Thinking Spring!

Hello, March!  Spring is coming, or is it here already?  Some days it's hard to tell.  Regardless of the weather, all the tell-tale signs are here:  plants in the greenhouse (and more arriving all the time!), peeps in the greenhouse, and we're eagerly awaiting the birth of Marty's lambs.  So whether or not the weather feels like it, we are certainly getting in the spring spirit!

That also means that we will be opening up for retail in about seven short weeks!  Opening day will be Friday, April 21 from 9:00- 5:00.  You can view our full retail schedule HERE.  But of course there's more!  We'll be hosting three events this season: Savoring Spring, our annual Spring Open House, and Sunset Shopping.  All the details for those events can be seen HERE.  Of course, if you are on the mailing/email list you will be getting that information in the next few weeks.  I would like to note that we are very, VERY excited about opening our season with 'Savoring Spring' on Thursday night, April 20.  It's a totally new and different evening event for us and we are so eager to share it with you all!  

Think spring!!

-Anna Mary

The State of the Greenhouse

You know spring is near when there's some green in the greenhouse- and the greenhouses are looking extra green these days!  We have been keeping busy planting the past few weeks.  Perennials, hanging baskets, early annuals, tropicals...a little bit of everything!

Just for fun, here's a sort of before & after comparison of Greenhouse #1. (It's called "Number One" because it was the first greenhouse built...clever, right?)  This picture was taken about three weeks ago.  You can see the hanging baskets have hardly been touched on the right, and on the left we've got tiny gerberas awaiting transplant.

Same greenhouse, different perspective.  This was the view last week, peeking through the fan vents.  Hanging baskets are now planted and hanging, and every table is full of plants.  As I passed by today, the bright orange and yellow blooms on the Osteos caught my eye and the hanging baskets are growing by leaps and bounds!

And the views outside of the greenhouse are pretty amusing lately!  Marty has been bottle feeding a lamb and he's still small enough not to get into too much trouble around the plants.  So Diego the Dorper lamb has been keeping us company.  You can see him here hiding behind Marty's knee.  I'm not sure how much longer he'll have free reign of the greenhouses after we caught him nibbling on some Dragon Wing begonias yesterday...whoops!

-Anna Mary

P.S. Spring hours and events were officially sent out this week!  Of course, that information is also up to date here if you check out the 'Hours' tab and the 'Events' tab above. 

Summer Update

Near the end of each spring season we are are often asked "What do you DO all summer?".  The truth is, we all do a lot of things...summer things, family things, travel things, and plenty of greenhouse things!  So, in case you're curious, here's a few of the "things" we've found ourselves enjoying this summer.

Well, we kicked off the summer with a wedding!  It was a beautiful, rainy June day- but Miriam and Derek were unfazed by the weather.  The entire greenhouse crew was in attendance and Aunt Cin baked dessert for over 200 guests (three flavors of whoopie pies: chocolate, red velvet, and pumpkin...all were delicious and quickly devoured!).

July brought our annual field trips to greenhouse events and mid-summer visits with customers.   A highlight is always the trek to Columbus, Ohio for Cultivate, a greenhouse/garden center/nursery trade show and educational event to check out everything new and inspiring in the wonderful world of plants...it's a must for us!  Lots of fun pit stops too, like the Franklin Conservatory and Ohio State Trial Gardens.  Another "must" is visiting the Landisville Trials, which are much closer to home.  What's not closer to home?  New Hampshire.  So it was a happy coincidence that this year's Open House at Pleasant View Gardens (the home of the Proven Winner's brand) was perfectly timed with my in-law's Maine vacation.

Once we hit August, we're focused in on two opposing seasons.  Poinsettias are arriving and spring plants, pots and soil are being ordered.  Oh, and it's family reunion time!  We host two family reunions on the farm in August, one for Tom's family and one for Marty's family.  The reunion of Marty's side is known as the Chicken Corn Soup, and many of our greenhouse crew is in attendance.  No matter how hot the day is, we always break at noon for a bowl of chicken corn soup- it's tradition!

Finally, each summer we try to coordinate schedules so that the greenhouse crew can get together for an outing.  We managed to get together at the end of August for a trip up to the Hotel Hershey for lunch and some floral sight-seeing.  We might be a little less recognizable without our denim shirts...

And that's a wrap!  I can hardly believe it's already September and practically poinsettia season to boot.  Where does the time go?

-Anna Mary

Come on Spring!

Spring is such a fun season in the greenhouse!  It always feels like we get a head start on the seasons around here, with poinsettias arriving in late summer and spring starting while there's still snow on the ground.  (That sounds much less impressive on a year like this!)  Here's a little look at what we've been up to, snow and all...

Gotta love those succulents!  Somehow, they transport me beyond spring to summer.  In the early weeks of planting everything green, green, and more green it's such a refreshing jolt to see these vibrant colors.

Speaking of green, take a look in this growing house.  Cindy, Ellie, Laura & Miriam filled this little greenhouse in just about one day- they're planting machines!  And they're on to the next house...

These elephant ears are so tiny... for now!  Of all the plants we grow in the greenhouse these might have the most pronounced transformation.  It's just incredible to know that in one season they'll go from a few inches to tall to a few feet in height.

Also fun to watch grow are the hanging baskets.  They're one of our first and favorite projects each spring... filling with soil, planting, and hanging.  (Actually, the hanging part might be the favorite. The instant gratification of getting those baskets up in the air has not lost its luster yet!)

So that's a little peek into what's been going on in the greenhouse.  It's just too spring-y not to share!  And here's to some spring weather & warmth outside too!

-Anna Mary

Get Ready, Get Set...

We're one week in! Last week was the first that we've really had a crew in the greenhouses this season and we couldn't have asked for more gorgeous weather- warm inside and outside.  (Rumor has it that we're not totally in the clear and there will be more snow soon, but if you can't control it you might as well enjoy it!)

Speaking of snow, this is the first winter that our newest greenhouse has had to deal with major ice and snowfall.  It's held up like a champ, but Tom was still itching to push that snow out of the gutters.  If you google "greenhouse snow collapse", you'll understand why.  

My favorite little thing today was transplanting these little guys!  Just like that stalks of Swiss chard can be so colorful (like this variety, Bright Lights), their roots mirror the bright colors of the plant.  It's always a treat to see their little red and yellow roots in the midst of everything else.

Laura and Miriam didn't move too far from this potting table all day. One of the first orders of business is to transplant perennials. They're another fun one to plant- the little guys come either as jumbo plugs or (my favorite!) with "bare roots".  So no dirt, just super strange looking roots.  They make for a pretty impressive before and after comparison!

Just a little proof for you that preparations are being made and spring certainly is in the greenhouse air!  

-Anna Mary

Preparations

This week has been crammed full of Christmas as we've been getting the greenhouse ready for our retail hours next week!  Cutting twigs & berries, planting bulbs, gathering greens... and today we delved into wreath-making for the first time of the season.  Amid decorating the wreathes with gorgeous red winterberry and pinecones, we couldn't help but throw tradition to the wind and stuff a few full of peacock feathers.  So fun!

-Anna Mary

P.S.  There's still space available in our Amaryllis Workshop on Thursday.  Bring a friend & make a morning of it!  Hope to see you there!

Treasure Hunting

We're taking turns "treasure hunting" in the woods this week.  During her (chilly!) adventure today, Miriam found quite a trophy!  Along with the mosses, bark, pinecones, sticks, bird nests, and other little treasures for our amaryllis terrariums, she brought back a branch with a perfect woodpecker hole.   

I wonder what we'll find tomorrow..!

-Anna Mary

Introducing...Jackson!

The last few months have been extra exciting in the Henry Household thanks to our newest addition, Jackson!  If you've been to the greenhouse, it's almost guaranteed that you've met our two dogs: Wolfie the Pomeranian and Beiler the Jack Russell.  Well, over the summer we just couldn't help but add this little guy into the mix!  

He's living the good life on the farm, and keeping us all (and Wolfie and Beiler) on our toes!  Keep an eye out for him in November & December- I'm sure he'll love to meet you!

-Anna Mary

Moving In

It feels like fall has finally caught up to us!  Marty began moving some of her favorite pots back into the greenhouse this weekend. Even though we're well into October, this Ensete maurelii (ornamental banana) is still quite a showstopper- it would be a shame to sacrifice it to the cold!

-Anna Mary

Basil & Begonias

Savour Greek Basil Tree

It was a beautiful afternoon to be in the greenhouse!  Sue was up to her elbows in basil while Marty was busy planting begonias.  If it weren't for all of the poinsettias, we might have thought it was spring!

I cannot get enough of these basil topiaries!  They're everything you could ever want- practical (who doesn't use basil?!), sophisticated, easy to care for, and they smell delicious.  We'll have them for sale in November & December.  They're a perfect hostess gift.

Seriously, the scent is amazing- I can't wait to put one in my kitchen!

-Anna Mary

Behind the Scenes

Every few years our greenhouses need a little "redecorating". Greenhouse plastic has a finite lifespan and it's up to us to keep it in the best possible condition and replace it when called for.  After all, we're depending on this plastic to keep our plants protected!

The process is simple enough:  remove the old plastic, put the new plastic in place, secure it and inflate.  In reality, it can be a little complicated, especially if the weather isn't on your side!  Thankfully, Saturday morning was the perfect morning to work- clear skies and no wind.

Up bright and early!  No sun yet, we work by the interior greenhouse lights.  The old plastic has been deflated and unattached.

Did I mention there were poinsettias inside?  Miriam described this as a "cross-section of a greenhouse".

The easy part- pulling off the old sheets.  There's no going back now!

The skeleton.

Rolling out the first sheet of the new plastic.  It comes as one continuous 30' by 96' sheet and is so much heavier than it looks!

The key to pulling the new plastic over is to be gentle- the last thing you want is a tear.  At this particular moment I held a camera in one hand and a rope in the other (and I may have been scolded for not pulling enough... whoops!).

Sheet number one is in place, time to repeat with the second sheet!

The sun is brightening the sky into a beautiful blue, bringing the slightest bit of early morning breeze.

When both sheets are in place, it's time to secure them to the greenhouse frame and inflate the space between the two sheets. This is what provides the plants with protection and insulation.

The finished product!  If you look closely, you can see both sheets of plastic.  

Whew!  All in a good day's work.

-Anna Mary

Bountiful Basil

On these hot summer days we hardly want to set foot outside. Thankfully, there was a good excuse to sit in the kitchen under the fan this morning!  Marty's had pesto on the mind and today was the perfect day to freeze basil cubes.  

So pretty!  I can't get enough of the varigated leaves of the Pesto Perpetuo.  An added bonus for this project:  the plant is unbelievably thick with leaves.  

Our process is pretty basic:  strip the leaves, grind them up with some olive oil in the food processor, and pat them into an ice cube tray.  Sue (our pesto expert) recommends topping the cubes with a little more olive oil before you freeze them.

These little cubes are super versatile.  Use them as a base for pesto, add them into spaghetti sauce... theres's tons of room for creativity!

-Anna Mary

A Greenhouse Wedding

June 16, 2012

Our lovely greenhouse wedding.  Hard to believe it's been a year already!

-Anna Mary

Photography by John Powl & Flowers by Sandra Porterfield