Valley View Flowers

09/18/2026

This weekend! The Iowa barn tour. It has 16 round barns on the tour.

Start mapping your route now for the Iowa Barn Foundation 2026 All State Barn Tour - September 19-20.

Of the 200,000 barns built in Iowa, only 250 were round. Only 74 round barns remaining standing today, and we have 16 of the best ones on our tour this month.

See the map of the 16 round barns here:
https://iowabarnfoundation.org/barn-tour/2026-ibf-round-barn-tour/

See the map of all 108 stops here:
https://iowabarnfoundation.org/barn-tour/2026-all-state-barn-tour-sept-19-20/

The tour is free and open to the public, made possible by our member donors. Become a member donor ASAP to receive our 64-page fall member printed magazine with a printed map, tour guide, and stories about barns on the tour.
https://iowabarnfoundation.org/product/membership/

09/10/2026

I've purchased my potting soil this fall. The potting mix we use comes from Canada. With the trade war going on, I'm concern that the price could be higher next spring. I was able to buy it on sale this fall. I wouldn't be surprised if I saved $10 a bag over next spring price. This could also drive up the price of plants at the greenhouses next spring. I'm not trying to get political here. I'm just trying to help the gardeners keep prices lower so they can buy more plants! haha

09/10/2026

The honey from VVF won Best of Show again at the Nebraska State Fair. Most of the credit goes to our local Beekeeper. I think VVF has created a very good setting for the bees. The beekeeper has many entries of honey at the fair and the honey from VVF wins. I like how VVF continues to bring positive attention to Albion. Don't give up on us, we'll keep trying our best.

08/17/2026

We are closed for the season. Thank you to those who visited VVF.

08/16/2026

This is a follow up on herbicide use post.

I highlighted in blue. This is the label from a treflan bag. Trefaln is labeled to use on zinnias and sunflowers. It makes it look like a person can use Treflan on wildflowers. The restriction comes on what that flower can be used for. NOT FOR USE ON PLANTS BEING GROWN FOR SALE OR OTHER COMMERICAL USE, OR FOR COMMERICAL USE SEED PRODUCTION.

This is the restriction that keeps me from planting big plots of flowers and use herbicide for w**d control. I'm not saying every herbicide is labled this way. I just don't know which one can be used. I see a lot of flowers being grown this way. If you are concern you might have to ask the grower what they use. If you have any questions let me know.

08/12/2026

We'll be open Thursday (13th) 10a-4p. Friday (14th) and Saturday (15tj) 10a-8p. We have a private event on Sunday. We could be open by appointment after 2p.

These are the final days for the north field. We're moving these flowers to the barn area. The flowers will improve the barn. The wood crib will also be moved to the barn area. The barn is our future with flowers.

This off-season Lori and I have to figure out how we move forward with VVF. July and August will see big changes. We need more family time. We'll also just need to slow down more. Not everything has to get done right now.

It's hard to build a tourist designation in the rural areas of Nebraska. The metro area or near the I-80 corridor are the ideal places to build. Lori and I have our work cut out to make this work. We can always use more local support. Local support does make a difference. We hope to see you these last few days!

08/11/2026

Have you noticed how many people are growing flowers now. Many new flowers growers are adding flowers to their existing crops. Christmas tree, pumpkin, orchards and many other type of growers. They grow their flowers in big plots. Zinnias and Sunflowers seem to be to go to flowers. You are invited to pick their flowers. It looks really bold and cool. I've looked into this style of growing flowers by broadcasting flower seed. The problem with this style is w**d control. The work needed to control the w**ds is impossible and I can't find an herbicide that is labeled for use on flowers that are going to picked. It's illegal to use herbicide for something that it's not labeled for. I can use herbicide on flowers for a viewing garden. These flowers are not meant to be touched by the customer, just look at the flowers. VVF doesn't use any herbicide on our flowers. I'm not saying everyone is growing flower illegally. I just thought I would inform you to be aware. If you find a herbicide that I can use to grow flowers like that let me know. I would grow flowers like that too.

08/08/2026

With the rain today it should help us get through the next few warm days. I hope we can open next weekend. I'll know more after these warm days. My guess is if we can open next weekend, it would be our last days of the season.

This is a picture we received from a mother. This mother found this in her child's book bag. Today we had another example that makes all this worth it. We had a mom and her daughter (10?) from Aurora. The mom told us that her daughter would rather pick flowers at VVF then go to Disney World. Wow! That was neat. Just a couple examples of the joy we experience here at VVF.

08/06/2026

Another photo shoot at VVF. Congratulations to the couple and thank you for choosing VVF.

08/04/2026

Open Thursday Aug. 6th, 9a-4p. Friday and Saturday August 7 and 8th, 9a-noon.

With another heat wave this weekend we are NEAR THE END OF THE SEASON. I hope to get some open time the following week. I would like to add one more live music and food truck, not sure if I can get this done.

The one thing I'm sure of, VVF will not look like this again. Next summer Lori and I need more time with family. All of our grandkids will be in school this fall. The grandkids have the summers off and we are too busy. We don't know what we are going to do, WE WILL STILL BE GROWING SOME FLOWERS. Just reducing our summer workload.

All barn and no horse! I'll fill you in later. Do you have a guess?