Ferna Farms

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02/18/2021

Recently our grandson (almost three) said to his parents, "It's so hard to wait!"

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I couldn't agree more. He of course was referring to his mom, dad, and new baby sister coming home.

For me, it is so hard to wait for Spring flowers. Anyone else feel ready for Spring?

With Spring comes FLOWERS!! I firmly believe that flowers can bring such joy to others and designing with them even more so.

Our floral design workshops focus on teaching a style that helps you better understand flowers, their needs, and how to support them in floral design work.

We purposefully start each workshop with a farm tour to show you how flowers exist in nature. After you are inspired, we take you through a guided design of your own.

Our 2021 floral design workshop schedule is live. Head over to our website and reserve your spot.

If you are not signed-up for our email list you will want to be - special Mother's Day announcement and offer coming soon.

30 days to SPRING but who's counting!! Tell me below what you are most looking forward to this Spring🌸

Drop us some ❤️ below to help push us through these last couple of cold nights heating the hoophouse 😊

09/24/2020

BUSY! BUSY! BUSY!”

I am busy compiling all the dahlia data that I recorded over the past season. So many dahlias!! Some from seed and some from tubers. All have literally taken over my “Recent” photos on my iphone. Who knew you could have literally thousands of photos in an album on your phone dubbed “Recent” LOL I am so thankful my phone surveyed the season. I can’t tell you all the times I dropped my phone in the dirt as I was snapping images for a visual representation of what was growing and when. Now to compile all that data and make good use of it.

Although I am finishing up one season, another has already begun. I am busy taking soil samples, amending beds, and tucking things in for a chilly winter. I am equally busy sowing hardy annuals and planting Spring bulbs. Here in zone 6A, the beginning of our season actually starts in July when I sow for fall planting. I kill a LOT of plants in August when the seasons overlap as I am harvesting continously and forgetting I have Spring seedlings growing in the flower studio that need water.

Happy Autumn everyone! I hope you feel a touch of new beginnings as this crisp Fall air settles in!

Pictured:
Dahlia Bee’s Choice
A184SF

09/22/2020

“You couldn’t have scripted it!”

Those are the words of my husband when asked about our first year of marriage and the words I use to describe this years flower farming season.

With a blink of an eye Mother Nature sent frost two days in a row this weekend. The flower field has been peppered with frost. We will spend the rest of the week salvaging what we can. There is a part of me that is of course sad but also a part of me that is ready for a new season.

09/11/2020

What’s in my bucket.
What’s in my head.

Dahlias in all the colors!

xoxo,
Happy weekend!

09/09/2020

It’s natural to want to put our best foot forward - to share the best that we have...
..but this bucket of beaten and battered blooms reminds me that it is also relevant to share the less than perfect, that no one is immune to the triumphs and challenges of life.

At first glance, the image pictured looks like another beautiful flower square. Zoom in and you will see that the pink asters are a bit worn, beaten up by the recent rains and wind. Some are misshapen because they grew in less than perfect conditions. Yet, none of the flowers this season have captured my attention such as these - mainly because I can relate to them.

We grow our flowers from seeds. We do not buy them. We believe in this process of growing sustainable, local blooms and sharing this beauty with our local community. When the field is in full bloom, it is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I call it my happy place. Even with the lack of rain this summer, we have been able to adapt. Its ironic that September has brought the rains that we needed all summer. The rain that our friends along the Pacific Coast so desperately need. As a flower farmer, we love rain. But not before a big wedding or along with early cooler temperatures. Although I am frustrated by the timing of Mother-nature, one of the things I love about flower farming is the ability to adapt and to thrive in the challenges. I know there is beauty in the challenges that will give me character and shape my journey. So today I will just be thankful for the the rain and the changing season to come, a time to rest and grow.

09/03/2020

Oh my!! Look at this one!

Were my exact words when I turned the corner and saw this dahlia.

One of my favorite parts of the season has been growing dahlias from seeds - definitely not for the faint heart and a bit unpredictable, as every seed is a new variety. Yet, I love discovering new dahlias as each one emerges. Most are what I call ‘spikes’ and will not be grown out next year. But others, like this mango bronze one are true treasures. The whole process takes a couple of years, a sharp eye for details and record keeping, and a bit of patiences. All things I love. Well not the patience thing - I’m still learning that one!

Pictured: A252SF
Bloom: 9.0 cm

09/02/2020

C A L E N D U L A… I just like saying the word - Try it! It’s fun!

I purposefully planted this variety to bloom at the end of the season because of the colors. On cue, they are now in full bloom, a reminder that the season is changing. I can tell that the season is changing because of the cool breeze on my morning walks and the changing colors around me. I am thankful for the changing seasons. I never regret them and always welcome the opportunity for change and what it will bring.

Last year, I planted calendula in the bright yellow and orange. If I’m honest, when they first started to bloom the bright colors were a bit intense for my liking. But they did make a beautiful statement in the field.

To see last year’s calendula in the field, go to Small Plot: Big Impact. pg. 17 top middle field image. Our field had a small shout out in their Small Plot:Big Impact feature.

To see the many uses of calendula checkout

09/01/2020

I must be delirious. I’m harvesting dahlias thinking about tomatoes...

These colors have me missing tomatoes!

Focusing all our attention on the farm and growing sustainable local flowers, we forgoed a vegetable garden this year. As I was picking these dahlias that resemble the color of ‘tomatoes' (sort of), I am reminded of how much I miss picking tomatoes and making salsa.

Did you grow tomatoes this year? Did you make salsa? Give me all the detz!

08/27/2020

Waiting for the dahlias to bloom in the field this year is like watching a pot of water boil…
so many buds on the verge of exploding!! If only we had some rain.

The heat and no rain has slowed the dahlias a bit. You can irrigate but there is nothing like rain water to jump start a garden and make a plant thrive. In early spring, our pond was overflowing due to all the rain. Today, our pond is down 4 - 5 feet. Yes feet not inches! Foraging this weekend we could see the stress the lack of rain is beginning to have on the trees in the woods.

Till our tuber dahlias start putting on a show, we continue to enjoy the surprises that the dahlias from seed keep rolling out. Pictured here, A155SF has a bright salmon center with a hint of yellow that fades to light dusty rose petal tips. This cokor combination makes the bloom glow.

08/25/2020

Good morning Flower Lovers!

Sipping my morning coffee and secretly wishing it was snowing outside so I could stay here a bit longer. Ever have one of those mornings?

Last night I harvested asters until the humidity did me in. I will be back at it this morning. So many asters! The aster are more prolific than the zinnias this year. They have been going strong for three weeks and appear to have more in them. I pinch out the center bloom that appears first and they go crazy with long, sturdy stems that last in the vase for more than 10 days.

In the middle of harvesting, I stopped to admire this perfect soft pink aster that somehow in the sea of others stuck out to me.

08/20/2020

Meet dahlia A130SF. Don’t be fooled by her size, only 5 cm across she is stunning. The color is the most lush matte red with a muted hue that sits on top of a dark stem. Can’t wait to pair her with coral.

PS. I spy a bug. Can you?

Address

Allendale, MI
49401

Website

https://www.fernafarms.com/contact-us

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