The Art of Dried Flowers: From Field to Fall Wreaths
As the seasons shift and the days grow shorter, our flowers take on new life. Throughout the growing season, we carefully harvest blooms at their peak—just as they reach the perfect growth stage. While many of these flowers find their way into arrangements and bouquets for weekly business needs, others embark on a different journey: drying.
Drying flowers is an age-old tradition, and over time, we’ve experimented with various methods. After much trial and error, our favorite approach remains simple and effective: hanging flowers upside down in a cool, dark space. This method not only preserves their beauty but also ensures they retain their vibrant colors and unique shapes. However, one crucial tip we've learned is to start with flowers in their prime condition. A bloom that’s past its peak will not yield a quality dried flower.
By carefully drying blooms all season long, we’ve built up a stunning collection of dried flowers in a variety of hues and textures. And as the frost approaches, these preserved beauties take center stage.
One of our favorite ways to showcase dried flowers is in fall wreaths. A couple of weeks ago, we hosted a fall wreath-making class in our processing shed. The space transformed into a buzzing creative workshop where attendees let their imaginations run wild. The results? Stunning, one-of-a-kind wreaths filled with the warmth and charm of autumn.
One woman who signed up for the class couldn’t make it in person, so she picked up the materials and created her wreath at home—a lovely reminder that creativity knows no bounds!
This year, we’re excited to share even more ways for you to enjoy dried flowers. For the first time, we’re offering dried flower bundles on our website, available for local pickup and delivery. Whether you want to craft a wreath, decorate pumpkins, create framed art, enhance gift wrapping, make potpourri or bath products, design holiday ornaments, or even incorporate them into a wedding, we’ve got you covered!
And if you love the look of dried flower wreaths but don’t have the time or inclination to make one, no problem—we have a selection of ready-made wreaths available for you to take home and enjoy.
Dried flowers are more than just a way to extend the life of blooms—they’re a celebration of nature’s cycles and the artistry it inspires. Whether adorning a front door, decorating a gift, or enhancing a festive centerpiece, these preserved blooms bring beauty and joy long after the growing season ends.
So, whether you’re looking to get creative or simply enjoy the beauty of dried flowers, we invite you to explore all the possibilities they offer.
Join Us at the Blythewood Farmers Market Holiday Artisan Market!
📅 Date: Saturday, November 23rd
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Kick off your holiday season with us at this annual community event! The Blythewood Farmers Market Holiday Artisan Market is the perfect place to start your holiday shopping with a variety of locally crafted gifts and décor.
Be sure to stop by our booth to say hello and explore our festive holiday botanicals, including paperwhites, amaryllis, dried arrangements and holiday greens bouquets—perfect for decorating your home or gifting to loved ones.
Enjoy live music and a variety of food trucks while you browse the market. It’s a fun and festive way to support local artisans and embrace the holiday spirit.
We can’t wait to see you there! 🎄✨
Important Updates for the Holiday Season
The Bulb Shop Is Open!
We’re thrilled to announce that our bulb shop is officially open at www.purpletuteur.com! Browse our curated selection of beautiful amaryllis, paperwhites, daffodils, tulips, and peonies, all chosen to bring vibrant color and fragrance to your home and garden this season. Whether you’re looking for holiday blooms or planning ahead for spring, we have something special for everyone. PLEASE NOTE: Local delivery and pick up only for these items. Deliveries are made on Tuesdays and Fridays. Deliveries will begin on 11/15, assuming everything in your order has arrived by then. (Everything is due in the week of 11/11). Farm pick up is available on the following dates from 10:30-12:30. November 20,23,27 and December 4,7,14. If these dates don’t work, please contact us and we will try to accommodate you.
For both pick up and delivery, we will notify you when your order is ready.
Come See Us at the Blythewood Farmers Market Holiday Market!
On another note, we unfortunately have to cancel our Holiday Open House due to a recent water pipe burst in the farmhouse. With repairs underway and water being turned off periodically, it’s best to hold off on hosting events at the farm for now. However, we will still offer pick-up for online orders—just plan accordingly around the bathroom limitations!
We’re excited to announce that we’ll be at the Blythewood Farmers Market Holiday Artisan Market on November 23rd from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. instead. Come by and see us there to pick up some of your holiday favorites!
Visit www.purpletuteur.com now to explore our full collection and place your orders before they sell out.
2025 Subscriptions
Our 2025 Subscriptions will be available for purchase starting 11/11/2024. Get your holiday gift shopping done or give yourself the gift of wellness with fresh flowers. Watch for our email update!
Thank you for all your support of our small farm. We are grateful and honored to serve you.
Best,
Linda
Our Fall Bulb Sale Starts Today!
We are excited to bring you our selection of spring blooming Anemone and Ranunculus bulbs!
These are the same bulbs that we grow at the farm, so you can be assured that they are appropriate for our climate. Growing instructions are included with your order.
We can ship your bulb order anywhere in the United States. We will start shipping orders in mid-October.
Here is the link to our website. Happy shopping!
ANEMONE
These are longer stemmed varieties and make excellent cut flowers. They have stems of 10 - 12 inches vs. the landscape de Caan varieties with 6 inch stems that are widely available.
There are two blue varieties that are not yet posted for the sale. I am waiting for them to arrive before I add them to the store.
Growing instructions are included with your purchase. You can also check out our blog post on growing ranunculus and anemone here.
RANUNCULUS
These are longer stemmed varieties and make excellent cut flowers. They grow well in pots or in the ground. Growing instructions are included with your purchase. You can also check out our blog post on growing ranunculus and anemone here.
NARCISSUS / DAFFODILS
We are not planning to offer daffodils this year. We are looking for a new supplier.
PEONIES/AMARYLLIS/PAPERWHITES/TULIPS
The peonies, amaryllis and paperwhites are not available for this sale. We hope to have them later in the year. There has been serious flooding in Holland both this past summer and the summer before causing damage to some of these crops. This, combined with the longshoremen’s strike, will create shortages. Will we have all of these? We sure hope so!
Fall Bulb Sale Starts October 5th
Fall Bulb Sale Starts October 5th
We will have our ranunculus and anemone for sale on the website starting October 5th and through the month of October. We have the favorites from years past and a few new ones. The breeders are doing some pretty amazing things and this is just the beginning. It’s a very exciting time for these flowers. We will be using them in our early spring subscriptions too, so if you are not a gardener, fear not, we will have some for you too!
We can ship these bulbs/ corms and we will use the US Post Office to do the shipping. We will also have options for local pick-up and delivery in our standard delivery area. We are not including any other bulbs in this sale since the rest of the bulbs arrive later and could delay delivery.
If you need a refresher on how to grow these gorgeous spring blooms, this blog post outlines the process. Instructions are also included with orders. Quantities are limited, so order when you can!
https://www.purpletuteur.com/blog/2023/10/2/spring-blooming-bulbs-anemone-and-ranunculus
November/Holiday Bulb Sale
We will begin our holiday bulb sale in November. It will include amaryllis and paperwhites along with a few bareroot peonies! These items will be available for local delivery and pick up only. Since amaryllis are vulnerable to freezing, we don’t want to risk shipping them. We will send more information out on this closer to the start of the sale.
Nigella Seed Source In Columbia
Elaine K got in touch and said she found Nigella seed at Ace Hardware on Beltline, so if you want to give this flower a try, head on over to Ace. This is not a paid advertisement.
Easing into Fall
We’ve enjoyed some time off in July, alternating days of rest with days of planting for fall. We’ve had nearly 12 inches of rain on the farm in July – a welcome change from June. It is especially helpful for the new plantings. We’re looking forward to the days ahead with cooler temperatures and an abundance of flowers. For fall, we’ve been planting dahlias, zinnias, celosia, yarrow, snapdragons, callas, sunflowers and heirloom chrysanthemums.
Fall Wreath Workshops
Now that August has arrived, we are opening registration for our fall wreath workshops. Grab a friend and join us for a fun workshop at Purple Tuteur Farm. In this 2-hour session, we will talk about the basics of drying flowers and we will help you build your own custom dried flower wreath. If you would like to do this class for your private group of 8 or more, please send your request to purpletuteur@gmail.com and we will try to accommodate! Here’s the link: https://www.purpletuteur.com/classes
Fall Subscriptions
Our next subscription season will begin in late August. If you have signed up, we will be getting in touch closer to the first delivery day to verify schedules. We still have a few spots open if you are interested. Sign up here: https://www.purpletuteur.com/wwwpurpletuteurcom/new-products-1/fresh-cut-flower-bouquet-drop-off-service/late-summer-to-fall
We hope that you are enjoying the last days before school starts!
Best,
Linda
It's Ag and Art Weekend and Our Dahlia Growing Workshop is Coming Up Too
AG and ART weekend has arrived!
The Ag and Art Tour of Richland County is this weekend. We are a host farm and are looking forward to having visitors out between 9 am and 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. I will be doing guided tours at 11 am and 2 pm each day. You are also free to stroll through the flower field on your own.
This year we will have a few plants and some dahlia tubers for sale along with our market bouquets.
Market Bouquets $20
Dahlia Tubers $10
Brown Eyed Susans $5
Agastache $5
Lemon Basil $2.50
There are also some very interesting artisans coming out to show their talents. They will also have items available for sale, so be sure to leave room in your vehicle for take home items!
It looks like we will have great weather this weekend, so we hope you can find the time to come by!
Growing Dahlias – On Farm workshop
Registration for this class is now open on our website.
If you want to add something to your garden that produces an abundance of flowers, consider dahlias. Now is a great time to get them started in the Midlands. Come learn what is involved in growing your own during our on-farm class.
Class is held from 10 am - 12 noon on either Wednesday June 19th or Saturday June 22nd
Choose the date that you want to attend when you sign up. Registration deadline is June 15th.
The training begins with a presentation, followed by a walkthrough of the dahlia beds on the farm, including a demonstration of some of the growing techniques that will make your dahlias produce their best blooms.
What we will cover :
Dahlia classifications and Variety selection considerations, Growing conditions, Planting, Tending, Common Pests and Diseases, Harvesting, and After Season Care
Here’s what you’ll take home:
A handout of the material covered
Two dahlia tubers from our farm stock to plant in your own garden
Maximum attendees per class is 10. Students must be 18 years or older to participate. No refunds after registering, but transfers of your seat to a friend are encouraged if you cannot attend.
We reserve the right to reschedule or cancel in case of severe weather or illness. Students will get as much advanced notice as possible. Refunds will be issued if Purple Tuteur Farm decides to cancel a class.
That about wraps it up for today. Flowers are a joy in our lives. We thank you for supporting our efforts to get them out to the community.
Best,
Linda
Bulb Forcing Class Update
Hi All,
Spring is another week closer! Flowers are beginning to show up on the farm, and the weather this week looks fabulous. We’re excited to get the season off the ground.
Class Update
The class on Forcing Bulbs for Winter Blooms has been rescheduled to Saturday March 9th from 10 am until noon. I appreciate everyone’s patience with the date change since I got sick and things had to move. In this class, we do a deep dive into how to prepare your bulbs for early bloom, covering those that have to be chilled and amaryllis and paperwhites, which do not. Then you will have access to prepared bulbs that we have been cooling since November to make your own bulb garden to take home. Grab a friend and join us! We’d love to have you. Light refreshments will be served.
For the details and to sign up, follow this link:
https://www.purpletuteur.com/aboutourclasses
That’s it for now.
Best,
Linda
Would You Like to Visit The Farm This Year? Here’s How
We would love to see you at the farm for one of our scheduled classes or events. We will open up registration approximately 30 days before the class is held.
We’re kicking the year off with a new class on Forcing Bulbs and registration is now open! Here are the specifics.
Growing Bulbs Indoors For Winter Blooms – On Farm Workshop
Friday February 23 - 10 am to noon
If you like to keep flowers in your house, winter can be a challenge. It is too cold for cutting much from the garden. Fortunately, there is a wonderful alternative available by forcing bulbs. The world of bulbs offers a great variety of shapes and colors to delight you at home before spring arrives.
Once you have learned how to make this happen, you can unleash your creativity to create interesting pots of one or many varieties at home. Indoor bulb gardens bloom and trigger our endorphins at their very sight. Who doesn’t need a lift when the nights are still so long and the temperatures are low?
Come and join us for this workshop on how to prepare bulbs for indoor blooms. Forcing is a method of growing plants that makes or forces them to flower at a different time than they would under normal conditions. We will review the timetables for forcing various bulbs, discuss potting mixes, and storage options.
Select from the bulbs we have prepared and pot up your own bulb garden to take home. Selection choices include early Narcissus, Hyacinth and Iris. When the bulbs have bloomed out, plant them in your garden for blooms next year.
Workshop is limited to 7 people.
Current Classand event Schedule
We’ve added a new page to the website that shows the schedule for the year as it stands today. We will update it from time to time as the year unfolds and as a newsletter subscriber, you will be the first to know!
See the full schedule here: https://www.purpletuteur.com/aboutourclasses
Bouquet Subscriptions
Our bouquet subscription season kicks off in March. We have a few openings left for the Early Spring Season (March/April). If you would like to sign up or learn more, here is the link: https://www.purpletuteur.com/subscription-information
Spring is coming and there is so much to look forward to!
Best,
Linda
Our Holiday Open House is Tomorrow!
The time has come for our last event of the year! We have a lot to help you with your holiday decorating and for gift giving to the flower lovers and the gardeners in your life. Everything is set up on a covered porch or in our processing shed, so we’ll be there rain or shine. Saturday, December 2 from 10:30 – 2:30.
Location
If you haven’t been to the farm before, the address is 787 Langford Road in Blythewood. If you use google maps to get the directions, there is an error in the last step. It tells you to turn onto Arnell Court. We are actually the driveway next to Arnell Court. If you are facing the farm, we’re the driveway on the left.
Bulbs
We have lots of things to choose from! We have amaryllis bulbs ranging in price from $14 to $24. This year we have potted up some of them to get them growing for you. They are $5 more than the bare bulb. We showed the colors in our last post, so I won’t repeat that here.
If you like to get creative, here is some inspiration from @karenlidbeck on Instagram. In this post, she walks through how to make this winter arrangement featuring her amaryllis bulb. So fun! Karen is a stylist for some of the home magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens. She is full of great ideas.
We also have 5 packs of paperwhites, and you could do something similar with those!
The daffodils ready to go in these fun gift packs for $10. Instructions are included.
Our amaryllis bulbs are bagged with growing instructions.
Bulb Gardens
Of course, if you don’t enjoy the arranging or don’t have a minute to spare, we have some bulbs potted up in decorative containers and some bulb gardens ready to go. Prices range from $10 to $90, so we have something for everyone
Greenery
We will have our greenery bouquets again this year at $22. We also have some holiday bouquets that include our heirloom mums for$45 in a sleeve and $60 in this birch bark vase. (We grew our first mums this year, and after the holidays I promise to tell you more!).
Our Holiday Shop Special - 3 stems of beautiful magnolia for $10, while supplies last!
Greenery bouquets are $22
Mum arrangement in this birch bark vase $60
2024 Subscriptions
We will be offering our bouquet subscriptions again next year. We update the website for ordering subscriptions and subscription gift cards by December 5th. Stay tuned!
This has been a full and challenging year for us and we could not do it without all of you. We are honored to be able to serve our community by bringing the joy and beauty of flowers to your door.
Best wishes for a happy holiday season!
Linda
Our Holiday Shop
Hi All,
We have a lot in store for you this holiday season! From bulbs to greens to bulb gardens, we have tried to incorporate all of your requests into our new holiday season offerings. Everything will be available starting on December 1. You may go ahead and order on the website to reserve your purchases. This year, we are offering delivery in our standard delivery area for $12. Delivery zip codes are the same as the ones we use for our bouquet subscriptions: 29201, 29204, 29205,29206,29209, 29016, 29045, 29169, 29223, 29229. Select from “shipping” and “pick-up” options at checkout.
While we did offer shipping for our spring bulbs (and will offer shipping again for our summer bulbs), we are not going to ship during the holiday season. Amaryllis are cold sensitive and since we are just getting started with shipping, we don’t want to risk having bulbs arrive damaged or frozen. Hopefully we will be able to do this next year. For now, help us find homes for all these beautiful bulbs in the Columbia area!
Read on to learn what is coming available.
Amaryllis Bulbs
Here is our selection of bulbs. When you get on the website, you will notice that the prices vary. This has to do with the size of the bulb. A 28-30 cm bulb is a standard size and will have one stem (possibly two) with multiple blooms on it. 30-32 cm bulbs have 2 stems with multiple blooms. This year we have included some of the largest bulbs available, size 36-38cm. These can have 3 or 4 stems and are a show of their own. Naturally, larger bulbs are more expensive since they take longer to grow. Prices range from $16-$27 per bulb.
When selecting your bulbs, consider how you want to display them. The container size and the visual effect can mean that you want several smaller bulbs or a large one.
Not every bulb shown here will bloom in time for Christmas. We will have a few that do, but many will take time to grow into their magnificence so that you can enjoy them during the winter days to come.
If you have any questions about any of these varieties, feel free to email me or come to our open house on December 2nd and let us help you.
Paperwhite Bulbs
We offer lightly scented paperwhites. The variety is ‘Nazareth’, also sometimes called ‘Nir’. See photo below, left, for the bloom. These bulbs are the largest available at 17-18 cm. The photo below on the right compares a standard daffodil bulb and the paperwhite. This means that they send up multiple flowering stems in a single bulb. Another great show. I am very excited to have them for you.
Priced at 5 bulb pack for $12.
Greenery Bouquets
We will also be offering our greenery bouquets again this year. Even if you have an artificial tree, like we do, its great to have the scent of winter greenery in the house. These can also be used for porch pots and swags outside. Deck the halls! These are $25
Potted Bulbs and Gift Kits
We have items potted up and ready to give or to use to decorate your home. Complete forcing kits are available for those who are travelling during the holidays and need to start theirs growing on their own schedule.
Holiday Open House
On Saturday, December 2nd, we will have our holiday open house. In addition to the items mentioned above, we will have bulbs potted up for gift giving and/or to decorate your home. Here are a few examples of what we will have, and another update will come out closer to the event.
Our Paperwhite Santa Tin (left) is a great gift for book club, teaches, church groups or others. $12 each. If you are ordering a number of these, please allow one week for delivery.
An amaryllis bulb planted in a birch pot, ready for its new home. $32 and up, depending on the bulb.
The website shop will be available by Wednesday 11/8 at noon.
We are looking forward to the excitement of the holidays and more time with friends and loved ones. We are working diligently this week, with lots of help, to get the majority of our spring planting done. Then we take a break through Thanksgiving. Horray!
We are so thankful for each of you who have supported our farm in some way. We appreciate your business and the honored to serve our community.
Wishing You Joy,
Linda
The Thrill of Fall
We’re so happy to see fall arrive! Fall is a very busy season at the farm. Our efforts now are for the current season and for our early spring season too. Thanks to the cooler temperatures, we are able to work longer hours and get more done than we can in summer.
Here’s what’s happening at the farm this season:
Fall Wreath Workshop
We kicked off the season with our Fall Wreath Workshop. We really enjoyed having everyone at the farm and many beautiful wreaths were created. We look forward to doing this again next year.
We’ve made up a few extras for those who would like one but don’t like the DIY process or couldn’t make the class. Contact us for the specifics. We only have a few, including the one shown above. https://www.purpletuteur.com/contact-us-1
Dahlias!
The dahlias are in their glory days. Dahlias are at their best when the nights are cool and the days are below 90F. They are starting to get very happy in their environment, which makes them more productive. They will continue to bloom until first frost (usually around Halloween), when they fold like a deck of cards.
We are growing some in our hoophouse this year so we are hopeful that we may have a few of them with us a little longer than first frost.
We use these flowers in our subscription bouquets and they also go to florists and event planners in town. If you are interested in these for your own event or home décor, contact us through our website and we will try to accommodate your needs. https://www.purpletuteur.com/contact-us-1
Spring Bulb Sale
Our bulb shop is live on our website. First, thank you to all who have already purchased spring bulbs. We are sold out of some things already. We will be sending out a series of blog posts on how to grow the bulbs we are offering. We started with tulips in the last post. Anemone, ranunculus and daffodils are to come. Link to bulb shop is https://www.purpletuteur.com/spring-bulbs
Mums
We are growing heirloom mums this year for the first time. Mums don’t produce flower buds until the days are less than 12 hours long. Hello fall, we’re here. Tiny buds are forming now and we’re so excited. Mums are a very long-lasting cut flower, which is great since they are the last to bloom until spring. We hope to have some on our holiday bouquets this year. Speaking of which…
The Holidays are Coming!
We are here to help you deck the halls and locate the perfect specialty gift for your flower-loving friends and family.
As in years past, we will have paperwhites and amaryllis bulbs for sale. We will also have some potted up and ready to go along with our holiday bouquets and wreaths. Everything will be available to pre-order from the website. We will offer local delivery and farm pick up for these. Shipping will not be available.
Save The Date! We will have our Holiday Open House this year on Saturday December 2. More details to come!
We are ever grateful to be able to bring you these products and services. Thank you for your support. Happy Fall!
Linda
Our Spring Bulb Sale Begins On September 16
We are so excited to bring you our selection of spring blooming bulbs including Anemone, Daffodils and Ranunculus! These are the same bulbs that we grow at the farm, so you can be assured that they are appropriate for our climate. Growing instructions are included with your order.
New this year, in addition to our farm pick up option, we can ship your bulb order anywhere in the United States! We will start shipping orders in mid-October.
To begin planning your order, you can check out the information on our website now at https://www.purpletuteur.com/garden-bulbs
Inventories will be updated by 7:00 am on 9/16/2023. Please order early, quantities are limited.
ANEMONE
These are longer stemmed varieties and make excellent cut flowers. They have stems of 10 - 12 inches vs. the landscape de Caan varieties with 6 inch stems that are widely available. Growing instructions are included with your purchase. You can also check out our blog post on growing ranunculus and anemone here.
RANUNCULUS
These are longer stemmed varieties and make excellent cut flowers. They grow well in pots or in the ground. Growing instructions are included with your purchase. You can also check out our blog post on growing ranunculus and anemone here.
NARCISSUS / DAFFODILS
Narcissus is one of the most economical and carefree bulbs that you can grow. Add a little bulb food each year in the fall. If you forget in the fall, add bulb food in the spring when new growth is emerging. Watch them multiply over time. Who said they have to be highlighter yellow? There are many specialty varieties that will grow in our area. This year, we are offering three longer stemmed beauties, all suitable for the South (through zone 8. Not suitable for higher zones). Pink varieties (like Cum Laude) need partial shade after blooming. Plant them under a deciduous tree, but avoid areas where large roots are showing. Growing instructions included with purchase.
PEONIES
The peonies are not available as planned for this sale. We hope to have them later in the year.
Dahlia Workshop Fun
Photo: Karen Bickley
Friends old and new gathered for our first dahlia workshops this past week. Enthusiastic growers came out to learn more about these beautiful flowers. Some even learned that they were neighbors with a shared interest.
We started with a review of key concepts – from selection to end of season care and everything in between. With all topics in the handout, students had a reference to take home.
After discussing the concepts, we went into the field to get a look at the dahlias growing there. Concepts were reinforced with demonstrations and hands on practice.
Demonstrations included cutting the blooms and bagging the buds to protect them from insects without using insecticides. Photo: Karen Bickley
Everyone got hands-on experience pinching and disbudding. Photo: Karen Bickley
After the lessons, each student selected two tubers to take home and grow in their garden. I am looking forward to seeing the results.
Watch our newsletter for announcements of other on-farm classes later in the year.
We will be closed the week of July 4th so we can spend some time with friends and family. Have a safe and happy holiday.
Linda
Announcing our Growing Dahlias On-Farm Workshop
Dahlias are one of the fall’s best flowers and now is the time to get them growing in the Midlands.
Come learn what is involved in growing your own during our on-farm class.
Class is held from 10 am - 12 noon on either Wednesday June 21st or Saturday June 24th
Choose the date that you want to attend when you sign up on our website.
The training begins with a presentation, followed by a walkthrough of the dahlia beds on the farm, including a demonstration of some of the growing techniques that will make your dahlias produce their best blooms.
What we will cover:
· Dahlia classifications
· Variety selection considerations
· Growing conditions
· Planting
· Tending
· Common Pests and Diseases
· Harvesting
· After Season Care
Here’s what you’ll take home:
· A handout of the material covered
· Two dahlia tubers from our farm stock to plant in your own garden
Maximum attendees per class is 10. Students must be 18 years or older to participate. No refunds after registering, but transfers of your seat to a friend are encouraged if you cannot attend.
We reserve the right to reschedule or cancel in case of severe weather or illness. Students will get as much advanced notice as possible. Refunds will be issued if Purple Tuteur Farm decides to cancel a class.
For more information and to register for the class, Class Registration
Behind the Scenes at Columbia Art Museum’s Art Blossoms Event
Note: This article will be easier to read in a browser due to the number of photos. See link at the bottom of the email.
Before the Art Blossoms event, I had never experienced building a large floral installation. It was a construction project that turned buckets of fresh flowers and greenery into a sculptural art form. Since the elements are perishable, it could not be started too early. The result had to be ready for a reception on Wednesday evening and keep looking fresh through Sunday, Mother’s Day.
Planning had been underway for months before the event. Ann Holtschlag, museum docent and coordinator of all garden club exhibits for Art Blossoms, invited me to discuss the possibilities with Joelle Ryan-Cook, CMA Deputy Director. After some brainstorming, we agreed that I would do a talk on Cutting Gardens. Joelle was also going to follow up with Julianne Sojourner, Floral Designer and Event Planner, about using our flowers for her installation. Julianne agreed, so we were on. Julianne also did a large arrangement demonstration after my talk on Cutting Gardens
Julianne Sojourner
Wilson Bame
For the installation, construction began on Tuesday. All elements had to be brought in from the loading dock. As you can imagine, security is high, but we were expected and helping hands came to greet us. Wilson Bame, CMA Manager of Engagement was there to help and to ensure that we had what we needed.
Julianne, center, and her team, Lizzie(l) and Lynn(r)
Julianne and her team got to work on the structural support for the display. In the background the CMA team was getting the stage ready for our presentations. Chicken wire was wrapped around the beam and held in place with bungee cords. Julianne attached the top end of the chicken wire to a light fixture using zip ties so it would not slide as flowers were added.
With the foundation in place, some of the greenery and branches were added. These are items that don’t need a lot of water to stay fresh. Set up for the table arrangements and bud vases was also done. This was all the preparation we could do on Tuesday.
On Wednesday morning, Julianne’s team continued to work while I went to the farm to work with the farm crew there and to get more flowers. When I got back around noon, much progress had been made. Tammy had joined Julianne’s team and had most of the table arrangements ready. Bud vases were also done.
The large display was really taking shape, but there was still work to be done. Oasis in Lomey bowls was used to provide water for the items on the floor and work continued. Julianne invited me to add flowers to the display too. This was fun but I could see that I need more practice to work at the speed others could already do, so for the remainder I prepared flowers and put them into water picks (tubes of water for each stem) so the experts could work as quickly as possible.
From left to right – Julianne, Tammy, me, Lizzie and Lynn.
At last, we were done and the room really looked great. Such a fun experience for me, and a great team to work with.
One final note : This was just one of many exhibits that were set up and on display for Art Blossoms. Kudos to the CMA team and all those who contributed to the event. If you have never been, I hope this will encourage you to go next year and see the results of all the creative energy that goes into this event.
For the community and by the community, it helps provide funds for the programs at the museum. General admission tickets were $15 this year, $5 for museum members. Extra events were also offered and priced separately.
Upcoming Flower Related Events In The Midlands
Spring is here and there are so many ways for us flower lovers to enjoy it! Several events are coming up and we wanted to let you know about them in case you haven’t heard.
Richland County Master Gardeners Plant Sale April 20-21st
Do you need some plants for your garden? Whether the December freeze zapped a few, or you are in a new house and just starting a garden, this is a sale not to be missed. Not only is there a broad selection of plants but there are Master Gardeners on hand to help you with your selections. If you have a space to fill, come prepared with the size of the planting area and whether it is in the sun or shade. If you prefer to be more spontaneous, come see what is there and take home whatever strikes your fancy. As a Master Gardener, I have donated plants to this sale and hope you like the selection!
Columbia Green Festival of Gardens April 22 and Sunday April 23rd
In the mood for some garden inspiration? Columbia Green’s Festival of Gardens is happening Saturday April 22 and Sunday April 23. Sign up to tour gardens in Shandon, one of Columbia’s best loved neighborhoods. Purchase tickets at the website below. I will be a docent at one of the homes on Saturday afternoon, so hope to see you there!
Art Blossoms at Columbia Museum of Art May 11 – 14, 2023
Four days of flowers and flower related activities over Mother’s Day weekend. What’s not to like? Displays and flower arranging classes done by professional florists. Area garden clubs show their talents for design by creating floral arrangements that correlate to museum art assigned to them. Mother’s Day Brunch and much much more. I am honored to be a speaker on Thursday 5/11 and will be talking on Having a Home Cutting Garden. Here is the link to The Art Museum’s site, for more information and to order tickets. Hope to see you there too! https://www.columbiamuseum.org/events/art-blossoms
South Carolina Ag and Art Tour May-June
If you’ve been following us for a while, you know about the Ag and Art Tour. South Carolina opens up its farms for this free to the public event. This year 11 counties will participate. This is your opportunity to learn more about farm life and see the work of artists and artisans who come out and show their talents at the farms.
We are not a host site this year due to other commitments, but we are a sponsor. I also hope to be a tourist for this one! You can find out more about the event and the specific sites on the website https://www.agandarttour.com/
I hope that you can get out and enjoy some of these events. Want flowers at your door? Sign up for a PTF bouquet subscription, where we bring farm fresh flowers to your door. And don’t forget mom! These make a great Mother’s Day gift too.
Best,
Linda
The Business of Growing Flowers in South Carolina Evolves
About 75 interested parties came together to discuss commercial flower growing in South Carolina yesterday and I was glad to be among them. The meeting included participation by the SC Department of Agriculture, the SC Center for Cooperative and Enterprise Development, Clemson Cooperative Extension, Matson Consulting, the SC Small Business Development Center, and the SC Specialty Crop Growers Association. We also had flower farmers from the upstate, the midlands and the low country and some who are considering flower farming. I had the pleasure of seeing some fellow flower farmers in person for the first time since Covid.
With 60+ flower farmers in attendance and another 10 – 12 that I know of that did not make it, the supply of local flowers in South Carolina is growing quickly. If we can find ways to create a consolidated supply and distribution mechanism to provide local flowers to florists, event planners and corporations, we can strengthen ties and build a stronger financial basis for the floral industry and for flower farmers in our state. For example, Charleston is a leading destination for weddings in the country. Why not maximize the revenue that stays in the state by making it preferable to use local flowers over those that are imported from (usually) South America?
To be fair, there are florists and event planners is all 3 regions of the state that are huge supporters of local flowers. They understand that the flowers are fresher. They know that they can get beautiful varieties that cannot be shipped successfully. They are willing to utilize the decentralized distribution methods that we have today.
The complexity of buying from multiple small farms is one thing holding others back. They may not be staffed to coordinate with multiple sources. They may not be able to purchase flowers in large enough quantities from one or a few farmers to meet their needs. They also may not be familiar with some of the flowers that can be made available and need more education.
While this was just an introductory meeting, I am optimistic that this group has the energy to define solutions to these challenges. I look forward to our next meeting.
“If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together”. African Proverb
Last Call for Bulbs!
Thanks to all of you who came out to our first ever Holiday Garden Market! We enjoyed meeting some new flower friends and seeing some familiar faces too. Since our first year was a big success, we are looking at doing it again next year. For the second year, we will do a weekday and a Saturday for those who can’t get out during the week. Please let us know if there is anything you would like to see us offer.
Selling bulbs, forcing kits and bulb gardens is a great way for us to bridge the revenue gap between cut flower seasons. And of course, we have to offer bouquets! Our greenery bouquets have been well received too, so thank you.
This is our last week for bulbs. If you are ordering now, bulbs will not be in bloom by the holidays, but will bring some sunshine into January for whoever grows them. We have a selection of Hot Pink (Bolero) and Soft Apricot (Rilona) and White (Denver) that will be great choices, along with Sparticus, the red and white striped bloom that works for Valentines Day too. Forcing kits make a great gift for those who travel during the holidays and are home in January and February.
For the gardeners in the group, we still have a few anemone and ranunculus corms available. Check out the website for the color selection. You still have time to soak and plant them for gorgeous spring blooms!
So, if you order by 12/9, you can pick up at the farm on Saturday 12/10. For orders over $40 we will deliver next Tuesday 12/13. We will be taking the bulb shop off our website on 12/9 at 8:00 pm
Subscriptions
For those who want to provide a bouquet subscription as a gift, or to get your order in early, we will be setting up the subscription shop on 12/12 for spring and summer subscriptions. Stay tuned!
As always, thank you so much for all of your support of our flower farm. We feel so blessed to be able to provide flowers to our community and we couldn’t do it without you!
Linda
Our Holiday Open House is Tomorrow!
We are so excited to welcome you to the farm for our Holiday Open House tomorrow, December 1, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm! We will have our paperwhite and amaryllis bulbs for sale as well as forcing kits, which include the bulb and a nursery pot and soil. The forcing kits make great gifts for those who have a busy travel schedule over the holidays. The bulb will stay fairly dormant until it is planted and water is added. I will be closing the online store today and will open it back up on Friday, after the open house is over. We don’t want to oversell and risk disappointment!
At the open house, we will have a selection of potted up bulb gardens for easy holiday preparation or gift giving. Along with amaryllis and paperwhites, these can include some succulents and angel wing begonia so that you have something to keep your “need for green” going through the winter. We can also help you fill your own container, if you have something special that you use for the holidays.
We are also making greenery bouquets. I love doing these for the holidays. Since most of us use artificial trees these days, a vase of fresh greenery can be just the thing to get the holiday scent going at home. Some also use the greens around the house to enhance their other decorations.
Mary Ann Adams from One Hubcap Farm will also be there with her gorgeous wreaths! She will have a variety of sizes available. She can also take orders for later pick-up if you don’t find what you are looking for.
Tina Hall-Franklin from T2K Java will also be there with her hot cocoa and coffee to keep us warmer. She also sells her coffee beans. Tina has a portable pop-up shop so think of her for your events too!
The weather will be a little cooler tomorrow so you may want to wear an extra layer! More like the holiday weather I grew up with so happy for a little chill this time of year. We will be on the front porch of the processing shed, so covered but outside.
We hope to see you there!
Linda
Happy Fall! Updates From The Farm
We are enjoying the start of cooler weather and hope that you are too! Here are a few updates that we wanted to share.
Amanda McNulty and I Talk Cut Flowers on Making it Grow
It was such a pleasure to be able to meet one of my gardening heroes and talk cut flowers with her. This being my first time on a TV set, I really didn’t know what to expect. Amanda and the crew made it very easy. Once we had mics on, I couldn’t move around, which is a challenge for me, but she kept me focused on her and the topic at hand.
The set is so comfortable and I felt right at home. After we finished, I dumped some water into the sink that you can see in the background. Oops! There is no plumbing there. There was a mad dash to wipe it up. A learning experience for sure.
The segment will be aired on Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00 pm on SCETV.
Fall Bulb Sale
We are excited to bring you specialty bulbs for your garden and home again this year! You can order anemone, ranunculus, a few specialty daffodils, amaryllis and paperwhites from the website starting about October 15th. There are still supply chain delivery delayss so we will announce again when e have the bulbs.
Bouquet Subscriptions Wrap For 2022
Our subscription season is coming to a close for the year. I want to thank each of you who participates in this service. It does my heart good to bring you flowers and I enjoy your feedback. We will start deliveries back up next March and from now until then we will be prepping the soil, sowing seed, planting bulbs and protecting the plants from the weather as best we can.
Here’s to a lovely holiday season!
Linda