With some of these principles, you can elevate the simple act of arranging bud vases into an artful expression of your personal style and the ambiance you wish to create. Whether for a special occasion or everyday elegance, mastering composition opens up endless possibilities for beautifying your spaces with grace and flair.
Time and Money: A Practical Consideration
Adopting bud vases in your decor strategy can offer significant savings in both time and money. With fewer elements required for each arrangement, you can achieve stunning results without the need for expensive, lush bouquets. This efficiency frees up time to enjoy the decorating process and, ultimately, the event itself, reducing stress and allowing for a greater focus on the joy of the occasion.
Beyond Decor: A Conversation Starter
Beyond their visual appeal, bud vase arrangements serve as marvelous conversation pieces. The unique combinations of flowers, fruits, vines, and other materials spark curiosity, making them not just decorations but focal points of interaction. Bud vase arrangements can be a timeless choice for any occasion, proving that sometimes, the smallest details can have significant impact.
Embarking on Your Seeding Journey
Deciding between direct outdoor seeding and beginning indoors is a choice that can be tailored to your regional climate and personal preferences. Depending on where you live, you can mix it up. Remember, seeds represent a modest financial outlay with the potential for immeasurable returns in beauty and satisfaction.
An Easy Guide to Indoor Seed Starting
Opting for indoor seed starting? We recommend a few key investments to enhance your success rate significantly. These initial purchases may cost more upfront but are designed to increase your seed-to-flower success dramatically:
- Grow lights
- Heat mats
- Shelving units (wooden or metal)
- Cell containers and flat drainage trays
- Plastic covers or dome coverings
- High-quality potting or seed starting mix
Organizing Your Growing Space
Creating an efficient indoor garden starts with some planning. Your space should accommodate the plants' growth needs, including ample room for lighting and other essentials. For an effective setup, we suggest using shelves that can accommodate standard gardening lights, with a preference for metal shelving due to its ease of cleaning and pest resistance.
When selecting soil, opt for a high-quality potting mix to avoid the pests and diseases common in garden soil. Our recommended choice is Pro-Mix with mycorrhizae, which provides the ideal structure for root growth and moisture retention. And when your plants are ready to transition outdoors, consider our specially formulated fertilizer to support their continued growth.
Selecting and Sowing Your Seeds
Choosing your seeds is an exciting step. Consider the specific needs of indoor versus outdoor plants, and perhaps explore some unique varieties that are less commonly found.
Seed Trays vs. Upcycled Containers
There's a charm in repurposing items around the house for seed starting—egg cartons, milk boxes, you name it. Yet, when it comes to getting those seeds off to the best start, purpose-made seed trays have their advantages. They bring a kind of uniformity and efficiency to the process, with features like standardized drainage and spaces designed to help roots thrive. While it's tempting to go with what's on hand, using 72-cell or 50-cell flats can simplify life down the road, making sure those little plants get the room they need without unnecessary transplant stress. (Don't forget to label each tray with the correct species name and sowing date to track progress.)
Prepping for Success
Before those seeds even touch the soil, there's a bit of prep work that can make all the difference. Tamping down moistened soil gently helps avoid air pockets—those tiny voids aren't friends to tender roots. And if you're feeling extra motivated, a sprinkle of vermiculite on top can keep the soil's surface just right, warding off crusts and algae. Covering the seeds with a dome or plastic wrap creates a cozy little microenvironment, perfect for germination.
Embracing the Seedlings' New Phase
When those tiny green shoots break through the soil, it's a sign that the nurturing phase enters a delicate stage. Those little domes or covers you've used to create a cozy, humid environment for germination? They've done their job well, but now it's time to introduce a bit of the outside world to the seedlings. Start by slightly opening or propping up the domes to let in some air, keeping this setup for a day or two. This cautious approach helps the seedlings adjust to a less controlled environment gradually.
Watering Wisdom
As the seedlings grow, their thirst for water and nutrients increases. However, drenching the soil from the top can be less effective and even harmful, compacting the soil and disturbing delicate roots. Instead, adding water to the bottom of a waterproof tray encourages the roots to stretch downward, seeking moisture and, in the process, becoming stronger and more capable of supporting the plant. This method not only hydrates the plants more efficiently but also fosters a robust root system, crucial for their future growth in the garden.
Heat and Light
Keeping seeds warm can be a bit of a Goldilocks situation—not too hot, not too cold. Heat mats are a go-to for consistent warmth, but for a touch of DIY, a sunny windowsill or the top of a fridge might just do the trick. (Though you may outgrow small spaces quickly.) Just keep an eye on the temperature, aiming for that sweet spot around 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit.
And then there's light. Young plants are like solar panels, soaking up those rays to grow strong. If you're using natural light, remember to rotate those trays to keep stems straight and strong. Seeds reach for the sun, resulting in weak stems that bend, which is the reason to keep moving the cell packs to keep stems straight.
Full spectrum lights are fantastic for mimicking the sun's rays if you are going the artificial route, but consistency is key. Keep those lights close, but not too close, and on for about 14 to 16 hours a day to simulate the long days of summer.
The Great Outdoors Awaits
When it's time to introduce your seedlings to the great outdoors, take it slow. This process, known as hardening off, helps plants adjust to the elements gradually. A few hours in a shady spot, increasing time in the sun each day, preps them for life under the sky. Be sure to bring them back in at night. After a week or so, they should be fully acclimated to their new outdoor digs and can be deposited there.
From Seedlings to Full Bloom
This gardening journey is filled with little decisions and adjustments, a process of learning and adapting as you go. It's a conversation with nature, a series of gentle nudges and responses as you and your garden grow together. There's no single right way to do it, just a collection of experiences, insights, and the joy of watching life unfold from the palm of your hand.
For Aspiring Commercial Growers
For those looking to scale up their gardening endeavors, consider making cost-effective decisions, such as the purchase of plugs for larger operations. Assessing the balance between investment, time, and resources is crucial for expanding your gardening venture successfully. The decision between plant care and employee/personal time is a gentle reminder that growth happens in many forms, not just in the soil.
When Curiosity Calls: Checking for Eyes Indoors
Despite the benefits of direct planting, some gardeners prefer to ensure their tubers have eyes before setting them in the ground. This approach can offer peace of mind but requires careful handling to avoid damaging the tubers. If you choose this route, maintain a room temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooler temperatures can hinder the tuber's ability to sprout, leading to unnecessary stress on the plant.
The tuber's head, or the part from which the sprout will emerge, should be covered lightly with soil even indoors, mimicking its natural growing conditions. This coverage helps maintain moisture and protect the emerging eye from drying out. Leaving the head exposed can dehydrate the eye and prevent it from growing or cause it to struggle. The soil should be kept slightly damp, not wet, to foster a conducive environment for sprouting without promoting rot.
Benefits of Planting Tubers Directly in the Ground
The essence of gardening lies in understanding and working with nature's rhythms, and starting dahlia tubers is no exception. While it's tempting to seek shortcuts or assurances, the most rewarding approach often is the simplest one. Direct planting offers your dahlias the best start, minimizing stress and maximizing their potential for stunning blooms. Of course, always consider your local climate and the specific needs of your dahlias when deciding on your planting strategy. For those who prefer to check for eyes before planting, doing so with care and attention to detail can also lead to success.
]]>The Heart of the Garden: Why Seeds Differ
Why do the tubers promise consistency, while dahlia seeds whisper of diversity? The answer lay in the heart of nature itself.
Tubers are like family heirlooms, passing down traits from generation to generation without change. A tuber from a 'Café au Lait' dahlia would always grow into another 'Café au Lait', each flower a perfect replica of the ones before. They are clones.
Dahlia seeds, however, are storytellers of diversity. Each seed carries a mosaic of genes, a blend of traits from its parents, and even from their ancestors. Planting a dahlia seed is like planting a mystery - you never knew exactly what story it would tell until it bloomed.
The Enchantment of Genetics
Why do dahlia seeds, unlike the faithful sunflower, lead to such a breathtaking array of flowers?
The answer lies in the essence of reproduction. Dahlias, through their seeds, engage in a genetic lottery, a mix of genes from two parents, bringing forth variations unseen in their forebears. Each seed is a unique combination of genetic material, ensuring that no two flowers are exactly alike. This genetic diversity is the result of cross-pollination, where bees and butterflies, unwitting matchmakers, blend the genetic material from different dahlias, creating seeds that are genetic mosaics of their parent plants.
The Constancy of Sunflowers
Contrast this with the sunflower, standing tall and uniform in its row. Sunflowers practice self-pollination, where a single flower's pollen fertilizes its own ovules. Pollen is transferred from its own anthers to their own stigma. This process minimizes genetic variability, leading to offspring that closely resemble their parent. The result is a field of sunflowers, each a mirror to the other, their seeds a testament to consistency. Of course, it is not just sunflowers, but also many types of annual flowers like marigolds, petunias, and impatiens that breed in the same way.
In the world of plants, there's a fascinating balance between genetic consistency and diversity. While some plants have been tailored for uniformity, others celebrate the surprises of genetic variation. What is so fascinating is you can be in control of this discovery process with nature. The dahlia itself can offer clonal propagation or nature's suprise with seeds. Each has its own charm and purpose in the garden.
]]>If one casts back to the Victorian tradition of the 1800’s, the purpose of attributing very specific qualities to flowers rested in the tightly bound corset of social etiquette. Flowers were, in a sense, coded messages – conveying what one was not permitted to say out loud. As a result, the type and manner in how flowers were selected and presented was, in fact, arguably more than symbolic – one can see how they would signal a response to a proposal of marriage, or make clear hurt or disdain. The manner in which flowers were delivered was also deeply symbolic. For example, an affirmative response to a question was delivered in flower(s) held in the right hand, as opposed to a negative response which would have been passed by the left hand. This literal and specific language of plants and flowers was used to convey complex emotions. (It is hard to imagine the cost of such a truncated internal conversation, but never mind, I digress.)
In a Victorian context (where people generally “spoke” fluent flower) flowers presented upside down implied the opposite of their traditional meaning. Colors of flowers were telling in terms of intent. Ribbons were a clue – if tied left, the specific symbolism of the flower was applicable to the giver, and if tied to the right the symbolism suggested a quality of the receiver. Although such messages and the specific symbols have, fortunately, evolved into spoken words, the habit of “perfumed words” continues to this day.
Poet Emily Dickinson relied upon Almira H. Lincoln Phelps’s written work on botany. While Phelps offered her own list of floral symbolism, she did encourage readers to personalize and create their own such list. Phelps was a significantly more broadminded in her interpretation of the meaning of flowers and plants. It is easy to see why her work would have drawn the Poet. Phelps describes a white chrysanthemum as “truth needing no protestation”, a yellow chrysanthemum as “a heart left to desolation”, a dahlia as “forever thine”, and a peony as “ostentation”.
Phelps’s description of a tulip is perhaps not what one would like to convey in a gift, but is nonetheless artful – “vanity; though hast metamorphosed me!”. She describes snapdragons as having been “flattered with false hopes”.
Herein lies the problem with anthropomorphizing plants to human qualities. In attributing overly specific human traits to flowers, it winnows natural horizons and imaginings - rather than broadening them. If one can ignore the tendency towards increasingly simplistic labeling of one trait per flower, the point of floral beauty circles back to its root – the celebration of the natural world - and the interplay of human experience within that vast tapestry. Who cares what flowers mean? If one is fortunate enough to hold a bouquet overflowing with a variety of unexpected blooms and blossoms, it becomes possible to understand flowers as the starting point of all earthbound bounty - inverted constellations of beauty, or a different version of a nighttime sky. The symbolism of flowers is properly understood as broadly aspirational - such as health, fertility, and paradise. Flowers are disrupters, rule-breakers. They encourage us, humble growers to step away from overly strict regimens of discipline in cultivation. Flowers represent the energetic flow between humans and nature, allowing the grower to express whatever they wish to express.
That said, many mornings I am taken up enjoying my beautiful tulips. I’ve scarcely any time to consider whether the bouquet I mean to take to lunch this afternoon with friends requires that my host has metamorphosed me. I just want her flowers to be dewy, light, and life-springtime-affirming. Create your own flower memory guide.
Select the flowers one recalls as personally significant to plant or to gift. Enjoy them. What they “symbolize” is tangential at best. A flower grown or purchased might be shared with a specific memory. Any bouquet containing a favorite bloom is like giving a little piece of yourself away. There is a vulnerability in that. Or, if someone ever mentioned a flower that was special to them - this is the one to send, selecting an atypical flower says: I remember, I am listening.
To me, flowers are a deeply personal expression of many kinds of yearnings (making the world beautiful, play unbridled in nature, risk things, remember things - be they people or experiences). Many of these are specific to a memory suffused with true and deep meaning. Flowers can send us tumbling back through time on the subtle scents of tulips, dahlias, or peonies. The windows that these remembrances crack open – a summer breeze - are special.
Steal a page from Almira H. Lincoln Phelps and write your own list of what flowers mean to seed your own Family Field Guide to the meaning of flowers. If you and your gardener friends have sunk your trowels into the damp earth, you have no doubt swapped ingrained floral memories. A friend relayed to me that she can’t catch a whiff of a gardenia without recalling early childhood; at what seemed then to be enormous blossoms, that, once plucked yellowed quickly - but threw a scent (impossible to replicate) - that even now erases the years.
I’m not certain that I am comfortable burdening a flower with the responsibility of symbolizing epic things such as strength, or love, or resilience. This expectation makes me imagine a blossom buckling under the weight of it all, like a peony bloom after a drenching rain. I advise that you not let these associations tamp down your imaginings. Think first of the inherent beauty of a bloom – one which elevates us all, lifts our spirits, and opens our hearts.
]]>Many proponents of sustainable flower farming are mindful to attract flowers that will draw pollinators. In considering your choices, don’t forget about sunflowers. Sunflowers are unusual in their structure - and fascinating. They are a single bloom which contains, essentially, two kinds of petal, each with a totally different composition and a very specific purpose.
Sunflowers have both ray flowers and disc flowers. Ray flowers are the larger, showier leaves encircling the exterior of the bloom. Disc flowers are smaller – set in the center, and tubular in formation.
To combine the benefits of this obliging and genial no-fuss flower with an intent to attract pollinators, it is important to understand the differences in varieties between sunflowers – and in how they differ in pollen production and breeding.
Only the disc petals on the overall sunflower bloom to produce pollen. Ray flowers, being sterile, do not produce pollen, but play a critical role just the same. Ray flowers, being large and showy, attract pollinators to a garden. That gives pollenless sunflowers an important overall role. In addition, the shape of the petal (large and flat) is a perfect landing pad for pollinators to rest and drink in their sweet nectar. So it goes, the food chain in action.
Botanical diversity in a garden is the best way to attract pollinators. Let’s not overthink – the point of planting a garden is to imbue oneself in nature. One would have to work hard not to contribute to the greater good – pollination – in sustainable flower farming. Have some fun with it.
Sunflowers that are bred to be cut and shown are hybrids produced purposefully not to produce anthers. (Anthers are the structure that produces the pollen.) These hybrids don’t produce any sneezy allergens, and neither do they stain the white summer sundress, just pressed and ready to wear.
How to Plant Your Sunflower
Types of sunflowers
Branching sunflowers – These varieties become quite large and produce an abundance of blooms over several months. They are the Grande dames of the garden with all the complex wisdom. They organize the different but necessary botanical assets housed within one bloom - in service of a larger goal; they are inviting, and productive. This variety of sunflower create more branches when spaced apart. For branching sunflowers, we suggest 24” between seeds.
Non-branching sunflowers – These varieties (aka single-stem) produce one flower per seed. They are lauded for their fast bloom (gratifying) and their long, straight stems. For continuous harvest, sow successive plantings of these every seven to ten days from spring through to early summer. As to distance between plantings we suggest 6” inches between seeds.
When to Harvest Your Sunflower
Many flower growers have strong feelings about sunflowers. Before committing to a point of view, it is worth taking the time to understand this oft-misunderstood flower. In fact, sunflowers are more complex in variety, botanical science, and even color than is generally understood.
BEAR CREEK FARM SUNFLOWER PICKS
At Bear Creek Farm, we are big fans of those bred by Dr. Tom Heaton. The stems produced by his growing practices are wonderful in cut flower arrangements. They are strong-stemmed, vibrant – and enchanting. These decorative and bold sunflowers of today are not those of your grandmother.
This sunflower embodies the complexity of nature presenting subtle geometric patterns to form the interior. Extending out, the ivory-tinged petals draw the eye.
Sunflowers. Who knew? The deep orange red of this unusual variety sets off nature – all the greens and blues. The inner is two dimensional – a trick of the eye.
This sunflower variety is oddly reminiscent of the moon at night. Stunning.
The amazing petals on this sunflower variety suggest that they are not yet done – that growing will never be complete and that there is something inspirational and nascent about this unexpected sunflower.
The green exterior petals on this bloom frame a purple interior to create a bold and strong statement with subtle accent colors.
]]>I believe that our simple powers of human observation are key to understanding exactly what our botanical beauties are telling us and this can facilitate meaningful dialogue. To my mind, growers, from novice to expert, can trust themselves - as empowered partners in learning to “read” the flower patch as one would “read” a room. In so doing, growers can respond to a variety of floral situational dynamics – and even quietly help ecosystems along as we facilitate botanical/human connection in critical ways.
At Bear Creek Farm, where we nurture beauty from the ground up, we offer guidance for the purpose of emboldening flower growers at all levels to respond to evolving and emergent challenges and opportunities through their heart and their senses. Our blog offers specific advice (and takeaways from lessons learned) of how to focus on nature and oneself. Above all however, before you start reading too much about overly specific plant care instruction, know these things:
If we can truly slow it down and convene with nature in a bed of flowers, we can come to understand the language of flowers as literal, rather than as metaphorical. In this practice, we can respond when our stems tell us when they need or want something.
The New York Times article references botanist Dr. Karban who explains that blooms, while optically initially sedentary are dynamic beings, which are also “exquisitely aware of their environments.” To our mind, flowers are offering an earthen road map, we as human partners do right by electing to embark upon.
Keep growing. Keep listening. Keep reading the garden. And when you harvest some blooms to arrange them, take the time to honor your work in a manner that is befitting to the dialogue in which you have engaged. Enjoy the placement of each blossom. Allow the sunlight to backlight the arrangement. In listening, it is apparent that with care, curiosity, and wonder – there is more where that came from.
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>So, we wanted to pause. We wanted to slow it down enough to share the benefit of our experience with our friends while it is actionable. (While it is still high peony season.)
For those of you growing peonies, know that we, at Bear Creek Farm, make it a point to learn by doing. This is another way of saying that we learn from our mistakes. Trial and error is at the heart of so much of what we do. We enjoy sharing the benefit of any knowledge we glean along the way. Experiments gone sideways are teachable moments, never mistakes. From the Department of True Confessions, when I began growing peonies I was told to pick a peony at “the marshmallow stage,” advice I confess to have found confusing. I understood that this analogy was intended to align with the relative “feel” of the bloom – soft, medium, or firm. Still, I found this advice difficult to apply. It did not really tell me when to harvest the bloom. In addition, I wondered why one would be advised to squeeze every bloom prior to cutting. I had questions about the risk of transferring oils (if hands are ungloved), or bacteria (if using gloves) to those gorgeous petals with every suggested squeeze.
There are few things more beautiful than the early summer dappled light falling upon a vase full of peonies in a kitchen; nothing sweeter than seeing peonies (just ready to harvest) bent over in rain and beaded in droplets of water. They come to stand strong once more. Peony season underscores the power of the gentle choreography and partnership between the grower and nature, and evidence of miracles.
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>I understand why people forget about seeds. I am a flower farmer, and I am therefore intensely aware of the waves of certain floral “seasons.” By this, I mean those brief blink-and-its-over waves of extravagant blooms. First there are poppies which emerge from hibernation before people are paying much attention. They suggest a quickening. Then, there are tulips, and the snow is melting. By June the peonies come sleepily back, awakening before their phosphorescent glow signals fireflies and long last lit evenings. Finally, the end of summer is an explosion of dahlias in every color – so diverse one is reminded of how novel things are always possible. The well of creativity in songs, stories, and – yes - horticulture is deep. All of these stems and blossoms fill me up. Of course, they do.
But allow me to return to seeds. What I have listed above are bookends. The early flowers of spring awaken our imaginings. The apparent “stars” of summer flowers are evidence of pure magic, sending us back through time in some visceral/sensory manner, indefinable. Dahlias are an outsized goodbye kiss to high summer as they grow just as the first hints of fall hang in the air.
And so, the long and short of it is that on the face of it, within the long season of summer, there are these micro-seasons of growth – with some seeming gaps. What blooms in the hottest time in the hottest climes? What gentle petal could possibly stand tall against heat and not wither?
The answer? Lots of them. Many from inexpensive seeds. These seeming gaps in midsummer are deceptive. July is full of flowers; although it is admittedly harder to remember with specificity which ones they are. Driving by a roadside farm stand, a bouquet of flowers wrapped in a brown sleeve offers any number of shades of textured gorgeousness.
These bouquets may contain things along with foraged leaves. Cosmos are pretty low-key glorious - nodding in all their periwinkle, white or pink modesty. Sunflowers, so often written off as too yellow, too big (and the stuff of preschool projects abandoned on a windowsill, forgotten, and not watered, that never came up) – are far more complex in their colors than most people understand. Red sunflowers exist with petals of graduated hues from dramatic scarlets to softer rouge. Zinnias grow in multiple shades from salmon to green – to name but a few. Zinnias are a wonderful way to plant with children – they are easy to grow and return more than we have any right to expect. One can use seeds to align as a partner with nature in the creation of pollinator gardens.
Most of these high summer flowers are most likely to have been propagated from seed. Many of them are obliging in how easy they are to grow, how very forgiving. Many seeds do extremely well in challenging conditions – including a lack of rain, and high heat. These flowers are less fussy than some of their botanical cousins. These high summer flowers grown from seed make it oh so easy. Isn't that what we want our summers to be?
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>There is an understandable temptation to attempt to grow dahlias in pots for a myriad of reasons. We all love dahlias. As well, many dahlia lovers living in urban areas may not have a backyard in which to create a garden. With this in mind, we decided that we would be remiss if we did not highlight some of the inherent unforeseen frustrations associated with growing dahlias in pots. To be clear, dahlias may grow in pots. Still, many may not come up in a potted setting, or may struggle to thrive. This information is not intended to discourage. Instead, it is intended to provide dahlia lovers with tips to support their success when planting dahlias in a pot. As always, we share with you the dream of gorgeous blooms in any environment.
Know Before You Grow
If a grower decides to plant dahlias in a pot, we recommend selecting dwarf varieties, or varieties bred specifically for growth in a contained area (typically small ones). (Please note: Bear Creek Farm does not sell dahlias meant to be pot varieties. Our tubers may do well, but they are outside our guarantee.)
Why Don’t Dahlias Tend to Thrive in Pots?
Dahlias have a reputation for being finicky. This characterization is, to our way of thinking, not quite fair. They need what they need – and what they deliver is splendid. Read on to discover why dahlias often struggle in pots – and how to better your chances of producing a robust bloom, nevertheless.
Pro Tips for Dahlias in a Pot
At Bear Creek Farm, where we nurture beauty from the ground up, we always encourage our friends to take chances. In so doing, we also like to empower gardeners with information to enhance the chances of their success. Sometimes, beginning something with “eyes wide open,” enables a grower to cope with risk – while integrating necessary findings. In addition, understanding apparent “failure” (a word we dislike) as common experience can spur a grower on, informing changes in future plans - rather than accepting defeat as an inevitable outcome. With this in mind:
Should one wish to grow dahlias in a pot:
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>Together, dahlias join a crescendo of choral colors that have stored their most extravagant expressions to align with the palette of autumn. Like an unexpected fall raspberry, dahlias are the beginning of a kiss goodbye to summer – as the evenings cool and things begin to settle.
Dahlia growers want to achieve just this sort of floral bounty. But how? Here are some basic “rules.” (And please, remember that at Bear Creek Farm, “rules” are more like guidelines with which to experiment and play. We all learn by doing. I am here to remind you that the best laid plans may not go as planned, but that the lessons learned may lead you to garden paths you’d never otherwise have discovered about nature, and one's own place within it.)
Remember that Bear Creek Farm offers an expert streaming video about storing dahlia tubers. To learn more or to purchase, click here.
Assessing your soil conditions is important. Keep in mind, you will want your soil to be:
How often should I water my dahlias once they are in the ground?
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>Fortunately, there are many green ways to address this perennial issue.
While we live in a chemical-laden world and the temptation to spray is certainly understandable, we advocate for best practice – even when it means that we must suffer the frustration of a nibbled perfect petal.
Controlling pest infestation is difficult – but before giving into tempting short-cuts, it is important to understand that those healthy flowers spring most readily from healthy soil.
We are here to tell you that there are lots of ways to protect a garden from insects without using chemicals. Among these:
What is the well-intended gardener to do if these methods are not effective?
Should these treatments prove ineffective, do not be hasty. There are still multiple green options to employ. When the practices listed above do not adequately address the problem, organic treatments may be used as a last resort. Before continuing to read the practices recommended below, although considered organic, must be used correctly. Read and follow the directions on any purchased product carefully.
Treatments include: neem oil, horticultural oil, and Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) may also be effective. They are linked to nature, rooted in natural sources such as plants, minerals, and microorganisms. Neem oil, for example, which comes from the seeds of the neem tree, has been used for centuries for purposes of protection of crops from pests. Pyrethrin derives from the gorgeous chrysanthemum and may be effective in controlling multiple insects. Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) comes from soil-borne bacteria. These options are preferable to synthetic pesticides.
Having shared these tips, do know that they will not be across-the-board-effective. In gardening, nothing ever is. Monitoring your garden for general health, and visible pests, etc. is always where one begins. How your garden does year-to-year will depend upon many variables - including climate, pest density, and locale. Some years will deliver a better crop than others, no matter how expert the gardener. We advise tenacity and persistence. The rewards, unexpected though they may be, will follow.
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>Cosmos, a stunning flowering bloom (belonging to the daisy family) derives from the sunny and color-drenched climes of Mexico and Central America. Cosmos are beloved for a host of reasons, not the least of which are the colors they throw, and the ease with which they grow.
They are notable for their ability to tolerate heat, sun, and poor soil conditions. Cosmos are easy to propagate from seed. They have a long blooming period, lasting from mid-summer through fall. Cosmos are lovely in a cutting garden - never disappointing as they continue to *pop* - even as other flowers begin their seasonal retreat.
The floral diaspora of the Cosmos began when Spanish explorers introduced the bloom to Europe early in the 16th century. Later, Cosmos migrated to Africa and Asia. Horticulturalists can estimate that they were brought to North America sometime in the late 19th to early 20th century - where they became quickly popular as an ornamental flower. Because Cosmos are especially hearty, over the centuries these blooms have become native to many regions. (A native plant is one that has adapted to its surroundings, growing successfully in tandem with overall weather conditions to resist pests and other environmental challenges in relative terms.)
There are several species of Cosmos but the two most popular for growing from seed are:
Cosmos Bipinnatus – This variety, native to Mexico, also known as garden or wild cosmos, is the most common. Stems stand tall and proud - to deliver a bloom like that of a daisy in shades that range from pink and red to white and purple.
Cosmos Sulphureus – This variety, native to Mexico and Central America, also called the Sulphur Cosmos, blooms bright yellow or orange with petals reminiscent of daisies.
Our personal picks:
At Bear Creek Farm, where we nurture beauty from the ground up, we have loved playing with:
Cosmos Apricotta: This variety grows to approximately 40” tall and displays luscious shades of pinks and apricot with a soft pink center.
Cosmos Apricot Lemonade: This variety grows large petals that begin with shades of soft apricot that give way to a subtle lavender base. Once mature, the blooms fall back into a pale yellow. Approximately 4” in diameter, they recall daisies.
Cosmos Cupcake Blush: This recently created variety grows petals that resemble, yes, a cupcake - largely fused as one - to resemble a poppy. This variety blooms in blush and white. Smaller and more delicate than its companion varieties, this cupcake Cosmos is, well, delectable.
Cosmos Double Click: This ruffled variety offers a mum-like strong stem – in two colors: shades of pink or violet.
Give yourself over to Cosmos and see what happens. They are kind friends – both generous and tenacious. They brighten the world in their unique and obliging manner – blooming where other flowers would surely fail. An ambassador flower, Cosmos make things easy - and that’s just nice too. (We’ll take it.)
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>For those of you just now coming into flower gardening or farming – welcome! For those returning, welcome back!
Beginning a flower garden may feel overwhelming, but it need not. How does one begin their first annual flower bed? And what do we mean by annual? If you plant every year, that is an annual garden. Annuals are also a categorization of flowers. These need to be planted every year. In this context, annuals are different than their companion cousin (the perennial) – although each offers its own reward. Speaking for myself, as a not-so-long-ago novice, I am here to tell you that everyone can grow flowers - and in so doing you will feed your own growth mindset and reopen your third eye.
Novice growers as well as those more experienced, have a great deal in common. The distance between these two is far less vast than is imagined. Both groups share that spark of imagination – the ability to be inspired by that which they cannot yet see. In addition, they are willing to risk the precious commodity of time – something people scramble for in a world that seems to turn ever more quickly on its wobbly axis. The need to ground ourselves is increasingly pressing. Even if you have not planted a great deal to date, you are a grower if you feel that familiar stirring – a tug towards the creation of floral beds of beauty.
At Bear Creek Farm, we see flower farming as part and parcel of placing oneself fully in nature and seeing that as an intrinsic reward. Every year, a garden one plans produces a tiny new universe. Crops will vary from year-to-year and conditions well beyond the control of even the most expert gardener defeat us all from time-to-time. Anticipate what you hope will come up, certainly. But so too - look up. Look down. Look around. If your favorite flower does not come up one year, another one will. It may be even nicer. Look up. Look down. Look around. Repeat.
When a flower grower is experimenting with new plantings, it is advisable, of course to follow the seeding instructions. That said, not all flowers will succeed everywhere, and instructions only work in tandem with climate, weather, and, yes, luck. Make selections based on an understanding of the landscape/climate in which you reside – and make choices using personal joy as a yardstick. Often, quite by accident, you will find yourself practicing a regime of self-care – this one requiring a trowel rather than a yoga mat.
For those who are just beginning and would like some easy-to-grow recommendations, consider these annual varieties. They are gorgeous and simple to maintain. Except for sunflowers, they do well in hanging baskets, as well as in the earth, and can be very decorative. Experts like to return to their roots, with these sublime and satisfying blooms. (Many might say that early success in these varieties staked their confidence and enabled their continued experimentation.)
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>Many of us hear a great deal about pollinator gardens generally, but we lack the knowledge to make their import actionable. Is it too late to ask? It is not. (It is never too late to learn.) Here at Bear Creek Farm, we nurture beauty from the ground up. In so doing, we love nothing more than the opportunity to invite those with an interest in growing flowers to come learn with us.
1. What is a Pollinator Garden? Pollinator gardens are gardens planted specifically with flowers to attract pollinators. These pollinators include bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other insects. According to the USDA, approximately three quarters of the world’s flowering plants, and as much as thirty-five percent of the world’s crops depend on pollinators for healthy reproduction. In addition to the critical role these gardens hold, they are also a space in which to play. Plant flowers that will bloom at different times thereby attracting necessary pollinators on an ongoing seasonal basis. Flower growers support local ecosystems - feeding the food chain in a macro sense - by creating a continuous source of nectar for pollinators.
2. Why are Pollinator Gardens important? Pollinators are critical to healthy ecosystems, creating botanical diversity to produce food. Simply put, without pollinators many plants would fail to reproduce and disappear. These gardens maximize the chance of healthy pollinator populations being maintained - thereby enabling agrarian communities to succeed. Remember that the food we love - such as apples, almonds, and tomatoes rely upon pollinators. These gardens serve as a firewall against the harmful effects of pesticides. When local gardeners take up trowels in support of pollinator gardens, they are working in support of populations which are facing declining numbers due to habitat loss and pesticide use.
3. A Field Guide: What should I plant in my pollinator garden? There are many flowers from which to choose when considering how to plant a pollinator garden. Among the most important consideration is where one lives. The use of native plants is often advisable, as flowers native to a specific region are often more resistant to fungi, pests, and other encroaching threats. Though we are providing a starter list of star attractants here, many flowers that are brightly colored, have a strong scent, and produce large amounts of nectar are favored by pollinators. Look for physical features that make it easy to access the nectar and pollen, such as landing pads and deep flower tubes. Visit our seed offerings (continually expanding) for a touch of inspiration.
For those who live in the Northeast:
Early spring blooms:
Late spring/early summer blooms:
Mid-summer blooms:
Late summer/early fall blooms:
For those who live in the South:
Early spring blooms:
Late spring/early summer blooms:
Mid-summer blooms:
Late summer/early fall blooms:
4. Pollinator gardens are beautiful. In this type of garden everything is unexpected. The flowers (blooming and tumbling in waves) morph with the butterflies and the bees in a choreography that is so perfect it could only have sprung from nature itself. The light on the wing of a butterfly catches the eye as this magical creature settles on a flower to gather itself - and take in sweet nectar before continuing to share the nutrients it has gathered. June evenings are alive with fireflies - often unfairly left off the list of pollinators. As early dusk settles, the lawn and garden shrubs stir with tiny lanterns throwing their humble and miraculous light in a twinkling earthbound meteor shower.
5. Pollinator Gardens are cost-effective.To make a simple pollinator garden, one needs only a patch of earth and the seeds that are most likely to thrive in a specific geographic area. They remind the gardener of how interconnected humans are with nature. In addition, there are few friendlier ways to empower children to engage environmental sustainability – teaching them be a part of the solution. No lectures are necessary. Nature speaks. Natures puts on its own carnival, showcasing the impact one can have on an ecosystem - hovering bees, translucent butterflies with wings reminiscent of stained-glass windows. Sit there and enjoy the show. While there, eat an apple too - knowing that you were instrumental in its growth.
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>At Bear Creek Farm, we are vocal proponents of direct seeding outside (though we fully recognize there are no rules for growing). There are many reasons to begin with the miracle of one small seed deposited directly into the ground - where a flower will eventually grow. We choose direct seeding to the practice of starting indoors, weather, and other conditions permitting.
Though we at Bear Creek Farm love direct seeding because of its ease, many seasoned gardeners and beginners alike want to get their hands into dirt earlier than waiting for the season's last frost. For them, starting seeds inside may be preferred when:
GETTING STARTED
Decide whether you are focusing on direct seeding or prefer to start the seeds inside. Depending on where you live, you can mix it up. Remember that seeds themselves are a low-cost investment with a potential return that is hard to quantify. How does one measure the beauty that was coaxed so carefully to life?
"INSIDERS" GUIDE TO SEED STARTING
Should you decide to experiment with some indoor planting, we recommend an initial one-time investment that will maximize your chances of success. While a little more expensive at the outset, these one-time investments do provide a higher probability of success in the seeds-to-flower ratio.
We recommend purchase of the following items:
PLANNING YOUR SPACE
CHOOSE YOUR SEEDS
Having set up, have fun picking your seed packets. (Consider indoor v. outdoor realities when making this selection. For example, easy to grow flowers like sunflowers and cosmos don't really need winter tending; try more unusual varieties.)
WHEN SEEDLINGS EMERGE
At Bear Creek Farm, we wean seedlings into their new environment. They will need fresh air and maximum light, but they can’t be shocked. Removing domes is delicate.
LIGHTING IS CRITICAL
Baby plants need ample light to grow. Be ever-mindful of this – moving the sprouts to a sunny spot - or under lamps inside - is important. Depending on tray placement, it's good to be mindful of light and of soil temperature, always.
HARDEN OFF BEFORE SENDING OUTSIDE
The process of hardening off is critical before you attempt a big move. Remember, the plants have been in a warm, cozy, and temperature-controlled environment for a long time. Sudden exposure to wind, sun, and variations in temperature can be very stressful. Vulnerable young sprouts in your garden need a few days to get used to a change in their environment. For this reason, ease them in.
BE REALISTIC
At Bear Creek Farm, we are transparent about our crop failures. We innovate, and in so doing we risk. We encourage you to do the same. Losing some seeds that you have sown indoors or outdoors is normal. It happens to us all. The more often you practice sowing seeds, the greater the chances of your future success. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “Courage, dear heart.” Keep at it.
A NOTE TO GROWERS LOOKING TO CREATE A LARGER OPERATION
For growers who have sown seeds in the past and are experimenting with a larger operation, (perhaps even a small flower farm), we at Bear Creek Farm understand the temptation to start early. However, we do urge that all growers and farmers assess investment from a cost/benefit analysis. As we have been at this for a while now, we offer these pro tips:
Please note: We are honored and proud to announce that FeedSpot, a blog aggregator with over 250,000 blogs and 120 million readers, named Bear Creek Farm one of the Top 35 Flower Gardening Blogs on the web for 2023.
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>Consider personalizing your holiday gift by both wrapping and decorating the item. Use the cuttings of evergreens to fashion tiny Christmas trees to tape to your packages, an idea we discovered from Jana on Instagram @sonnenschein_und_konfettiregen. (Consider, as well, using recycled brown paper for wrapping.)
At Bear Creek Farm, we always encourage experimentation. Winter crafts are no different. Think about star designs made of bark. Have fun with wrapping, turning it into an art project, rather than a chore.
]]>This winter, consider building a Gum Drop Tree. This idea came to us from Rayman Boozer of interior design firm, Apartment 48, who always built it for the holidays with his mother and grandmother while growing up in Alabama. This decorative arts project requires the artist to gather branches from outside (note that this can be done, as well, by urban dwellers.) Once a collection of suitably long or short branches (depending on personal preference) have been identified, bring this branch “bouquet” inside. Let the pieces dry, if necessary. Once ready to begin, coat the branches with colorful glittery nail polish. (Watch the light catch the shimmer, like sun on the snow.) Once the polish is completely dry, use the vases (those that seem lonely for their friends, the flowers) and deposit the decorated branches into these vessels. (Now, lonely no more.)
When you are satisfied with your arrangement, go ahead, and put a gum drop at the end of each branch, making use of twigs, too. (Make sure to mix your gum drop colors to create maximum contrast.) Once done, place your winter-inspired masterpiece anywhere you like. Our favorite thing about this project is that while gumdrops are reminiscent of the holidays (think: The Nutcracker, they are not strictly defined by a holiday timeframe – dissimilar, in that way, from Candy Canes.) So, even as winter deepens, the opportunity to add nature and color to your home in this manner – from the outside in - continues well after the last lights come down.
As winter deepens, and the ground remains frozen (storing up the coming and multiple gifts of spring and summer), we at Bear Creek Farm remind our friends that getting outside to find the offerings of winter is important. A winter walk can lift one’s spirits and reveal any number of things to work with - despite the lack of a wellspring of teeming flower beds. Even as the days grow shorter, nature is there. It is knocking on our doors offering itself as a reminder that beauty is a four-season proposition - and an ongoing partnership. Winter may be coldest, requiring creativity. Winter may not deliver the kind of floral beauty that the other three seasons gift us (sometimes against the odds) - but nature is always there and is always beautiful. Winter teases us a bit, is a flirt.
The depths feel, at times to us, like a throw down challenge from the great outdoors – one that asks lovers of nature to look harder for that which can still be harvested and brought indoors. This is another version of the delicate waltz between a nature lover and nature itself, wherein the aficionado follows - as nature leads - in creating a delicate dance (a new box step) between committed partners.
So, while the Gum Drop Tree is one such example of winter craft, there are other nature-based winter projects waiting for you to play with, asking that you find the tools offered. Many are left in plain sight, scattered clues - just waiting to be gathered up. Bring the winter inside – just as you would in any other season - and watch your surroundings brighten. Nurture your own creative spirit using nature as your winter palette.
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>When planning tulip beds, remember the following key points:
Tulips need sun. Plant tulips in an area that will be bathed in sunlight.
Tulips need good drainage. Plant tulips in an area where they won’t be waterlogged by snowmelt, or by drenching spring rains where the water will sit without proper runoff.
Tulips need about 12 weeks of cold weather to flower properly. If you are someone who hates very cold weather, take comfort in a silver lining - your tulips thrive in cold temperatures. This means planting time is forgiving. Plant most anytime in the fall once temperatures cool as long as there is 3 months of cold weather in the new year before spring. (Note, however, that if you live somewhere where temperatures don’t generally freeze for long, you can still plant tulips by purchasing pre-chilled bulbs.)
Bulb Planters are unnecessary. In our opinion, a bulb planter has always seemed a fussy tool. As a practical matter, it is just as easy to plant by hand. (Remember that tulips look nicer when grouped in parties at least seven.) Also, getting your hands dirty gives gardeners an excuse to really inhale the scent of that yummy soil.
PRO TIP (OPTIONAL)
For true tulip aficionados: we follow the process described above at Bear Creek Farm; however, we plant tulips in raised beds. During harvest, we pull up the entire plant - bulb and all from the soil because this provides maximum stem length, extended storage, and a long vase life. We have found that our native soil is too rocky and harsh to be able to pull out the bulbs without damaging the flowers, which is why we use raised beds. With the bulbs attached, tulips can be stored dry for weeks in the cooler, because they are still connected to their food source. When it’s time to use them, we simply cut off the bulbs and place stems into water. If you have the room, capacity, and motivation to experiment, it is fun to play in this manner. However, if raised beds aren’t for you, your blooms will be gorgeous, nevertheless.
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>The differences between the two lie more in production and distribution than in the results of a specific bloom.
But let’s back up for a moment - let’s consider Dahlia tubers in general terms. (We were all novice growers once.) Dahlia tubers gestate in the ground over the course of months. As Spring softens the soil, in they go. As summer wanes and fall creeps in – when it seems as though colors everywhere are amplified, growers are launched into dahlia season. This season is replete with dahlias versatile in size and drenched in color. One of the special things about dahlia tubers is that, once the blooms are off the dahlias (or after first hard frost), the same tubers can be dug up, properly stored, and replanted for recurring stunning results – year after year. (In warmer climates, with a little care, tubers can remain in the ground.)
Dahlia tubers are easily misunderstood. They are gnarled, messy and time-consuming. They remind one of earthen clenched fists - waiting to be tended in exchange for the delivery of inestimable beauty. They are like caterpillars, evolving into butterflies, or frog princes waiting to be kissed.
The General Differences Between Dutch Dahlia Tubers and American Dahlia Tubers
For dahlia enthusiasts planning their garden and considering whether to invest in American or Dutch dahlia tubers, below are a few points to consider.
DUTCH DAHLIA TUBERS
AMERICAN DAHLIA TUBERS
For more information about dahlia tubers, click here for our very own online tutorial, or contact us at info@bearcreekfarm.com. To be the first to know about occasional additional workshops about dahlia tubers (and more) follow us on Instagram.
]]>I beg to differ. Cut flowers are remarkably resilient. They can be restored, and their lives can be extended with the benefit of a little basic knowledge of botanical biology. While it is true that freshly cut flowers for display in a vase do whither in time, this is no reason not to gift oneself a little transient beauty – to capture, even for a time, this loveliness. There are ways to extend what the poet, William Wordsworth described as the glory in the flower.
Pro tips to extend your cut flowers:
One of the most enticing aspects of summer in the Northeast are the freshly cut flowers that become, for a few short months, abundant. Floral pop-up stands appear. Farm stands sell freshly cut seasonal local arrangements. Pick-Your-Own flower fields call to those driving by; noticing shears and yellow buckets ready to fill, the call to pull over and fill a bucket becomes irresistible.
During these months, suffuse with warm air and light, glorious blooms explode – spilling over the tops of the brown paper or the buckets that try, but cannot contain, the bounty they hold. While no tricks of the trade will scaffold the life of an arrangement indefinitely, one can certainly extend this beauty for a time. In so doing, one can place oneself within nature, partnering in a meditative sort of way with beauty to discover the opportunities for personal growth in staking beautiful things.
]]>Here are some hints about what to look for when considering the best time to harvest your dahlia blooms - and the best ways to extend the life of your stems once cut.
We like to think of you, dahlia growers, at all levels of experience harvesting the fruits of your labor. We marvel collectively at the sheer breadth and variety of the blooms. As the weather turns, dahlias signal a nod to the wonders of nature – unpredictable though they may be. (Note: As they are stressed, cut dahlias that have experienced drought could perform less than optimally in the vase - and their appearance different than prior years - so do not be too disappointed.)
Dahlias, dormant, of course in the off-season, are a bloom with the capacity to keep on giving. If tended the dahlia tubers can be dug up, put away, and replanted the following year. We like to think of them, sitting patiently in (as we are now), storing up their magic for the next season.
For those needing a little emboldening, for the ever-curious, or for those wishing to get their hands dirty, we offer exclusive workshops with industry leaders eager to train dahlia enthusiasts of all skill levels from novice to expert. These one-of-a-kind workshops are something special. (Sign up with a friend to receive a discount.) For more information, email us at info@bearcreekfarm.com.
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>Flower farming is about working in tandem with nature to create beauty. That said, flower farming is also about risk. Any grower can (and will) recount stories of the months in which they did everything “right,” only to lose a crop to elements beyond human control - a heartbreaking late hard frost, a beetle, or a ruinous miscellaneous other pest.
However, the flip side of frustration for a flower farmer in the 21st century can be reframed as an appetite for risk. Seen from this perspective, “risk” can be exciting - marrying curiosity, intellect, and courage - as one uses past experience to play with future planning, selection, and planting. On experimentation depends the future of sustainable flower farming. Simply put, when one tries to level up, things will sometimes go sideways (including your stems and your blooms). This is the long game of innovation.
Bear Creek Farm is an experimental research farm. It has taken years to achieve award-winning cultivars. We have been driven by trial and much error. We are transparent about this because we want our friends to know that error is a fundamental part of the learning curve, feeding emergent best practices in horticulture.
This year, for example, at Bear Creek Farm we crossed our fingers and kissed our elbows, as we decided to integrate risk with our dahlia growing using a Brassica cover crop that also kills weeds. We are fully aware that what kills weeds can, of course, kill dahlias. That said, we have decided to take the risk because of the potential and substantial improvement we believe we will see in our soil and flowers. In making this decision, we considered what we know to be effective. In the past we used green manure rather than real manure to give life back to the soil for environmental reasons. Adding weed killing properties, we considered the realities alongside the cost/benefit – we recognize that have a tiny window for cover cropping due to our seasonality.
Could this be a tremendous fiasco? Time will tell in terms of the actual dahlias produced. However, I like to think that no, it cannot be a fiasco overall. We must embrace risk as stewards of the land as we work to support clean and green growing practices.
On a good day it is entirely possible to derive humility as the gift of all labor regardless of outcome. On such a day, one can sit down and make notes on what one did, and where the problems presented. This is a roadmap. It can be tweaked. On these days, it is possible to see the science and the math as elemental building blocks - and part and parcel of beauty.
On other days, it is hard to resist an impulse to just go ahead and hang the trowel up and throw in the tarp. At Bear Creek Farm we allow for the full range of these human responses. We struggle with things we thought would work – and then did not, allowing ourselves to be irritated, and yes, sometimes, aggrieved.
When we experiment, we necessarily take on risk. No matter how experienced the grower is, there is always the foundational novice within. Listen to that inner voice – it should never fully disappear. When stirred, this voice within us reminds that risk is inspired. Consider that at the end of a (golden summer day), imagined gardens rarely bloom. However, we are betting that you may have loved the unexpected in-real-life-blooms that emerged. More even than those you had imagined. Goethe wrote about the genius of beginnings. We extend our collective hand to you. There is no one here to judge an experiment that did not quite pan out. Here, you will only find allies ready to celebrate willingness to try.
]]>At Bear Creek Farm, we learn by making lots of mistakes in our quest for beauty. (This makes success all the sweeter.) We may sometimes be disappointed, but we, are never deterred. This is not because we are gifted or heroic. It is because we intuit, broadly, that nature feeds our souls and inspires creativity. We live in challenging times. Still, evidence of hope and healing is often made manifest in nature. This reality calls on us to find the wellsprings of hope that are always there. There are the little green shoots that poke through the earth - reminding us to be patient – just a bit longer.
In her seminal book, The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, Florence Williams points to scientific evidence that shows a clear link between time spent outdoors in nature and individual overall mental and physical health. Williams points to examples of improved physical health (lower blood pressure), as well as mental health (reduction of anxiety). In addition, Williams connects personal creativity and shows that nature can nurture those who risk, seemingly, the dregs of hope - to store up and re-grow an unexpected resurgent, and yes, sweeter hope.
Many people wonder aloud about how flower farmers cope – all the hard work month after month – and then a crop compromised by a late hard frost. It would be ridiculous to deny that this fact of farming is immensely frustrating – but we choose to continue. I, for one, believe that this persistence is not unique to any one grower, but resides in all growers – as a direct function of the creativity about which Williams links to nature.
So much of the pace of life is anxiety-provoking. There is constant pressure to “keep up,” - with bills and schedules - things that keep us up too late - and wake us up too early. Research links a reduction of the symptoms of now recognized psychiatric conditions such as PTSD and ADHD to the time a sufferer spends in nature. This is important because it enhances non-medical treatment plans (sometimes in conjunction with those medical, we do not mean to imply judgement).
I was speaking with a friend who mentioned that she has had little time for anything but (just barely) caring for her children and (just barely) keeping up with work. She noted that all her personal friendships had changed. The concept of “self-care” has become something of a running joke. “I wish I had time to learn to grow something pretty,” she said.
To this friend, I say: you do. Start small. Go for a walk. Notice the subtleties of nature – the different flowers, the colors changing. All of it. Deriving the benefits of nature is not an all or nothing proposition. If one is an urban dweller, go to a pocket park and find a bench. Nature is a generous partner in what she returns. Urban dwellers are often struck by the way in which greenery pokes through any sidewalk. Many admire abandoned lots reclaimed by neighbors to begin community gardens.
Much research conducted in the last few years points to soaring rates of loneliness and depression. We remind that nature is everywhere; it can help to reform neural pathways. It can also provide a way for re-connection with people we deeply value. We throw down a challenge – see whether you - and maybe even a friend - can take a walk, grow a flower from seed, or even to participate in a Bear Creek Farm workshop. Nature is a salve – let it heal or teach you. The result will pay in spades (pun intended) far more than any one goal in what blooms.
]]>For the novice grower, we have one word for you: zinnias.
Zinnias require very little tending. Honestly.
Zinnias, by nature, are obliging. It would seem to me, that if missions could be attributed to flowers, that the mission of a zinnia would be to inspire confidence in novice flower growers. Zinnias seem to delight in their ability to train (both literally and figuratively), people who may look - and feel - a little lost in a nursery. They stand there, with a basket on their arm - unsure of what to buy. If you are that person listening to the quickening, resist the impulse to feel overwhelmed. Do not flee.
Now that you've finished reading this article, you should check out our tulip planting primer, dahlia growing guide, and cutting guide for dahlias. And if you're shopping for dahlia tubers, make sure to check out our giant dahlia tubers (10"+ blooms), micro dahlia tubers (under 2" blooms), dark pink dahlia tubers, dark red dahlia tubers, and bicolor dahlia tubers.
]]>And the peonies appear. That early summer flower points directly to the universal human yearning that the days be long, and the summer mornings many, wrote the poet Constantine Cavafy in Ithaca. (A poem about uncertain journeys offering rewards, just the same - seems fitting for a gardener.)
We at Bear Creek Farm view flower farming as an extended network. We did not want to let this season pass without finding a few minutes to share with our friends the easy basics in our quest to grow that gloriousness - also called a peony. Note that we are referring here to the herbaceous varieties, also referred to as bush peonies.
Below, please find a list of questions we have gathered - and answers to accompany them.
Planting Peonies
I have purchased some peonies. Now what? How do I plant them?
Growing Peonies
It is warming up. I’m seeing some stirring - it’s working. Now what do I do?
Disbudding
What is the best way to make my peonies lush? Talk to me about disbudding.
This is perhaps the main reason we offer workshops to teach those who want to get outside or learn to grow flowers regardless of prior experience. Nature is restorative. It is a connective fabric intimately linking humans to one another within the sweep of nature. It lifts us out of ourselves. When one immerses fully in nature it can be a sort of friend – trees whisper, moonshine spools seemingly out from the earth like a night-time ground cover. Still, the pace of life many engage is fast. People trying to keep up get lonely. Sometimes we miss one another as humans.
People in all demographics (parents, adolescents, the elderly) are learning to reconnect as we emerge from COVID-19. The social distance we were forced to adopt during the past several years has taken hold. Our task now is to carefully and respectfully dismantle it. Learning to be together again is not just grabbing a coffee in the car. The natural neural pathways need to be gently reshaped. Things like day-long, nature-based workshops are doable and why we host them – dahlias, peonies.
I have been thinking about this for several days now. The seed of this thought grew out of a conversation with a friend who was talking about the particular difficulties associated with modulating work/life balance during this particular phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. “No one wants to say it - everyone is sick of it – but as far as parenting, in a lot of ways this part of the pandemic (no rules) is the worst,” she said. “I wish I had time to do something for myself – something real. And don’t tell me to get a massage. That doesn’t count. I’d have to be on that table for weeks.” She then went on to explain how, between scaffolding the remnants of the friendships of her children, tending her marriage, the social/emotional/academic needs of children raised in a pandemic, together with work, aging parental care, shopping, cooking, and laundry – she was lonely.
She explained that her parent peers have long since stopped prioritizing themselves, understanding that deeply rooted friendships and family relationships hold. Still, she described missing friends and family, a sense of guilt at not being there for people she loved (for those with parents who died, for those with children who struggled) - and a sense of isolation. She sang the praises of texting as a way to remain connected but recognized the irony.
Reminding me that she had no flower experience, she asked whether she could sign up for a dahlia workshop with a friend. “We kind of just want to actually take a break together, and maybe finish a conversation – even make something nice. Or try.” Of course, I said yes. I think the idea of interpersonal reconnection based upon nature is a beautiful idea. At Bear Creek Farm, we have always recognized this, which is why we offer a 10% discount to each person when two people sign up to attend a workshop together. Consider inviting someone away for a day. It just may be the reset you both need.
]]>The initial stage is quickly accomplished – the seed goes into the ground. With patience, and discipline – the seed (usually, never always) sprouts. A little green pushes through. It hastens. The stem extends to reveal itself. As if, were the flower to be a person it would shyly hint that it could become beautiful - with necessary tender loving care.
Growing flowers from seed requires patience - and optimism. Not everything will come up. A customer once reported to us that when admiring a neighbor’s splendid flower garden, she asked about the secrets employed by the grower. The grower, hose in hand, replied, “no secrets, baby – watering and weeding”.
In a sense, planting flowers from seeds is an act of faith. Pour a packet of seeds into an empty palm and imagine the potential abundance.
Thoughts and Care about Zinnias
Zinnias are among the easiest flowers to grow. Still, in a certain way, this lovely flower is misunderstood. Many growers wonder aloud why the initially resplendent bloom wilts relatively quickly once picked. When harvesting zinnias, be certain that the bloom is truly ready. Give it a wiggle. The stem will tell you whether to hold back with those shears. Stems must be stiff, strong and upright (no floppiness) for the Zinnia to live its best - and most elongated life. These ladies also strongly dislike chill. Do not cut Zinnias - intending to take them as a hostess gift - and store them in a refrigerator prior to leaving. Leave them out in on the kitchen counter ready to present on arrival.
Or don’t cut Zinnias at all. Zinnias attract pollinators. If a flower is majesty in and of itself, a companion butterfly is merely an extension of that beauty. A huge bee hanging in the air above a patch of flowers is both picturesque and environmentally beneficial.
Thoughts and Care about Cosmos
Cosmos packaged by Bear Creek Farm are very tall and often have a bi-color, papery type petal. Our Cosmos almost have an Ikebana type look - when you place them in a vase, they are just reminiscent of a Japanese garden. We prefer to highlight and celebrate this quality, allowing the tall specialty Cosmos to stand-alone, rather than for use as filler in a larger arrangement. Cosmos speak for themselves. Let them.
Many believe cosmos, in general, don’t have a super-long vase life, but we have not found that to be the case. We harvest with just one petal unfurling and put them right into water at first snip. Then we watch the flowers and other buds open in the vase.
Thoughts and Care about Sunflowers
True confessions: some people would not count sunflowers as their favorite flower. Sunflowers can be enormous and take over. Unless one is a big fan of yellow, they may not be a first choice. That said, Bear Creek Farm sunflowers are different. Our sunflowers offer unexpected colors and shades. The Sunfill™ Geen and Purple blooms Bear Creek Farm sunflower seeds produce are sculpted - other worldly looking things. We offer, as well, large white sunflowers. (Consider that a big white flower can always add a touch of elegance anywhere.) White teases out other colors complementing their companions and adding a depth to an arrangement - much the way that salt - a dash of rock salt - unlocks the perfection of a perfectly ripe tomato for one hot August day.
Sunflowers are best harvested when the first few petals just start to lift off of the central disk. Strip off all but the top few leaves. For Sunfill™ Purple and Sunfill™ Green allow blooms to expand before cutting, but harvest before the short yellow petals on the center disk show. This variety requires a bit more of a watchful eye but the reward is worth it.
Bear Creek Farm seeds make wonderful gifts for grandparents, teachers, friends. The quality seeds our customers have come to expect arrive in elegantly packaged envelopes with clear planting instructions.
]]>It is difficult to believe that in a couple of short months, spring will arrive, followed by summer. Winter is, in a sense, a gift. There is so much floral beauty lying dormant in the ground waiting to come back. It can be hard to be patient. Sometimes I try to practice a kind of mindfulness where I deliberately look at the blue snow in the evening, reflecting purple and orange clouds hung above. I think about flowers. I imagine what is yet to come, but I do not know.
I am reminded of a child’s story, called Frederick, by Leo Lionni, about a field mouse who stores up memories of summer colors during the winter. When his friends complain that he is not helping them to collect food and make shelter, he explains that he is gathering necessary memories of sustaining beauty. “And when he told them of the blue periwinkles, the red poppies in the yellow wheat and the green leaves of the berry bush, they saw the colors as if they had been painted in their minds.”
With early spring the first flowers come. Poppies creep up, and then tulips. The sunlight gains a little strength, and the gradually few degrees of warmth. Suddenly, a carpet of blue flowers overcomes a yard. In June, the peonies arrive (in time for firefly season). Late summer delivers dahlias (even as the evenings cool down.)
Flowers break all the rules. The colors promised will vary. The shape of petals will catch you off guard. Give into it. As you tend the idea of your imagined garden in winter – gazing from a kitchen window onto a patch of snow – recognize that nature is there to offer its own surprises. The more wedded one is to a specific aesthetic outcome, the more one is likely to be disappointed. Seasoned flower growers understand the experience of planting flowers as humbling and rewarding in equal measure. One may plan a garden. One may follow all kinds of rules. But nature is in charge. See what she delivers you - and be open to this undisciplined and colorful sprawl.
I confess to have conceived of many gardens planted in one way – that came up in another way entirely. Among the most important things I have learned as flower grower, is that over-devotion to an idea is a mistake, a distraction. It impedes opportunities for personal growth. This “outcome” of gardening is, tragically, too often overlooked. Planting flowers and partnering (in some small way) with nature, is a way to let go of the rigid discipline that so often binds how we feel about ourselves. We may tend flowers, but they tell their own story. Flowers (a petal, a stem) remind us that beauty often expresses itself beyond our wildest preconceived imaginings. Flowers flow from the sum total of natural beauty. There is liberation in untethering oneself from a specific result and, instead, embracing what is, invariably, a better idea.
Springing from elemental mystery, a flower comes back. (We may know how, but still, how?) For those of us too impatient to practice mindfulness on a studio mat, a garden allows a similar freedom to become personally delinked from set ideas with measurable rubrics. Flowers feed our soul and our ability to embrace regenerative spontaneity. As our flowers grow, in whatever manner they will, so too do we.
]]>I have come to notice that many gardeners are taught that growing flowers is an exact science. They are coached that specific methods will produce a specific result. As a flower grower, I am here to argue that this kind of striving, while tempting in a certain way, is ultimately counterproductive. I urge gardeners to gift themselves grace and to consider the big picture, including their own place within it.
I believe that the act of growing a flower is less about a specific flower and more about the personal commitment it takes to place oneself in nature. I think it has to do with the benefits of learning to recognize the spontaneous beauty that always erupts when one uncouples oneself from precision and overly specific directions - pertaining to one flower, one seed, or one bloom.
While growing flowers certainly does require a kind of discipline, I think that overly prescribed formulas distract from the fundamental purpose of growing flowers in the first place. At Bear Creek Farm, I have learned not to follow instructions.
I have come to see growing seasons as quests. Each one is a kind of journey made in search of something deep within us. Something that calls us - and which we cannot ignore. For some, it is the perfect bloom - for others it is something less tangible. Nature, by itself, underpins a culture of untrammeled beauty. It is fragile – a dewdrop on a petal. It is strong - it keeps coming back. The work by a gardener, or the role of a bloom, is to complement that spontaneous beauty and to enjoy it.
Flowers are hard. Zones differ. Seasons are unpredictable. Soils aren’t the same. Late frosts occur. There are no formulas that will produce a specific result. Viewed through one lens, this is frustrating. It is hard to resist the temptation to compare the results of a grower one admires with one’s own product. Viewed through another lens, a move away from formulaic discipline can be liberating. If a specific flower coaxes you to a garden, that flower is telling you to look up. Maybe that was the only job it was meant to do.
Growing flowers requires a kind of patience and tenacity that challenges us all. It certainly does me. It is easy to become tense. That said, I take great comfort in my firm belief that growing flowers enables one to unspool energy that scaffolds a kind of personal context. It gives people a place in a vast beauty-scape. So? Look around. Cup your hands over your eyes and see where you are. Invariably, it is right where you should be.
Flowers grow where they are planted – very often. But even when they don’t come up, pay attention to the space in which you worked. Allow yourself to be moved by the silver-flecked springtime breezy trees swaying over a carpet of unexpected blue flowers early in the spring. Nature is about you, and your own process of quest and discovery. To what end? Only you know. The best reason of all to plant is to find one’s place in nature and dwell there for a time. Relax and enjoy the beauty. It is all right there.
]]>