Oh boy!! Zinnias!!

The National Garden Bureau declares 2011 the year of... ( pause for dramatic drum roll )... the Zinnia! Each year professionals from all over the horticultural industry get together and decide on one flower and one vegatable that will be showcased for the year (tomato won the 2011 veggie catagory) . The NGB says the flower they pick for the year must be popular, easy to grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse and versatile. Go Zinnias!



Lime Zinnia

 I am happy that the NGB picked a cut flower this year and I am even more excited that its the zinnia because they are one of the major work horses on my farm yet they are still so beautiful. I grow tons of zinnias. This years line up on my zinnia planting list includes the Benary's Giant Zinnias, Oklahoma Zinnias, Sunbow & Lilliput Zinnias, Giant Wine Zinnias, Lime Zinnias, Queen Red Lime Zinnias and Uproar Rose Zinnias. Im glad they are being recognized because I can not imagine being a flower farmer without Zinnias.

On other news Pantone ( world respected authority on color ) has selected Honeysuckle as the official color of 2011. Every year designers from many different industries from floral designers to fashion to home product designers look to Pantone for inspiration through the color of the year. I will try and find some way to work this into my flowers by growing flowers that come close to that color or using bouquet wrapping materials with this color.



Honeysuckle

Looks like 2011 is going to be filled with some great trends!

Brrrrr!!! It's Cold Out There!!

My round house burried in snow.

Jameson is ready to get out there and explore!

Dominick wants to go out but really hates the snowsuit. : ( 

It is -14 degrees out as I write this and it is very hard to believe that not too far from now I will be firing up the heat in my seed house to start my earliest seedlings for my hoop houses. I have been reviewing my notes from last growing season and have come up with ADK Flower Farm's Resolutions. (better late in the month than never) : )

1. Take lots more pictures. Not only more pictures of the beautiful flowers but also pics of my family and the farm. 

2. Simplify the irrigation systems. 

3. Start using the Quick Books Pro that has been sitting around my office. 

4. Stick to the Seed/Transplant schedule. Although I always say this and the excel sheets always end up covered in pencil and sharpie scribbles. 

&& Finally my own personal resolutions are...

1. Eliminate as much stress as possible through hoop dance and yoga.

2. Drink a lot more water.

3. Spend more time with my rapidly growing 2 1/2 year old sons. <3

I am counting the days till we have acceptable hoop house weather! Hope everyone is staying warm.   

The New Hoophouse!

Its just a cute 10x28 hoophouse. We built it over the summer. My father cut and bent all the pipe by himself! It was much cheaper than buying a kit. We have the pipe benders to build 10', 12', 20' and 30' long hoops.

It is so adorable covered in snow. I cant wait to see it filled with beautiful blooms in a few months!

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