For a listing by botanical name, click here.  For an index to botanical names, click.  For more tips and specifics, see our manual.

Cutting Garden Tour - Wednesday, July 25th, 2007 at 6:00 PM.  

PICK YOUR OWN FLOWERS

2007 Season is under way.  The fields look great this year with thousands of blooms and over 225 varieties.  

	Snapdragons 'Rocket White' - July 2006.   Photo by Michael Seamans.
	Dianthus 'Amazon Neon Purple' - July 2006.   Photo by Michael Seamans.
	Marigold 'Lemon Gem' - July 2006.  Used fresh in bouquets and as an edible flower.    Photo by Michael Seamans.
	Sweet Peas - Extreme Fragrance! Picture taken 7/9/03
	A new snapdragon for us in 2003 - 'Night & Day' from a seed company over in England.  Very unique bi-color petals start white at the throat and abruptly turn maroon towards the front of the flower.  So far it only is about 12-16" tall, but the color makes it worth it in shorter bunches.   Picture taken 7/9/03

Spring Ledge offers Pick Your Own flowers on over 1/3 acre in the fields next to the farmstand. We grow 248 varieties of flowers including old time favorites snapdragons, zinnias, asters, cosmos and bachelor buttons. We also try new plants and varieties each year and offer many color choices for each type of plant. For instance, we plan to grow eight varieties of snapdragons and 10 types of sunflowers this year. Our plantings are staggered throughout the summer to provide a steady supply of flowers. We are at the mercy of the weather, though, and therefore cannot guarantee any flowers will be available at any particular time. 

How do I cut flowers at Spring Ledge?
Our cut flower garden is open during normal business hours. The garden is located just beyond the farmstand and parking lot (directions to the farmstand). We have a picnic table set up with buckets of water, scissors and plant information. We offer signage with tips on the best way to cut fresh flowers. 
Choose your weapon, grab a bucket of water and meander into the garden. We charge by the pound - $9.75 / lb. (Pre-picked bunches are $7.95 each and usually weigh in at around 1/3-1/2 lb.).

Of course any time you wish to browse through the garden for ideas on new plants or to watch the bees in action, you are welcome to do so. 

Cut flowers at home…
Growing flowers for cutting at home is simply a matter of choosing the right varieties and knowing when to cut. In the spring (May & June), we offer limited quantities of our Cut Flower Garden Pack. Included are 24 plants (14 varieties) that we find well suited for our growing season in N.H. We also include a suggested planting map. The garden pack sells for $12.00. 

Of course you don’t need to rely on our ideas. Whether from seed or transplants, many flowers are well suited to cutting. Check the plant description in the catalog or on the tag for good height (18”+) and possibly a reference to its use as a cut flower. Or check our cut flower listing for some common and not so common plants useful for cutting. 


Post harvest treatment…
You have your fresh cut flowers, now what? The following tips will help extend the vase life of your cut flowers. 

•  Keep them cool or even refrigerated until ready for arranging
  .
•  Re-cut the stems underwater. When stems are cut in the air, a bubble forms in the conductive tissues of the flower (phloem and xylem). This air bubble can slow down the uptake of water and food for the flower and decrease the vase life. When you cut the stems underwater, the air bubble does not form. 
  
•  Add a packet of Floralife to each quart of water in the vase. Or for a homeade version, add 1 tsp. of bleach and 1tsp. sugar. The bleach keeps bacteria from growing and clogging up the phloem and xylem, and the sugar provides some food for the flower. 
• For more tips and specifics, see our manual.  

Weddings…
In the past, wedding parties used our cut flower garden to supplement their bouquets and arrangements. We are more than happy to have groups of pickers in our garden. There are a few differences between our operation and a standard florist. 
First, we are not flower arrangers. We just grow ‘em. Second, our policy regarding weddings is to have no policy. You pick at your own risk and use the flowers however and wherever you like. Because of unpredictable weather and picking pressures, we cannot guarantee any particular color, type or quantity of flowers for a particular day. The cutting garden is “a first come, first serve” pick your own operation. 

Brides, do not despair…
For 2006, we have a wedding pot rental service. We are growing large clay and faux clay decorative pots with all sorts of beautiful and complimentary flowering plants. We will rent these out for weddings, functions or parties.

Variety of the week: August 20th, 2002

Tithonia 'Torch' - A large plant up to 6 feet tall with soft, fuzzy leaves and stems and bright orange daisy-like flowers.  Very attractive to butterflies and hold up well in bouquets when the flowers are picked just as they are showing color in bud stage.  When picking, be careful not to squish (technical term) the stems as they do bruise easily and the stem will droop over.