Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I purchase your flowers? Do you ship?

Flowers can be purchased exclusively at the Portland Farmers Market on Saturdays during the months of March and April.
Shipping is not available at this time.

How long will my flowers last?

Daffodils and tulips are picked in bud form to extend their vase-life.
Given proper care, they will last 5 to 7 days.

Should I recut the stems before placing them in water?

Cutting the stems just before putting them in fresh water is optimal, as the flower can begin to take up water again.
However, if you recut daffodils, they will leak sap for the first 24 hours which can be toxic to other cut flowers, so do not mix them in with other flowers until they have been properly conditioned!!

Should I add sugar, bleach, a copper penny, or commercial preservatives in the water?

NO!!! Daffodils and tulips thrive in plain water and will not benefit from these preservatives, often reacting unfavorably.
The only commercial preservative that will work for daffodils and tulips is one that is made specifically for bulbs, as bulb flowers require a different formulation than other cut flowers.
Traditional preservative packets and homemade remedies do not address these exact needs.

How often should I change the water?

Depends on how long you want your flowers to last!
Every day is optimal, but if that is too much of a commitment, every other day will suffice.

Are your flowers organic?

To say a flower is organic now requires a stringent and costly certification. Also, the bulb itself must be organic, and there are only a few tulip and daffodil varieties on the market at this time that are considered organic. However, once the bulbs are planted, the flowers are grown using natural fertilizers, such as fish emulsion, kelp, and bone meal, and are never sprayed for pests.

How often do you water your flowers?

When growing tulips and daffodils, Mother Nature usually takes care of the watering for us...sometimes too often in Oregon! But there are times that supplemental water might be needed, like just after planting the bulbs, applying natural fertilizers during the growth process, or during a rare dry spell. At these time, recycled rainwater is used.

How do you harvest rainwater?

It is amazing how much water you can collect off your roof during the rainy season! The barn now houses three 1500 gallon poly tanks that are attached via PVC pipes to one gutter downspout.
Every inch of rain yields about 200 gallons of water off that one side of the barn roof.

Where do you get your bulbs from? Do you sell bulbs?

Bulbs are imported from various growers in Holland and changes from year to year depending on variety, price and availability. Bulbs are not available for purchase at this time.

Can I visit your farm?

Since the farm is small and located in a more residential setting, it is currently not feasible to have the farm open to the public.