March 2021 Newsletter

Greetings from STILL WATERS FARM AND GARDENS!  

As the weather begins to warm (and hopefully dry out a little), we are beginning to ramp up activities here on the farm. In addition to caring for the Anemones, Ranunculus and hardy annuals already in the ground, we are busy with seed starting a variety of perennials and other annuals for the upcoming season. The Caterpillar tunnels we installed last year are a big help in creating a larger space offering natural light and protection to harden off these numerous trays of seedlings. We hope you enjoy this edition of our Newsletter with updates from our farm and the latest seasonal offerings.

~STILL WATERS FARM AND GARDENS

Seed Starting

A key to a successful season of blooms is having a good seed starting process. It may sound like an easy task to drop some seeds in a tray, but as we have learned over the years, this process can be quite involved. By late February we are deep into the process with many wheels (I mean trays) in motion. To get a better understanding of all the steps, here is a brief overview. First, the process starts inside where we prepare the trays with the right mixture of soil and moisture. Then we carefully place seeds (sometimes rather tiny ones) into each cell, label the seeds planted in the tray (very important step to remember), lay the tray on a heat mat and eventually under grow lights after a few days. This provides the seeds a controlled environment to germinate. After seeing growth in most of the cells, the trays are then moved outside to our new hardening off area under a caterpillar tunnel. They remain in this protected area until planting them in the field. Throughout this process, maintaining the right moisture content is crucial for these tender seedlings which means we need to check on the seedlings regularly for watering. Here is a sampling of the seedlings we have currently on the hardening off tables: Sweet Peas, Stock, Scabiosa, Snapdragons, Bells of Ireland, Ammobium, Status, Limonium, Rudbeckia, Eucalyptus, Ergynium and Foxglove.

Fresh Flowers are Here - Anemones

With the wetter and gray weather we have had, some of the late Winter/early Spring flowers are running a little behind schedule. Anemone blooms, however, are starting to take off as the first Fresh Flower blooms on the farm. These elegant flowers are usually harvested when their heads are up and still closed. Once they are placed in a vase or bottle with exposure to light, the blooms will open wide and the stem length actually grows. Anemone colors include red, white, pink, blue, merlot and a variety of pastel colors. We are offering Anemones arrangements in your choice of vessels or as a standalone market bouquet. Learn more at our online shop.

Current Offerings – Fresh Flowers, Dried Flowers, Curly Willow and Bouquet Subscription

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

• Fresh Flowers - Anemones

• Dried Flowers – Ammobium, Blackberry Lily, Larkspur, Nigella Pods and Mixed Bouquets

• Fresh Foliages/Branches – Curly Willow

• 2021 Bouquet Subscriptions

If you are looking for a special and charming gift this year, you may want to consider a 2021 Bouquet Subscription. Our Bouquet Subscription features a weekly bouquet filled with locally grown specialty cut flowers from our farm.

Also, 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 2021 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 stillwatersfarm@centurylink.net.

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