October on the Farm - Dahlias and Mums

Farm Update

Happy Halloween!

Farmers are surprisingly busy in the fall. Seasons converge. We’re busy wrapping up the fall harvest, getting the beds prepared and planted for spring, getting the spring bulb sales delivered and preparing for our holiday offerings too.

Temperatures are forecasted to be in the low 30’s at night this week, which is pretty much a guarantee that the dahlias and the rest of the summer annuals will be done. This is the average first frost date for our area, so statistically speaking, we are on our normal schedule.  

Here are a few highlights from our fall season.

Dahlias

The dahlias were a lot of fun to grow this year, and we hope that you enjoyed some of them. We doubled the number of tubers we planted and grew several new (to us) varieties along with some old favorites. It is always fun to find something new and beautiful, that does well in our warm climate. Here are some of our favorites for the year.

Clockwise from top left: Totally Tangerine, Mr. Franz, Genova, Labyrinth Two Tone

Totally Tangerine is an anemone form dahlia. The plant is small, so good for a pot. It produces a large number of 2 inch blooms.

Mr. Franz is a waterlily form. The blooms are 4-6 inches and the petals are peach and yellow.

Genova is a small ball form dahlia. The plant produces many flowers. The size makes them easy to use in arrangements.

Labyrinth Two Tone is a lavender and white dinnerplate dahlia. They are typically smaller than a dinnerplate in our summer heat. This makes them good for arranging. This is a recent release from the same breeder that brought us the Labyrinth dahlia.

This last one is called Babylon Bronze. It does well in our heat. As the season’s days got shorter, it grew much larger and had petals that were more yellow than bronze.  These are hard to use in bouquets or arrangements, so I took them home! A few blooms for the farmer to enjoy at the end of the season.

We’re trying to keep a few dahlias going in the hoop house, so we’ll see how that works out.

We will be selling dahlia tubers in early 2024. This will give us room in the field to add a few new ones and expand the quantities of the ones that do well in our climate.  

Heirloom Mums

This year we are also growing heirloom mums for the first time. They generally bloom after the dahlias and their blooms are triggered by shorter days. Heirloom mums come in many shapes and sizes. We’ve just started with three to see how they do. So far, so good. This one is called Crimson Tide. More updates will be coming on these interesting flowers.

Heirloom mum Crimson Tide

Spring Blooming Bulbs

Thank you for those who have ordered their bulbs. We are getting things delivered/ready for farm pick up as the bulbs arrive from Holland. Shipping from Holland is a long and complex process, so the providers are not the best at keeping a predictable schedule. We have everything now except for the tulips. They are supposed to arrive next week, so we will get them to everyone as soon as we can.

The most important thing to remember is that we have the luxury of planting all of these now through January in our glorious climate. Just keep the bulbs cool and dry until you are ready to get them into the ground.

Holiday Shop

This year we will have bulbs, bulb gardens and greens bouquets available for purchase on the website and at our holiday open house at the farm on December 2nd.  

In addition to a large variety of amaryllis in various sizes, we will have extra-large paperwhites. These are 17cm, which means that they are some of the largest available. Larger bulbs provide larger and more flowers. Here is a photo showing a standard daffodil bulb next to one of the paperwhite bulbs.  

More information to come in our next email update.

Standard Cum Laude daffodil on the left, our extra large paperwhite

Spring Blooming Bulbs - Daffodils

Growing Daffodils

Part 3 of our 3-part “Growing Spring Bulbs” Series is about growing Daffodils (Narcissus). Growing daffodils is a relatively straightforward process that can add vibrant early spring color to your garden or vase. If you do a little research, you can find many varieties of daffodils beyond the highlighter yellow trumpet. We only offer specialty varieties that are harder to find and that are also used in our Early Spring subscriptions. So, if you are not a grower but love our subscriptions, we have you covered too!

For this year, we are offering the following 3 varieties of daffodils. The Mt.Hood trumpet came highly recommended by Bets Daniels of Columbia, SC on one of our Facebook posts. She said that her mother grew them and they are plentiful in her yard. Order yours and two other beauties on our website www.purpletuteur.com/spring-bulbs

Need to Know- Daffodil Basics

Daffodils need some cold weather to grow correctly, so not all varieties are suitable for the South. We select only those that do well in our Zone 8 climate (limited cold required) and that have sufficient stem length to work in a vase arrangement.  Everything that does well in the South also does well in the cooler zones, 3-7. I don’t recommend them for warmer zones, 9-10.

If you are a beginning gardener, daffodils are a great place to start. They are the most economical bulb because they are easy to grow, multiply in the ground and have limited pests. The flowers are long lasting in the garden or in a vase. They can stand on their own in a vase for a pretty, daffodil only arrangement.

As a more seasoned grower, these specialty varieties can add more color and texture to your existing garden.  They offer color when little else is blooming.

The step by step to growing daffodils in your garden

1.       Select the proper location: Daffodils need well drained soil and partial to full sunlight. The pink/soft orange varieties do better with a little shade.

2.       Planting time: Plant in fall or early winter so that the roots can get started growing before bloom season.

3.       Bulb planting and spacing: If you have just a few bulbs, dig a hole 4-6 inches deep for each one. Keep the bulbs 6 inches or more apart so they have room to multiply. For larger quantities, dig a trench and spread the bulbs out in the trench. Place the bulbs pointy side up and cover with soil

4.       Water thoroughly after planting. This helps remove any air pockets in the soil and helps the daffodil begin the process of developing its roots

5.       Cover with mulch. Mulch will help retain moisture, deter weeds and keep an even soil temperature.

6.       Fertilize in spring with a bulb fertilizer. No need to fertilize when planting. The bulbs won’t be ready to take up any nutrients until the roots are formed. We use Espoma Bulbtone for all our bulbs.

7.       Maintenance: Remove spent blooms (not the leaves) from the plant. This helps it use more of its energy to grow a bigger bulb for next year. Let the foliage die back naturally for the same reason. Remove brown foliage.

8.       Division. Bulbs are busy making more bulbs under the soil. They can become crowded. They need to be dug and separated every 3 – 5 years after the foliage has turned brown. You will know that it is time to divide when the leaves come up and no flowers bloom. You can wait for that, but you can proactively divide every 3 years to have continuous blooms.

9.       Harvesting : If you want to take some of these lovely blooms indoors, you can harvest them in what is known as the “gooseneck” stage. This is when the bud is colored and bent over, not yet opened. They will open in the house. By harvesting at this stage, no insects or harsh weather will have a chance to damage the petals.

Daffodil at gooseneck stage, ready to harvest

We hope that you have enjoyed this three part series on growing spring bulbs. Will you give them a try? Do you have any other favorites that also do well in warm climates? We’d love to hear from you.

Best,

Linda

Spring Blooming Bulbs - Anemone and Ranunculus

We’re continuing a short series on the “how to” of the spring bulbs we grow and sell. These are the same bulbs we’re growing for our Early Spring bouquet subscriptions. So we hope that you enjoy them, whether from our garden or yours.

Pre-ordering for 2025 bouquet subscriptions will open on December 1, 2024. We will send out more information closer to the date.

Growing Anemone and Ranunculus

If you want to have cutting-garden blooms in late winter and early spring, Anemone and Ranunculus are two great options. While they are very different flowers, they are often discussed together because their growing conditions are very similar. They take a little special handling to get them started but once you have them in the ground, there is very little care required. They will send up multiple stems from each plant, giving you beautiful flowers to bring indoors when not much else is in bloom.

Anemone and Ranunculus are native to the Mediterranean, where it only rains in the winter. From this, they have evolved to go dormant in the summer and then grow during the rainy season. The closer we can come to creating these conditions, the more successful our plantings will be.

Anemone

 Anemone Bulb (Corm) Selection

Anemone (Anemone coronaria), is also known Poppy Anemone for the shape of its flower. They are also known as Windflower.  Select bulbs based on usage and size.

Two shorter-stemmed landscape varieties are generally available. The de Caen variety has a single layer of flower petals. The St Brigid variety has a double flower. In our climate, stems are 6 – 8 inches tall when grown in full sun. For longer-stemmed cutting needs, use the Italian or Israeli varieties. Mistral is an Italian variety with longer stems.

Anemone corms come in different sizes, from 3-4 cm to 5-6 cm. Larger sized corms are worth the extra cost. Larger corms produce larger plants and more flower stems.

If you are thinking that you knew of anemone as another flower, you are right. There is a shrub-like perennial called Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis). The blooms look very similar to the bulb form but they bloom in a spray in the fall.  This is why botanists revert to Latin names for flowers. Many common names apply to multiple plants but each has its own unique Latin name. 

Ranunculus

Ranunculus Bulb (Tuber) Selection

Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus) is commonly known as Persian Buttercup and as “rose of spring”. Two strains of R asiaticus are available. The Telecote varieties are the longer stemmed versions with double flowers. These are the more common. A landscape strain with shorter stems is “Bloomingdale”. It is harder to find.

As with Anemone, the size of the tuber matters.  With sizes ranging from 3-4 to 5-7, larger corms produce larger plants and more flower stems.  

Growing Conditions

Both Anemone and Ranunculus need full sun and good drainage. They can be grown in the ground or in pots, so if you have clay soil, you may want to use a pot or a raised bed. Too much water will cause the corms to rot.

Both are hardy in zones 8 – 11, so you can leave them in the ground.  Corms can be lifted and replanted in colder zones.

Anemone and ranunculus like day temperatures in the 60 – 70 F degree range, with nights from 45 – 55F.  This means you can plant them in the fall or in February for early spring blooms in zones 8-11. Plant in spring for other zones.

 The soil temperatures around 55 F are optimal and once it gets warmer, they will go dormant. They need to be protected from freezing weather. Cover them with heavy mulch if we get one of our freak cold periods.

Anemone will bloom about 90 days after planting. Ranunculus needs the 90 days and 8-12 hours of daylight. Both will begin to go dormant when daylength reaches 13 hours.

 So, in the Columbia SC area, the window for growing them is October 1 – April 13th.  To illustrate: Pre-sprout the corms for 10 days, starting on October 1, then plant them out on day 11. The anemone would be ready on December 30.

To find the date range for 8-12 hours of daylight in your area, Google daylength, the name of your town and the growing year. You will find charts that map out the daylength/hours of darkness by date. This can be a guide for understanding when to plant and when they will bloom. You can do the same for average temperature ranges. In colder climates, this can be a guide to determine when to plant.

Prep and Planting

Both Anemone and Ranunculus need to be pre-soaked for 2 hours before planting. Put them in a sink, in a bowl filled with water. Keep the faucet dripping slowly, letting the water overflow. This ensures that there is oxygen in the water while the corms are submerged. You can also submerge an aquarium stone in the water to add oxygen.

Once they have been soaked, you can pre-sprout them to ensure that the corm is viable or you can go ahead and plant them. I think it is easier just to plant them.  Make sure your soil drains well.

 To pre-sprout, put them in a flat of damp vermiculite or potting soil and keep them at 40-50F for two to three weeks. If you soak them and then leave them at 60 or above, they will rot since they stay dormant. The first year I tried to pre-sprout these, I did not take the 40-50F seriously and I ended up with a moldy mess!  Try a refrigerator if you don’t have a cool enough space outdoors. White roots will emerge and need to be handled carefully when planting.

Plant the corms 6 inches apart with two inches of soil under and one inch of soil over the corm. Anemones should be planted with the point down. Some have odd shapes. If you are not sure which is the pointy end, plant them on their side. Ranunculus need their legs down in the soil.

Anemone Corm 

  Ranunculus Tuber  

In Season Care

Water them well when they are planted and then do not water again until leaves appear. After the green leaves are visible, feed them with a water-soluble fertilizer once a week until the blooms appear. Stop feeding when the blooming begins.

Cover the plants when weather gets below freezing. If the leaves freeze but the roots are OK, the plant will come back.

Harvesting Your Anemone Blooms

Anemone open during the day and close at night. They should open more than once before cutting. Cut at the base of the stem, being careful not to cut newly emerging stems.

For the optimal cut, the collar should be about an inch from the base of the bloom.  In the photo below, the collar is the proper distance from the base of the bloom for cutting.

Harvesting Your Ranunculus Blooms

 Ranunculus petals open from a ball shaped bud. Let the blooms open about half way on the plant and cut the stem at the ground (see pink bloom example above). You can also cut the stem when the bud is colored and soft when squeezed (as shown) and it will open indoors . The second option is handy if rain or a late freeze is in the forecast and you don’t want to risk losing blooms to the weather.

 End of Season Care

 When the days turn warm and daylight gets to 13 hours, ranunculus and anemone will go dormant. Let the greenery die back naturally, cleaning up after they are yellowed. Leave the corms in place and they will come back when the conditions are right the next year!

Happy Growing,

Linda

Sources:

Growing for Market Magazine/ September 2021

https://www.gardenia.net/plant-variety/anemone-coronaria-poppy-anemone

https://www.gardendesign.com/flowers/ranunculus.html

https://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/collections/italian-anemones

Note: The first post in this series was about growing tulips in the south and was sent out on September 16 2023. https://www.purpletuteur.com/blog/2023/9/16/growing-tulips-in-the-south

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

Spring Blooming Bulbs - Growing Tulips in the South

The bulb shop is now open for pre-ordering your spring blooming bulbs.

Some of you asked for tulips that will work in our Zone 8 climate (or lower, not recommended for zones 9 or 10). So, we have added some pre-chilled tulip bulbs for you to the spring bulb sale.  Here is a re-post of a blog we did some time back.

Growing Tulips in the South

There is a trick to growing tulips in our warm Zone 8 climate. They need 10 – 14 weeks of chilly weather to prepare to bloom, which we just don’t get here. Fortunately, with a little special handling, you can be successful getting tulips to bloom at home.

Buying pre-chilled bulbs gives you a head start on the necessary chill time. Pre-chilled bulbs have been stored in a cooler for at least 6 weeks. The remaining 4 - 8 weeks can usually be accomplished naturally in our climate.

You can also buy tulip bulbs in the fall and leave them in a refrigerator for 8 – 10 weeks before you plant them, making sure to get rid of any soft or moldy bulbs. Planting them outside in early winter will give you enough natural chill time for spring blooms here. It also helps to plant them outside in a pot. The soil in a pot stays cooler than the ground.

Regarding care, tulips need a regular weekly drink of water, either from rain or hand watering. If you keep them partially shaded, the stems will be longer than if you plant them in full sun. Sudden swings in temperature (like what we experience in February and March) will hurry the blooms along, and you may still have a short stem 

Harvest the blooms when they are still closed but showing some color.  Pull the entire plant up, bulb and all. Tulips are effectively annuals here, so no need to leave the bulb behind. Trim the bulb off and put it in your compost bin along with any leaves that you want to remove. Rinse off all visible dirt.  Place the stems immediately in water.

When selecting a vase for your tulips, keep in mind that they will continue to elongate in the vase. Tulips are very sensitive to light and will bend toward it, so you may want to turn the vase occasionally to keep them more upright.

Happy growing,

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/spring-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.

Introducing Solidago Romantic Glory and Notes on Dahlia Care in the Heat

New Plant - Solidago Romantic Glory

We’re getting the first harvest of our new Solidago, called Romantic Glory (Asteraceae Solidago Romantic Glory). This is a great bouquet filler for this time of year. It can take the heat and is fairly drought tolerant. While many varieties of Solidago have a yellow bloom, this one is almost creamy. The flower is a bit larger than other varieties too and seems like a refined feverfew. Bred for cut flower production, it has strong stems. The plant grows about 4 ft tall and 2 ft wide. A perennial, we look forward to having this for several years to come.

Protecting dahlias in the heat

We added shade to our dahlias to protect them from the 100 F heat this weekend. We are also watering them daily to keep them well hydrated. If you have some growing in your garden, try to give them some cover this weekend. Next week’s temperatures are predicted to be back in the 80’s. Rain is in the forecast too. These are both wonderful improvements in conditions for the dahlias and they will respond well! Even with the heat, these are tough plants. If the heat has made the foliage yellow or wilted, just cut it back. The tuber will produce new, healthier growth as the weather cools. The best of dahlia season is yet to come.

Coming up

Fall Wreath Workshop

We still have room in our Fall Wreath Workshop on September 20.  If you would like to join us, please register online at www.purpletuteur.com Feel free to contact us with any questions.

fall bulb sale

Our Fall Bulb Shop will open for pre-orders on September 16th. This sale includes spring bloomers like anemone, ranunculus, daffodils and peony roots.   This year we are introducing U.S. shipping for our bulbs! So now you will be able to pick up at the farm or have them delivered to your door. Order fulfillment will begin in late October, the best time to plant spring blooming bulbs in the South.

Please stay hydrated this weekend!

Linda

August Farm Update

Catching Up!

We’ve enjoyed some time off over the past few weeks! If you follow us on Instagram @purpletuteur, you may have seen some of the photos/reels of our trip to Santa Fe to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. Time does fly! We enjoyed it all and I am blessed to have a great team at the farm that is able to keep things going without me. I am about caught up on things now…

Back on the Farm

As cooler temperatures approach, we are so ready to start up dahlia season! We planted out our tubers in June and they are just beginning to bloom. We’ve added several new (to us) varieties that we look forward to seeing and sharing along with some of the favorites from past seasons.

Fall Subscriptions Start Next Week

Next week we start up the fall subscription season.  The season is sold out. Thanks to all of you that signed up. We are looking forward to getting farm-fresh flowers to your door soon.

Upcoming Events

Fall Bulb Sale

For the gardeners in the group, we will have the spring bulb shop offerings online by September 16th.  This year we will be offering farm pick up and shipping! Orders will be filled and sent mid to late October. For those who want to pick up, we will have a few dates and times to choose from.

For those who are local, we will have a few garden plants available too. We are not able to ship these at this time.

Fall Wreath Workshop – Wednesday September 20th, 10 am to noon

Join us for a fun “get ready for fall” workshop at Purple Tuteur Farm. Learn how to build your own dried flower wreath. We’ll be using a grapevine wreath and beautifully dried flowers from Purple Tuteur Farm. Take yours home and hang it on a door or in a window, just in time for fall festivities. Sign up on the website www.purpletuteur.com/workshops

We are forever grateful for your interest and your support of our small farm. Thank you for all you do.

Cooler weather is on the way!

Linda

The Wellness Benefits of Flowers

If you are a regular reader of our blog, you love flowers and have probably experienced that lift that comes from fresh flowers. This goes beyond the visual charm. Research shows that flowers have the ability to also reduces stress, speed healing, enhance concentration, and improve mood.  Here is a recap of what the science community has to say about the wellness benefits of flowers. The links to the research papers are included in the underlined text below.

“1. Flowers Generate Happiness.  Having flowers around the home and office greatly improves people’s moods and reduces the likelihood of stress-related depression. Flowers and ornamental plants increase levels of positive energy and help people feel secure and relaxed. 

According to a 2005 study by professors from Rutgers and La Salle universities, flowers have “immediate and long-term effects on emotional reactions, mood, social behaviors, and even memory for both males and females.”

Keeping flowers around the home and in the workplace greatly reduces a person’s stress levels. Natural aesthetic beauty is soothing to people, and keeping ornamental flowers around the home environment is an excellent way to lower levels of stress and anxiety. People who keep flowers in their home feel happier, less stressed, and more relaxed. As a result of the positive energy they derive from the environment, the chances of suffering from stress-related depression are decreased as well. Overall, adding flowers to your home or work environment reduces your perceived stress levels and makes you feel more relaxed, secure, and happy. Flowers can help you achieve a more optimistic outlook on your life, bringing you both pleasing visual stimulation and helping you to increase your perceived happiness. (Brethour 2007, Collins 2008, Dunnet 2000, Etcoff 2007, Frank 2003, Haviland-Jones 2005, Hartig 2010, McFarland 2010, Rappe 2005, Waliczek 2000)”

“2. Accelerates Healing Process.  The presence of plants in hospital recovery rooms and/or views of aesthetically-pleasing gardens help patients to heal faster, due to the soothing affects of ornamental horticulture. 

Another study found that people recovering from surgery who have plants or flowers in their hospital room have better health outcomes and report lower feelings of pain, anxiety, and fatigue.

Shrubs, trees, and flowers have a practical application in hospitals: the presence of plants in patient recovery rooms greatly reduces the time necessary to heal. The soothing effects of ornamental flowers and plants are so great that simply having daily views of flowers and other ornamental plants in landscaped areas outside patient recovery room significantly speed up recovery time. Another technique to decrease recovery time is horticulture therapy, where patients care for and nurture plants themselves. Patients who physically interact with plants experience a significantly reduced recovery time after medical procedures. (Brethour 2007, Frank 2003, Friend 2008, Lohr 2000, Park, 2009, Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Assn. 2009, Ulrich 1984)”

“3. Reduce Stress. Studies show that people who spend time gardening have less stress in their lives. Plants soothe human beings and provide a positive way for people to channel their stress into nurturing.

 Participation in gardening and landscaping activities is an effective way to reduce levels of stress. Studies have shown that people who nurture plants and garden have less mental distress than others. Gardening provides people with a positive way to channel their stress and frustration into something beautiful that provides them with comfort and joy. Part of the effects of gardening come from the satisfaction people get from nurturing and helping a living thing grow. Plants and gardening soothe people because they help them turn their stressful feelings into something positive which gives them pleasure. By helping them transform their stress into a more positive emotion, gardening also gives people an excellent coping mechanism for their daily frustrations. Nurturing plants reduces stress levels and gives people a way to cope with their negative feelings. (Mitchell, 2008, Brethour 2007, Bringslimark 2007, Frank 2003, Kohlleppel 2002, McFarland 2010, Pohmer 2008, Ulrich 1991, Waliczek 2000)”

“Flowers lower stress levels and anxiety in people,” says Christine Capra, program manager at the Horticultural Therapy Institute in Denver. “Even stress levels related to depression are decreased by having flowers, whether it’s in your outdoor garden or in your home or going to visit a botanic garden.”

“4. Concentration and Memory. Being around plants helps people concentrate better in the home and workplace. Studies show that tasks performed while under the calming influence of nature are performed better and with greater accuracy, yielding a higher quality result. Moreover, being outside in a natural environment can improve memory performance and attention span by twenty percent. (Also part of the Rutgers study, noted above). 

Keeping ornamental plants in the home and in the workplace increases memory retention and concentration. The calming influence of natural environments is conducive to positive work environments by increasing a person’s ability to concentrate on the task at hand. Work performed under the natural influence of ornamental plants is normally of higher quality and completed with a much higher accuracy rate than work done in environments devoid of nature. Going outside or being under the influence of plants can increase memory retention up to twenty percent, a recent University of Michigan study showed (Sewach). The effect of nature in the home and in the workplace serves to stimulate both the senses and the mind, improving mental cognition and performance. (Bisco Werner 1996; Brethour 2007; Frank 2003; Pohmer 2008; Serwach 2008; Shibata, 2001, 2004; Yannick 2009)”

So, to sum it up, if you want to feel better or make someone else happier, get some flowers!

References

https://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/health-and-well-being-benefits-of-plants/

https://www.shondaland.com/live/body/a44131237/embrace-the-mental-health-benefits-of-flowers/

https://www.med.unc.edu/psych/cecmh/services/recovery-services/horticulture-therapy-program/

A Few Farm Updates:

We have just a couple of openings left in our late summer subscription service. Please sign up now so you will not be disappointed. Delivery starts the week of August 14th. www.purpletuteur.farm/subscriptions-information .

We are planning several events at the farm as the weather cools, so stay tuned.

Next up, for the gardeners in the group, we will have fall bulbs and tubers available to order from our website for you to plant in your gardens.

Best,

Linda

This Blueberry Season Make Some Blueberry Basil Sorbet

We grow blueberries at the farm, though not enough to sell. Some years, when the late freeze hits while the bushes are blooming, we get very few berries. Other years, like this one, the bushes are full of berries.  When we have a good year and the berries are plentiful, I like to make Blueberry Basil Sorbet.

Years ago, I first tasted this delicious desert at Ristorante Divino in Columbia. (The restaurant has since closed). While this is not their recipe, it tastes very much like the refreshing end to the meal I had there.

If you don’t have your own blueberries to harvest, the season was good here in Columbia and there are many available to purchase.  You may even want to visit Dolce Vita Farms in Eastover to harvest your own.

(https://www.facebook.com/dolcevitafarm/)

If all else fails, or blueberries are out of season, you can use frozen blueberries.

 Ingredients (makes about 1 quart)

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup water

Pinch of Kosher salt

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

½ cup fresh basil leaves (be sure that the stems have not started to bloom, as this can make the basil taste bitter)

¼ cup prosecco

1 teaspoon lemon juice

3 pints fresh blueberries (frozen berries will also work)

Step 1

Combine water, sugar, salt and vinegar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat, add the basil leaves and simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let syrup steep for 30 minutes. Pour the syrup through a sieve to remove the basil solids.

Step 2

Puree the blueberries in a food processor. (Pour them through a sieve to remove any solids if you prefer a smooth texture). Add the syrup, prosecco, lemon juice to the berries and blend everything together.

 Step 3

Pour the final solution into an ice cream maker and churn until solid.

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, https://www.purpletuteur.com/workshops

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!

https://www.columbiagreen.org/2023-festival-of-gardens

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

Behind the Scenes - Our Winter Peony Project

New Peony Project

              This past winter we added another 40 peony plants to our supply. I selected two new (to us) varieties to include more colors, yellow and white. Both Sunny Girl and Duchess de Nemours are early blooming varieties. Early blooming is a requirement in the Columbia area and all zone 8 regions. They bloom before the end of May, when the warmth makes them go dormant.

We plant bare roots, so they won’t be productive until their third bloom season. They are far more affordable than potted plants and transplant easily. Bigger roots produce more flowers sooner, but they will all produce by the third year. The one shown is Sunny Girl and they are huge. They are priced accordingly.

Sunny Girl

Duchess de Nemours

Peony Bare Root

 We use raised beds for our peonies. Peonies need cool weather to grow properly. Planting them in a raised bed keeps them cooler since the air can chill the above ground soil better than planting in the ground. The beds are in full sun.

 A raised bed can be made with mounded dirt and no boards, but we use these for ease of harvest. If you are planting these at home, you can use a pot (at least 24” in diameter). If you have a retaining wall, the soil behind it is elevated too, making it a good spot.

We had a week to get this done to beat three days of rain that would have made it much more difficult.  The first day we got the supplies to the farm. The second day we built the frames. They are set right on the grass since the soil will smother it. We put hardware cloth in the bottom of the beds to deter moles and voles.

The next effort was to fill the beds with soil. We mixed topsoil and mushroom compost together. Any compost with pine bark (most of them) should be avoided. The bark carries something that the peonies are vulnerable to. Mushroom compost works well. The fertilizers were also mixed into the soil at this point. This part took two days.

The last day’s effort included laying the irrigation, planting the roots and mulching. In our climate, the roots need to be planted just one inch below the top of the soil. This will also help keep the plants cool. We mulch with coastal hay. This forms a weed barrier and breaks down easily, providing a little nutrition to the soil. 

Building the raised bed

Raised beds done!

Filling the beds with soil

Completed! Planted, irrigation set up and mulch added

Whew! We made it before the rain. Now, the test of patience before they bloom. Green plants will come up this spring. They may even have a bud or two on them. We will pinch them off. The goal is the get the best root system established before they really put a lot of energy into blooms. This will result in a much stronger plant. Since they can live for 30 years, it is important to give them a good start.

If you are growing peonies, I would love to hear how you care for them.

On the Farm - This is Columbine

As the weather is warming, we are beginning to see a shift in what is growing at the farm. The ranunculus and anemone are slowing down but the hardy annuals and the biennials are picking up steam. Next up is Columbine.

Columbine (Aquilegia spp) is technically a perennial but it is a short lived one, so we treat it more like a biennial. Biennials are a group of flowering plants that have a two-year life cycle. The first year, they develop their vegetative growth. The second year they produce flowers. 

This bed of Columbine was planted two years ago. The green growth was very lush the first year. The second year, it produced minimal flowers on very healthy plants. This year, the third year, the stems are coming on strong, so we expect to see a good flush of blooms this year.

With the time involved to grow this and our shorter and shorter attention spans, I would not be surprised if you have never seen it.  It is a really unique flower with its sculptural blooms. The bloom reminds me of a bird’s head.

We grow a long-stemmed variety that is suitable for cut flowers called McKana Giants Mix. It includes a mix of colors including blue, red and yellow.  It can be grown from seed but we buy plugs (small started plants) to save time. I don’t recommend this for beginners since it doesn’t give the encouragement of fast blooms. For those who are seasoned gardeners, you may want to give it a try.

Happy Spring,

Linda

P.S. If you are ready to get your hands in the dirt, we have a few more beautiful lily bulbs available. Thanks to all who have already ordered.  http://www.purpletuteur.com

Growing Lilies in the Midlands

March is a weather challenge for farmers and gardeners alike. Fluctuating temperatures keep us on our toes as we cover and uncover tender plants. While it is extra work, I don’t mind because we still have ranunculus, poppies and anemone until the daytime temperatures are consistently above 70.

In addition to the weather dance, we also plan and plant for summer. We start summer seeds and plant bulbs for summer between now and mid- April. Most varieties take about 90 days to bloom so we are starting things now that will bloom in June and July.

One garden favorite is lilies.  We have a good selection of lilies this year and I am wondering if some of you would like to purchase some of these large Oriental bulbs for your own gardens. We have a limited supply to offer.

Growing Conditions for Lilies

Lilies are relatively easy to grow and make a great visual statement in the garden. Find a spot that is sheltered from the wind and has afternoon shade. They can also be very successfully grown in pots, allowing you to move them to the light or shade as needed.

As with all bulbs, they need soil that is rich and drains well so that they don’t rot. Plant them 8 – 12 inches apart in the garden or no more than 3 per 16” pot. Water regularly but not heavily. Plant them 3 times to a depth equal to three times the height of the bulb. Our warm climate favors a little deeper planting.

During the season, the lily plants will get tall. You can stake them or plant them between shrubs that will provide support.  Blooms can be left in the garden to admire or cut to bring into the house to enjoy. After bloom, remove any spent flowers and slow the watering. Leave the stalks to do their photosynthesis activity and strengthen the bulb for next year’s blooms. The stalks can be removed when they are brown.

Early each spring, side dress the bulbs with a balanced fertilizer. Mulch the plants with a light layer of leaves or compost.

Bulb Sale Information

 In order to encourage people to get them planted at the optimal time, we are going to limit the window of the sale to two weeks. We will be posting the information on our website starting on Friday 3/24 until Friday 4/7.  You will be able to order for pick up or local delivery if you are interested. (Sorry, we are not shipping yet but getting closer).  These bulbs should be planted as soon as they are received, for bloom in late June or July. These are varieties that will bloom for years to come in your garden.

 Here are the three varieties that we will be offering. Do you have other favorites?

Zelmyra

Tigermoon

Pink Zsar

There is more information about these and other spring bulbs on our website, www.purpletuteur.com.

 Happy Spring!

Linda

Here Comes Spring!

With the unusually warm weather we’ve been having, some flowers started to bloom earlier than normal, giving us a welcome jumpstart into spring. We started our Early Spring subscription deliveries the last week of February which is a week ahead of plan.  Mother Nature has her reasons.

We’re busy getting the last of our winter projects done so that as the volume of flowers increases, we can stay focused on getting the flowers out of the field and into your hands.

This winter we did a lot of maintenance on the raised beds, added a new peony bed (more on that in a future post) and prepared some new beds for new plantings. We divided our Tuberose and dahlia tubers. We expect to have some of these tubers available in our summer bulb sale, a new offering for us. Date is still tbd, but we will mention it in this newsletter first.

On the farm Tulips, Poppies, Anemone, Ranunculus, Hellebore, Delphinium and Narcissus are in bloom.  The hardy annuals are also on the verge. The peonies won’t be far behind!

If you didn’t get signed up for our Early Spring subscription, we still have space available in our Spring to Summer and Summer to Fall offerings. You can sign up on our website. If you don’t like the internet world and would rather not order that way, contact me and we will work it out.

Amaryllis Care

Not sure what to do with your Amaryllis after it has bloomed?  Keep it going with light watering until September. Check out this blog post for what to do to get it to bloom again. https://www.purpletuteur.com/blog/2021/9/10/want-your-amaryllis-to-bloom-for-the-holidays-easy-as-123

Anemones and Ranunculus Harvesting Tips

For those growing anemone and/or ranunculus corms, if you got them planted by November, you should be seeing growth now. (If you didn’t get them in the ground, you can keep them in the paper bag on a closet shelf until next November. They will hold if they are kept dry and cool.

Anemones tend to come up first. The first stems are short and they get longer with each cutting. The flowers open during the day and close at night. They need to do this a few times before they are ready to harvest. The best time to cut them is when the collar, which is just below the bloom, moves about an inch away from the bloom.

Ranunculus also start a bit short and get taller as the season progresses. They should be harvested (ideally) when the bud is colored and soft as a marshmallow.

 That’s it for now! We continue to be grateful to all of you for your support of our small farm.  We couldn’t do it without you. We look forward to bringing you bundles of joy (the kind that don’t need college tuition) through out the year. Many many thanks.

Update on Our Fall Plantings

I am happy to report that the fall plantings are coming along very well. Everything has recovered from the December deep freeze and we’re seeing the first buds and blooms on the earliest varieties. March is only 34 days away and by then we should be cutting ranunculus, tulips, narcissus, poppies and anemone for our early spring bouquets.

Here are a few examples of how things look now and how they will look soon (based on last year’s activity). I hope this brightens your day! Linda

The anemones have started to bloom! They start with very short stems but after cutting a couple of times they get long enough to use in bouquets. The left photo is from last week. The other two are from last year, after they get further along.

This is a poppy in bud in our hoop house this year (left). Poppies are one of the earliest things to bloom at the farm. We grow an Italian variety that has extra-long stems and larger flowers. We plant pastel colors that we like to have in Spring.

Our crate-grown tulips are really coming along. Most of these will bloom in March but some in April too. The one shown is Apricot Impression from last year. It is among the first to bloom. We’re growing some new varieties this year, so I don’t have pictures of everything.

The delphinium is also coming along well. The left photo is the hoop house this January. The two on the right are from last year and show where we are headed! This usually starts to bloom in the second half of March.

The campanula looks great this year. It likes cold weather. This one will bloom in April, and what a show! The left photo is this year. The 2 blooms photos are from last year. Campanula is best grown under cover. The bell shaped flowers capture all the rain and it can be damaging to the blooms.

Come on Spring!

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