Goldfinch Farms is the name Dr. Harold Wilkens(emeritius professor of horticulture, University of Minnesota) and Brian have given their slice of country heaven in western Wisconsin. There they grow a terrific variety of traditional garden flowers like gladiola, lilies, sunflowers, snapdragons and zinnias as well as callas, delphinium, sedums, hostas, hollyhocks and a few native praire flowers are growing also. The callas, native to Africa, are extraordinary cut flowers. Bright clear colors. Smooth texture. Sturdy vase life. The contrast of the smooth texture of callas against many of the fuzzy textures of many garden flowers make them appealing additions to summer arrangements. Of course they are a great choice for monobotanical (fancy word for all one variety) arrangements. Callas are not for the timid grower in our zone. The corm must be dug in the fall and stored out of freezing temperatures and replanted in the spring. They will welcome all volunteer diggers this fall. Dahlias coming soon. Best Regards, Wade

You know it’s summer when these arrive. Grower Patty brought these by yesterday. They are such a casually elegant flower for summertime. We use them for just a few weeks then on to the next blooming summer garden flower. It is a wonder what some timely rainfall will do for garden flowers. Best Regards, Wade

Extraordinary moments in our lives are the happy intersection of so many intangibles, that looking back it seems just possible all the world lined up just so, simply for our benefit. Weddings are the culmination of those extraordinary moments. This summer I’ve that the pleasure of creating flowers for some memorable young women and their young men. Some of them and their flowers are pictured in our wedding galleries. I wish them many more extraordinary moments throughout their lives.

Our local grower Patty brought these stunning burgundy peonys by yesterday. these queens of the garden are the true signal of summer. When they reach their peak we know summer has arrived. We have found peonys have a vase life of over a week when they are placed in water with well proportioned flower food. If you have some  peonys to cut from the garden try mixing a packet of flower food in the vase of water. Try floating a peony in a low glass dish on the kitchen counter or bath vanity, they look great and the fragrance is true summertime. Best Regards, Wade

As mentioned Farmer Steve began cutting his bridal wreath spirea just in time for a special wedding this weekend. The beautiful arching cascades of the creamy white flowers are perfect for as the name suggests bridal flowers. Imagine. We’ ll be using it all week in our daily orders as well. Best Regards, Wade

As I mentioned last week, Trusty Farmer Steve said his viburnum would be along after the early blooming lilac finished. He arrived this morning. There is something about the color of these beautiful green viburnum that makes everything they are with look better. These flowers are from his four year old plants. They look solid and fresh and have a terrific vase life. They mature from minty green to creamy ivory. He has been working hard with these plants and it shows. They have got to be one of my favorite summer flowers. We use them now and for as long as the harvest lasts in garden inspired arrangements and weddings.  Bridal wreath spirea is later this week. Best Regards, Wade

We created a couple of garden inspired pieces for a wedding this weekend that included some great peonys, flowering crab branches and some locally grown viburnum. Spring is truly an extraordinary time. The variety and freshness of cut flowers available get more inspiring each day. Honor and remember someone special to you with flowers this Memorial Day weekend. Best Regards, Wade

Our trusty farmer Steve, as he’s known around here came by with the first of his lilac and flowering fruit branches. The cool weather this spring has been kind to the lilac and the blooming branches. It’s full and lush and manageable to harvest as it matures on the plants. The white lilac came along just in time for a wedding this weekend and the lavender will go quickly in orders over the next day or so. It always does. Steve reports viburnum is next.�

Beautiful spring weather, well beautiful at least compared to the lingering winter we’ve had, has brought the freshness of spring charging right up the back of Mother’s Day weekend. The flowers coming on now have a meaty look that they lack in winter. The lilac and viburnum seem especially lush. We’ve begun preparing for this weekend what seems weeks ago and it’s here. I hope the weather holds and people have a chance to stop in and see the all the blooming plants and gardens we’ve created and the flowers as well, of course. Have a happy Mother’s Day.

We were working on some early prom corsages yesterday and I thought I would grab a few quick shots and get them here. These are a few ideas we’ve been working on lately.