Country Flower Farms

Get more than just Fruits for your labor!

countryflowerfarms — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:46:21 +0000

For those who haven’t used flowers in cooking before, eating a flower might seem like an odd concept. You’ve likely picked off many of these flowers that garnished your dishes without even knowing they were actually edible. When choosing flowers to cook or bake with ensure that they were organically grown and of course, they are edible. Some of our edible favorites include:

Daylily (Hemerocallis) Daylilies have a mild flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked. They are delicious in a stir-fry and make a wonderful appetizer. Try stuffing them with cream-cheese dips or spreads.

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) Anise Hyssop has a sweet, licorice-like flavor. The flowers are great in salads, fruit salads, and can also be sugar-glazed for decorating desserts.

Bee Balm (Monarda) – Bee Blam can be used to make tea.

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) – Nasturtium has a peppery flavor. Both the leaves and flowers add flavor to salads and sandwiches. I tend to use the flowers in my salads because they add such interesting summer colors to my dishes.

Marigold (Tagetes) – Marigold has a spicy flavor and it often used as a vegetable or salad garnish. The most common Marigold for eating is ‘Lemon Gem’. We grow this variety specifically for cooking and keep in our herb section so it’s easy to find.

Pansy (Viola) – Pansies have a sweet mild flavor. There are great in salads, sugared for decorating and garnishing or as a plate garnish. What I love so much about Pansies is you could have them blooming in your garden from March to December if you grow them in partial sun.

Calendula – Calendulas have a tangy flavor almost similar to saffron. They come in bright Oranges and Yellows and brighten up any plate. The petals and flowers look great in salads and when used as a plate garnish.

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) – Chive flowers have a mild onion flavor and can be used both raw and cooked. You can separate the petals for mild flavor in a salad, or use the entire blossom for stronger flavor. These can also be used in a stir fry or when sautéing.

Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum) – Garlic Chive flowers have a garlicky flavor. You can separate the petals for mild flavor in a salad, or use the entire blossom for stronger flavor. These can also be used in a stir fry or when sautéing.

Roses – (Rosa) – Roses petals can be used fresh or dried. I prefer fresh because they look so much nicer this way. They can be used in salads, desserts and teas. Also, they are quite beautiful when crystallized with sugar and used for desserts and garnishes.

Many of these edible flowers are long bloomers and the key to lots of blooms is to deadhead (remove spent blooms) when past bloom.

Squash Blossoms – Squash Blossoms are one of my favorites. They are delicious fried or stuffed with cream cheese mixtures. My favorite way to prepare them is to fry them. First I dip them in an egg mixture and then in seasoned flour. They are such a summer treat.

There are so many other edible flowers. When experimenting with flowers be sure first; that they are edible and second; that they are grown organically. What flowers will you be eating for dinner tonight?

Woodchucks – are they a Pest or Pet?

countryflowerfarms — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:00:53 +0000

This year we have more to contend with in our home garden. Not only do we have a woodchuck, but it has an entire family with babies. The babies are so cute and my children seem to think we can keep them as pets. They’ve eaten our squash, cucumbers and parsley. The babies also seem to be enjoying my Phlox panicualata (summer phlox) and Echinacea (coneflower).

Luckily the warm weather has just begun and all of these plants grow fast. We will just replace the vegetables and make it so they don’t want to visit our garden. There are many organic controls for woodchucks – fences, bloodmeal , hot pepper spray, garlic spray and the product Plantskydd.

I just went out to the gardens and applied Plantskydd last night. I have successfully used this product for many years to deter little critters from the garden. You can apply using different methods – around the whole perimeter of the garden or around the plants they tend to eat. Either way seems to be just as effective.

There are some plants in particular that woodchucks seem to enjoy. These plants include squash, cucumber, parsley, Achillea (yarrow), Aster, Echinacea (coneflower), Dahlia, Phlox paniculata (summer phlox), Helianthus (sunflower), Papaver( poppy), Ipomoea (sweet potato vine) and Chrysanthemums (mum). These are plants that you want to be sure you protect.

You can fill your gardens with plants that woodchucks don’t tend to eat. Lucky for us this list is very long. You can add plants like Daylily, Veronica, Dianthus, Hosta, Anemone, Artemesia, Amsonia, Asclepias(milkweed, butterfly weed), Agastache (hyssop), Aruncus (goatsbeard), Cimicifuga, Campanula(bellflower), Astilbe, Coreopsis, Centaurea (bachelor’s button), Crambe, Eupatorium (Joe pye weed), Platycodon (balloon flower), Cranesbill (geranium), Euphorbia (spurge), Gypsophilia (baby’s breath) and there are so many more.

Personally I wouldn’t limit my garden to plants that don’t eat because once you apply a deterrent they stay away and find something else to eat. What do you use to keep woodchucks away from your garden?

The Evil Beetle

countryflowerfarms — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:50:42 +0000

Have you walked out to your gardens lately and noticed a very hungry beetle has moved in?

This beetle is the Red Lily Beetle which is definitely a ‘bad bug’ and devastates lilies. These beetles prefer true lilies and fortunately do not bother Daylilies (Hemerocallis). If you have lilies in your gardens (Asiatic, Oriental, Easter and Turk’s) pay attention weekly for the bright red beetles and also for the eggs on the undersides of the foliage. Examine the leaves for tan-colored, irregular-shaped lines about one inch long. These tan lines will be a row of eggs. Just before hatching, these eggs turn a bright red color. When eggs are found, they can be removed and destroyed.

If you only have a few plants in your gardens, hand-picking adults and eggs can be successful. Another option to control the reproduction of the Red lily Beetle is to use an insecticide. Products containing Neem and Spinosad are effective on the larvae and should be applied weekly. Neem is also sold as Bon-Neem. Spinosad is sold as Monterey Garden Insect Spray. Both of these organic products will need to be applied weekly during the growing season and have been found to be effective. Whichever method (handpick or insecticide) you prefer will make it possible for you to enjoy lilies in your garden this summer.

Non Stop Color all Summer

countryflowerfarms — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:48:57 +0000

The question we receive the most at Country Flower Farms is – “What will flower all summer?” Some plants will just bloom non-stop with no effort on your part other than water and fertilizer while others are going to need a little more care periodically. Geraniums are a plant that will keep rewarding you with lots of flowers providing a sunny location and weekly deadheading. We’ve created a video to make deadheading easier.

Destination: John Lyman School

countryflowerfarms — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:47:00 +0000

John Lyman School is very involved in various gardening projects in the community. Each year each student receives a vegetable plant the week before Memorial Day and are asked to nurture it and/or help find a good home.

Country Flower Farms has been growing vegetable plants for students at John Lyman School in Middlefield for the past several years. The plants are grown in biodegradable pots which can be planted right in the ground or in a container. These plants are donated to the students and faculty.

The children are excited to care for their plant through the summer and harvest the vegetables. In September, the school gardening committee coordinates two food drives to collect fresh produce for local senior citizens in Middlefield and Durham.

Memorial Day weekend has always been the traditional start to vegetable gardens. The soil has warmed up and the night temperatures are usually in the 50’s which makes it perfect for planting and growing. Warm season vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and eggplant need these warmer temperatures to grow properly. What will you be planting in your vegetable garden this week?

A Perennial That Always Puts on a Show

countryflowerfarms — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:44:03 +0000

The 2011 Perennial of the Year – Amsonia hubrichtii has been a conversation piece in our garden for years. It starts blooming in early spring with blue star-like flowers and continues for 6 – 8 weeks. In the summer after it’s done blooming its fern-like foliage looks great in the garden with Ornamental Grasses and contrasting plants. In the fall this plant once again stops people in their tracks with its golden yellow foliage.

Amsonia (also known as Blue Star) does well in full sun to part shade conditions. Amsonia is a native of Arkansas and Oklahoma. It prefers evenly moist conditions but once established does not tend to need watering. It grows 3 ft. by 3 ft. and reminds me of a small shrub in the garden. I’ve never seen a pest or disease on this plant which helps to make it a low maintenance plant. It just needs to be cut-back at the end of November.

When autumn comes you’ll be amazed that the same plant that wowed people in the Spring will do just that all over again! It’s golden yellow Fall foliage is sure to stand out and looks great combined with dark foliage plants, or even black Pansies. Amsonia is a plant for all seasons and a garden conversation piece that would look great in any garden.

Hopefully with a little luck and a lot of pollen our backyards will be filled with pollinators.

countryflowerfarms — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:40:45 +0000

A guest post by Mira McDermott which emphasizes the importance of organic gardening.

Where Have All the Bees Gone?
There is a growing ecological problem many people are unaware of: Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Noticed in October 2006, beekeepers reported losses of 30-90% of beehives. Though some loss is expected at this time of year, this large loss was huge. Unfortunately, CCD has no recognizable cause other than a low amount of adult honey bees and a live queen. While scientists have been working to discern the cause of the disappearing bees, they have yet to yield significant results.
Why are bees important?
Bees are responsible for pollination valuing nearly $15 billion in crops such as almonds, other nuts, fruits, vegetables, and berries. In California alone, the almond crop uses 1.3 million bee colonies which is about half of all of the honey bees in the United States. The number of bee colonies has been steadily dropping since the 1940’s while the need for pollination is growing steadily as well. As a result, bees are being imported. This poses a problem in that with the introduction of bees from other areas, there is an introduction in pathogens and pests that are fatal to the bees.
What could be causing CCD?
While it doesn’t appear that any of the bees have common environmental factors that could attribute to their illness, death, and disappearance, 3 factors have been identified. Pesticides could be a cause of issues with the bees. During the 1980’s, nearly all of the honey bees in Northern China were obliterated due to an increased use in pesticides when the pear orchards were expanded. Due to the lack of bees, this area is now forced to pollinate by hand.
Another possible cause suggested by researchers is a new parasite or pathogen not yet familiar to the bees. The prime pathogen suspect is Nocema: a parasite that not only causes dysentery in the bees but renders them unable to fly due to disjointed wings as well. Since the parasite develops in fungal spores, it is likely transmitted through ingestion of these spores.
The third possible cause is an increasing level of stress among the hives. Research has shown that stress in the worker bees can cause decreased immune systems which can make them more susceptible to an array of diseases.
What can be done?
In short, there are few things to be done without definitive answers as to the cause of CCD. However, this does not mean that you cannot contribute something positive to the situation. Since pesticides could be a contributor to CCD, you can switch to natural and organic pesticides in your garden, ones that will not harm the honey bees in your area. Additionally, you can plant bee attracting plants to boost the honey bees and pollination in your area. Such plants include: Aster, Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan), Sambucus, Solidago (Goldenrod), Vaccinum, Eupatorium (Joe-pye weed), Lupinus, Berberis, Penstemon, Echinacea (Coneflower), Agastache, and Salvia. Hopefully, with a little luck, and a lot of pollen, your yard will be full of pollinators!

The Promise of Spring

countryflowerfarms — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 03:45:31 +0000

I’m already seeing March around the corner I think it’s time to share what’s been growing here in our greenhouses. The end of January and February we planted our Oriental, Asiatic and Asi-Florum lilies for the Spring and Easter seasons. This is a much later start than past years because Easter is late (April 22nd) this year. The Hydrangeas have been growing for the last 2 months and we are timing the crop for Easter and Mother’s Day. It’s always such a wonder to watch these crops grow. Soon our greenhouses will be a mass of colors, it’s so beautiful.

The smells in the greenhouse have been wonderful since we planted our first crop. Our Herbs are grown naturally -no chemicals. We just have not filled out the paperwork required to certify them organic. We have a strong herb following due to their dependability in the garden and their outstanding quality.

The last few weeks have been exciting as the trailer loads of soil pull in and we start to fill our pots for the remaining Spring crop. This week we were busy planting New Guinea hanging baskets, Patio Planters and specialty Geraniums. We’ll be busy with these crops as well as all our hanging baskets the next few weeks as we have 1000,s to plant.

In the meantime we’ve been getting ready for the Ct Flower Show. It’s so exciting seeing all of the seed and gift deliveries arriving. And yes we will have plants and lots of them. This is a show that just brings the promise of Spring even closer.

This has been a Winter of many firsts and record-breakers. When I go outside I’m always amazed at something I see in the garden or landscape. Did you happen to see the sunrise on Valentine’s Day? It was so spectacular and what a perfect day for it. The Red-twig Dogwoods have looked magnificent against the snow. I’ve seen some yards with the most amazing white birch trees and what a picture against the snow. (Just wish I had my camera with me at the time).

We get closer to the promise of Spring everyday. It will be an exciting year for us as we have close to 100 new plant introductions. The most we’ve had in years and most of them grown by us.
I can’t wait to start planting our containers and getting our gardens ready. I know our customers are also eager as they driving by to see if we are open yet. We will be opening soon and look forward to helping you plan your garden and containers.

Merry Little Christmas

countryflowerfarms — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:11:08 +0000

It’s been so long since I last sat down to write. The holidays were so busy with many parties. It’s Jan 4th and we’re getting ready for another holiday and party , Little Christmas.

Little Christmas is celebrated in many European countries and here in the U.S. By those of us who still celebrate traditions of our ancestors. Little Christmas is January 6th and it is the date when the gifts were brought to Jesus. I’m of Italian descent and all of us in our family still celebrate. The only tough part of the holiday is that is often comes on a school day.

For us it’s the day our stockings get filled by Mama Santa or Lady Befana as she is more passionately known in Italy. It’s a special holiday because it gives us (especially the children) something else to look forward to in January on a smaller scale. We don’t buy each other gifts just appreciate the little odds and ends in our stockings. And yes, we’re Italian so of course food also is another part of the celebration.

Nothing like the excuse to cook and bake more goodies. Forget about cutting back on what we eat, we’ll just need to get lots of fresh air and exercise to make up for what we eat.

I’ve hung the stockings and we still have 2 trees up for the celebration. Our trees still look beautiful. It’s amazing the difference regular watering makes to the longevity of a fresh cut tree. (You may want to check out our video on YouTube for an easy method to water your tree.). Now we’re hoping for just a little snow covering for the day and it can’t get much better than that.

Do you have special holiday tradition you’d like to share? Who knows maybe you’ll create a tradition for someone else.
Wishing you many blessings and a Merry Little Christmas!

Things We are Thankful For

countryflowerfarms — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:45:20 +0000

One week before Thanksgiving I’m busy getting ready. Out comes the china, crystal and sterling, it all needs to be cleaned. Then I notice the dust in the china cabinets and decide that it needs to be emptied and dusted and the windows need to be cleaned. It’s also time to move all of the Halloween decorations to the attic and make sure the outside and inside of our home reflect an autumn harvest. We decorate with lots of pumpkins, gourds and berries from the garden and fall leaves everywhere. Our backyard patio is decorated with bottleneck gourds and gooseeneck gourds that grew in our compost pile.

Now it’s time to plan the menu. I think I’ll try a few different dishes this year but then have second thoughts. I wonder if everyone will be looking forward to the traditional meal, side dishes, and desserts. Eventually, I decide there will be other opportunities to try something new and maybe thanksgiving isn’t the best time.
Next I divide the menu between three days in order to get everything made and prepare my grocery list.

I think the shopping is sometimes the most time consuming part of the meal. I visit a farm market for all of the produce, an organic market for my turkey and some other ingredients, and my sister’s deli for the pies and I’m ready to go.

It’s Tuesday, I think I have everything I need and I’ll find out for sure when I start cooking. Tuesday night ends up being a late night. I’ve prepped everything I’ll be needing for the appetizers, prepared all of the dips, some of the vegetables and made the stuffing. I’m exhausted and ready for bed.

I’ve determined I just need to make a few desserts and a jello mould on Wednesday and the rest will need to wait until Thanksgiving day. I start to think about what I’m thankful for and come up with a list a mile long. I’m thankful that our family will be spending the day together. The boys will most likely be working in the greenhouse for the morning along with some of our staff but home in time to help with set-up and definitely in time to relax and enjoy the meal.

As difficult as times seem sometimes we all have so much to be thankful for everyday. Just the other day I was taking photos in the greenhouse listening to the chirping birds flying behind me. It was as if I put on background music but it was just the magic of nature.

I’m thankful that we have the ability to prepare a bountiful meal and that we are healthy enough to enjoy it. I’m thankful that family and friends are such an integral part of our lives. I’m thankful that our staff and customers are our extended family. I’m thankful for all of the men and women who protect our towns, states and country. I could go on and on for hours reflecting on everything we have to be thankful for. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

I wish you all a blessed, healthy and peaceful Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving!