February Newsletter
Spring is in the air!
Spring is in the air! Or so it seems this week as temperatures hover around 10C. Snowdrops, anemones, hellebores and even geum are blooming in our fields and gardens. The evergreen clematis (that appears to be taking over my little house) is covered with flower buds ready to burst into their wonderful spring fragrance. Our native Indian Plum is leafing out and we have pussy willows putting on a show.
February used to be a dreary month for me but flower farming/growing things has made this a month of anticipation and excitement. We are starting to see the results of all of our hard work last fall and winter with seeds sprouting, seedlings in the field, assorted allium, daffodil, dutch iris and tulip bulbs pushing through the soil, and ranunculus growing stronger each day in the field and greenhouse.
On The Farm and In the Greenhouse
Well, let’s just say I have caught 3 little mice in the ranunculus crates that had been having a feast every night. Hopefully there are not too many more of these critters or anything bigger!
We are trying a few new things in the greenhouse this season. As we are into our 3rd year of transition to Organic status and I have been finding ways to keep my plants happy and healthy. I have invested in a few sizes of sprayers and am using them for applying a foliar application of liquid fertilizer to my ranunculus (now that they are actively growing). I am also trying a new product to try to avoid the powdery mildew that seems to appear in some plants and not at all in others….I sure hope this works!
This month we are focussed on getting the fields and gardens prepped and ready…weeding, weeding, weeding and mulching. We already have our first 3 loads (30yd3) of compost from Farm to Garden Organics that is approved to use in organic farming - we went through a mountain of this last year as well!
Valentine’s Day in the Flower Studio, Farm Stand and Website
Yes, next week is Valentine’s Day and we will be all hands on deck in the flower studio...and we deliver!
Give us a call 250-588-9558, email twylasflowerfarm@shaw.ca , order online twylasflowerfarm.com, swing by the farmstand 24/7 or come up to the flower studio/shop Monday thru Saturday 10-4 and see what beauty we have available.
We have updated our website with roses, arrangements, bouquets, plants and gifts for that someone special!
Flower Share Program
A gift of a Flower Share Collection lets you buy flowers for spring summer or fall or for the whole year. We have put together several different collections of hand tied bouquets and arrangements in a vase to be picked up or delivered. These could be considered CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) as they are prepaid to help us to get our crops in the field, tended and harvested for you to enjoy.
Floral Design Workshops
Some may prefer a special experience, Attending one of our floral design workshops is an amazing opportunity to learn through Rekha’s demonstrations and hands on flowers and then to leave with an armload of beautiful arrangements.
Dahlia Tubers
We have a great selection of tubers available for pre-order on the website. I have added a few extras! Sleuthing for new varieties of dahlia tubers is another thing that makes February a great month for me - I am always searching for new selections to add to the farm for trials as a cut flower. Never enough!!
NOTE – All Dahlia tubers will be ready in Late March/April when danger of freezing in the mail has passed and viable eyes on the tubers are apparent. Pick Up, local and Canada Wide Shipping is available.
My Valentine
I love this picture of Illarion and I that was taken for a magazine article a few years back. We met over 30 years ago in Vancouver. I had just finished studying Landscape Architecture at the University of Toronto followed by a work exchange to Portugal and he had just completed his study at Emily Carr College of Art and a study abroad in Germany. We met through a project that I had designed and he had the contract to build…and it went from there.
We have been working together ever since as Rusnak Gallant Ltd. Our work has taken us across Canada and into the USA, designing and building rooftop gardens for residential towers, large scale public art projects, senior’s dementia gardens, and small scale gardens through to high end estates. It has been a whirlwind that continues!
Life has never been boring with this man! He has been an inspiration when I have doubts and gives me the confidence that we can tackle anything. The flower farm is my baby but Illarion is in the background giving his full support and help when needed and asked for. (& he delivers flowers too!) xoxo
Have a wonderful February!
Twyla
Where can you purchase our flowers for pick up and delivery?
4351 Blenkinsop Road, Victoria BC V8X 2C3 Twylasflowerfarm@shaw.ca
250-588-9558
Twylasflowerfarm.com
Hours
Our Flower Studio is open 10am - 4pm Monday thru Saturday.
The Farm Stand is open 24/7 365 (as long as it isn’t below freezing)
Also at
Tulipe Noire Clothing – 2227 Oak Bay Avenue, Oak Bay Village
Modern Mercantile – Fisgard Street (Chinatown) for Flower Fridays