We are so excited today to share our interview with Roger Parsons, yes THE Roger Parsons of Roger Parsons Sweet Peas!  In this episode we chat about everything sweet pea, our discussion includes, but is not limited to: a) Mr. Parsons' favorite sweet pea b) why you should consider growing multi-floras not just Spencers c) weighing in on the  "should you soak your sweet pea seed" debate d) sweet pea breeding and seed saving.

This week we talk about floral and other horticultural foams.  The most commonly available foams to the floriculture, floristry and horticulture industries are phenolic or polyurethane plastic foams.  Because of their lack of degradability and other issues related to the hazardous chemicals used in their production, those of us working in horticulture and floristry and floriculture should be aware of the issues

This week we discuss one of our favorite spring (and fall) flowers to grow, anemones (Anemone coronaria). In our experience they are relatively easy and disease and pest-free, and they endure (even like!) our cold springs and falls.

In this episode we talk about: pre-sprout processes, planting, pests and diseases, harvesting, vase life and pricing

The trend for local flowers is following in the footsteps of the local food movement.  In this episode we discuss the nuances and implications of branding ourselves as "local" and share our opinions about the importance of being local and being transparent about what it means when marketing blooms.

This week we discuss one of the prettiest flowers to grow, Ranunculus asiaticus.  Early spring is the time to start them, so now that it looks like spring is really coming (knock on wood) we thought we would discuss our successes and failures and Heather's field trials with succession plantings. They are a bit of work to optimize, but when you get it right, they are fabulous!

This week we are so fortunate to be able to share an interview Heather recorded with the UBER INSPIRING Steve and Mandy O'Shea of 3 Porch Farm, while she was in Colorado for the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers Spring 2019 Meetings in February.

If you grow dahlias, you need to know about Dahlia Virus(es) and how to control their spread.  This week we chat about: 1) what Dahlia Virus (es) are 2) How to recognize if your dahlias are infected 3) Really useful down-loadable documents available free on the American Dahlia Society web page and the Washington State University web page 4) The two most important things you can do to help prevent the spread of dahlia virus on your own farm and to others

This week we are chatting with Curtis Clark, one of the owners of Green Island Farming Company, based in southern Alberta, near Medicine Hat.  Curtis and his wife Morgan have developed a line of peat free, craft compost and potting mixes packaged in paper bags (no plastic)!

This week we are talking about one of the cut flowers we both grow: Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum), that are affectionately called "Lisi's".  We are talking about them now because, in our Zones (CDN 2a-3a), we have had to plant them already, to ensure blooms by August.

This is the time of year that we start seeding or start planning to do our seeding, and seeding usually involves using some sort of potting media or mix. Most potting mixes contain peat moss.  But have you ever wondered what peat is and where it comes from? In this episode we chat about this miraculous organic material, and why we should be thinking about it every time we pot something up and perhaps why we need to look at alternatives.