September Newsletter
It just took 10 days away to get refreshed, full of ideas and appreciative of the beautiful place we inhabit here on Vancouver Island. For the first time since I started the Flower Farm in January of 2020 I felt ‘brave’ enough to leave the farm and flower studio in the capable hands of my team. And when I returned everything was great!!
A quick stop in Nice and then a week in Cotignac, Provence gave me time to settle in, wander the streets and countryside of vineyards and olive groves, and visit a few private gardens…. And, of course eat, drink and shop!!
My good friend and fellow artist Agnes organized our trip and we took time each day to search out great views to tackle in watercolours. Having tucked my paints away once the farm took over my life it felt great but challenging, trying to capture the essence this area on a sheet of watercolour paper….please don’t judge😊
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Dahlias are really stealing the show around here with lisianthus, zinnias, cosmos and amaranth all looking amazing too.
Lisianthus are in full swing. When we plant them, we do a selection of the varieties numbered 1,2 and 3 so that we get a succession of blooms from late summer and into the fall. We are well into the 2’s, and the 3’s are budded up!!
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Fall cleanup of the fields has begun. As the summer crops finish, we pull them out, weed, add compost and fertilizer and we are set for the next crop. Hardy annuals and biennials are planted in the fall to allow them to develop strong root systems over the winter and give us blooms a bit earlier than if we waited until the spring to get them in the ground. We have already started planting seed and have transplanted some into the field.
The next few weeks we will be preparing for our fall plantings of tulip bulbs and ranunculus and anemone corms (Mid-October). This year we will be planting most of these in crates as this is giving us the best results with the least pest pressure and most harvestable stems.
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Specialty Tulip Bulbs and Peony Roots Sale
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For Pickup & Canada wide shipping
in October
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This is our 4th annual sale! This year we have even more tulip varieties to choose from and some new names in peonies.
All the specialty tulips have been selected for colour, form, stem length, scent (if possible) and interest. These have been curated for our farm and will be planted this fall to grow for next season’s harvest.
I have ordered a limited number of each to be available for this sale.
NOTE - This is a pre-order with bulbs and roots ready for pick up, delivery or Canada-wide shipping in October.
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Seasonal Workshops
We have set the dates for our fall workshops and they are now available for registration on the website.
Join us for an afternoon that begins with demonstrations and then continues with each participant making their own unique creations with the support of our team.
Our offerings this season include:
Floral design, Thanksgiving centrepiece and décor, Fall wreaths for drying, Festive wreaths and décor, Festive season centrepiece and décor.
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We have been hosting small private workshops for groups of friends, family and colleagues. If you are looking for an activity to fill an afternoon with inspiration, learning, creativity and beauty connect with us to set up a session. Our workshops can be tailored to the information and skills you would like to be presented. We can accommodate groups of 3-8 people.
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Dahlias, zinnias, lisianthus, cosmos, sunflowers, strawflowers, butterfly bush, celocia, calendula, verbena, toad lilies, lady’s mantle and along with the first few heirloom chrysanthemum are all blooming.
For foliage/greens our Hibiscus Mahogany Sunset has finally hardened off enough for us to enjoy their burgundy leaves. We are also continuing to harvest our selection of scented geranium, amaranth, thornless blackberry, snowberry and more.
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New!!
Heirloom Chrysanthemum Rooted Cuttings
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Pre-order Starts December 8th 6am PST
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We have been growing a great selection of Heirloom Chrysanthemums over the past 4 years and we are now ready to offer rooted cuttings. These are certified organic. These will be on our website and available for pre-order December 8th and will be shipped out at the same time as our dahlia tubers – once the chance of freezing during shipping has passed. (yes, you will be able combine dahlia and chrysanthemum orders for shipping).
They will show as sold out on the website until the start of the sale.
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Pre-Ordering starts December 1st 6am PST
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Our tubers are now certified organic and our selection will be greater than ever!
They will show as sold out on the website until the start of the sale.
NOTE - This is a pre-order with tubers ready for pick up, delivery or Canada-wide shipping in the spring.
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We are harvesting flowers and foliage every morning and evening now. Once harvested, the team in the flower studio ‘preps’ the flowers and foliage to ensure quality and the longest vase life.
As we are certified organic, we don’t use any chemicals or food in the water. Comparative studies have shown that clean water in clean containers keeps most flowers as long or longer that with additives. Locally grown flowers don’t need to be packaged and shipped across the planet so don’t need to be sprayed with preservatives to keep them looking fresh.
When you purchase flowers, prepare a clean container with clean water (we usually fill about 2/3 full) and cut a small piece off of the end of each stem (1 cm). This opens up pores and allows the stem to draw up the fresh clean water. This should be done every day or two to keep your blooms lasting as long as possible.
Come on up the driveway to meet our team in the Flower Studio - Rekha, Megan, Liesbeth, and Delaney, along with Nadiia, Rachel and Goldie.
We are all here to take what we grow on the farm to make something beautiful and special to share with our community.
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Weddings
Just a few images of what we created this summer.
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Photo by K. Thompson Photography
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Contact us to receive our wedding information packages.
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Dahlia Lovers
Flower Share CSA
Customer Supported Agriculture
Dahlias are finally blooming like crazy! We are creating gorgeous lush bouquets and arrangements featuring our wonderful collection of dahlias in all shapes and sizes.
We are still taking orders for our CSA – Flower Share for Dahlia Lovers. This can be weekly or biweekly for pick up or delivery.
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Farmstand
Our Farmstand will continue to be stocked daily with bouquets, bunches and arrangements.
Flower Studio
Don’t hesitate to drive up to the Flower Studio. Open 10-4 Monday thru Saturday
We have lots of parking and we will have lots tucked away in our cooler!
4351 Blenkinsop Road, Victoria, BC V8X2C3
250-588-9558
Fresh Bouquets & Dried Arrangements Around Town
Moss Street Market - Saturdays 10am - 2pm
Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse in Central Saanich. – Dried posies
The Modern Mercantile – Chinatown – Fresh bouquets delivered on Fridays, dried floral posies & wreaths
Tulip Noire - Oak Bay - Fresh bouquets
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Going away and returning has made everything we have here even more special. It has been a lot of hard work, a lot of learning and continuous challenges to get the farm to where it is now, but coming home to the flower farm mid-September with the fields and gardens so lush and blooming was just wonderful. I spent 10 days observing my surroundings and noting details of the landscape, architecture and art as we visited Nice and moved through Provence to Cotignac. There will be a few ideas I will make my own and bring to the farm!
A big thanks to all of you who support us in what we are doing here on the farm. It is so appreciated by all of us!
Let’s hope we have a long, wonderful warm and sunny autumn…with just enough rain!
Twyla
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