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I couldn't agree more and are so happy you feel the same!
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Sunset Bridal Bouquet
The end of Spring a bride reached out asking for an elopement bouquet and boutonniere for the end of September. She wanted bold rich blend and hoped for sunset colors.
In May my mind is generally on soft pinks and pastels. Her rich palette of oranges, burgundy, blush with a touch of blue was absolutely inspiring to think about. Fortunately, she gave me plenty of time to do some research.
When given more than 6 months notice for wedding work, I try to grow at least 2 special flowers just for that bride's special bouquet. The richest sunset colors to her bouquet was going to get 3...
1- A perfectly blush rose that had a deep yet soft clove scent that just happened to have the same name as the bride's deceased mother.
2- A tricolored peachy orange blush dahlia.
3- A salvia with the deep rich burgundy maroon hue
With these three growing strong, I felt confident her personal bouquet as well as her DIY Buckets when the time came.
This past week all growing and planning came to fruition. The flowers grown specifically for her were glorious. The additional flowers grown were looking good dispite the quick swing in temperature the week before.
I cut and processed the flowers the day before needed to design with them and they all looked fantastic. Never did I expect to love this bouquet like it do. It turned out to be my favorite bold colored bouquet to date (which is why I decided to blog about it!)
Take a peak and let me know if you like it too...
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Create Your own Lovely Dahlia Bouquet
If you love dahlias, you know their time with us is short this time of year.
Cold weather makes their leaves and flowers turn brown. The plant may look dead, but if you dig beneath the soil you will find a tuber that is very much filled with all the life to give more blooms next year... but growing dahlias can be a discussion for another day.
Right now, I want to discuss some of the best ways I have learned to design with the gorgeous flowers. a bowl full of dahlias looks opulent and luxurious. Because these marvelous flowers can stand on their own, you may or may not want to add foliage. I am a self proclaimed foliage lover. I love the wispiness that lends to me feeling like I have taken a trip to a English country village. Anyway....
Here are my top 3 tips.
1- Choose colors that either compliment each other or are similar hues and saturation. (Colors are deeply personal, so whatever you choose will be unique to your likes) I like to chose colors that are on the same side of the color wheel.
2- Choose dahlias of differing sizes or shapes. If you really like one particular dahlia, perhaps choose the most of that one. I love the idea of the the 3, 5, 8 rule, but you will see in my example that I don't necessarily follow it. Bouquets using a 3, 5, 8 rule have three of the largest size flower. Five of the smallest size. Eight of the favorite. Play around with it and share pictures by tagging me on FB or Insta.
3- Vary the height of your flowers. Fitting those large blooms all at the same height can make some of those beautiful faces get smooshed. Give each bloom room to breathe a bit by making them at different lengths. I love it when I see implied lines created with round flowers. It takes a bit of practice, but once in a while the implied line points directly to where you want all viewers or passersby to look.
Good Luck as you create your own dahlia centerpiece or bouquet to share with a friend, family or simply for yourself to enjoy.
Flowers bring joy and smiles so go out and enjoy yours today!
Bare Root Planting Made Easy
There is a bit of mystery behind planting roots that don’t come in a pot (aka bare root)
Don't worry, you are not the only one. I had to learn the hard way before Google, but you don't have to!
In reality, planting bareroots couldn’t be easier.
* It saves steps,
* Reduces root binding,
* It's better for the environment
and probably many more reasons too!
Here is my simple 7 step process.
1- Grab a bucket or tub that holds water and fill it at least 1/4 full.
2- Put your bare root plants in the tub. (as they are… if they come with soil attached, leave it on and put it in the water. If there is no soil put them in)
3- While they are soaking dig your hole a little bigger and deeper than the roots. It doesn’t have to be exact, but a bit bigger is better than too small.
4- Water the hole. (My native soil tends to be a bit sandy, so I like to fill it all the way up, but if you have clay or poor drainage you may make your hole bigger, add soil amendments, then water it in at this point).
5- Remove roots from water and plant. (If there is soil on the bareroot plant, I soak for up to 10 minutes. If the root comes soilless, I soak them up to 30 minutes.
6- Here is where I add natural organic fertilizers around the roots. My favorites are The Perfect Blend Organics and Worm Castings.
7- Use the remaining water you have from soaking the roots to water the plants and extra water as needed. (If they have green leaves showing, I water daily for the first week to get the roots to send out new feeder roots quickly.)
PRO TIP: The day you receive your plants is the best day to get them planted. If you can’t plant immediately, put them on soil or in an area they can be protected and water them.
If you have questions, please send me a message. I am happy to help!
So glad you are here. Let’s get Planting!!
Am I too late to plant my Spring Bulbs?
The best laid plans don't always come to fruition.
It’s January (or even February) and you didn’t get your spring bulbs (tulips or daffodils etc) planted. Are you too late?
I realize the ground is probably frozen in our Treasure Valley zone 6b/7a, so DON’T Dig Now.
Digging in frozen earth damages more than just your pride and muscles. While the earth can feel as hard as concrete, forcing it to separate can damage the integrity of the soil making it settle unevenly once it does thaw.
Here are the key things I have done to make it so I can get bulbs in the ground safely before Spring.
1. Cover the area you where want to plant the bulbs with 6" of light mulch (I use leaves because that is what I have most of, but straw works just as well).
2. Cover those leaves with some kind of protective cloth. Mostly this is to keep the mulch from blowing away should we get a strong wind. (I use a frost cloth, but in the past when I have a smaller area I've used an old fleece blanket).
3. I will leave this be for a couple of days, where it gently keeps the ground above freezing and cause it to thaw.
4. After a few days, rake away the mulch and dig the needed depth for the bulbs.
5. Plant. (Tulip bulbs bought from me should be planted 6" deep. If they are staying in your landscape and not being used as a cut flower, plant them 4" apart. Daffodils should be planted 4" deep and 4"-6" apart.)
6. Water. Bulbs do need to be watered in deeply when they are planted,
What if you are planting just as it the day is turning to night, getting darker and colder? What I have done with Ranunculus and Anemones and believe it will work just as well with the tulips is this...
Plant one day and water in the next day when you have a couple of hours before temperatures reach that critical 30 degrees or lower.
Another option is to use the mulch again. Plant the bulbs. Water in and then cover them up with the straw or leaves again. Here is what I don't quite know yet. Daffodils (even the fancy daffs) will be fine to leave the mulch on them long term. Tulips (at least the fringed, parrot, and double varieties) typically require EXTRA cooling. This may mean that after a day or two it will be best to remove the mulch once again. It is an extra couple steps, but will allow the soil to get what it needs to support your bulbs and help them grow through the winter months.
If you like this discussion, you may want to join my flower friends newsletter where we chat about all kinds of flowers.
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Should I Do my Own Wedding Flowers?
Weddings are dreamy!
With all the love exploding in your heart, filled with hopes and dreams of forever, it is pretty common to rush to Pintrest and begin your vision boards. Next you call your florist and name all the ways you want to fill your day with fresh gorgeous blooms, but then she asks you to name your budget for all your stunning ideas.
You are not alone if you suddenly think the only way you can have the wedding event of your dreams is to do them yourself (DIY). But is DIY right for you?
I am here for you! Here is a quick checklist to guide you through.
Do I feel comfortable working with flowers?
Do I (or someone I appoint) have at least 8 hours the day before the wedding to work on making the floral arrangements?
Am I able to travel to pick up my flowers a day before the wedding?
Do I have a good place (cool place out of direct sunlight and away from pets) to store the flowers between pick-up and the wedding and a good work space?
Do I have friends or family who can help me the day before the wedding willing to take part of a large last-minute project?
Will I be okay if my flowers aren’t exactly like my inspo picture?
Do I have someone willing to set up all the centerpieces and other flower decorations when I need to be getting dressed and ready?
Do I feel like hunting down all the vases and other containers myself, and do I know what I'll do with them afterwards?
Do I want to buy all the necessary supplies to make the more intricate wedding party flowers (boutonnieres, bouquets, corsages, etc) or do I want to hire a farmer florist to do those while I handle all the other flower decorations?
Do I have someone who can help clean up and take away all the flowers/decor after the wedding is done?
Just know that no matter which is best for you, or if a combination will work great, all are great options. Also, I want to reassure you that the most important element for a beautiful wedding is two people being deeply committed to love, respect and care for each other. If you've got that, you have got not only a beautiful wedding in your future, but also a beautiful life.
Along with this checklist, once you are booked you will get emails that go over when to pick up your flowers and transportation details.
Don't worry. You are on the right path. I am confident that if these questions are answered truthfully, it will be clear if DIYis right for you by the end.
I'll be here for you when you are done.
6 Favorite Flowering Perennials
We are nearly 1/2 way through winter, which means it will be a great time to start planting perennial cut flowers in about 8 weeks.
Early spring is one of the best times to plant hardy perennials that thrive in our 6b/7a Treasure Valley weather. There really is no need to wait until Mother's Day to plant these tough plants.
Here at Ella June Gardens, I grow over 75 varieties of perennial cutflowers. Perennials can be a little bit of an investment on the front end, but continue to come
back year after year.
Some perennial cut flowers I have started from seed. These grow beautifully and bloom just the color I expect them too. Others come from root divisions in order to get the desired bloom color or shape.
Which ever way the perennial blooms come, they will always be worth the effort in my book. I was going to give you my top 5 favorites, but I just couldn't leave off yarrow. So here are my top 6.
6 Favorite Easy Perennial Blooming Flowers.
#6 - Yarrow - There are so many types of yarrow, that there is a wide range to choose from. I have grown only 8 different varieties, but love them all for different reasons. For a white rebloomer, I'd choose Peter Cottontail (from root divisions). For pastel mix of colors, I like the Colorado Mix (from seed). For dried flowers, I don't think any do as well as Corination Gold (root divisions) at keeping their colors.
#5 - Eryngium - What is a garden without a blue flower? These beauties are frequently found in grocery store bouquets for a reason. Their color is so rich and vivid that they make a bouquet sing... and they are quite easy to grow. If you have patience to wait 2 years for blooms, you can even grow them easily from seed!
#4 - Echinacea - These flowers have some such a long way from just the regular cone flower our grandmother's grew. While I still love the basic coneflower shape, the specialty doubles and truffles steal my heart every single time. I think I need to grow all the colors, and there are soo many to choose from! The polinators love them. They hold up in a vase for 10+ days. They are drought tolerant once they are established. They rebloom multiple times in a season. For so many reasons, Echinacea should be on every cutflower garden's wish list.
#3 - Foxtail Lilies - O Glory. I love these tall foxtail shaped blooms. Few flowers get this tall in Idaho. They really look like something quite exotic dancing through the garden beds. They are too tall for a standard vase inside the house, but if you have a large urn, they are worth bringing a few stems in. They last just as long inside in water as they do outside on the plant. Foxtail lilies can be tricky to source and their bare roots have to be handled with a bit of care, but if you are lucky enough to get some, email me. I am happy to share tips for planting.
This design was created by Posies Floral Design. I love it because it shows how these beauties dance above other flowers.
#2 - Phlox - I went so many years only knowing about creeping phlox (the kind that work great as a ground cover. Only about 5 years ago did I discover tall phlox. The scent is light and fresh and perfectly lovely. It is a complete battle between which scent I like better peonies or phlox... I like one best until the next one blooms. I just cannot decide. These can be reblooming once they are established. Give them a couple years growing in your gardens before expecting this from them though. Warning, some phlox are prone to powdery mildew. Simply look for varieties that say they aren't and you should be fine.
#1 - Peonies - Drumroll please for the diva of all flowers...
If you have been around me much, you know peonies will always be my favorite. The pure nostalgia. The rarity of them. Every year I try to stuff a few more roots into my Gardens. Even though they only bloom for 1-2 weeks each year, I simply cannot get enough of these. Their bomb of petals. Their exquisit scent. Their long lasting ability (some have lasted for over 100 years!) I simply cannot get enough of these. If I could only grow one perennial flower, peonies would be my choice. They are so easy to grow, that I am convinced everyone should have at least one peony in their garden.
What is the best of all this?
In the heat of summer no wedding should be without Echinacea or Eryngium.
No isle flowers sing quite like the ones who include the tall dancing foxtail lilies. They are never-to-be-forgotten.
Tucking peonies into a spring bridal bouquet or phlox into a summer wedding not only brings beauty to the eyes, but also a scent they will never want to forget.
When I can grow these stunning special flowers for a special wedding or event. That really makes my heart sing.
Best Blessings to you and yours,
Ella
Questions on Tulips...
There have been a lot of questions about tulips coming recently about growing tulips, and for good reason.
There is so much shown lately about growing tulips in egg crate format to fit literally 1000's of tulips in a small space to give a Holland inspired WOW factor.
But all these inspirational posts can lead to big confusion for the home gardener. Here is why...
Most home gardeners have planted small clusters of bulbs in the winter. They get to enjoy the beautiful symbol of hope in the Spring when not much has woken up yet in their garden. The traditional gardener will then leave the flowers in the garden and let the foliage die back naturally and the tulips are a bit forgotten until the following year when they bloom again.
Under these circumstances, tulips are a bit of a perennial bloomer. Plant them as directed 6" deep and 3"-4" away from any other plants, bulbs or roots. You may need to divide the bulbs in a few years but you can bet they will give you several years of flowers just like daffodils.
Pretty straight forward...
Until recently...
The confusion began in about 2018 when more Americans began growing tulips for cut flower production.
When tulips are being grown to be used as a cut flower, those bulbs don't need any space to multiply because they are being pulled right out of the ground before they are even in full bloom.
That is right. The flower, foliage, and bulb and pulled rather than cut.
Many ask, can I just cut the foliage and flowers and leave the bulb to continue to grow?
Nope. That bulb will not create a new flower without the foliage to regenerate that bloom, stem and strength to produce it.
In this situation, the bub needs to be treated like an annual. One bulb = One flower.
This is why the cut flower industry is showing all the bulbs planted so close together.
I hope this clears things up for you a bit. But you are always welcome to email me you questions.
Best Blessings,
Ella
Failure is part of my job...
Sometimes when flower growing isn't going well, I have to tell myself that this is part of the job I chose.
I wish that flower growing was always the perfect pictures painted on social media, but it certainly isn't.
Let's talk about tulips for a minute. In my previous blog I mentioned that when tulip bulbs are used as cut flowers the math generally goes like this 1 bulb = 1 flower.
However, I realized this week that the math I did there is quite misleading. It really is something closer to 1.5 bulbs = 1 flower in the field and 2 bulbs = 1 flower when forced. Hydroponics may even be smaller margins. I am beginning to think it is 2.5 bulbs = 1 flower.
That may be a bit confusing, so let me explain...
First of all, especially when buying bulbs in bulk, many came this year that were completely rotted. They were soft and even when I carefully sorted through them about 1/3 had to be thrown away as not being a viable bulb.
That about broke my heart.
Gathering up all my courage, I moved forward with my tulip plan. This year 1/2 of my bulbs were planted outside and 1/2 of them I am forcing hydroponically.
Once bulbs are tucked into the ground, I thought they would be safe and sound for a few months until bloom time. However, so many bulbs are being found in my walk ways and grass.
We are just beginning to realize tulips planted in my gardens are being packed away by squirrels and/or mice who think they are delicious.
I am fairly confident that I now have at least 25% fewer bulbs out there right now.
Also, with all the excessive rain we received overnight I have been digging trenches to guide water away from the remaining bulbs.
Bulb rot is not something we have to worry about too much in dry Idaho, but when our annual rain expectancy comes all at once, all bets are off.
So that is what's happening with the outside tulips.
Hydroponic growing is not for the faint of heart either.
I took it on knowing it was going to be a challenge. All conditions have to be just right in order to trick the bulbs into thinking they have already experienced enough Winter to flower and that it is now Spring.
One thing that I monitor closely is humidity.
Honestly, we have such a dry climate, that needing to monitor the humidity took me completely by surprise. Tulips will get either leaf topple or stem topple if they experience humidity over 90% - even for just a few minutes.
Imagine my horror to come home one day and find the humidity in my grow space had spiked to 99%.
I worked as quickly as possible to get the humidity down and soon it was well below the 90% danger zone.
At first the tulips did not look like they suffered too much from it, but now I know that 2 weeks later, their leaves began to split and some stems have caved in. The stems that were most susceptible to stem topple are not able to hold up their blooms.
So... here is the good - Winter tulips when they bloom are stunningly awesome!!
Here is the bad - It is a bit heart wrenching to see potential flowers lost so easily after so much work.
Here is the ugly - At this point Winter Tulip growing isn't looking like it will be a sustainable part of my business. I'll have to wait until May and crunch all the numbers. It is best said by my mother when I was growing up. "We never need to go to Vegas. Farming is the biggest gamble of a lifetime."
As we witness strange Winter storms hitting all across the United States, my little flower experiment is nothing in comparison. However, it does give me a little taste of what that gamble is doing to our food farms and domestic food supply.
If you are the praying type, please pray for America. If you are not the praying type, maybe you will consider praying for America anyway.
Be Blessed,
Ella
A little Touch of Everyday Elegance...
If you are like me, many times, it's the small things that make the biggest difference.
This is why I package Ella June Gardens tulips in various sizes. You pick the right size for what you need.
The 8-stem "A Little Luxury" tulip bunches are just enough to bring a touch of understated elegance to your everyday life.
Whether you're treating yourself to a pop of color on a dreary winter day, surprising a friend with a thoughtful gesture, or adding a touch of natural beauty to your home, these perfectly petite bouquets are the answer.
Just $20, makes it an affordable way to brighten any moment. Imagine these vibrant tulips gracing your kitchen table, adding a touch of spring to your office, or brightening the day of someone special.
There is nothing that brights a space better than flowers. "A Little Luxury" is the perfect way to say "I'm thinking of you," "Thank you," or simply, "I deserve this."
Deepest Affection: "The Grand Gesture"
When you want to make a truly unforgettable impression, the 25-stem "The Grand Gesture" tulip bunches are just for you.
"The Grand Gesture" is the perfect choice this abundant bouquet becomes a symphony of color and some of the tulips even have light fragrance.
It is a breathtaking expression of love, appreciation, or celebration. At $50, "The Grand Gesture" is ideal for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, birthdays, or any occasion where you want to convey your deepest emotions.
Imagine the look on your loved one's face when they receive this magnificent display of winter's finest blooms. It's a gift grown with love and joy that will be remembered long after the last petal falls.
As one of my flower friends recently said, "It's not just flowers; it's an experienced
Why Choose Locally Grown Tulips?
Unmatched Freshness: Here in my shop, I can harvest tulips right at the peak of their beauty when you are ready for them rather than having to pick them early to ship. This ensures the most vibrant color and longest-lasting blooms. My customers tell me all the time, "You won't find this level of freshness with store-bought flowers."
Sustainable Practices: I am completely committed to sustainable gardening practices to ensure the health of our blooms and help the earth continue to give to us.
Local Love: By choosing my locally grown tulips, you're allowing me to share extra flowers with our local shelters and care facilities for those that may be forgotten. Each month I have flowers, I gift flowers to someone in the community who is needing a boost. If you know someone you'd like to recommend, please pop me an email with the suggestion.
Unique Beauty: Each tulip is unique, with its own individual character and charm. I have hand-picked each variety based on colors and shapes you may have not seen before. Each and every variety is a testament to a Grand Creator.
Workshop vs. Class - which is best?
The long standing debate.
Are they the same or different?
I can't speak for everywhere, but here my Gardens, classes & workshops are very different things.
Classes at Ella June Gardens
Classes are a passive experience. You come, listen and ask all the questions you want, but there are few (if any) things for you to experience or take home with you.
Basically, you listen while in the class and take all the notes you want. Once you get home, you do with the information as you see fit.
Classes take less prep work for me.
Class don’t have any supplies that I source and purchase for you.
Shorter planning time.
All this equals a big savings for you.
Workshops at Ella June Gardens
Workshops are an active experience. We gather. We tour the gardens. All your questions are answered in detail. Most loved by attendees, the workshop includes everything you need in order to do the topic of that day.
Workshops are about creating and community.
Floral design workshops include everything you need to create that particular design that day. (the vase, the mechanics, the flowers etc.)
Seed Starting Workshops include everything you need to start seeds as well as the knowledge behind those seeds. (the soil, containers, seeds). Some even include additional plants already established for you to take right home and plant in your garden.
Workshops take weeks for me to prep to source and check each of the supplies that will be needed. It requires a whole lot more planning on my part to make sure you walk away with something wonderful, useable or even giftable.
I never know exactly how many people will want the workshop, requiring minimum and maximum numbers and costing more.
So which is better for you? would you rather learn then source your own tools or have everything gathered and prepped for you?
Please email me and let me know which format you prefer.
Best Blessings,
Ella
Starting Seeds in January?
Am I completely crazy?
Most people believe you shouldn't plant flowers or vegetables into the garden in Middleton, Idaho (zone 6b-7a) before Mother's Day.
Years ago I taught it too.
However, it is a completely wrong philosophy.
There are actually many flowers that PREFER being planted out when you have the big weather swings in early spring.
Here's a list of the top 5 flowers I always plant every Winter from seed and plant the seedlings in my gardens by mid March.
#1 - Snapdragons
These beauties are flowers a cutting garden cannot do without. They are just barely able to handle our winters, so when I plant them in the fall it is a bit of a gamble. If we get extra cold one week, they may not make it. Because I always hope for those earlier blooms I still plant them in the fall, but always reseed in February... just in case I have holes I needs to put new plants.
#2 - Bachelor Buttons
Have you seen the new colors of bachelor buttons that have come out the past few years? Ahhhh!! I simply cannot get enough of this flower anymore. Although I still grow the traditional Blue Boy because all brides seem to want blue in their bouquets these days, I love the pinks! The mixes of Velvet Dawn with varying shades from eggplant to plum to almost blush really speak to my soul too and this will be my first year growing these colors.
#3 - Calendula
What is a cutting garden without this early spring beauty? Again, I am partial to the newly bred varieties. You know I like the softer colors. Ivory Princess and Triangle Flashback are two I love. They sell out quickly, so if you like the softer shades too and happen to see seeds available be sure to snatch them up!
#4 - Larkspur
Larkspur seemed unimpressive to me until I found the QIS series. These are fully double florets and bigger than what was offered to our grandmothers garden. These are not only lovely in arrangements, but their flowy nature in the garden space make them a double win in my book.
#5 - Feverfew
I have fallen for every single variety of feverfew I have ever grown. Whether you grow the tiny daisy shape or sunny ball on multiple stems all of them are simply pure sunshine... once again both in and out of a vase.
What is extra great about these flowers is if you plant them in the garden by March, you are likely to have flowers by June!
No more waiting long into the heat of summer to have bright glorious flowers in your garden. These will grow and bloom for you so much better if you plant them out early -
I promise!
Happy Growing!
Ella
Does Ella June Gardens Sell Wholesale to Florists?
Why yes, yes I do!
Please note that if you happen upon this Blog , and are a florist, THIS POST IS FOR YOU!
For 4 years, cultivating specialty heirloom, old-fashioned and uncommon varieties of flowers for wholesalers was my main game.
Growing large quantities of blooms for florists and designers to use in your amazing design work is remains a big focus in my Gardens, however how it works continues to morph and change a bit each year.
To be able to continue selling to this elite flower market, I have had to make some changes.
** Beginning in 2025, the State of Idaho requires me to have on record both your florist license and your Reseller’s & Florist license before the first sale of the year can happen. **
Please email me today to get a link to the super easy Google Form for you to fill out.
Flowers are Essential...
We all desire peace and a bit of tranquility from the stresses of every day life. We all desire peace and a bit of tranquility from the stresses of every day life.
Did you know that Harvard conducted a behavioral research study on having cut flowers in your home?
Any guesses what the study revealed?
My guess is that if you are a flower friend of mine, you will not be surprised by these findings in the least.
The behavioral research study conducted by Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, found that people feel more compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less depressed when fresh cut flowers are present in the home.
I don't know about you, but these are all areas I am incredibly interested in improving.
Local flowers are really difficult to get in Idaho year round. This is why I am growing winter tulips.
Tulips symbolize Spring, Hope, and Joy.
When you add these to the Harvard study that improves Compassion, decreases worry and depression, it seems to me flowers will make the world a better place!
Want to order your flowers for this week? Here's the link to Winter Tulips!
Want to grow flowers of your own to cut and bring into your home? Sign up for my Seed Sowing Classes.
If you are reading this May - October, maybe you would prefer ordering your Friday Flowers .
Either way, I hope you are blessed with all the hope, joy, compassion and kindness flowers can bring you!
An Ode to Wonderful...
If you were limited to one word for 10 years, what would you choose?
The first time I met my friend's mom was decades ago. I will call her Violet. The first thing Violet did was take my hand and show me her flower garden. She lived in the hot dry desert of Colorado, yet had her property blooming like a rose.
It was beautiful!
Over the years Violet showed me that she loved all things family, especially her home and garden. She wanted to make the world a better place, or at least her part of the world and did it with nearly constant service to others.
She always loved flowers and grew so many. She was compassionate, full of energy, ideas, and love of life.
Ten years ago Violet suffered a massive stroke that left her completely debilitated. As she regained strength, she was able to say one word.
“Wonderful!”
Would you like some lunch Violet? She responded with “Wonderful!”
Would you like me to read to you? “Wonderful!”
Would you like to sit up? “Wonderful!”
When my friend would bring Violet to her home everything was “Wonderful!” with a lopsided grin.
That one word drew people to her like bees to flowers on a hot summer day.
I have learned that people who love flowers are often happier. They have kind hearts and are generally thinking of how to be gracious to others.
Our friend 'Violet' lifted people's hearts by smiling and telling them "Wonderful!" to everything they said or did for just over 10 years before her body gave up.
What a legacy she left! What an influence!
Are flower people this way naturally so they are naturally drawn to the beauty of flowers, or do flowers make them this way?
I couldn't really say.
Either way, maybe we all just want our efforts to be received as Wonderful!
Flowers are like people. Each is beautiful in their own way. ~Miranda Kerr
When is the Best Time to Plant flowering Perennials?
This is a question asked a lot this time of year. The answer is simple, but not easy to follow.
The best time to plant is when the plant is able to put down roots quickly.
When do plants put down roots quickly? It depends on the plant and what it likes.
You have heard me say that there are cool weather loving plants and warm weather loving plants. This is true for perennials (plants that grow and flower year after year) as well as annuals (plants that grow and flower for one season).
Let's first take the well known snapdragon. Many people have heard of it, seen it, and want to grow it. Maybe they have tried. Maybe they bought a seedling at a big box nursery and still it didn't perform the way they hoped.
Snapdragons are a great example of a cool weather loving flower. If you plant it after our last frost, you may get a bloom, but it won't thrive untili fall. If you plant that same snapdragon in April when the temperatures are jumping from lows of 20's to highs of 70+, they thrive! That plant loves this kind of weather and happily puts down roots to support blooms in a couple months.
Next, how about ranunculus? Ranunculus are gorgeous blooms, but if you plant it out in May you will never see its full glory. It wants to have its roots settled deep in the soil before it temps reach 60.
Pro tip- don't buy a cool weather loving plant when it is in bloom. Try to choose a plant with just foliage before buds are set. This will give the plants energy to focus on getting deep roots before time for blooms.
I know... I know this seems so backwards. It is cold outside and I am saying its a good time to plant?
Perennial plants are the same. If they are early bloomers they are likely cool weather plants. If you can, plant these in September. Missed September? March-April is your next best time. Just remember to water them weekly even though the weather is cold.
Think Daffodils vs. Dahlias. One likes it cold. One likes it hot. One hates hot and one hates cold.
Don't know which a plant is? There are too many to memorize.
I may be able to guide you. send me an email and we will chat!
Overwintering Eucalyptus in Treasure Valley Idaho zone 6b-7a
Eucalyptus plants along with the blessings and troubles that come with overwintering it has been a year in the making.
These seeds were selected from a farm deep in Australia in August 2023.
Once they arrived in Idaho, I had little hope they would survive their first winter, but surprise of all surprises, those tiny seeds not only sprouted by November, they began to grow. I was left with hundreds of plants that my tiny gardens could not support, so I offered these 6"-10" seedlings to other brave souls in the Valley who wanted to give growing them a try.
Before we get into the overwintering process I plan to do, let me talk about how the way I have grown them.
The seedlings I kept for myself were split up into three groups to see how they fared in various environments.
The smallest group stayed in pots smaller than 7" in my greenhouse in warm conditions where I could make sure they were watered daily and received consistent babying and care.
The second group also remained in the greenhouse with the same careful protection, but were given large 3' wide and deep pots to grow in.
The third group was the largest group by far. Over 100 plants were placed outside in a newly created bed in a back garden that used to be a chicken run. I mention this because there was probably residual fertilizer that didn't exist in the other two scenarios.
Five months into growing these seedlings on has given very different results.
Group 1 was the least productive. The plants never grew more than 14 inches tall. They were spindly and struggled with gnats which I treated weekly with Neem oil. I will not be protecting these plants through the winter.
Group 2 in the large pots grew much better. They actually have a bit of bulk and height to them. Although they are not large enough to cut from, I will be cutting back their central stem and covering through the winter and keep them inside the greenhouse with minimal supplimental heat.
Group 3 I would call a Blazing Sucess! These plants seemed to thrive in their new garden bed. They are easily between 36"-48" tall with quite a bit of bulk to them.
These have produced so well that I have been able to share stems of fresh cut Eucalyptus with it's glorious fragrance with fellow eucalyptus lovers. There are still a few bunches available (as of October 14, 2024) and can be purchased here.
This Group 3 will get the most protection and attention through the winter in hopes of having even more fantastic eucalyptus to share next year.
This is the process I plan to use.
1- Top all main stems down to 6" above the ground. There may be some side shoots that are lower than this 6". I have read that this can be useful to the plant come Spring, so I will leave them on.
2- The entire bed will be covered with leaves.... many leaves... multiple inches of insulating leaves to protect the roots during any hard freezes we receive over the next 7 months.
3- To keep the leaves in place, I will be covering the entire bed with agribon fabric. This allows both rain to filter through as well as snow to melt and nurish those little plants.
4- Come Spring, once all danger of frost has finished and the ground has warmed more than 50 degrees, I will remove the fabric and leaves and check for the progress.
The rest of the story will have to be told this coming Summer in 2025. I am as curious as you are to see if there will be continued success for these glorious plants to survive in our mild, but occationally harsh Winters.
Thanks for following along on this journey!
Flawless Wedding Flowers! 14 Questions for Your DIY Success!
Not sure if DIY (do-it-yourself) wedding flowers is right for you?
Here are must ask questions before deciding:
Do I feel comfortable working with flowers?
Do I want to travel to pick up my flowers a day before the wedding?
Do I enjoy hunting down vases and other containers?
Am I ok with purchasing the necessary supplies to make the intricate wearable wedding flowers (boutonnieres, bouquets, corsages, etc.)?
Do I have at least 8 hours the day before the wedding to create floral bouquets?
Do I have friends or family who want to help me the day before and the day of my wedding?
Are my design ideas flexible?
Do I have a good place (cool dark place **away from pets) to store the flowers between pick-up and the wedding?
Do I have a good work space with plenty of room and a big sink to use while working with the flowers?
Do I have someone I trust who will set up the centerpieces and other flower decorations a few hours before my wedding when I need to be getting dressed and ready?
Do I have someone who will bring my bouquet and other wedding party flowers to us before the ceremony?
Do I know how I want to use the vases and flowers afterward my wedding?
Will I be okay if my flowers don’t turn out just like my ideas?
Do I have someone who will clean up and take away all the flowers and after the wedding is done?
Answer key and what it means:
10+? DIY is a Great Fit for you!
6-9 ? Partial DIY will suit you.
0-5 ? Hire a full service wedding florist.
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Why use Ella June Garden for your Flower Needs?
Brides who use Ella June Gardens’ blooms claim, “They make everything look elegant and beautiful!”
Loved ones who have Ella June Gardens create casket and easel floral sprays to celebrate a life well loved say, “It is exactly what they would have wanted. You got it perfect.”
Flower Friday customers tell me, "Fresh flowers just make me happy!"
I couldn't agree more and am even happier you feel the same!
Join in as we create a local flower loving community with the Treasure Valley’s original Farmer Florist.
Be the first to know when your favorite flowers are available!
Get flower tips.
Be the first to know when workshops are open.
Join Us!
Brides who use Ella June Gardens’ blooms claim, “They make everything look elegant and beautiful!”
Loved ones who have Ella June Gardens create casket and easel floral sprays to celebrate a life well loved say, “You got it perfect. It is exactly what they would have wanted.”
Flower Friday customers tell me, "Fresh flowers just make me happy!"
I couldn't agree more and am even happier you feel the same!
Whether you are looking to celebrate a:
Wedding
Retirement
Birthday
A Life well loved
Just because
Ella June Gardens fresh blooms straight from the gardens and designed just for you are sure to make you pause to enjoy them.
Join in as I create a local flower loving community as the Treasure Valley’s original Farmer Florist.
- Be the first to know when your favorite cut flowers are available!
- Get flower tips.
- Know when I am selling divisions off my perennial flowers
- Chat all things flowers
- Be the first to know when workshops are open.
Join Us!