Floret Flower Farm

digging in

2012-01-27T10:20:00.000-08:00

With the Year of the Dragon finally upon us I’m slowlysettling into a new rhythm and a new approach. From New Years day through tothis week, I’ve been preparing myself for the shift. Cleaning out old spaces,old memories, painting over the past and transforming what has always been intosomething that finally feels like ME.

How is it that I’ve lived with things that are so unworkableand so depleting without pausing long enough to really take notice or changethem?

Years have gone by and I’ve just resigned myself to “the waythings are” as if they are solid and unchangeable. It’s funny how something assimple as painting or purging a space can shed light on negative patterns atplay in your life. If I’m taking this approach in simple areas like my home orbusiness, where else have I resigned myself to living with what is, rather thancreating what I want?

Some weeks back we had a bonfire and burned much of thepast. So many things that have caused pain and sadness were being stored in ourhome. Why on earth have I been holding onto such poison and for so, very, long?Into the fire it went.

What an amazingsensation, seeing all of it burn up and disappear.

There is still a little more to go but not a lot. Anotherweekend of digging in and sorting and I think we’ll be close. From now on Ionly want to be surrounded by things that bring me joy or inspiration,happiness or laughter. No more darknessor regret.

While we are doing this purging on a physical level, I’m alsodigging into these same patterns inside myself. Negative beliefs, a rottenattitude, it’s all up for review. While it’s exhausting work all around, Icertainly feel lighter and more myself.

So, with Einstein’s Insanity definition in mind,

“doing the samething over and over again and expecting different results”

I’m really workingto approach things from a fresh perspective in this New Year.

2012-01-24T10:13:00.000-08:00

I spent sometime over the weekend adding a whole batch of images to my Flickr account.

Seeing all of the abundance makes my heart ache a little for summer.

This baby smelled divine!

Loaded full with: antique garden roses, sweet pea flowers and foliage, astrantia, raspberries, cerinthe and peonies. Yum!

P.S. If you are in need of a little inspiration, read this fantastic piece by The Organic Sister on authenticity. She nails it!

yellow

2012-01-20T09:45:00.000-08:00

Well, my hard drive has finally rebelled. Being so stuffed full, it's finally unwilling to accept even one more uploaded picture. Drat, I thought I could outsmart it for another few weeks!

Since July I've imported more than 11,000 photos. For every beauty there are at least 50 duds. I obviously air on the side of quantity to ensure a bit of quality ; )

With Washington in a state of a panic over the recent snow (the news is calling it "snowpocalypse". no I am not kidding) I have been happily using this quiet time to paint every surface in sight. The kitchen, hall and my bedroom are now all warm shades of yellow. Woohoo! So, until I can make it into town to upgrade my gear, we'll have to suffer through some flowery photos from the summer.

This bouquet is one of my favorites from early summer. Those Peonies were freaking to die for gorgeous and so massive. At first I was scared to use them! Sadly I don't know the name of the variety since Geraldine brought me 8 different whites to work with.

When I finally get my farm, with acres and acres of open land, I'm planting 100ft of this beauty!

not sure what was going on with that dorky yellow ribbon. it was later replaced with some vintage French beauties from my stash.

Everything else was from the garden. I still can't get over what beautiful abundance I get to work with during the season. While it's an ass kicker to grow it all, I still feel absolutely spoiled every single time I go out to harvest.

This whopper includes: Peonies (mystery white), Aruncus (goats beard), Valerian, Icelandic Poppies, Digitalis (foxglove), Raspberry foliage with immature fruit, Rosa multiflora, Lonicera tartarica (bush honeysuckle), Lonicera Americana ( common honeysuckle vine), Aquilega 'McKana Hybrids' (large flowered columbine) and Alchemilla mollis (lady's mantle).

snow day

2012-01-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

It's coming down hard here and a whopping wind/snow storm is predicted for tonight.

The roads were super slick this morning so Chris is home, keeping the greenhouses swept clean of heavy, wet snow.

Talk about a serious workout!

The baby seedlings are all snuggled up on their heat mats with layer of frost cloth keeping them toasty warm.

Hissy the duck is becoming meaner by the day. His darling partner is hoarding a clutch of eggs and seriously pondering motherhood, so this big fella is standing guard in the coop.While I'm all for being a gentleman, this guy better chill out or he's going on a long drive ; )

The Spice Girls are in full swing now, cranking out a massive amount of eggs everyday. More than we can eat so there are plenty to share.

I've gotta say, life is pretty darn good.

what a week

2012-01-12T11:19:00.000-08:00

Oh my, it sure has been busy around here !

Greenhouse building is in full swing. It's finally starting to look like a "real" operation !

The kids have been in on the action too. While all of these harebrained projects Chris and I keep adding in can get pretty tedious, they've both kept really great attitudes, so far : )

Baby spring flowers are up and growing in their new homes. Here a bed of 'Super Green' Ranunculus stretch to meet the sun.

As usual the kitties are being VERY helpful ; )

the middle of heaven

2012-01-05T18:50:00.000-08:00

You know, sometimes I swear I live smack dab in the middleof heaven. Just a little stretch off themain road and the sky opens up with green and brown fields stretching out as far asthe eye can see.

It’s hard to believe that this valley was once a thick, lushforest. Tree stumps so immense that they would often hold “stump dances” on topand later turn them into cabins for the settlers. Using only axes, hand sawsand horses, this wide valley was cut clean.

It also flooded heavily every year. With shovels and horsedrawn wagons, the settlers built dikes surrounding the entire valley so theycould set up homesteads and begin farming.

I have spent so manyhours at our local museum, just staring into the faces of all of thoseincredibly brave souls that somehow tamed this once wild place.

the kids collecting garbage alone the road.

Jasper was determined to get "every last can" and ended up smelling like a bar by the time we returned home

While the loss of such abundance is hard to be at peace with,I am so very grateful that they left me a spot of clear, fertile ground to growmy life on.

Without them, none of this would be.

an old favorite

2012-01-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER

I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, I would limber up.I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, And if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

I've been one of those people who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.

Nadine Stair, 85 years old

Unplugged

2012-01-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

Unplugging over the last week has been amazing. To my embarrassment the first few days were actually quite a struggle. Whenever I felt bored or restless I would habitually migrate over to the computer, hoping to bleed off some of the discomfort by checking in on what others were doing out in the big wide world. In the long stretch of quiet, I realized how much I've been looking outside myself for validation, entertainment, inspiration and meaning. Yuck.

As the quiet days progressed I could again hear my own voice. Every day it got louder and took up more space, which in turn pushed out all of the other unnecessary chatter and noise. Chris and the kids commented so many times on how much nicer it was that I was present and here rather than on the computer all of the time. How humiliating really.

Instead of checking Twitter and surfing blogs I read a stack of books, journaled, walked for hours with the kids and sewed a pair of curtains. I participated fully in my life.

While technology can be such a gift, it can just as easily become a curse too. I don't want to be hiding in the bleachers, watching others live extraordinary lives because I'm afraid of looking or feeling foolish. I want to be living full out and as true to myself as possible. Ultimately "the world out there" would have little to no impact on my decisions or direction.

So the question I'm really wrestling with is how I can straddle both worlds without losing myself. How can I be connected without falling into the viscous cycle of comparing and measuring myself against others and always feeling as though I come up short? How can I be MYSELF fully and completely?

On another note, the unexpected flowers did not go to waste. I had a quiet little photoshoot of my own. Steven was a big help of course : )

Victoria Magazine !!!!!

2012-01-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

This is absolutely the best start to the New Year ever!!!

see you on the other side

2011-12-23T20:49:00.000-08:00

This week Tara Wagner aka The Organic Sister put out a big ole double dog dare on unplugging and recharging over the holidays. She's named it the Holiday Reset Challenge and I've decided to play along. So, through January 2nd. I'm turning off the computer and spending these magical, dark days working to get grounded and clear for the new year. I wish you all a wonderful holiday and I'll see you on the other side!

unexpected

2011-12-22T19:20:00.000-08:00

a photo shoot scheduled for early next week was postponed yesterday, just hours after these beauties arrived.

looks like i'll have to suffer through and enjoy them myself ; )

rose bounty courtesy of the best growers around, Peterkort in Oregon.

my partner in crime

2011-12-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

this guy sure makes mundane projects like building a greenhouse fun!

all set

2011-12-18T19:17:00.000-08:00

the posts are all set and concreted in. pheew!

here we go again

2011-12-17T20:10:00.002-08:00

Unplanned greenhouse #5 is now underway. Toyed with the idea of finally having a heated propagation/forcing house on Wednesday afternoon and by 9a.m.Thursday morning the sucker was in our driveway. Feels like life is moving in fast motion these days.

Chris is pretty excited about finally having a proper set up for all of our babies.

that's a wrap

2011-12-17T20:10:00.000-08:00

last wedding of 2011

bridal bouquet, shot last night at dusk.

smelled like heaven : )

done.

2011-12-16T08:19:00.000-08:00

Just sent off my article for the Jan. issue of Growing For Market. We'll be diving into the nitty gritty of homemade hoophouses and how they can help growers access more control. Detailed plans on two sizes, one little and one medium. Both affordable. There should be something for everyone :)

a little favor

2011-12-14T19:52:00.001-08:00

Hershey bar snowmen,handmade by Louise.

My 82 year old neighbor and long time friend Louise recently got some bad news about her health. For a woman who charges through life taking no prisoners, slowing down and receiving support has been quite disorienting. I see a lot of myself in her. As she now challenges her old way of navigating the world I know in my heart what a difficult process it must be. Asking for help can be brutal.

I got my first "Louise hug" last night. I've know Louise for almost 10 years and in that time I have not hugged her once. Not even when her husband died. I gotta say, it was one of the best hugs of my life. So full of sweetness and love, a lifetimes worth really, finally being released.

Louise starts her first round of chemo today. She's putting on a brave face but I know behind the tough front she's as terrified as anyone in her situation.

I wondered if you all might take a minute today and send Louise some good energy. A wave of love, healing thoughts, a prayer. She could really use it.

my little helper

2011-12-14T08:41:00.000-08:00


Steven helping me sort through new (yes more) greenhouse plans.

a little bit of holiday magic

2011-12-12T17:40:00.000-08:00

Alchemy

2011-12-12T02:00:00.000-08:00

pouring bucket after bucket of fish guts onto the compost pile; not for the faint of heart.

A friend recently suggested that I don't show enough of the raw, nitty gritty, behind the scenes action that goes into growing all of the beauty here on the farm. I argued that some of what we do is so gnarly, it might actually scare people away. She held fast to her opinion, finally daring me to show our newest and possibly ugliest passion.

Composting...ahem....fish waste.

Well I'm a sucker for a good dare, so, here we go.

Columbine harvest this spring.Many stems reached 4ft.

In order to get really amazing flower crops, we put a lot of effort into creating the healthiest environment possible. Starting with the soil we add in loads of rich compost, minerals and microorganisms so each plant can grow to its healthiest potential.
This season after failing to get our compost piles hot enough we started experimenting with different types of nitrogen.

Horse manure, while readily available, just didn't give us enough heat. Neither did our chicken coop bedding, grass clipping or garden scraps.

Finally after much digging, we found something with enough kick for the job. Fish guts!

spreading fish guts is totally gross but it sure does make you feel like a bad ass.

You know you're a nerd when you Google "how to compost fish waste" and spend mornings calling every seafood processing company within 100 miles asking to speak with their manager about the possibility of hauling away their "leftovers"!

Finally after a dozen unsuccessful tries I found a processing plant that would hear me out. While it did take a bit of explaining, the manager finally agreed. The looks on the employees faces when we pulled away was priceless! You could tell they were totally mystified.

Chris flinging fish guts, heads and tails onto the pile

Once we had a direct line on a strong nitrogen source we then started scouting the neighborhood for additional ingredients. While our farm produces quite a bit of bulk it wasn't nearly enough to satisfy this new en devour. In order to balance out multiple tons of fish sludge we needed to quadruple or even quintuple our stock.
Two massive piles of horse manure, a truck load of leaves, 15 bales of rotten hay and 11 heaping truck loads of weeds later we were in business.

Layering (over and over) fresh green stems/stalks/leaves with lots of dry brown material and then a thick layer of fish we made a 75 ft. long windrow of yumminess.

In my composting notes I wrote:
BE SURE TO SPREAD THE FISH IMMEDIATELY,EVEN IF IT'S AFTER DARK! THE LONGER YOU WAIT, THE MORE STRONG IT SMELLS!

Holy smokes did it reek! Especially when I put off the dreaded task of emptying the bin for 2 days during a warm week in September. I certainly learned my lesson on procrastinating ;)

'Winter Sunshine' Sweet Peas from the greenhouse.

It amazes me that something so disgusting can be transformed and ultimately support and nurture such beauty.

June sweet pea harvest.

The definition of Alchemy perfectly describes what I've witnessed: "The magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance of great value."

Only two days after we layered all of the ingredients together, the pile was hovering at a whopping 165*!!

For proper hot composting you want to get your pile heated up to 158-180* and then turn it every three days, incorporating all of the ingredients thoroughly throughout the pile. That way all of the pathogens and weed seeds can be killed by the high temperatures.

We expected that on the first few turns it would be an absolutely disgusting experience, with hunks of rotting fish, maggots and lots of smell.
Ok, this is the craziest part. After just 3 days of cooking, we couldn't find a trace of the fish anywhere. Entire heads, spines, tails....gone, completely vanished.

Chris turning the pile after work

The pile has been simmering out in the back field for a few months now. By February it will make its way into our potting soil mix, the greenhouses and new planting beds.Taking something that would have otherwise been wasted or potentially toxic and transforming it into a life giving and enhancing form is so incredibly inspiring.

So, there you have it. Reincarnation at its finest and the truth behind the beauty here at Floret .

the pile as of this week.slowly simmering and waiting for spring when it will reincarnate into an abundance of flowers :)

pretty dang excited

2011-12-11T18:33:00.000-08:00

Getting our tree is definitely the best part of the holiday season!

Anemone madness

2011-12-11T08:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was spent planting.Well over a thousand tiny baby Anemones were snuggled into the cool soil. Hard to believe that those little corms will likely produce 10 or more flowering stems. Nature is freaking amazing!

Friday project

2011-12-11T08:33:00.000-08:00

Filling up the new greenhouses with lots of wonderfulness for spring!

500 'Super Green' Ranunculus tucked safely into their beds :)

pansy

2011-12-08T07:34:00.000-08:00

Can't get my photos to upload off the camera, so a little dose of June bridal love will have to do for today. I found that fat Pansy hiding in a patch of Queen Anne's Lace and just couldn't resist tucking him into the mix.

happy girls

2011-12-07T08:20:00.000-08:00

Our little flock of ladies sure seems happy these days! We are now being rewarded with a handful of eggs each afternoon.Over the past month their yard has been filled with truck loads of goodness including moldy straw,horse manure,leaves,grass clippings, weeds and a daily offering of feed and kitchen scraps.With so many "yummy" things to dig through and explore these girls are in heaven.

oh baby,baby

2011-12-06T00:12:00.000-08:00

It's hard to see, but running alongside those orange strings are rows of little baby seedlings that I sowed this fall .Larkspur,queen anne's lace,bupleurum,love in the mist ,bachelor buttons... all hanging tight, rooting in and waiting patiently for spring.

complete

2011-12-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

time to get busy and start planting

puuuuuuulllll!

2011-12-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

greenhouse #4 finally got its plastic cover on.
hip hip hooray!

gathering

2011-12-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

A single light bulb and a little extra lovin did the trick :)

latest inspiration

2011-12-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

Last winter I stumbled onto a really cool idea called The December Photo Project through Sara Janssen's blog, Walk Slowly Live Wildly. I discovered it too late in the game to join in but watched eagerly from the sidelines promising myself I'd participate the following year. Well, December's here and I'm only a day late getting started ,so game on people! If you follow the link above you can get all of the details and join in the fun too.

During the past few weeks of much needed silence/recharge/down time I have been finding great comfort and inspiration from a handful of places:

Amanda Blake Soule's blog, Soule Mama, is the first thing I read every morning. The intentionality in which she navigates her days is so very inspiring. Her sharing makes me want to be a better person! In addition to her wonderful blog, Amanda has a also written three fantastic books. Her latest titled The Rhythm Of Family (co written with her husband Steve) spans an entire calendar year.Filled with ideas,crafts,beautifully written essays and lovely photos this little book is a true gift for anyone wanting to slow down and connect in a deeper way with their family, self and the seasons.

I am half way through another fantastic book,Radical Homemakers: reclaiming domesticity from a consumer culture by Shannon Hayes. Initially I was put off by the title and even though I've checked it out from our local library twice I never did crack the cover. My first impression was way off base and this gem of a book is definitely a life changer.It is literally covering every deep nagging issue I've had in my heart about parenting,partnership and building a more authentic life. A must read if you're similarly discontent!

My other favorite web stop these days is over at Knitting Iris' Flickr page.She lives in rural Montana and shares her beautiful, full days of raising chickens, a bountiful garden,homeschooling her two boys with lots of cooking, canning,preserving, quilting and knitting mixed in too. Since rediscovering her inspiring world last month I have: started a quilt, canned a huge batch of applesauce, baked quite often, cooked dinner every.single.night(wow!), made plans for a massive vegetable garden and set up a seasonal mantle. This lady inspires me into some serious action!

the dark

2011-12-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

When I give my creative spirit a space to grope in the dark, in the unfamiliar, my spirit is able to expand, breathe and grow. All creation starts in the dark, and most of us grew up afraid of the dark. But as creative beings, we must venture back to the dark. We must carve out time to be quiet and listen to the whispering utterances of things that cannot be heard in the day to day noise we live in.

~Me Ra Koh

*This quote, pulled from an incredibly moving and inspiring interview with author and photographer Me Ra Koh, has been my north star the past few weeks.

haunting to the core

2011-11-25T08:35:00.000-08:00

My Brightest Diamond | I Have Never Loved Someone | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

spice girls, alive and well

2011-11-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

These beauties while thriving and eating very heartily, haven't been laying any eggs at all.Not a single brown orb in 3 weeks!

It's so strange to have eggs on the grocery list and chicken food on the feed store list.

Ha! I do feel a bit foolish.

I am hoping that after all of the girls have molted (lost and regrown a new batch of feathers), they adjust to their new gourmet soy free 100% organic feed so lovingly created by Scratch and Peck Feeds and we suspend a light in their coop egg production will resume.

During this sad eggless time I have been trying everything I can think of to make them happy. From wheelbarrow loads of bug eaten apples and pears, to bags of leaf mold crawling with red wiggler worms, bowls and bowls of kitchen scraps and oyster shell, kelp meal and cracked corn. Hopefully this royal treatment will win them over and we'll be eating fresh omelets once again :)

Ha,ha, don't they looked kind mean?! Chickens, what strange creatures.

my true love, Sno Ho Doris

2011-10-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

What a terrible name for such a beautiful Dahlia! Sno Ho Doris embodies every wonderful trait you can hope for. She's healthy, extremely productive,has tall strong stems and is the loveliest shade of peachy pink that everyone swoons over. If you have the space surely give this beauty a prominent spot in your garden :)

Here in the states tubers can be found at Dan's Dahlias.

keeping promises

2011-10-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

During the busy season the kids and I spent hours and hours daydreaming about all of the homey things we wanted to do when life finally slowed down. We talked of trips to the mountains to find snow, painting our dreary dingy kitchen, crafting, going to the library as often as possible (ideally 2-3 x week), reading by the fire, having family dinner every night and making applesauce.

I haven't pulled out any of the canning supplies since Jasper was a baby so he has no memory of steamy windows, long days going back and forth between boiling pots, the sweetly scented air and rows and rows of freshly filled jars. He's been wanting to can something, anything, for a really long time.

So finally after a very long wait we found ourselves with some time again. Enough time to spend an afternoon gleaning boxes of apples from neighboring gardens and an abandoned farm!

Since the fruit came off some very neglected trees we had to work a bit harder coring out bug damage and cutting away bruises.It actually made the process richer knowing that we were transforming fruit that would have gone to waste into something we will treasure all winter long.

If you are ever making applesauce, using a Squeezo is definitely the way to go! I inherited this dream machine from my Mom shortly after the kiddos were born. As far back as I can recall we spent a long day every fall putting up sauce. My sister and I were charged with operating the smasher and crank. The most exciting job of all! What fun to pass the torch onto my own kiddos.

The great thing about the Squeezo is that it separates everything for you. After quartering the apples, steaming them on the stove until soft you just dump the hot contents into the funnel and turn the crank.

Out of one side flows warm shiny sauce and out of the other cores, seeds, skins and stems.

A friend stopped by while we were working and talked about using a peeler, coring the apples and then using a sieve. Oh my gosh. Canning is already quite the undertaking, especially with little ones. I can't imagine having to do all of the extra steps!

My job was to keep everything else going. Apples chopped, pots on the stove simmering, watching the water bath, filling jars.... after orchestrating weddings this felt quite relaxing ;)

Steven was a big help too! We watched everyone bustle about from his safe perch a top the cat scratch tree venturing down occasionally to examine dropped apples and fallen lids.He's definitely a keeper!
Voila! our finished product.An entire shelf full of gold.

Bare Mountain Flowers

2011-10-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

After a mad dash last week to get the garden put to bed, the dahlias dug and cover crop in Chris and I headed south to Oregon for a long weekend. Ahhhh, what a treat to get away for a few days!

Our first stint away from home since January, we both basked in the silence and space of the open road.It was the perfect way to celebrate the close of such an abundant and crazy season.

For the past few years I have been writing back and forth with Denise and Tony Gaetz of Bare Mountain Flowers. Longing for the day when I could meet them in person my wish finally came true!

Chris and Tony Gaetz admiring the young crop of Ranunculus.

Tony has devised some very clever mini hoophouses that he uses to extend their growing season. Economical, sturdy,simple and quick to assemble these hoops are the perfect tool on any small farm.I will be sharing some of his tips and tricks in the next issue of Growing For Market.

Chris and I have been wanting to add this system into our farm mix for awhile but were a bit too intimidated to make the leap without in person instruction first. Luckily Denise and Tony were open to a hands on field day!

a mini hoop full of biennials awaiting cover

I am often humbled by the generosity of growers who so willingly share their successes and failures with us. Denise and Tony were no exception and truly went above and beyond to host us! Not only did they set up a full day of hands on instruction, they also answered hundreds of questions, shared stories and lessons from their business and fed us two amazing meals.

Tony Gaetz and Chris admiring their work :)

the farm at dusk.

On the drive home we scribbled pages and pages of notes, planned, calculated, argued and daydreamed about how we will take all of these new ideas and improve our production next year. My head is still swimming!

The more I connect and share ideas with others, the more I see that the traditional way of holding ones gifts close for fear that another might benefit from our "secrets" is no way to live. By risking a little, we gain so much.

Denise and Tony, thank you so much for opening your home and life up to us! You've certainly changed our life for the better!!!

1.4 lbs. of sweetness

2011-10-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

This little guy found his way into our care earlier in the week. After being rescued from a planter box near a busy street he was pretty traumatized and scared.But after a little chill time, some food and lots of kiddo love he is now thriving! Weighing in at 1.4lbs, he is the tiniest bundle of sweetness ever. The kids finally settled on his name, Steven.

Gathering

2011-10-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

been using some of this new found time to wander, drink in fall and gather a bit of its spilling over abundance so that the magic can remain with me all winter long...

flowers for a foodie wedding

2011-10-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

We did flowers for the coolest food inspired wedding last weekend. The bride and groom were both adamant that the florals were local,seasonal and included as many edibles as possible. What a blast!

The brides bouquet included:Raspberries, Chilies,Nasturtiums,Mint,Parsley,Blackberries,Crabapples,Rosehips and Pea tendrils in addition to her flowers.

The groom sported a bout containing: Chilies, Rosehips,Summer Savory and Blackberries.

finding my way back

2011-10-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

Fall is finally here.There's no denying it any longer. With the change of the season, a slower pace has finally returned to our little world. The past week has included family dinners,evening fires, talking over coffee in the morning, composting,a fair amount of staring out the window,cleaning up the garden and planning for next spring.The typical frantic hustle has begun to fade.

Bouquet Includes: Rose Caramel Antique, Dahlias,Persian Carpet Zinnias,Crabapples, Rosehips,Raspberries,Grapes,Fennel,Scented Geraniums,Basil,Blackberries,Amur Maple Leaves,Black Elderberries and Peppermint.All ingredients, minus the garden roses from our garden :)

Although this time has been long awaited, the transition is proving to be far more difficult than I imagined. The presence of space is so foreign and in it I feel so very out of sync. I know that eventually I will find my way back into being, here, now.......but currently I feel completely lost

2 great things

2011-09-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

#1 Kate Holt from Flowerwild has just announced she is doing another series of workshops. This time Seattle is on the list. Woohoo! I have been trying to get to one of her classes for over a year now so it's really a dream come true. Be sure to pop over and see if Kate's coming to a town near you :)

#2 Amy Merrick from An Apple A Day is starting a new twice monthly flower column on Design Sponge.Her first post is on Dahlias and get ready for a total beauty overload.Absolutely stunning!

Sweet

2011-09-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we delivered flowers to the sweetest little wedding ever!

Sweetest bride, sweetest venue,sweetest flower selection, sweetest color pallet...

The entire process was such a joy!

on the home stretch

2011-09-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

With one of the wettest springs on record coupled with a summer that almost didn't arrive, the latest stretch of sun and warmth has been a treat.But the weather is beginning to shift again. Yesterday dark clouds swept across the valley and our garden got a much needed drink.The little storm left the first scattering of leaves and added new colors to the landscape overnight.

Fat mama spiders are now spinning their fall webs and I am finding myself ducking and dodging all of the time to avoid disturbing their homes. Heavy dew coats the flowers and grass and we must wear rain boots for early morning harvesting. The home stretch is now on the horizon.

This season has felt like a marathon. One we trained for but halfway in realized how out of shape we all really were.So many unknowns, unexpected surprises,fatigue,abundance, joy, so much beauty and utter exhaustion. But as a whole it has been a glorious ride!

This week as the flowers have slowed their growth just a bit, new space has opened up.Filling orders seems strangley easy now with time left in the evenings for family dinner, staring out the window,reading a few pages of a book, doing laundry, a quick trip to the library. It's funny how such simple things that I always took for granted are like gold these days.

such a pretty week

2011-09-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

seasonal wedding

2011-09-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

I did the prettiest little early fall wedding at the Book Bindery this weekend. It was small enough that I didn't need help and the hours working alone in silence were a wonderful treat after another busy week.

Roses came from my FAVORITE source, Peter Kort in Oregon. Every batch I bring in from them is absolutely gorgeous! Everything else was from our garden. The bride was so wonderful and wanted the flowers to be seasonal, even leaving the color pallet open for the best flexibility.Eventually we settled on a warm mix of gold, brown, cream and green which fit perfectly with the cozy, inviting vibe of the venue.

Bridal bouquet included roses: Caramel Antique, Avalanche,Moonstruck and Wendy, limelight hydrangeas,ferns,scabiosa pods,seven sons flower,clematis vine,phlox,maple,copper beech and celosia.

getting lost

2011-09-12T22:53:00.000-07:00

Saturday afternoon we set out with a list of errands to run and then were scheduled to return home and get to work on all the tasks that had slipped out of our reach the previous week. Things like build a massive compost pile, harvest the 1000 lilies threatening to burst open any second in the warm greenhouse, water everything , tidy up the garage/ workspace, wash buckets … the list grew and grew until neither of us could stand to think about it let alone discuss it on the drive.

After completing our last stop we both looked at each other deflated, dreading the thought of going home and working yet another endless day. So, in an instant of insanity we decided to escape and head out of town. We didn’t know where we’d end up but the thought of an adventure and being off the farm was so dang exciting we hit the gas and didn’t look back until long after dark.

We drove out into the countryside up near the Canadian border, down winding roads, past so many farms, daydreaming all the while and eventually ending up deep in the forest. At this point we toyed with the idea of heading back towards town but again insanity won out and we filled the gas tank and just kept driving and driving and driving until the road literally ended.

I haven’t felt so free in…...forever.

The day was so hot and sunny, near perfect. Through the open windows came the smells of the forest and fresh air and best of all, silence.

We walked slowly around a visitor’s center, lingering to read every detail and study every map. We walked along a rushing river, stood near a beautiful turquoise waterfall, explored the forest, talked about whom we long to become and the authentic life we are trying so hard to create. We dreamed about living in a cabin bordering the forest with a huge field for flowers, about living closer to nature, no cell phone, no internet. It was magic.

In the end we found ourselves in the national forest, at the base of a mountain, snow still standing in spot s despite the blazing heat. Little streams were covering the hillsides where the melting snow was making its way down to a larger river. This river would eventually flow into the river that runs just a quarter mile from our house. I felt so remove and yet so connected.

Eventually the sun began to fade and it was finally time to make the long trek home. Recharged and renewed we found our way down the mountain and eventually back into the tiny valley we call home.

The next morning, all of the things we were supposed to do were still eagerly waiting for our attention. In our blissful absence the crop of Lilies exploded into color. It took so much longer to harvest them since I had to take off all the open flowers for safer transport and storage but I kept reminding myself…no matter the price, it was so worth it to just get lost for a day.

dark

2011-09-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

the nights are getting longer around these parts.more than once these past weeks we've ended up harvesting by headlight.

these times will make up the stories i will tell little ones, with great drama and pride when i am an old lady.

"when i was young and we were saving up for a real farm, we worked so,so hard..."

upgrade

2011-09-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

As a reward for working so dang hard, last week I ordered a brand new 50mm 1.4 lens.

I haven't splurged on anything purely for myself in a long, long time.

It is the carrot I'm using to help coax myself to finish the season out strong. A reminder that the off season will come and in it I will have all the time in the world to learn new things, experiment and expand.

So far, I am thrilled with how beautifully it captures the flowers.

Who knows, with this new and improved gear we may soon be catching little glimpses of fairy's curled up in the blooms.

hot damn

2011-09-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

Woo, it's been so insane here that I don't even know where to begin .I'll just say that Chris calculated we each worked over 110 hrs. last week! Yikes.

After a huge surge yesterday to finish up the record month on the highest note possible we collapsed into bed at 3 in the afternoon. Oh my god, sleep has never felt so amazing!

While we both are so grateful for this amazing abundance, this week to keep our spirits up, we've been whispering across the rows about the first frost , the long winter, sleeping in and family dinners.

Fall is certainly nearing. The geese have started flying over in the evenings, there is a coolness in the air that wasn't there a week ago and ever so slightly the colors are beginning to change.

The sun has been visiting us quite often and the Zinnias are responding with incredible growth. Every other day we cut the patch so hard I'm convinced that it wont recover and magically when I return, it is loaded with hundreds of bright shinning faces ready to make their way into bouquets.

Just like us,they are giving it their all and boy do I love them for it.

Zinnia Benary's Giant 'Coral', my favorite.

still standing

2011-08-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

Harvesting wild clematis (well after midnight) I spotted under a bridge on our way out of Seattle. It was just the thing to take the wedding centerpieces to a whole new level of magic.

I'm not sure how, but we're still standing after the most i.n.s.a.n.e week of the entire season. Somehow we not only survived it, but the whole dang thing was a success.An absolute success!I still can't believe it.

While there was little time for anything but flying from one floral adventure to the next, I did manage to take a MILLION pictures of the insanity and magic. Chris snapped some killer ones too,so there will be a lot of beauty here in the days to come.
Stay tuned.

getting lost at sea

2011-08-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

this week:

2011-08-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

two new friends arrived!

our hens are starting to lay their first eggs

Basil made the cut and Fennel found a new home :) thank you for all of your votes!

we have been experiencing some absolutely beautiful weather

we have made oh so many trips into the city

I have made more bouquets than seems humanly possible and.... I'm still smiling

one word =miracle!

what i see in my rear view mirror everyday

Cafe au Laite has started to bloom and holy cow, she's a stunner!

better late than never

2011-08-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

I had high hopes of swimming in Dahlias by late July but with the crazy cool year its been, we are just starting to experience the abundance only a patch of these treasures can bring.

Hundreds and hundreds of bunches come out of this patch each week! I planted almost double what we had last year so once they really hit their stride I know the task of harvesting and delivering them will consume many of our waking hours.

In truth I am actually relieved that they are a little later than planned. It has been so unbelievably busy around here that we literally couldn't have handled weaving the extra volume into the mix.

But now most of the perennials have peaked and faded and we are moving on into another chapter in the garden.

While this chapter is just as busy and full, it feels a bit more relaxing (mentally) not having to juggle such an expansive variety of ingredients.While we have the same volume( if not more than earlier in the summer!) the weekly availability list is much more streamlined.
I gotta say, I'm ready for a little more simplicity!

Oh and harvesting Dahlias as the sun rises....it is a pretty freaking magical experience !

Yellow

2011-08-16T06:48:00.000-07:00

I felt it on Friday, the slightest shift in the light and all of the sudden I can see the end to this season on the horizon. Yes it's a ways off (roughly 2 months) but I now feel it in my bones. It's a strange sensation indeed.

The garden colors are shifting too. We've gone from a jewel like mix to browns, rusts and lots and lots of yellow. My garden notebook is filling up with ideas, suggestion and complaints to review this winter as I am planning for next season. Like every August it says in bold letters, "plant more filler, you never have enough!" , "you need more orange, lots and lots of orange!!!" and "you must remember to keep sowing pods,grasses,grains = texture is magical in summer bouquets"

August is the month I see all of my mistakes played out.Any gaps in production, areas of the garden that were neglected, a lack of irrigation, a wimpy color pallet... It seems everywhere I turn there is a lesson to be learned and more notes to scribble in my book. It can be overwhelming and a bit discouraging this time of year.

But now we're on the homestretch. There isn't enough time to right any of the wrongs and no way to go back in time so I'm just taking notes and promising myself I'll do better the next time around.

The Bachelor

2011-08-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

As the birds have come into their prime we have ended up with a hearty collection of roosters.

The girls are on the verge of laying, any day I suspect! The boys (all 4 of them) have been practicing their crows in earnest all day, every day.

Nothing is as pathetic or hilarious as a young roo finding his voice. It will make you laugh out loud!

Once these guys are are fully mature they will begin to fight with great conviction, tearing into each others combs, causing bloodiness and often a huge raucous.

In our experience once they then start to fight they also begin bullying anything in sight. This includes the hens and us! Yipe! I hate having mean roosters patrolling the property.

So before things get ugly, we need to send 3 of these beautiful boys away.

We thought it would be fun to have you vote on which lucky boy gets to stay !

Bachelor #1 is a Golden Sexlink (we think) named Chili. He is generally quite mild in temper, so far, but on the whole is a pretty boring guy. No really spark or spunk. He's pretty to look at but that's about it.

Bachelor #2 is a bantam Birchen Cochin named L.V.

First the initials stood for Lord Voldemort but later after proving to have a mild temper was dubbed Lance Victor.

L.V has recently become quite aggressive with the hens, pecking a few to the point of bloodiness. Not an appealing trait!

Bachelor #3 is our favorite. Basil, a Delaware, is a massive beast who so far seems to be a gentle giant. He love food, taking dust baths and eating clover and dandelion greens in the lawn.He has huge feet, a sparkly personality and is quite social!

Last but not least is bachelor #4,Fennel, a beautiful specimen of Polish descent. While he is a real conversation piece he is also very anti social and never hangs with the flock or returns to the coop at night.

The three cast off will be re-homed over the weekend so cast your votes by Saturday morning at the latest to help decide their fate.

a family affair

2011-08-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

I've gotta say, I absolutely love my family!

These guys are so freaking supportive, hard working and flexible when it come to keeping the little flower business churning.

With the kiddos being old enough to help now things are getting more and more efficient and fun.

Jasper is the sticker master, labeling hundreds and hundreds of sleeves every week. This simple task saves me so much time and makes bouquet making and bunching a million times smoother.

Sometimes if we're not on too much of a time crunch the kids like to get in on the bouquet making action. Their final creations are so darling I can hardly stand it!!

Jasp is determined to get the hang of it so he can help me get done faster .

I cannot imagine what it would be like to do this whole wild adventure without them : )

This Moment (day 5) : abundance

2011-08-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

brilliant jewels

keeping good company

telling time

smiles

happy relief

helping hands

the best of friends

summer

things are heating up

abundance :)

This Moment (day 4) :chickens and flowers everywhere

2011-08-03T21:45:00.000-07:00

This Moment (day 3) : Bounty

2011-08-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

This Moment (Day 1): Together

2011-08-01T08:32:00.000-07:00

Been Listening To This On Repeat All Weekend

2011-07-31T22:19:00.000-07:00

Into The Night

2011-07-29T09:38:00.000-07:00

This Moment

2011-07-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

As this month is winding to a close I am absolutely and completely overwhelmed with gratitude.

The last four weeks have been a blur. With barely enough time to sleep or eat, it has been increasingly difficult to stop and take in all that is going on around me.

Last night I worked straight through the darkness forgoing sleep to finish a huge bouquet order and when Chris awoke at 4, we loaded the van together under a barely brightened sky.As he headed into the city and I headed to bed a huge wave of gratitude washed over me.

Yes, this is bloody hard work. Harder than I ever imagined it would be, but what an amazing life we've created!

In the blur of filling orders, planting, cutting, and dashing about I've struggled a bit with finding my center and remembering why we are REALLY doing this.This morning I had a wonderful window of clarity.

So in an effort to help myself stay connected to the heart of this adventure I am going to carve out a little more time to be still and try to drink in all of this bounty, because soon this season will be over. I don't want to have been so focused on the doing end of things that the being in this amazing moment was lost.

Next week rather than words, I am going to focus on silence and being as present as possible in the middle of this wild and crazy adventure..

I am always so inspired by the lovely Soule Mama who has a weekly post called This Moment where she posts a single photo without words - capturing a moment from her week. She describes it as" a simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

I believe it is just what I need to help me get re grounded.

But rather than just one day, I think I will continue it through the entire week.

This crazy, beautiful, insane time is just too precious to miss.

Sun In The Forecast

2011-07-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

Last night I dashed out to grab a few handfuls of Sunflowers and discovered that in the sort time since I've been out there the whole patch has come into bloom. Yipe!

So, what was supposed to be a 20 minute grab and go turned into a mad dash until dark.

My favorite Sunflower variety, Pro Cut Yellow Lite. The seed breeders are replacing it next year with a "new and improved" version. Gosh I hope it is as wonderful as they say.

It's hard to believe an improvement on this variety is possible. It come as near to perfection as any Sunflower I've grown.

The weather has been a roller coaster of pouring rain, breaks of sun and back to heavy rain. We have only irrigated one time this entire season. Unreal!

With such a tiny dose of summer so far this season these bright and cheerful beauties are a welcome addition!

Life Is Good!

2011-07-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

Oh my! This bounty was the second of four loads that left our little farm this week.Chris rose at 4a.m. twice to deliver before heading into work for a full shift only to return at 5 to help me cut, bunch and sleeve well past dark.We are all exhausted but so very happy that every little flower has found a home.

These two darlings have been so amazing this week! Rising far earlier than they normally do to be dropped at a friends while I made the long trek into the city, eating dinner no earlier than 10 each night,hanging with me in the garage while I packed up all the orders and often waiting for a bedtime story and tuck in so many hours later than is typical for kiddos their age.

Last night my head finally hit the pillow at 1 a.m.

Elora kept me company for much of the evening, stickering sleeves, dancing,bringing out smoothies, reading us hilarious stuff, talking in great detail about the two new things she wants to start once the flower season is over (taxidermy and cat 4-H)...

J-Bird helped me load the van. We truly couldn't have squeezed another bucket of bounty in the load. Pheew! That little guy is a good packer often seeing how I could move things to make another little pocket to fit more flowers. :)

I've got one more van load to finish up today and then a tiny "break"before we go back at it again.

Sun is in the forecast, we have reinforcements arriving for the weekend to help us catch up on planting/weeding, the kiddos are headed grandmas for a few days of swimming and focused attention.

Life is good!

For-Get-Me-Not

2011-07-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Dashing to the city with millions of fresh flowers so gotta make this short.
How cute is this little beauty?!

Cynoglossum or Chinese For Get Me Not.
Seed was tough to start and after 3 seasons of trying, I finally got enough going for a little patch.
I'm totally in love with it :)

Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands

2011-07-18T23:19:00.000-07:00

It use to be that Chris or I would help the kids with all of their creative building projects.

But in the past few months something cool has happened.They have started to follow through on their ideas ,solo.

No they don't get to use the saw, LOL!

I LOVE the expressions he makes while concentrating.

Ta da! Isn't that sucker hilarious?! Complete with Popsicle stick furniture and cotton ball pillows.

Bouquet Mania!

2011-07-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Last week Chris took his "vacation".
Midway through I finally requested that he stop calling it a vacation, the word being very misleading. While we hustled like nobodies business it still seems that being caught up is miles away.

Part of the overwhelm is due to the field flowers finally making their grand debut in full, full force. We finally have the volume to whip up the hundreds of bouquets that are requested each week in the city.
It is to the point where we are both dreaming about them in our sleep!

It can get a little crazy with huge orders rolling in the afternoon before they are needed in the stores. I know we will find our rhythm here soon but this last week was a true nail biter. Friday, the van was so freaking full we had to make back to back deliveries to the city 60 miles away. Pheww!
I have no idea how I could have managed the intensity without Chris. He was all smiles and busted ass nine days straight from dawn until dusk only to return to "real" work early this morning.

These days we are living on coffee!

Little Boy Blue

2011-07-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

Jasper has always been a family guy. He loves family time, family dinners, family squeezes (group hugs with him in the center) and family movie night. Anything with the word family in it makes him happy.

As a baby he spent the majority of his days in a sling snuggled close to either Chris or I. In all of the early photos of us growing our first big veggie patch, mowing our then expansive lawn, curing squash, tending the chickens... Jasper was along for the ride. As long as you were holding him, he was happy.

Even now as he's stretching taller and taller, he is still always near. He says he feels the most grounded and calm when he's with us.

Elora is the complete opposite. While she definitely appreciates togetherness, she's bound to be a world traveler. Last week after lots of preparation and personal responsibility building she took her first solo trip. A whole week with her grandparents in California riding the plane both ways alone. While I was squirming with anxiety about the whole thing she was relaxed and confident reassuring me that she was up for the challenge and excited to grow up in the process.

While she was away Jasper got an upgraded version of family time, weaving himself tightly into every project and adventure that week. Lots of burgers (his fav.), snuggles, home time and trips to the beach.

Recently he informed me that he's going to live with us until he can build his own house debt free. Oh and it will be on our property of course ;)

Flowers From A Friend

2011-07-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Even though I have rows and rows and rows of flowers at my fingers tips, my favorite gift to receive is still always flowers!I guess I'm in the right line of work ;)

Last week my friend Nina swooped in with these stunners to surprise me.Ahhh, seriously pure heaven!

This morning they finally let go and scattered petals all over the floor of my new office. Their death just as beautiful as their prime :)

When I'm an old woman, screw wearing purple and red, I want to go out like a Rose.

Woo Doggie!

2011-07-11T06:04:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, what a ride!Since we last talked a lot has happened around these parts.

The Chantilly (butterfly) Snapdragons have started to bloom.Wahoo!

I've pulled two nearly all nighters (3.5-4hrs sleep)in order to get all of the orders out on time.While totally exhausting, every little flower found a home :)
We've been cutting our asses off and the Bells of Ireland are looking amazing this summer,so tall and GREEN.

My powerhouse Mom swooped in and help me move my entire office and create a completely new bedroom for Jasper in its old space.
Raspberry season is here. The kiddos have been picking bowls and bowls and eating as many as their little tummies can handle.

Bouquet mania has officially begun.

Jasper, the best companion around, has kept me company while I cut,cut, bunch,sleeve,create,pack.
We do a lot of "break dancing" in the garage to keep our spirits up ;)

The chickens have been let out to roam the sleeping Daffodil patch. Oh do they ever love the freedom! Our back field is wide open with so few place to hide so up until now we've kept them securely penned . In past years we have lost dozens of birds to various creature, Eagles included. So we've been extra cautious with this sweet flock but now they are large enough to spend a few hours a day foraging through the established areas of the garden, with a chaperon of course.

Chris, what can I say. He's been hustling right along side me with a twinkle in his eye.This week he's home from work to help finish and plant the two new greenhouses, catch up on plant care(staking/weeding) and give me a needed boost before we start weaving another round of weddings into the mix again.

I had a feeling that this might happen

2011-07-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

The field flowers have finally exploded and it's all we can do to get them harvested, packaged and to their new homes before the next round is ready for the same treatment. The previous spring hustle that seemed so insane is now a distant joke. I know I'll find my rhythm again with this new increased pace but for now I feel like an out of shape marathon runner getting winded on their first mile.

I have loads of beautiful pictures to share and varieties to introduce you to but in the midst of the floral bounty I also moved my entire office to a new room and haven't hooked all of my gear back up.For now the pretty pictures are trapped in my cameras memory card.
So, until I can get things smoothed out over here I'm going to take a little blogging break.
Monday morning bright and early I'll be back in action.

Wishing you all a lovely and productive week from the land of floral insanity :)

Naptime

2011-07-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

Today I feel like crawling into this bouquet and hiding from my ever growing list of to-do's.
Snuggling up in those Peonies and taking a nap....sigh. That's sounds pretty darn nice!

This fragrant delight included: Garden Roses, Peonies, Filipendula, Mint, Sweet Pea vines and flowers,Honeysuckle,Icelandic Poppies, Strawberries,double Lilies and baby Apples.

Hope y'all have a great holiday weekend!

A Little Purple Wedding

2011-06-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

A few snapshots from a little wedding we did last weekend.

I whipped up the wear and carry flowers and the bride used bulk blooms from our garden to make what I imagine were some darling "wildflower" centerpieces in mason jars.

The best of both worlds:)