Purple Bindweed – The Thorn in My Side

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Jay White

In II Corinthians, Paul talks about enduring a “thorn in his side”. While no one knows exactly what the thorn was, most agree that God gave it to Paul so that, despite his many blessings, he would not become too prideful in his faith. That story comforts me because each year the Lord “blesses” me with some new gardening “thorn” that keeps me humble about my garden and my gardening abilities. This year, my thorn came in the form of a beautiful (but noxious) vining plant called purple bindweed! While the flowers of this noxious weed are truly beautiful, that beauty does not make up for the overall nastiness of this weed.

The flowers of purple bindweed are definitely beautiful

Purple bindweed is a native Texas morning glory. It is also an aggressive vining plant that will literally grow over anything in its path. One plant can send out trailing, twisting vines that stretch out over 15 feet. While I have to admit, when those vines cover a fence and explode with flowers, the effect is very beautiful. However, when they creep up your sugar cane or get twisted in with cucumbers and cantaloupes, the effect is not so nice.

Purple bindweed is a native Texas morning glory.

Even though this plant is literally driving me crazy, I have to admire its shear survivability. Each plant can produce 500 or more seeds. The seeds have a very thick seed coat that can lay dormant in the soil for 20 years (some say 50 years or more). The plant develops an extensive root system that can grow 10 feet or more into the soil. Because of this, you can pull it, dig it or plow it and it will still come back. In fact, research shows that a 2” piece of root can produce a new plant. In addition, all of those deep roots make this plant very drought resistant.

The twisting vines of purple bindweed will be covered in its lovely, lavender blooms.

All of the survival traits that the plant has developed make it very hard to control organically. The only real option you have is frequent pulling or smothering. If you decide to pull, realize that you will need to pull every shoot that pops up every three weeks or so for the next three years! If you want to try and smother it you are going to need to use something like a large sheet of plywood or hardi-plank and you are going to have to leave it in place for years. However, since the seeds can remain dormant for years, smothering and pulling is really only going to slow down the spread of this weed.

The vines of bindweed will wrap around anything-even its own vines!

The only way to effectively kill bindweed is with an herbicide. Even though I do not personally like chemicals, the reality is that some weeds will never be fully contained with organic methods. If you don’t mind spraying chemicals try Glyphosate (Round Up) or Tripcloyr (Remedy). Both work well against bindweed. For the best effect, many recommend mixing up a combination of both Glyphosate (2-3%) and Remedy / Triclopyr (0.25%). These chemicals will definitely kill the bindweed if you spray it while the plant is actively growing. For bindweed, the absolute best time to spray is when it is blooming. NOTE: These chemicals will definitely kill the bindweed. Unfortunately they will also kill just about everything else that is actively growing. Be careful to avoid overspray when applying this (or any) herbicide. Also, apply just enough herbicide to wet the leaves. There is no need to soak the plant. There is also no benefit to mixing them in higher concentrations than are listed on the label.

Even though this plant is driving me crazy, it does attract hummingbirds and other pollinators

The purple bindweed is beginning to bloom at my house. This means that despite my best organic control efforts, it has beaten me. This “thorn in my side” is one of just a few plants that have made me question my commitment to organic control methods. Thank goodness I have St. Paul for inspiration. Although his “thorn” tormented him his whole life he persevered; and so will I. However, I have to admit, when I am out there pulling this weed in the Texas heat the thought of spraying it with an herbicide is very tempting!

Farm to Market Flowers

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Jay White

Debbie Thornton is one of a growing number of people in this country that are doing something I think is very important. Debbie is the owner of Farm to Market Flowers (FM Flowers) and she is sustainably growing fresh cut … Continue reading →

Vitex-TheTexas Lilac (Vitex agnus-castus)

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Jay White

It has now been a whole month since I finished my horticulture degree at A&M. In that time I have had three people approach me to do landscapes for them (it is interesting to me that people think all horticulturists are landscapers). One horseman wants me to landscape his two entry gates, my family cemetery wants me to landscape their entrance and another person wants an “LSU Garden” in their yard. While all three of these projects are very different, all three will feature a very lovely and durable plant – Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus).

The 12″ flower spike of the Vitex are beautiful and irresistible to butterflies and hummingbirds

Vitex is a small flowering tree that is, in my opinion, one of the best ornamental trees you can own. Its long, curvy, purple-blue flower spikes have earned the vitex the nickname of “The Texas Lilac”. In addition to its beautiful flower spikes, this little tree can take the heat, endure the drought and is resistant to most pests. It attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and deer do not like it. With all it has going for it, this drought resistant tree really is a perfect choice for the Texas homeowner.

Vitex are typically grown as a multi trunked tree. The multi-trunk look is achieved through pruning. When grown as a tree they grow to about 15 feet. However, some varieties can get as tall as 35 feet. If left alone from seed, the Vitex will grow into a lovely shrub that makes a stunning hedge that can, with regular deadheading, produce those long, lovely flower spikes throughout the summer.

My Hyperion daylilies pair nicely with a Vitex I have left in a shrub form

You can find Vitex with pink flowers, mauve flowers and white flowers. However, most of the Vitex sold in the trade have a purple-blue colored flower that is often called lilac. The three most common varieties sold here in Texas include Shoal Creek, Montrose and Le Compte. My friends at Tree Town USA are about to release a new, and as of yet unnamed, dark blue flowering variety. Look for them this fall at all of the major nurseries or your local big box.

If you want to grow your own Vitex, plant it in the fall. Like most trees, the cooler weather of fall will allow the plant to establish itself with much less water. You can also plant it in the winter when it is dormant. If you miss both of those opportunities you can still plant it in early spring. Just remember though, the longer you wait, the more effort and water it will take to fully root.

Since all of these lovely little flowers produce seeds, Vitex can be a bit invasive

While I do love this tree, it does have a couple of small problems. First, each of those little flowers on those 12” flower stalks will produce a little seed. Because of this it can be a bit invasive. This is not a huge problem for the homeowner. The weed eater and mower can easily control all of the volunteers that sprout in the yard. However, if planted near a creek or tank, the plant can easily escape and create enough of a problem that it is currently listed as an invasive species on the Texas Invasives website (http://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=VIAG). You can control the spread of this plant by diligently deadheading each spent flower spike before the seeds develop. The other little problem is allergies. If you have a sensitivity to tree pollen you may want to avoid this tree. All of those flowers produce pollen and many people claim to be allergic to it.

As I drive around I notice more and more Vitex in yards, commercial landscapes and along the roads and highways of our great state. I think this is great. Vitex is a beautiful and versatile plant that blooms throughout the summer and thrives on average annual rainfall. It is no wonder that the Texas Highway Department has added them to their list of preferred plants. If this plant thrives along the hot and dry roadsides and medians of our great state, imagine how well it will perform for you in your yard!

Five Tips for Fabulous Homemade Bouquets

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Jay White

Those of you that read on a regular basis know that I love growing flowers just as much as I enjoy growing vegetables. In fact, I don’t really separate the two in my mind. Each year my gardens contain both edibles and ornamentals. While I love watching my flowers grow and bloom, the thing that really excites me is cutting those flowers and turning them into homemade bouquets that I can share with my family and friends.

This lovely arrangement is comprised of roses, yarrow, dill, mint and salvia — all from my garden

Now I will be the first to admit that I am NOT a talented floral designer. However, my youngest daughter Whitney is and she loves sharing her tips for creating beautiful homemade floral arrangements with me. Below are what I believe are her best tips to date.

Tip 1 – Floral arrangements don’t have to be made up of just flowers. In fact, some of her favorite arrangements have no flowers in them at all in them. Whitney loves to make homemade bouquets that incorporate branches, grasses and even vegetables. She also loves using herbs as fillers. Things like rosemary, thyme and basil add structure and scent to your arrangements. Plus they last forever in the vase. In fact, if you leave these herbs in the water long enough many of them will root! In season, don’t forget to incorporate things from the garden like honeysuckle and fresh fruits and vegetables.

This late season arrangement uses zinnias, love lies bleeding, wax myrtle foliage and a tatume’ squash!

Tip 2 – Forget the rules. Don’t worry if the height of your arrangement is not one and a half times as tall as your vase. In fact, you don’t even have to use a vase. Don’t worry too much about color either. While complimentary color schemes are nice, they are not necessary. Just look around nature, you will see that just about every color is used and they all look fabulous together. Also, do not be afraid to use just a single variety and color of flower in your arrangements. Also, vases don’t have to be vases. A cute container like an old tin can, teacup or sugar bowl can make a good arrangement great. Whitney also likes to cut the top out of gourds, squash and pumpkins in season.

I threw this together last month. Notice the weeds? The purple globes are thistle heads from our wildflower meadow.

Tip 3 – Add more flowers. Your arrangements should be pleasing to the eye. According to Whitney, most DIYers use too few flowers and not enough fillers in their arrangements. As you build your arrangement step back several steps and look at it from every angle. If you see spots that need a little something, add it! Since you grew the flowers and fillers at home they are free – use them with abandon!

Tip 4 – If you want your fresh cut floral products to last as long as possible, cut them early in the morning and get them into cool, clean water ASAP. When you cut, use sharp clippers and cut the stems on an angle and then drop them into a plastic or glass container. Metal containers and fresh cut flowers do not play well together. Also, change the water in your vase daily.

Tip 5 – Probably the best tip Whitney ever gave me was “If you can’t create –copy!” Like I said, I am just not a talented designer. However, I am a pretty good copier. Pinterest and Google give us access to thousands of pictures of beautiful floral arrangements every day. Look at these pictures. Find things you like and then copy them!

Cut flowers early in the morning to extend their vase life. Also change your water daily once they are arranged

I hope these tips give you the encouragement you need to get busy cutting and arranging your homegrown flowers! Even though I don’t feel like I have a gift in this area I have learned that when using beautiful things it is hard to create something unattractive!

Whitney and Ryan Jump the Broom!

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Jay White

Fathers of sons will never get to experience the feelings of shock, pride, amazement, joy and deep, pure love that overtakes them when they turn around and see their daughter in her wedding gown. A few weeks ago, my youngest daughter Whitney gave me this incredible gift. She was beautiful –and I cried. As I walked her down the aisle, I cried. When I toasted them, I cried. As we danced, I cried. When I hugged her and her new husband Ryan as they were leaving for their honeymoon –well you get it, I cried!

When I was not crying like a little girl, Sally and I had a fabulous time celebrating Whitney and Ryan’s nuptials with all of our (and their) friends and family. Whitney and Ryan were married in a beautiful afternoon ceremony in Seattle’s Martha Washington Park. While lovely, it was a bold move. As our dear friend Debra Prinzing said to us “only a Texan would plan an outdoor wedding in Seattle in April!” Luckily, their gamble paid off. Whitney and Ryan were truly blessed to be able to celebrate their love for each other in a beautiful place, on a perfect, rainless day in the Pacific Northwest.

As a man, I may never fully understand why weddings are such big deals to women. However, after being a part of four weddings in the past four years, I have learned one thing about them. Weddings are BIG EVENTS and they cannot happen without the help of a whole lot of people that care a whole lot for the bride and groom. This wedding was no exception. We could not have done it without the help of many, many caring and generous people.

As a budding (pun intended) floral entrepreneur, Whitney is friends with many talented people. Several of those friends chipped in to make sure this wedding celebration was beautifully adorned and beautifully documented. Many thanks to Adam and Alicia Rico of “Bows and Arrows” and Erica Knowles of “Botany 101”. They used locally sourced, sustainably grown seasonal flowers from the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market to create stunning arrangements that, despite the grandeur of the setting, pulled the guests in and made them feel a part of the small, intimate event. Robert Kitayama of KB Farms donated the gardenias that comprised the simple, yet elegant bridal bouquet. Also, huge thanks go out to Angela and Evan Carlyle of Angela& Evan Photography. All of the photos in this post were taken by them. As you can see, their photography is amazing. They are also incredibly professional and amazingly fun to work with.

Finally, I want to say a very special thank you to Debra Prinzing. Debra has been so kind and generous to Whitney over the past year and half. She is the mother of the “Slow Flower” movement in the US and a big part of the reason my daughter moved to Seattle. To call her a friend greatly understates how entirely wonderful she has been to Whitney and our entire family. In typical Debra fashion she opened her home to the entire bridal party for the entire day! She started by hosting the loveliest of bridal luncheons (with help from Cynthia Alexander of Quarry Flower Farm) for all of the women that were there to celebrate with Whitney. Then, once the luncheon ended, she allowed the wedding party to stay and have hair and makeup done, make floral head pieces for the ceremony and dress. She even delivered Whitney to the ceremony!

There are many kinds of wedding gifts. While matching silverware is nice, the giving of your time and talents to make a special day for the people you love is the best gift of all. Whitney and Ryan, you are blessed to have so many people in your lives that care so deeply for you. And all of us are blessed to have you in ours!

Climbing Pinkie

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Jay White

Right now my yard is the prettiest it will be all year. While many of my plants are beginning to grow and bloom, it’s the roses that are stealing the show. I have a dozen different varieties of “named roses” on my property (and couple that I really have no idea about). Some are pink, some are red and some are pink and red at the same time. I also have white ones and apricot colored ones. About the only color I don’t currently have is yellow.

Climbing Pinkie’s almost thornless canes makes it the perfect choice for fences, arbors and trellises.

While I love all of my roses, each year one of them does something to make me notice it all over again. This year the rose that I has most impressed me is Climbing Pinkie. My first Climbing Pinkie was a gift from Martin Anderson at A&M. He took cuttings from his bush and shared them with several of us. I planted my “pass along” rose in front of one of my picket fences three years ago. Then, two years ago I won another one at our church picnic. I planted it beside the first one. While they did ok, I would not say that I was overly impressed with them.

Climbing Pinkie has a mild, sweet smell and beautiful yellow stamens

This year, Climbing Pinkie has made up for its slow start. Both of my bushes have sent out many, many long canes that have created cascades of beautiful pink roses that drape over my fences. When I built the picket fence three years ago I had visions of it covered in running roses. I can honestly say this is the first time they have looked the way I hoped they would when I built them, and I have Climbing Pinkie to thank for it.

Climbing Pinkie is the perfect compliment to my white picket fences.

Climbing Pinkie is a garden favorite that was introduced in 1952. Since then its nearly thornless canes and ever blooming sprays of rose pink flowers has made it a favorite of gardeners around the world. Climbing Pinkie is mostly known for its 12 foot canes that are very easy to train over your arbors or pergolas. However, it is much more than a mere climber. This beautiful rose can be planted to make a beautiful bush. It can also be planted along a ledge to create beautiful falling cascades. In fact, it is so versatile that you can plant several of them together to create a beautiful, almost ever blooming hedge.

Climbing Pinkie a a polyantha rose. Polyanthas bloom in clusters from spring through first frost.

If you want to grow this rose, plant it in full sun in soil that has been well worked with organic material. While the compost will provide all of the nutrients the plant needs, it will also allow it to be grown in areas that have high salinity in their water supplies. Climbing Pinkie, and most other polyanthas, grow new canes from the base of the plant. To ensure the best blooms possible, remove old canes after the spring bloom is complete.

The long cascading canes of Climbing Pinkie even make my propane tank look good.

Like most of the heirloom roses, Climbing Pinkie is resistant to most of the pests that plague hybrid roses. While resistant to things like blackspot, it is not immune to it. For this reason you should always water it (and all roses) from below. Roses can also be bothered by aphids and spider mites. You can control these by applying a hard spray of water to the underside of their leaves every two or three days. If you need to spray for these pests, do it in the morning so the foliage has time to dry out during the day.

Amazing Aloe Vera Collection at Hilltop Gardens

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Jay White

When I was young, my mother (and all the other mothers on our block) kept a pot of aloe vera on the back porch. Every time I got a sun burn, my mom would go outside and snap a couple of leaves off of her plant and use the cool, viscous fluid that oozed out of the leaves to sooth the burn. I think that since she used aloe vera as a medicine, I never really learned to think of it as an ornamental.

Water droplets on one of the over 200 aloes at Hilltop Gardens

This past Spring Break, I discovered (in a very big way) that aloe vera is as pretty as it is “useful”. Sally and I spent her time off exploring Hilltop Gardens in Lyford, Texas. Hilltop Gardens is the only Botanical Garden in the Texas Valley. It is also home to the largest public collection of species aloes in the U.S. Hilltop Gardens sits on the oldest commercial aloe vera farm in the U.S. The company that owns the farm is the market leader in aloe production. Because of their success growing and transforming the aloe vera plant into a variety of health and beauty products, they wanted to build a beautiful place to showcase the beauty and variety of the plant family that has been so good to them.

The farm and botanical garden at Hilltop Gardens is a certified organic operation.

The garden is under the direction of Paul Thornton. In addition to maintaining this beautiful space, Paul also had a hand in designing it. According to Paul, Hilltop Gardens has become “his dream job”. Paul was an excellent host and tour guide and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. He is a walking encyclopedia of aloe knowledge. One of the most interesting things that he shared with us was the fact that aloe vera is mentioned several times in the Bible. He also said that there are carvings of aloe in the Egyptian pyramids. According to Paul, “Aloe’s health benefits have been known and used for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians called it “the immortal plant” and they offered it as a gift to their deceased pharaohs over 6000 years ago”. Another thing that I found interesting was the fact that even though humans have been growing it and using it for 6000 years, there are no known wild populations of the plant. What we all know as aloe vera only lives in cultivation.

Paul Thornton is the head horticulturist at Hilltop Gardens. He is a great host and posses an incredible knowledge of the aloe family.

Aloe vera is a succulent. Because of this it thrives in environments like ours (Zones 8-11) that have limited or unpredictable water supplies. Aloe vera is a very tough plant that can adapt to a lot of soil types (as long as they are well draining). It is also fairly resistant to most pests. Aphids can attack it but that usually only happens when the plants are grown too close together. If grown properly, aloe vera will produce beautiful, tall flower spikes.

I was amazed at the variety of shapes, forms , and flower types of their 200+ aloe plants

When growing succulents in pots, you should allow the soil to dry out between each watering. This makes aloe an easy choice for those of us that live in places where high summer temperatures make it almost impossible to keep the soil in our outdoor pots moist. Aloe reproduces readily. This is another great reason to try some this year. Aloe vera will quickly produce lots of “pups” or off-shoots. These pups can be used to make more potted plants or you can transplant them directly into your flower beds. They will quickly grow into a large, showy, upright mass of thick, spikey leaves.

This lovely gate welcomes you into the “healing garden”. The healing garden recently received an Award of Merit from the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

If you are looking for something to do that is a little out of the ordinary, go to their website and plan a visit. As part of the gardens, Hilltop offers onsite bed and breakfast accommodations in a Spanish style mansion. Sally and I stayed there and we were very impressed with the lovely décor, the heated pool and the excellent service. If you have ever thought of spending a few days exploring the Texas/Mexico border, then Hilltop Gardens is the perfect place to settle while you enjoy all of the vibrant cultural offerings of the Rio Grande valley.

The heated pool is one of many features that you will enjoy if you stay ion the bed and breakfast accommodations at Hilltop Gardens

The heated pool is one of many features that you will enjoy if you stay in the bed and breakfast accommodations at Hilltop Gardens

Growing Tulips in Texas

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Jay White

Not sure why I love tulips, but I do. And, I am not alone. I saw a survey the other day that said tulips were second only to roses as the most loved and most recognized flower in the world. No matter how much I love them though, they always break my heart. My relationship with them is like a bad romance. Each fall, they promise to do right by me. I take them back into my home (again), kick the moldy vegetables out of the crisper for them, wrap them in the breathable bags they love and then keep them cool and dark for the next five months. Come February I place them is the richest, loosest soil I can find. I buy them lovely accessories and plant companions for them so they won’t be lonely. Then, come March, they break my heart (again) by blooming on squat little stalks with spindly petals that never last.

This fall, Sally and I bought a cute little antique wheelbarrow at an auction. Despite my experience I thought, “Won’t that look great full of tulips?” So, with the wheelbarrow still in the back of the truck, I went to my local nursery and bought another bag of tulip bulbs. I took the wheelbarrow home and drilled my drain holes. In January, I filled the wheelbarrow with potting soil and planted 24 alyssum plants around the rim. Then, I took the tulips out of the refrigerator and prayed.

I am very happy to report, this year the tulips finally did right by me! Their stalks are tall and jaunty. The flowers are an amazingly beautiful pink. For the past week it has been a true joy to come home and have these lovely ladies waiting for me at the back door.

While I am so proud of my tulips this year, the Lord made sure I did not get too prideful or boastful. Two weeks ago he sent a massive, late season ice storm that killed all of the alyssum that I had planted to enhance my lady’s beauty. I guess this is appropriate as it is Lent. We would not want me to become too prideful during this season of preparation.

If you are not afraid of a broken heart, my experience has shown me that you can grow tulips in Texas. Buy them early in the fall and keep them refrigerated for months. Then plant them in early February in deep, rich soil. Keep the soil moist and pray for a cool spring.

EarthBox Makes Gardening Accessible by Mark Hartley

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Jay White

EarthBox, Inc., the manufacturer of gardening boxes, touted its community outreach efforts last week, providing examples of how schools and senior citizen groups are discovering the joys of gardening in unlikely locations such as roofs, parking lots, and playgrounds.

Students at a Pennsylvania elementary school grow enough in their Eartbox gardens to feed the entire school on World Food Day each year.

Molly Philbin, the education director for EarthBox, explained the company’s strategy in a press statement: “Gardening can teach everything from science to nutrition while being fun and rewarding at the same time. And since our EarthBox® container gardening system provides ideal growing conditions without the need to dig or weed, groups find that they can enjoy great yields with very little effort.”

EarthBox produces large yields of high quality vegetables with much less work

The rectangular, tub-like containers produced by EarthBox, Inc. features a self-watering reservoir at the bottom of its boxes to enhance “maintenance-free” aspects of gardening.

While purists desire hands-on maintenance of gardens, EarthBox is appealing to groups who lack the time to devote to every aspect of gardening, as well as limited physical skills.

EarthBox is not just for vegetables. These self contained gardens grow beautiful flowers as well

For example, an EarthBox garden was designed for senior residents in Florida who are confined to wheelchairs. The engineer behind the design said the garden “offers them a place where they can grow fresh vegetables, socialize, and relax.”

EarthBox also presented the example of young children ages three to five participating in a nutrition club hosted by a Tampa, Fla., community college. The EarthBox garden focuses on herbs, and the kids tend to the garden, pick the herbs, and learn about the various qualities of the herbs. The club has a weekly “smelling party,” and its president said the young gardeners have a “blast with this weekly activity.”

EarthBox allows you to grow big, beautiful tomatoes right outside your door

EarthBox also cited the examples of scouting organizations for both boys and girls using the convenient gardens to earn badges.

Again, the basins produced by EarthBox are not yielding the type of crop output that most gardeners are trying to achieve. But the self-container market continues to reach its demographic niche, and EarthBox has demonstrated that its products successfully kindle interest in gardening among school-based groups, as well as rekindle interest among our seniors.

The company, which was started in 1994, develops “sustainable” container garden systems for all secondary grade levels in schools. With the national interest in combating obesity among schoolchildren, this type of gardening helps foster to concept of a healthier lifestyle as a result of what’s planted in the garden.

Group several containers together to create a beautiful back porch landscape.

The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers 2014 Grower’s School

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Jay White

In my opinion, my friend Kim Haven of Billabong Fresh Flower Farm has the best job in the world. She makes her living growing flowers. Kim is part of a movement that is creating a resurgence of American floriculture. Right now, approximately 90% of the cut flowers sold in the US are grown oversees. Thirty years ago, only 10% of cut flowers sold in the US came from abroad. More and more people like Kim are using their knowledge and love of horticulture to try and recapture market share that has slowly been lost to foreign competition.

A lovely bouquet grown by Kim Haven of Billabong Fresh Flower Farm in Hempstead, Texas

Here in Texas we have several growers who are making their living by producing high quality flowers, grown in a responsible manner, to the cut flower trade. With the support of The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, these growers have developed a community that works together to help each other grow, market and sell their beautiful products.

If you have ever thought of turning your flower growing hobby into a business, now is the perfect time to get started. The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers is holding their 2014 Grower’s School at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden on March 3 and 4. This year’s conference features several leaders of the field to vase movement from all across the country. Below are highlights of some of the presentations.

These lovely “boot bouquets” are bursting with beautiful flowers grwon and arranged by Frank and Pamela Arnosky of Texas Specialty Cut Flowers in Blanco, Tx

Frank and Pamela Arnosky of Texas Specialty Cut Flowers in Blanco are the true pioneers of this market. Frank and Pamela Arnosky are the owners of one of the most successful field grown flower farms in the U.S. (and probably the whole world if the stats were checked). Starting with nothing but a chain saw and a dream, they have built a business that now provides the absolute finest quality, locally grown, fresh cut flowers to companies like HEB, Central Market and Whole Foods. Frank will pass on his growing knowledge in his presentation “Seeds or Plugs? Both?” and Pamela will provide you with the information you need to get your product into supermarket chains and also teach you how to harvest and handle your crop post-harvest.

This lovely row of zinnias on Rita Anders farm “Cuts of Color” is ready for harvest

Rita Anders is the South Central Regional Director of ASCFG and she has worked very hard to put this workshop together. She is also the owner of Cuts of Color in Weimer, Texas where she grows and sells to Central Market and Farmer’s Markets in the Houston area. She also has a thriving design business where she works closely with her brides to create beautiful weddings full of sustainably grown flowers. Rita will show you how to sell directly at Farmer’s Markets and also teach you how to quickly assemble your products into stunning arrangements.

Cynthia Alexander of Quarry Flower Farms in Celina, Texas grows a variety of roses, Texas natives and other specialty flowers for the floral trade. She uses and teaches sustainable growing techniques on her many farm visits. She also offers a unique wedding experience by letting the bride come to the farm and pick the flowers that will be used in her bouquets and arrangements. Cynthia will teach you all you need to know about developing relationships with florists and how to prepare your flowers for delivery to them.

Right now is an exciting time to be a flower grower in the US. Demand for locally grown sustainable products is high and supply is low. If you have ever thought of turning your hobby into a money maker now is the time to act. You may never get a better chance to learn the ins and outs of this industry from the leading producers of local, sustainable flowers in the country. Click here to go directly to the full schedule of events and a registration form. Happy gardening y’ all and I hope to see you in Fort Worth!