In memoriam Tasha Tudor

I was just reading on of my horticultural magazines to find that Tasha Tudor passed away on June 18, 2008. She is one of our inspirations in the world of gardening and art. She was a illustrator, gardener and Victorian. She lived a life of a Victorian, wearing her hand made period clothing daily and un-modernized house. She loved nature and gardening which added to her long life. She has one of the most exquisite naturalized, cottage gardens in Vermont. She lived a long rich life but will be missed . She is one of my heros . To learn more about her..
http://www.tashtudormuseum.org/

Thanksgiving... give thanks buy local

Today I am preparing for Thanksgiving . Picking up flowers to make table arrangements for customers. As well as picking up ever greens to start decorating clients store fronts. I am pick up a small local duck from Applecheek Farm in Morrisville which is the first time I have cooked a duck , so I'll keep you posted. Hope you all have a fantastic thanksgiving and give thanks to your local farmer ...buy local. They will Thank you for it.

Holiday decorating on the farm and other sites

We have started holiday decorating on the farm. Hanging lights, and decorating our porch. Now that the darkest days of the year are upon us it is nice to see some light. We will soon be putting up our indoor and out door trees, decorated wreathes.
We will provide our customers with any decorations they may need: from the full trimmings to poinsettias for the tables, floral arrangements, and wreathes. Please feel free to contact us and or come by the farm to see our decorations. If you need a table arrangement for thanksgiving please contact us.

Winter Holiday decorating....

Today we are getting ready for Christmas/ Winter Holidays. Ordering wreathes, garlin and kissing balls for our clients, which we decorate with dried flowers, ribbon, pine cones and it wouldn't be Christmas with out.... glitter or a few shiny items.

A gift from Nina

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust

Indian Summers Got us Thinking Spring

The week of warm weather has definitely inspired us for 2009. The other day Nicole started a ton of root cuttings (in water) from our shrubby perennial stock. We have wanted to expand on: hydrangeas, clematis, forsynthia, buddelia , lavender and the list goes on. This is a new experiment for us we will keep you posted on what perennials are working. But only with a few days I can see some success.

Fall Finshing Touches on the Farm

It is November and we are still working away. Planting bulbs in the field and in the cold frame, only 1,ooo to go, Tulips Allium, Daffodils, Star of Bethlehem and Tall Dutch Iris. We are still planting our Endless summer and Blush bride Hydrangea for next years wedding season. As well as a few other perennials. As the ground is frozen in the morning we have to wait till noon-ish to get digging. Some how it always gets done.
This weeks adventure is putting on new greenhouse plastic. Which calls for extreme patience and a no wind day. Yesterday we got the cold frame done and I was amazed the difference. That nice clear plastic as opposed to the old milky plastic. We will still use the old stuff for spring, mini houses. Next is the hothouse. ...
We still need to cut down all the perennials , guess I should stop writing the blog and work on that.

The Vermont Vows Wedding Affair Nov.1, 2008

This event was fabulous as usual. There was an India theme that filled Shelburn Farms Coach Barn with color and spice. The decor was Vermont meets India with glittered pumpkins , pot-pouri bar, a candy bar, flowers and dashes a bright color everywhere. All the vendors looked fabulous bring there own Indian concepts to the show.

My booth was filled with orange: Macara orchids , orange tulips (of course), orange pincushion protia, and flame calla lilies. Submerging the orchids in cylinders and placing floating candles on the top, the brides to be loved it. There were several diffrent arrangements and a lushious bridal bouquet adorn with rich ribbion.

The attendance was huge, The food was great, Unfortunately I didn't get a chance too see the bridal show because I was visiting with some friends: Michelle from Petals whose booth was a symphony of pink and Maria from Maria' s Garden, Vivian from Echo, catching up with Dale and Garett from Catering by Dale, and I had to grab snacks and cake. Perrin from VT Cake Studio had a decadent carrot cake and truffles to die for. Irene Cakes by Design had a sinful chocolate among other cakes.

The show was great. It was wonderful to meet up with friends after a busy wedding season. Working with everyone to make the show happen is always amazing. Thank you Krista Washburn For making the event possible.

2008 A Great Flowering Season.

This year was a bountiful growing season . We started with a great selection of spring bulbs from tulips to alliums. Moving on to our amazing lilacs that are like white and purple clouds buzzing with activity from bees to birds. Then our spring blooming perennials : delphinum, feverfew, sweet william.



All the while seedlings growing in the green house growing strong to be put in the ground in May. Nicole starts the greenhouse March 1, filling cell trays with soil, and seeds everyday. About two weeks later little green heads poke up. This continues till the green house is completely filled with: hanging baskets, bedding plant 4packs , cut flower transplants.



When the weather breaks in May we start planting the cut flower transplants we start going to market where we sell bouquets, flowering hanging baskets, and bedding plants, and tomato and basil starts. The greenhouse keeps filled as Nicole continues to seed for cut flower production.



End of May brings on the beginning of a busy wedding season. Which is so much fun and exciting. Nicole loves designing flowers for weddings. June is booked every weekend.


We are at 3 farmers Markets a week. Thursdays are Waterbury, Saturdays are Burlington, Sunday is Stowe. Never a dull moment.



We are getting up early transplanting the starts from the green house and weeding till dusk. Cutting flowers Thursday-Sundays for markets and weddings.

As July rolls around most everything is in the ground we are just weeding and picking. As well as picking rocks out of the fields, there are always more rocks. Unfortunately 3 weeks of rain set us


back a little but when the sun returns in August Everything grows, especially the weeds.