2024 Holiday Style Guide

YAY! It's the time of year to turn our farm spaces into a cozy, wonderful winter wonderland. The best way to do it is by adding the natural beauty of fresh greenery, natural accents, with pretty, muted accent colors. This holiday season, plan on decorating with nature's gifts to craft a festive and welcoming atmosphere that feels warm and looks stunning.

It’s the MOST wonderful time of the year! We love decorating for the holiday season at the farm with lots of natural materials. This year we decided to decorate the exterior of our spaces with the color combinations of soft, muted tones such as sage green, terracotta, brick red and metallic colors such as bronze and muted gold tones. So very pretty! We love the way it elevates the look of our pretty flower cottage. Unassuming, simple, yet elegant.

Power of Pink

Pops of soft pink strategically placed throughout your decor add a touch of modern elegance to the effect of simple greenery. What can you use? Think about pretty pink velvet or satin ribbons, carefully tied bows, non-traditional ways to add pink to your decor like pretty dried flower ornaments, or dried gomphrena wreaths (shown below) and clusters of shiny ornaments.

Bows are super IN right now so add as many as your heart desires! There also seems to be a trend this year more towards large velvet bows, so the bigger, the better. You can put a bow on just about anything your heart desires and it’s pretty much guaranteed to look wonderful.

Wall tree created as a pretty backdrop for photos on the farm for visiting guests

Nature’s Elegance

Start by bringing the outdoors in with fresh greenery. Noble fir branches, cedar, and pine not only infuse your home with the invigorating scent of the season but also serve as a canvas for holiday creativity. Drape garlands along stair railings, mantels, and doorways, allowing the vibrant green hues to set the stage for a festive atmosphere.

A well-crafted wreath speaks volumes. Starting with fresh greenery for your wreath, add unexpected dried flower accents, such as gomphrena, statice and strawflower to your front door. From pine cones, cinnamon sticks to velvet and satin bows, create a warm and inviting welcome for guests.

Elevated Ideas

Elevate your holiday decor with a unique twist by using starburst lights as indoor decorations. While typically reserved for adorning porches, we took a creative approach by suspending these beauties from the rafters inside our event barn. The result? A striking design statement that infuses the space with a touch of holiday magic. Picture the awe-inspiring sight of these twinkling lights gracefully hanging from the rafters, their magical sparkle lights casting a breathtaking glow throughout the room. It's a simple yet impactful way to bring the spirit of the season indoors with a touch of whimsy and elegance.

Oldies but Goodies

Can you ever have too many bottlebrush trees? Every year we seem to add more to our collection. In year’s past, we’ve collected many different colors, but this year, we chose a simple green color that looks simple, but pretty in our space. Add a little ‘snow’ from stuffing and twinkle lights and you have a ready made Christmas Village.It’s the easiest, most pretty holiday decoration idea.

As the holiday season approaches in 2024, we hope we’ve given you a few ideas for how to decorate your homes with warmth and festive cheer. Gather inspiration, let your imagination run wild, and make this 2024 holiday season truly unforgettable. Happy decorating & hosting for the season!

XX Jenn and Adam

Introducing Our New Fragrance Line

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new fragrance line that brings a whole new layer of luxury and sophistication to any fragrance collection. Whether you're drawn to the refreshing crispness of eucalyptus, the warmth of tobacco and vanilla, or the grounding depth of citrus and earthy tones, we have something for every scent lover.

NOLA: A Fresh Awakening

Our best-seller, NOLA, starts with a burst of eucalyptus, instantly awakening your senses, much like a deep, refreshing breath of fresh air. This opening note is bright and energizing, setting the stage for the layers underneath. As it settles, fruity notes lend a subtle sweetness, gently lifting the fragrance and creating a sense of lightness and joy. But what truly defines NOLA is a scent base of nostalgic, warm vanilla that’s grounded and earthy, providing an unexpected depth and warmth that makes it feel both soothing and comforting. NOLA is perfect for those who love a fragrance that’s refreshing yet cozy, uplifting yet calming.

CHARMING: Bright, Balanced, Beautiful

Next, we have CHARMING, a fragrance that embodies the delicate balance of brightness and grounding depth. It opens with citrus notes that immediately capture attention, offering a burst of energy and vibrance. But this fragrance doesn’t stop at citrus; the blend of vanilla and earthy undertones give it a smooth, rounded center. What truly sets Charming apart is the way it grounds itself with woody depth, offering a fragrance that feels both warm and timeless. It’s the kind of scent that lingers with you — comforting but full of character, and elegant in its simplicity.

Perfect for both daytime and evening wear, Charming is for anyone who wants to feel fresh, confident, and effortlessly sophisticated.

TOBACCO AND SPICE: Comfort Meets Exotic

If you’re someone who loves a fragrance that’s both comforting and exotic, look no further than Tobacco & Spice. This complex, multi-layered fragrance blends the rich, warm notes of tobacco with the smooth, familiar sweetness of vanilla. Together, they create a deep, comforting warmth that feels cozy and inviting. But what truly sets this fragrance apart is the addition of spices, which infuse it with an intriguing and exotic flair. The combination of these elements creates a fragrance that’s both familiar and alluring — a perfect balance between something grounding and something daring.

Which One Will You Choose?

Each of these new fragrances brings something unique to the table, from the refreshing energy of NOLA to the elegant depth of Charming, to the exotic warmth of Tobacco & Spice. No matter which one speaks to you, you can expect an experience that’s both luxurious and personal.

We’re so excited to share these beautiful new scents with you, and we can’t wait to hear which one becomes your new signature fragrance. Let us know if you have a favorite already, in the comment section, below.

Stay tuned for more updates and special promotions surrounding our fragrance collection, and be sure to follow us on social media to stay in the loop!

Ready to experience them all? Head to our website to shop the new fragrance launches today!

NEW 2024 PEPPERHARROW DAHLIA VARIETIES

At PepperHarrow Farm, we’re thrilled to introduce our newest adventure! We’ve created our very own dahlia varieties! Our dahlia journey began before the 2022 tornado disrupted our lives and farm, but it didn’t dampen our passion. Last fall, in 2023, we were able to pick up where we left off, diving back into dahlia hybridization with hand pollination and seed collection.

Our Favorites

From lovely blush, to bold corals, there were so many beautiful shades of new dahlias that we were extremely excited about!

In early 2024, we carefully planted those seeds, watching eagerly as each unique bloom came to life. The results have been beyond exciting! We’re seeing a remarkable variety in form and color, with many displaying stunning double blooms, classic ball shapes, vibrant hues, and sturdy stems that are ideal for both cutting and admiring in the garden. These dahlias have been everything we hoped for—and more.

A little backstory about growing dahlias from seed…

Starting dahlias collected from seed will always produce a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes because dahlias are highly genetically diverse and don't grow "true to type”, unless you grow them from a tuber or a vegetative cutting.

Each seed inherits a unique combination of traits from its parent plants, leading to new and unpredictable variations in bloom forms, colors, and plant structure. This diversity is what makes starting dahlias from seed so exciting—each seed has the potential to grow into a one-of-a-kind plant with unique characteristics.

With each seed that we started in 2024, we had no idea what they each would produce, so when they starting blooming in July, it felt like each one that would bloom was a present, because each one had its own color and shape that made it unique. So exciting!

Some of Our Favorites

Berry Good

The shape and petal structure of this beauty makes it a winner in our book, but the unique color on top of those details makes it absolutely extraordinary. We can’t wait to grow this one in earnest next year!

Lovely Lilac

The soft shade of lilac and perfect ball shape in this latest dahlia from our breeding patch had us really excited. It also grew incredibly tall and had the most perfect, sturdy stems for bouquet making. So gorgeous!

Beautiful Blush

If you’ve been keeping up with our flower farming journey, you know we love blush dahlias and that this color is one of the most in demand colors for weddings and from local florists. When we saw this one bloom, we couldn’t contain our excitement!

Other Notable Beauties from the Dahlia Seedling Garden

From the colors and shapes we’ve shown above, do you have a favorite? It was definitely hard for us to narrow down which ones we kept and continued to grow for next year. To help make decisions on which ones stayed and which ones we left behind, we looked at some of the following criteria: do the dahlias have - double blooms, open centers, weak stems/strong stems, unique enough from other dahlias to be kept as a ‘new’ variety?

We’ll be keeping these beauties under our watchful eye for another year to ensure they maintain their color, size, and shape across seasons. If all goes well, we’ll be ready to share these special dahlias with the world by early 2026. And for those looking to add a touch of PepperHarrow’s floral magic to their gardens sooner, dahlia seeds will be available in our seed shop starting February 2025. Woot!

Stay tuned for updates, and join us in celebrating these stunning new additions to the PepperHarrow family!

September's Guide to Late-Season Gardening

As the days grow shorter, September brings along a more relaxed gardening style. While many flowers have already reached their peak, there’s still plenty of opportunity to enjoy bountiful blooms and prepare your garden for the cooler months ahead. Whether you’re gathering seeds to start planning for next year, or cutting blooms to dry for winter, here’s a guide to what we’re up to in the garden this time of year.

Dahlias are show stoppers in the garden during the month of September.

Planting Fall-Blooming Perennials: September is the perfect time to plant fall-blooming perennials that will add color to your garden through the autumn months. Consider adding plants like asters, chrysanthemums, and sedum, which thrive in cooler temperatures and provide a late-season burst of color. These hardy perennials also help support pollinators as they prepare for winter.

Sow Cool-Season Flowers: Cool-season annuals such as snapdragons, can be planted in September for flowers as early as possible in spring. These flowers tolerate cooler weather and do a great job staying in place throughout winter to bloom in early spring. We LOVE having early blooming flowers!

Divide and Transplant Perennials: September is an excellent time to divide and transplant overgrown perennials like salvia, peonies, irises, and hostas. Dividing these plants helps rejuvenate them, encouraging healthier growth and more abundant blooms in the coming year. It’s also a good opportunity to rearrange your garden layout and fill in any gaps with divided plants.

Start Planting Spring Bulbs: As the soil cools down, September is an ideal time to start planting spring-blooming bulbs such as tulips, and daffodils. These bulbs require a cold period to establish roots and bloom beautifully in the spring. Planting them now gives them ample time to settle in before the winter freeze

Fertilize and Mulch: Give your plants a nutrient boost with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to help them store energy for the winter months. Applying a layer of mulch around your plants helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and protect roots from the cold as the weather cools.

Collect Seeds: September is a great time to collect seeds from your favorite flowers for next year’s garden. Look for mature seeds on plants like marigolds, zinnias, and cosmos. Allow the seed heads to dry on the plant, then gently remove them and store the seeds in a cool, dry place. Be sure to label your seeds, so you know what you’ve saved. Collecting seeds allows you to grow plants that are well-adapted to your garden’s conditions.

Gather Flowers to Dry: Flowers are wonderful to enjoy fresh, but are just as pretty dried. We love collecting a few bunches to hang and dry to use for winter wreaths, and dried bouquets. Not all flowers are great as dried. Check out this blog post for our recommendations for the best dried flowers.

Growing flowers in September not only adds beauty to your garden as summer turns to fall but also sets the stage for a healthy and vibrant garden in the seasons to come. Embrace the cooler days and the unique opportunities this month offers to keep your garden thriving. Happy gardening!

XX Jenn & Adam

Lisianthus Varieties We Love to Grow

Lisianthus is a true gem of a flower to grow as a cut flower. It’s a bloom we love because of its delicate, rose-like appearance and long-lasting blooms. At our flower farm, we take pride in growing some of the most unique varieties, each bringing its own charm and color to a bouquet. Let me introduce you to a few of our favorites:

Celeb Misty Pink

The Celeb Misty Pink is a soft and subtle beauty that brings a warm, soft pink hue to any arrangement. Its ruffled petals are layered, giving the flower a full and luxurious appearance. This variety is perfect for adding a gentle touch of elegance to bridal bouquets or romantic centerpieces.

Double Rosanne Terracotta

For those who love earthy tones, the Double Rosanne Terracotta is a standout. Its rich, warm terracotta color adds depth and warmth to any floral display. This variety is particularly striking in autumn arrangements, where its muted color complements the season's palette and act as a nice bridge color that ties everything together. It’s also a great color to use for weddings in the fall, because terracotta has become a popular fall wedding color.

Double Voyage First Love

The Double Voyage First Love is as enchanting as its name suggests. With its delicate pink petals, this variety exudes romance and charm. It’s a favorite for weddings and special occasions, where its soft, pastel tones create a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere.

Double Super Magic Capri Blue Picotee

If you're looking for something truly unique, the Double Super Magic Capri Blue Picotee is a must-see. This variety features striking blue-violet petals edged with a crisp white picotee, creating a stunning contrast. It's a showstopper in any arrangement, adding a touch of magic and whimsy.

Celeb Extra Pink

The Celeb Extra Pink is all about bold, vibrant color. Its hot pink petals are sure to make a statement, bringing energy and excitement to any bouquet. This variety is perfect for celebrations, where its bright color can really shine.

Corelli Light Pink

Last but certainly not least, the Corelli Light Pink is a pure, classic beauty. With its soft blush pink petals, this variety is timeless and elegant. It’s a versatile choice, perfect for adding a touch of sophistication to any arrangement.

Bringing It All Together

Each of these lisianthus varieties has its own unique charm, but they all share a common thread: their ability to elevate any floral arrangement with their beauty, or stand alone by themselves in a breath taking grouping. Whether you’re looking for soft pastels, frilly, double blooms, or something truly unique, lisianthus offers something for every taste. We’re proud to grow these stunning flowers, and we can’t wait to share them with you next growing season!