Pro tips on how to cut and arrange daffodils (Narcissus)

Pro tips on how to cut and arrange daffodils (Narcissus)

Daffodils are one of the most beloved springtime flowers. Their bright yellow, white, and orange blooms can bring a burst of color and cheer to any room or garden. However, cutting and arranging daffodils can be tricky, as they have some unique characteristics that...
Does planting cool flowers in the fall really work?

Does planting cool flowers in the fall really work?

In our experience, yes and no. We are in our third year of growing cut flowers and we’ve tried planting cool flowers each of the past two autumns. The concept is to plant in September hardy annuals that can survive our zone 6b winters, which allows these flowers to...
Iceland Poppies aren’t from Iceland (but Sessy is)

Iceland Poppies aren’t from Iceland (but Sessy is)

We don’t grow Iceland Poppies because Sessy is half Icelandic, although she is. We grow them because they are beautiful, popular with our customers and bloom in early spring (now) when few other flowers are doing much of anything. Unlike Sessy, Iceland poppies did not...
Our stock froze to death

Our stock froze to death

We flower farmers were reminded this month that we are at the mercy of the weather when we discovered that our stock seedlings had frozen and died. We planted stock in landscape fabric in October and covered it with a low (“caterpillar”) tunnel made of Pex hoops and...
Dahlias’ burdensome beauty

Dahlias’ burdensome beauty

Ask any flower grower and they will tell you that dahlias are among the most popular flowers. It seems ironic or maybe it’s fitting that they are also among the most difficult to grow. They are native to Mexico where they survive outdoors as perennials from year to...
April is for tulips!

April is for tulips!

So much of what we do at Blue Gables Farm is an exercise in faith.  When you plant, there are numerous variables that you can’t control — weather, disease, pests and markets.  When you plant in the fall with an eye to the following spring, there is even...