. Best in full sun, but can take light shade.

Daylily, 'Evening Gown'

Brown-Eyed-Susan, Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstum': I actually have a couple different varieties of Rudbeckia and find one as good as the other. They like morning sun and a bit of afternoon shade best. Height: 60-75 cm, Spread 45-60 cm, Care: Will grow in normal, sandy and clay soils.

Dwarf Calamint, Calamintha nepeta ssp. nepeta is a close cousin to garden mint, but without the spreading habit. The plant forms a neat mound of mint-scented leaves and has been covered in pale blue flowers for several weeks now. Height: 20-30 cm, Spread: 30-45 cm, Care: This is a flexible plant that will tolerate average, dry to moist conditions and will grow in normal, sandy and clay soil.

Calamint, Calamintha grandiflora variegata: I love this plant for the foliage, which is a beautiful variegated mix of cream and soft green. If trimmed, the plant will bloom with tiny mauve flowers for an extended time. Height: 30-45 cm, Spread: 45-60 cm, Care: This is a calamint will tolerate average to moist conditions and will grow in normal, sandy and even clay soil.

Agastache 'Blue Fortune': After admiring this perennial on several blogs last summer, I finally added 'Blue Fortune' just recently. The bees go mad for it!  The leaves have a slight licorice scent and the flowers and leaves are supposedly edible. Height: 60-75 cm, Spread 45-60 cm, Care: Will grow in normal, sandy and clay soils.

Dwarf Perennial Sunflower, Helianthus 'Happy Days'

This plant is relatively new to the garden and is still very much on probation. Helianthus 'Happy Days' forms an upright mound of pointy dark green leaves and has daisy-like, yellow flowers on strong stems. Height 55-60 cm, Spread 45-60 cm, Care: Average to moist, well-drained soil. My plant is doing well in half-shade, but I imagine it would do fine in full sun.

Sadly, I have discovered that Porcelain Vine is a favourite with Japanese Beetles. 

Annual: Lavatera

Sedum 'Purple Emperor': Height: 40 cm, Spread: 30-40 cm, Care: Full sun for good foliage color. 

Happy GBBD everyone!

I am going to link this post to May Dreams Gardens GBBD and Fertilizer Friday at Tootsie Time. 

To see some other beautiful gardens, please click the link.