PepperHarrow Feature in BH&G's Christmas Ideas Magazine
Discover our flower farm's wreath-making magic in BH&G's Christmas Ideas Magazine's "Evergreen Gathering" feature. Unique wreaths, charming scenes, and delightful treats create lasting holiday memories. The feature inspires festive decor and encourages readers to spread joy in their own way, making it a beacon of holiday creativity.
The special 2023 issue of BH&G’s Christmas Ideas Magazine is sure to inspire readers with its beautiful imagery, featuring several homes decorated beautifully, including a on our little flower farm! The story about our magical farm features our popular wreath making classes that we host each holiday season. With the talented eye for styling, design and producing direction of Krissa, the incredible writing of Ella, who brings together the story not only of a wreath making workshop, but ideas about to decorate for the holilday season, and Adam who captured the most incredible images, this talented crew knocked it out oof the ballpark with a feature that’s sure to inspire everyone this holiday season.
Evergreen Gathering
The feature starts off with a HUGE beautiful capture of the dried flowers we provide during our wreath making workshops. The use of dried flowers in seasonal wreaths is a huge compliment to our flower farming business. During the season, we make sure to specifically keep any of the flower left behind, that aren’t used in bouquets each week, or leftovers that don’t see, and hang them to dry. We’ll also grab flowers from the flower fields for drying as well. We’re especially focused on gathering flowers that are red or white, as these shades perfectly complement the traditional holiday wreath combinations!
Many of the extra dried flowers, pine cones, magnolia leaves, and other charming accents are artfully hot glued into our wreaths. When we first started making wreaths, we would meticulously tie these extra bits into the wreath itself, but we soon realized that they were often 'lost' visually within the wreath. Hence, we developed a brilliant solution by placing them on top after the wreath is made, ensuring they stay visible and immediately draw attention as highly focal elements within the decorative wreath.
Photo by Aly Carroll Photography
Nature’s Accents
We’re known for our wonderful selection of greenery to use for holiday wreaths as well, which was featured in the magazine. A few of the named, specialty greenery inclusions includes: port Orford cedar, variegated oregonia, white pine, Douglas fir, Balsam, magnolia leaves, winterberry, and lavender. This is just naming a few of some of the special sparkles we recommend for including in a seasonal wreath.
Photo by Adam Albright Courtesy of BHG’s Christmas Ideas Magazine
One of our absolute favorite parts in this beautifully captivating feature is undoubtedly the adorable presence of our daughter's darling little kitten, Kyra. Caught forever in the freeze-frame of one of the vivid images, Kyra is effortlessly perched on our dainty love seat, perfectly blending into the picturesque scene that surrounds her, radiating an unparalleled adorableness that truly melts our hearts. As we glance at the newly crafted wreaths hanging gracefully in the backdrop, Kyra truly completes the picture, enchanting our souls and leaving an indelible mark of pure joy!
“Adding a fragrant simmer pot for events helps to create a magical, festive atmosphere for guests who visit our farm during the holiday season”
Easy Simmer Pot Recipe:
5-7 Sprigs of Noble Fir Fresh Greenery
4 Sprigs of Red Cedar Greenery
1 Cup Fresh or Dried Cranberries
5 Slices of Fresh or Dried Oranges
2 Tbsp Cloves
Adding cranberry champagne cocktails or fun holiday mimosas has proven to be a delightful enhancement for our wreath making workshops. These light libations not only infuse a festive ambiance into the atmosphere but also help our attendees relax and allow their creative juices to flow freely. To complement the cocktails, we offer an array of delectable treats such as indulgent chocolates, irresistible cookies, and a charming charcuterie wreath specially crafted by our talented friend Wendy from Get on Board DSM.
Each bite of these mouthwatering treats adds an extra layer of decadence, perfectly complementing the refreshing sip of the cocktails. Together, these delightful additions create a truly immersive and indulgent experience for all who join us, leaving lasting memories of laughter, creativity.
PHoto by Adam Albright Couresty of BHG’s Christmas Ideas Magazine
Hot Cocoa Station
Guests love to have a warm, drink in hand from our hot cocoa bar setup with all the fixings for a great cup of hot cocoa. Included are homemade marshmallows, and pretty, decorated snowflake cookies from Deanne at Cake DSM.
We hope you all had a chance to snag a copy of this beautiful feature before it leaves newsstands. The pages were filled with jaw-dropping decorating ideas, helpful tips, and clever tricks to elevate your holiday decor. From stunning wreaths to charming tablescapes, there was something for everyone to find inspiration in. Trust us when we say that this issue is well worth buying for some much-needed holiday decorating inspiration!
As always, we are incredibly grateful for your continued support of our little flower farm. Your enthusiasm keeps us motivated to bring you the best content possible. Our biggest hope is that you are not only inspired by these ideas but also encouraged to put your own spin on them. Whether it's creating your own wreaths or hosting your own intimate workshops with loved ones, we want you to experience the joy of creating beautiful decorations that reflect your unique style. So go ahead, let your creativity bloom and spread the holiday cheer in your own special way!
XX Jenn and Adam
Dahlia Tuber Storage Tips
Dahlias are a rising favorite for flower enthusiasts, and proper tuber storage is key for their annual revival. After the first frost, cut stems, clean, and air-dry tubers. Divide and let them sit for 24 hours before storing in peat moss in a well-ventilated box. Maintain 40-50°F, 80% humidity, and check regularly for pests or rot. By following these steps, ensure your dahlia tubers are primed for a vibrant spring garden display. 🌸✨ #DahliaCare #GardeningTips #SpringBlooms
Dahlias are becoming an increasingly popular cut flower for flowers farmers and home gardeners alike. With many different colors, sizes and shapes, it’s easy to see why they’re a fan favorite! Dahlia flowers start from a tuber, which means that they have a swollen underground stem that stores energy for the plant to grow. While dahlias are not winter hardy in growing zones that have temperatures that dip consistently below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, their tubers can be dug up and stored over the winter months to be replanted in the spring. Proper dahlia tuber storage is essential to ensure that the tubers are healthy and ready to grow when the time comes to plant them again the following growing season. Today, we wanted to share some of our tips with y’all. Below are some tips for storing dahlia tubers throughout the winter
DAHLIA STORAGE TIPS
The best time to dig up dahlia tubers is after the first frost, when the plant has died back and the foliage has turned yellow. This usually occurs in mid October or early November.
Cut off the stems/greenery: Cut off the stems of the plants about 6 inches above the tubers, leaving a small stem attached to each tuber.
Clean and dry the tubers: Before storing the tubers, gently brush off any excess dirt, wash and allow them to air dry for a couple days in a well-ventilated area.
Once dry, divide dahlias and let sit out for another 24 hours.
Storage: Place tubers into peat moss as a storage medium in a ventilated box. We use bulb crates with craft paper liner on the bottom. A temperature of around 40-50°F is ideal, with the humidity kept around 80%, and plenty of airflow (we keep a fan running).
Protect from pests: It is important to check the tubers regularly for any signs of pests or rot. If you notice any issues, remove the affected tubers and dispose of them to prevent the problem from spreading. Common pests we see are roly-poly bugs. They will make a little village and eat your tubers. If you find them, take the entire crate out and rewash the tubers.
Check your tubers daily to make sure the temperature is within the range noted above, the humidity levels are correct and pull a few out to take a look at them from the peat moss (placing them back into and well under the peat moss aftterwards).
By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your dahlia tubers are properly stored and ready to be replanted in the spring. With a little bit of care and attention, you can enjoy these beautiful flowers in your garden for years to come.
XX Jenn and Adam
Growing Lavender in the Midwest
Three years ago, the idea of half an acre of lavender blooming seemed dreamy and far-fetched. Despite harsh Iowa conditions, including tough winters and hot, humid summers, our lavender fields flourished in their second growing season. We indulged in a month-long harvest, hosting photography sessions amidst the lavender. From mocktail classes to online courses, we embraced lavender experiences. Our expanded product line, including lavender sugar, salve, and soy candles, became a labor of love. Grateful for the support of friends, our products are set to launch online on 9/25/20—ready to share the joy of lavender with all.
Growing Lavender in the Midwest and Loving it!
If you had told me we would have 1/2 an acre of lavender blooming at any point 3 years ago, I would have thought it was an amazing idea, but it would have sounded completely far-fetched annnnd completely dreamy.
I’d spent 4 solid years testing out planting methods, testing my own theories about how to grow successfully, and making some accidental discoveries about growing lavender in the harsh growing conditions here in Zone 5b, Central Iowa. It was mostly observation and those ‘happy accidents’ that propelled us so far forward with enabling success. Crazy, right!?
Lavender prefers a more mild climate, with poor soil, neither of these Iowa has for the most part. Our winters are tough, getting incredible cold and conversely, our summers are crazy hot with extremely high humidity, which lavender plants dislike immensely.
But here we are, into our second growing season with lavender, reaping a bounty of blooms! Also, as we head into Fall, we’re even getting a small out of a second bloom on our plants, which has been nice for wedding work and to use for a few additional products.
Our fields yielded so many blooms, we spent nearly a solid month and a half cutting all the blooms, almost daily, into our workshop for small batch hand crafted distillation and bud drying (for dried bunches and sachets).
We enjoyed every moment of it an also enjoyed sharing it with photographers who brought out so many of their clients. We were booked solid each evening for a month and a half with newly engaged couples, families, and senior photo session.
Just incredible to get to share the lavender field with folks and to get to see the amazing photos. Check out this amazing blog post with some additional photos by Stephanie Daggett, here. It makes my heart happy to see such beauty, captured and shared with others to enjoy. So beautiful!
Adam even had fun with taking photos, breaking out his electronic ‘toy’, his new drone, to take a few photos of us in the lavender. Gotta say, that drone really takes some amazing photos!
We also added so many classes, classes, classes! Everything from mocktail making with lavender simple syrup with Jeff Naples, the Beard Behind the Bar, to lavender distillation. You name it, we tried it this year with great success. Look for a whole line-up of farm experiences based around lavender next year.
We so enjoyed having so many out to the farm to share our knowledge. We love getting to meet new people who share our excitement and love of plants.
Not only did we hold on-farm classes, but we also launched our first ever online course on growing lavender in the Midwest. We weren’t sure online learning was going to be something people were interested in, but we were oh so wrong. It’s been super popular!
The final offering we’ve centered around lavender is our lavender products, which I kind of talked briefly about in the beginning.
We spent so long, lovingly making each of these products on a small scale, by hand. It’s truly been a labor of love brining these lavender products to market and was a huge undertaking. I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into when we decided to expand out our lavender product offering beyond essential oil and hydrosol. Whooowee!
This year, we expanded our lavender products to include: lavender sugar, salve, bath salts, wreaths, and sachets. They’ve been really popular so far and I’m excited to be adding even more new items next year. I’m especially excited about the gorgeous locally made soy candles made for us by Angela at Sugarlane Soap Co. They’re absolutely incredible! They burn clean, have an amazing fragrance and burn for a really long time.
We’re thankful for the help of our amazing friend Keelia from K Henri Design for creating our packaging and also to Dani at Sugar Hill Photography for the wonderful product images. We couldn't have done any of these without these terrific gals.
Picture by Sugar Hill Photography
So, are you ready to try to grow some lavender or sample some of our amazing products? We’ll have all of our amazing products online and available to the general public on 9/25/20. We can’t wait to share them with you, and for you all to share them with your loved ones.
XX Jenn
Adventure at the Wedding Show
Prepping for the Des Moines Wedding Show was a whirlwind as I delved into researching trends, creating a setup, and gathering flowers and props. Despite the challenges of C19, the show was a success, allowing me to connect with lovely brides. Gina, from the show, asked for a mauve-themed exhibition table, and I gladly accepted the challenge. The last-minute dash to Home Goods and Hobby Lobby resulted in a stunning display featuring cut glass, silver place settings, and pops of blue, complemented by beautiful flowers. It was a delightful showcase at the Scottish Rite Consistory, and I'm thrilled with the outcome!
An Adventure at the Des Moines Wedding Show
Our setup at the Des Moines Wedding Show at the Scottish Rite Consistory
I spent the week preparing for the Des Moines Wedding Show that was held last Sunday. This was my first wedding show since C19, but I’ve decided that we have to learn to still carry on with our daily lives, but take precautions to protect ourselves and others. It was a great success and I met with tons of wonderful prospective brides.
The amount of time researching trends, coming up with idea for setup, number of flowers , props, vases, etc, is just staggering. Prep for the wedding show actually started two weeks ago, by pulling together a portfolio of my work, as well as a portfolio
Gina, one of the team members who coordinate the Des Moines Wedding Show, reached out to me a few days before the show and asked me if I’d do an exhibition table, telling me that the table should lean towards mauve tones. How could I say ‘no’?
I broke out allll the cut glass I could muster, as well as silver for place settings from my personal stash of fancy things. I made a last minute dash to Home Goods to grab some napkins, and plates, as well as Hobby Lobby for candles. I’m pretty excited about how everything turned out! The flowers are stunning and I love the way the candles look with the ribbons tied around the napkins. The pops of blue were everything!
Table Setting at the Des Moines Wedding Show
Our Green Winter Oasis
In our propagation house, despite frozen grounds, we nurture vibrant dahlias, cold-tolerant seeds, and new varieties like sapponaria and love grass. The fluctuating temperature challenges patience, but the anticipation of a blossoming season keeps us excited. Stay tuned for the floral wonders! 🌱🌸 #SpringPrep #FlowerFarm
The ground may be frozen and covered with snow, but inside our propagation house, it’s filled with lush, verdant plants. It’s our oasis while we wait for the spring to really start going. Can you imagine the warm, moisture rich, plant smell as you walk into this place? It’s the stuff dreams are made of!
What do we have growing right now, you ask? So much! Admittedly, we kept some of our dahlias from going into hibernation. We grabbed 10 tubers (or more) from each variety we wanted to build more stock from, potted them up and started the process as of November 1st. We’ve been taking cuttings all winter! Shown below is just a few of the cuttings that we have in the prop house. We have so many now, we had to send some to an overflow space. Just awesome!
If you’re curious about what I’m talking about, or how to do this, check out our YouTube video for more information: Taking Dahlia Cuttings
We also have tons of seeds started, but mostly seeds that can take a bit of cold. Flowers like snapdragons, statice, strawflower, and agrostemma are great for this. They don’t mind getting a little chilled, as long as there’s not direct frost hitting them. They’re perfect for early season, because we can stash them in our unheated greenhouses.
Some of the new seeds we’re trying this year are these hollyhocks. I’m in love with their pretty little frills and the colors are gorgeous. We’re planning on adding these by the Flower Cottage to add a cottage garden effect. I can’t wait to see how they turn out.
Another new variety of flower we’re growing this year is sapponaria. This dainty annual will add a little extra sparkle to bouquets we sell this year. I just love the airiness and pretty color it’ll add. From all indications, it’s going to be a smashing success, but you’ll have to tell us what you think!
Our friends, the Hong-Elder Boys, prompted us to try out love grass this year. We sowed the seeds and it’s starting to come up! It seems to be pretty slow growing at the moment, but I’m hoping to give it plenty of time to grow before putting in the ground.
Below is a picture of the seed starts in the prop house. We observed that seeds germinate a little more sporadically, because the temperature in there isn’t regulated as easily and can generally has a pretty wild fluctuation of temperature…anywhere between 65-85 degrees. The seedlings prefer to be around 70 degrees or so for best germination. However, I just visited the prop house again tonight and saw many, many new little seedlings popping up. I have to keep reminding myself to practice patience, which really isn’t be strong suit.
We’ve been starting seeds day and night and it’ll be this way until the end of June. It’s officially growing season time for our flower farm! I can hardly wait to have flowers again to bring into the house, share with friends, and to work with for floral design. Although it’s only been a few short months, it feels like forever ago that we had flowers.
Happy growing, our friends and feel free to let us know what special things you might be growing this year. We’ve already found so much inspiration in what people have shared with us already! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and for following along with us.
Jenn XX