SNEAK PEEK 2016 Seed List

Edenbrothers

 With the arrival of spring just days away we are that much closer to the lushness of a new growing season. The spring crocus are up and the greening of stems on my rose bushes is proof that energy is surging up through the thawing earth. We are still in warm-up mode in New England which means we are about 6- 8 weeks away from sowing seeds for summer blooms. Yahoo!

2015 mid-summer dahlias and zinnias.

With the addition of several more raised beds to our backyard flower farm I'm feeling excited about expanding my flower inventory this year. I'm entering into my fifth year of growing cut flowers and I'm excited to branch out and try some new varieties.  I order seeds from a variety of sources each year because I like to know who's seeds have a high germination rate. I'm new to Johnny's Selected Seeds and Edenbrother's, but I've heard glowing reports from other growers so I'm feeling confident in my choices. If mother nature cooperates, I'll be golden! 

 Here's the rundown, the lowdown, the skinny, the scoop, the sneak peek for the 

2016 Dandelion House Flower Farm season.

FLOWERS ( SEEDS)

• Ammi DARA 
• Ammi GREEN MIST
• Aster APRICOT
• Aster WHITE
• Aster MIX 
• Cleome MIX ( hassleriana)
• Cosmos VERSAILLES MIX
• Gomphrena QUIS ORANGE
• Phlox CHERRY CARAMEL
• Sunflower BUTTERCREAM F1
• Zinnia CORAL-GIANT DAHLIA FLOWERED
• Zinnia BENARY'S GIANT WINE
• Zinnia BENARY'S GIANT MIX
• Zinnia BENARY'S GIANT SALMON ROSE
• Zinnia  UPROAR ROSE FI
 

 

 FILLERS

• Amaranth CORAL FOUNTAIN
• Amaranth LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING
• Amaranth EMERALD TASSELS
• Basil AROMATTO
• Celosia PAMPAS PLUME
• Celosia RUBY PARFAIT
• Celosia SYLPHID
• Gypsophila COVENT GARDEN MARKET

  Friendship Bouquet ( 2015)

 I'll be adding annual plugs such as coleus, dusty miller, snapdragons and no doubt some surprises I've yet to discover! Next time, my dahlia and mums list for 2016!

I hope you're feeling the growing anticipation of the arrival spring and feeling inspired to plant the garden of your dreams! 

Tell me what you are planting for the first time!

Dried Hydrangeas For Fall Crafting and Decorating

 Would you just look at the mixture of color in this bunch of Endless Summer Hydrangea blossoms? It's like spring, summer, fall and winter all rolled in to one! These minty green, pale blue, soft lavender and deep purply pinks with a few tinged flower petals beg to be enjoyed a little longer don't they? How many of you harvest and create with dried Hydrangea blossoms? 

There's really no big secret to harvesting them. If you cut them in summer when they are still brilliant in color, they will die like any other flower in a week or so. 

To harvest for drying simply wait until late summer to cut them. We northeastern gardeners cut in late August through September before the first frost.

You can dry them in a vase or bucket with a little water in the bottom or no water at all.

 At this point they are ready for crafting, displaying of gift giving!  

I was inspired to make some mini bouquet's to sell in my booth Burlap and Bling after seeing them for sale at The Vintage Bazaar I went too last weekend.

 I have one very large Endless Summer Hydrangea that provided me with enough dried blossoms to create 15 or so mini bouquets ( 3 stems each ). 

 I went outside in the cool of the evening and cut a cooler full of blooms and kept them outside over night. The following morning I went to work creating my bouquets!

 

 Here's how I put my bouquets together.

I gathered three Hydrangea blossoms and removed all the leaves from the stems.

Then I cut the stems even on the bottom.

 I tied them together in three places with jute.

I also included my business post card along with the price tag.

I tucked them into my vintage clam basket ( for sale at my booth for 65.00 ) and packed them into the car with a few other items.

 But, not before I took more photos of them! 

Don't they look pretty with the red backdrop or our shed?

Or how about posed in front of this pair of Antique shutters?

Well, as you can see it's not that difficult to harvest your dried hydrangeas...I've even seen them for sale in Etsy shops!

Next, I'm going to try making a cottage wreath with them and what ever else I can snip out of the garden! 

Do you harvest your hydrangeas? What do you like to do with them?
Please share your projects and tips below!