Daylilies on Display

It was October 2007, when I decided to build a daylily display garden parallel to Route 2, the location of the "new" Vermont Flower Farm. I hired Marshfield native Brien Ducharme to bring in loads of large stones on the last day he owned his log truck. I always remember him driving up in his pick up about 2 in the afternoon and asking if I still wanted him to do the work. I said "Yes please" and hours later the design of the garden was mapped out in thousands of pounds of large stones. 

Today as I walk the garden, I'm ever so happy I moved on with the project. The garden is now home to well over 350 of the +700 varieties of daylily we grow-- as well as a few dwarf conifers, some ironwoods, garden phlox, wiegelea, ninebarks, and hydrangeas. These all grow near two acres of daylilies on one side of our office and sales center and another acre on the other side. It's worth a visit. The daylilies are wonderful right now but so are the astilbes, hostas, hydrangeas and an assortment of Vermont hardy perennials. July is the time for a visit, a walk, a tour. Come visit! We think you will agree that it was worth the drive!

George Africa

The Vermont Gardener

Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens

2263 US Route 2

Marshfield, Vermont 05658

Our Hosta Display Garden

Thursday, June 28, 2018

A shutterbug friend stopped by today and suggested I get into the hosta garden for some picture taking for those who may not have been able to see the garden yet. Cameras never have bothered me although I admit that my 70 years are showing more than before. Here are various pictures. The whole garden is not covered but you can get an idea what it currently looks like. If you are out and about  this holiday, stop by and say hello. Bring your water bottle as it sounds like it will be hot.

George Africa

Vermont Flower Farm

2263 US Route 2

Marshfield Vermont 05658

A Garden of Change

 Tuesday, June 12, 2018

A cold morning here at the flower farm. 39.1° right now but rising to +70° by noontime. Everything seems to be growing despite the lack of water. The weather folks said June would be cooler and it is but the lack of rain is very obvious. Rain is predicted for tomorrow and I do hope that materializes.

Everyone who likes hostas and their companions cannot make it to our place so I am posting more pictures. I'm really busy so do not have time to add comments to each but take a look and forward questions if you have any. We are giving tours every day because the hosta are all large enough by now that the name tags are hidden. The great thing about the garden is you can see the actual mature size and plan for your own gardens.

A great resource if you love hostas is the Hosta Library. http://hostalibrary.org. The thousands of different hostas which are pictured have an accompanying database which provides great information on the plant, sports, sizes, etc. Take a look.

Best gardening wishes from your friends at Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens!

George Africa

2263 US Route 2

Marshfield Vermont 05658

802-426-3506

A Hosta Display Garden To Visit

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

It's a busy time at the flower farm. The weather has been up and down and today as example is a day to have a jacket and be prepared for showers. I want to point out  that our hosta display garden is in its prime right now and deserves a visit if you're in the area.

Over 500 hostas are displayed with a variety of accompanying shade related plants. Hostas from 2" tall to 7 feet tall are available in various stages of development. These pictures should give you an idea of why a visit will become something to remember. Come see us!

George Africa

Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens

Growing Great Hostas!

Friday, June 1, 2018

Announcement

This Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3d at 1 PM each day, Vermont Flower Farm, 2263 US Route 2, Marshfield, Vermont will offer a program on growing great hostas. The farm grows and sells over 500 different hostas and displays them in a special shade garden with companion plants. Owner and grower George Africa will discuss growing and dividing hostas, and garden design. The program will be held in the garden so wear appropriate footwear and consider insects and weather. If you have special accessibility needs, please advise in advance.

Questions? Call us at 802-426-3505

Rural or Urban Tree Loss

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

It's been a rainy day here in Marshfield today and as I write,  there's a rain delay in Boston on the Red Sox baseball game. A big storm is going through Massachusetts and once again we are experiencing storms like we have not seen before. Storms are relative to a heated atmosphere and as tree coverage declines, heat has a way of increasing.

In the past few years we have had to become more cautious in our daily review of weather reports. There have been many more serious wind storms and floods. The winds dry the fields and slow the growth of the flowers we raise. The water loss means we have to draw more water from the river to raise the same number of crops which require more labor to reach the same goal. In the process, our net revenues shiver, not from the cold but from our attempt to manage a profit.

Scientific American Magazine recently published an informative article on tree loss. The article mentions heat but also the human losses we don't often think about. It's worth  reading. Try to apply  what you read to your family and your community. There's a great deal to consider!

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-cities-lose-tree-cover-just-when-they-need-it-most

George Africa

The Vermont Gardener

Vermont Flower Farm

Marshfield, Vermont 05658

802-426-3505

vermontflowerfarm@outlook.com

Polymerous Daylilies

Monday, April 30, 2018

A very white morning here on the mountain above Peacham Pond. I am not surprised about it but that doesn't mean I like it. I have a ton of things to do at the flower farm and all of them require outside work which is difficult with 6" of heavy, wet snow on everything. By tomorrow it will be gone as rain is on the way by this afternoon.

I can tell when the weather is bad based on the email questions that I receive. I just received the third question this week about polymerous daylilies. I suspect gardeners are reviewing last year's garden photos and wondering in this case about daylily blooms with more than usual petal counts. 

Here's an explanation from the American Daylily Society. Read on!

https://www.daylilies.org/ahs_dictionary/polymerous.html

George Africa

The Vermont Gardener

Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens

Find us on Facebook as my personal page, George Africa, or the Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens page.

We're always here to help you grow your green thumb!

Epimediums

Epimediums

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Epimediums are becoming more and more popular each gardening season. We have been growing a few varieties for 10 years now and are just now receiving regular requests. Some things take a while to get established in Vermont!

Here's a very nice blog from Karen Chapman. You'll pick up some new thoughts and some picture ideas which will perhaps help you in your own gardens. Sign up for her blog.

https://lejardinetdesigns.com/2018/04/03/a-spring-perennial-you-need-epimedium

Best gardening wishes!

George Africa

Vermont Flower Farm and Gardens

2263 US Route 2

Marshfield Vermont 05658