January 2024 Newsletter

Greetings from STILL WATERS FARM AND GARDENS!  

As we look back over 2023, we are grateful for everyone who supported our flower farm. From the many individuals who ordered our custom bouquet arrangements to the brides who selected us to provide their wedding florals, we thank you. Our farm saw some bountiful harvests while also making it through a rough dry spell for our region. This time of the year gives us the opportunity to take a moment to reflect on all that we experienced over 2023 and begin sharing a few things about the upcoming season. We hope you enjoy this update from our farm and our current offerings.     

~STILL WATERS FARM AND GARDENS

2023 in Review

The past year can be summed up as the story of two halves.  In the first half of 2023, we enjoyed a plentiful supply of flowers growing in our caterpillar tunnels and out in the fields.  Some crops did better than others. Sweet Peas were rather abundant in our tunnels, while a little creature (possibly a rabbit or squirrel) seemed to take a fancy to our Ranunculus. We grew beautiful Tulips in fortified boxes. The hardy annuals were prolific with Bachelor Buttons, Larkspur and Nigella having done well. To end the Spring display of colors, our Peony’s, planted a few years ago, are now producing beautiful blooms.  Much like the change of seasons, the second half of 2023 played out in a different way for our farm. First, there was a known hip replacement surgery that took place in July, so we knew some of the normal chores were possibly going to be overlooked. With one man down, our farm suffered strategic losses in the battle against our ferocious opponents from the weed kingdom. Then in August, our farm experienced a major weather disturbance that caused widespread tree damage and power outages. We had significant damage to trees across the farm which took weeks to get cleaned up. Then immediately following this event, our region in NC entered the beginning of a long drought period (months) which affected our late summer and fall crops. After navigating these obstacles, we were able to finally enjoy a late bloom of Dahlias (about a month later than normal). With the team at full strength again (new hip is doing well 😊), we were back on schedule with our regular seasonal routine of Fall planting (Hardy Annuals, Anemones/ Ranunculus and Sweet Peas), an intense 3 days of digging Dahlia tubers and cleanup/mulching the Peony beds. To end the year, we had a wonderful time providing wedding florals for a winter wedding in late December. Through it all, we are grateful for God’s provisions over this past year.

Looking to 2024

As we launch into the New Year, we start with some good ole farm maintenance – further cleanup of trees that fell in August, repairing damaged fencing, trimming willows and pruning blueberry/blackberry bushes.  Then we wait for all the Spring blooms to start blooming: Anemones, Daffodils, Ranunculus, Tulips and the Hardy Annuals.  As these flowers become available, we will begin opening more offerings through our online shop.  Before we know it, we will be bringing up the Dahlia tubers from our cellar and preparing them for planting as well as other Summer/Fall flowers. For our Wedding Floral Services, we already have some weddings on our schedule for 2024, but we are especially looking forward to helping our daughter with her wedding florals in September.

Current Offerings – Dried Flowers, Willow Cuttings and Honey

For January, we are offering the following products for sale: 

·     Dried Flowers – Individual bunches, Ornaments and Mixed Bouquets

·     Fresh Local Honey – Available in Pint and Quart Size Jars

·     Willow Cuttings – Curly (Red, Green, Burgundy and Golden Curls) and Pussy Willows

If you have an upcoming Special Event/Birthday/Shower or you are searching for a garden inspired source for Wedding Flowers, we offer Custom Floral Design Services, A LA CARTE Selections and DIY Buckets of Blooms and Greenery. Our 2024/2025 floral event calendar is now taking reservations for Weddings and Events. Please fill out an inquiry form here for more information.

For more information about any of these items, please visit our online shop at www.stillwatersfarmandgardens.com or send us an email at info@stillwatersfarmandgardens.com .

Our Story

STILL WATERS FARM AND GARDENS is a family run flower farm and floral design studio situated in the Mountain View community of Catawba County. Our farm offers seasonal specialty cut flowers 🌼, foliages 🌾 and edibles 🌿 to florists, restaurants and supermarkets. We also offer lovely garden style bouquets and arrangements using flowers and greenery carefully selected and harvested fresh from our fields. Our products are available for purchase at our seasonal roadside Farm Stand and online* at www.stillwatersfarmandgardens.com. Though we are growing all year round, our flowers and arrangements are offered beginning in late Winter and ending in late Fall. 

Whether you are looking for a custom arrangement or several buckets of flowers, we look forward to serving your floral needs.

* – Available for delivery in Hickory, NC and surrounding areas