Owl Grove Roses

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Canada
Brighton, ON
Owl Grove Roses

Romantic heritage & classic roses
for cut-flower bouquets,subscriptions and rose bushes for gardens We are not open to the public at this time.

Porch pickup is by appointment only ( preferably 24 hours notice to facilitate fresh harvest and arrange bouquets). Messages are checked twice a day for bouquet requests and answered before 9pm for the following day. Hours for pick up are between 10am and 8pm approximately.

12/09/2024

These lovely bi-coloured heirloom chrysanthemums were part of an arrangement cut for a birthday bouquet the second weekend in November.
This photo was taken on December 8.
And I still argue with myself over whether I know what I am doing regarding growing flowers.

12/03/2024

Today, Tuesday December 3rd is know as "Giving Tuesday."
The focus being on supporting charities, initiatives and non-profits to benefit from your generosity or to just exhibit kindness to another.
It is also the day when these organizations send out their seasonal newsletters for holiday giving.
Unfortunately with the postal strike, those campaigns are not launching by mail.
Rescues, hospice, theatres, grief support, shelters, land initiatives, etc, all thrive on the kindness of donations and often get lost in the myriad of scrolling online.

Take a moment today to contemplate where you might be able to direct some funds that are dear to your heart and actively seek out those who are trying their best to make a significant difference or enrich the community we share.

Small, local businesses are always grateful for your support as well.
From buying a gift certificate or subscription, sharing or liking their socials or even stopping in with a coffee and a cookie is appreciated.
Take some of that love and gift to those fighting the good fight.

Tuesday

12/01/2024

Farming is the long game towards return of investment.
This time of year people clamber for the evergreen arrangements, garlands and the fresh Christmas trees.
Farming Christmas trees is a bit like raising children.
Planting them is the easy part, then the real work begins.
They must care for them (weeding, mowing), treat their ailments (insects and pests), feed them (water and fertilizer), discipline them (shearing), and so on for 10-12 long years.
That is occupied land that needs to be paid for in taxes and a business that has labour costs with a product only offered ONCE A YEAR.
Not a quick turn around like a seasonal crop of strawberries, corn or soy.
Not a yearly yield from investment like apples or peaches once the trees mature.
This is a 10-12 year waiting game and commitment to a finished produce that is then cut and done.
To moan and complain that the tree of your dreams is $40.00, $60.00, $100.00 etc is just unrealistic and actually, kind of rude.

Have you gone to a nursery to see what a tree actually costs to plant in your yard that brings years of benefits to your space?

You WANT something special that took great time, skill, effort and expense to create and now you want to dicker and ridicule the very people who are providing that magical service and desired experience.

That must be soul crushing for the tree farmer
and they must really dislike the snarky attitude of "I want the best but I want it affordable".

I understand that everyone is feeling financial burdens and are aware of what they spend but that does not mean that the Christmas tree farmer is immune to those very same concerns as well.
You want to help protect the agricultural landscape of your local farms?
Support local farmers so they can continue seeing the value in what they do.

11/30/2024

Sometimes it is the little things that bring us joy.

11/27/2024

UPDATE: I only have 7 sleeves left of the naked 5 bulb packages available.
$5.00 a sleeve.
Let me know by Sunday, December 1st for pick up.

This weekend is the last call for fragrant paperwhite kits if you want to have them blooming for the holidays.
I have a selection of single bulbs in cottagecore mason jars with growing medium, packaged and ready to go for $5.00 or a sleeve of 5 naked bulbs for your own containers.
Both come with growing instructions.
Porch pick up in Brighton.
Toss me a message to arrange as I should be at the farm all week getting things put to bed for the winter.

11/24/2024

Another design out in the world!
We are thrilled to be sponsoring a wreath in this year’s Festival of Lights and Trees at .
With over 80 items available for raffle, and all the proceeds supporting the theatre, this sparkling event is a must for many and their holiday traditions.
Running from now until Dec 22.
Don’t miss out on your chance to bring home this wreath or one of the many other decorated trees!
Public viewing schedule can be found at the Capitol Theatre website.

11/23/2024

Let's talk about being gullible and fooled by AI today.
If you are like me, you spend a lot of time scrolling through rose images.
I have my very reputable suppliers and nurseries that I work with and trust what they offer.
I know that some photos are the "best of" shots of that particular rose.
Many open one colour and change as the days go on.
Heat, hydration, daylight, nutrition and age all contribute to the colour of a rose.
Maiden flowers rarely look like what they should and most roses do not hit their optimum stride until their 3rd year in the ground...sometimes longer.

So how can we trust what we see?

Up front...there are no black roses.
Dark red like Black Baccara is the closest at this time.
Black roses would most likely hold too much heat and burn to a crisp as roses require a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight.

AI generated images have now made us second guess our ability to discern reality.
Things that are attributed to masterful craftsmanship, with breathtaking skills, are dismissed as AI fakery and unnaturally crafted images are slack-jawed fawned over with emojis of "beautiful" and "breathtaking".

Roses do not grow identical to their parent plant by seed as they have been cross-pollinated.
(Please remember your grade 4 science on reproduction of plants).
Rose seeds are notoriously petulant to stratify and sprout and this is why roses cost what they do when they are hybridized new releases.
Those hand-pollinated parent roses produced hips with seeds, those seeds were sprouted by possibly a thousand in trays to grow on.
Those sprouts then were chosen years later for their genetic merit for health or shape, colour, fragrance, hardiness and growing habit, sometimes repeat bloom, all around approximately the 5-6th year of growing.
They then need to be trialed in outdoor gardens for a few years and patented if they make the cut.
Those that make it must then be deemed worthy of a supplier growing them in large quantities for retail from bud stock or cuttings that are grafted on suitable root stock.

The person who genetically cracks the code on creating a truly black rose will be financially rewarded for their skill.
We are really close on a true blue but even those are more lavender/grey at this time and there are no naturally rainbow roses or embossed patterned petals.
These AI images are there to entice you from your money, clear and simple.

Florists may spray dye on a rose or soak in an uptake solution to colour enhance the greenhouse grown florist roses but to install a black rosebush in your garden is a present fallacy.

A reliable source is https://www.helpmefind.com/gardening/roses.php
or a recognized nursery catalogue, a garden club, a rose grower (waves enthusiastically), a botanical garden, a local garden centre, a horticultural society or group or gardening blog or an aficionado.
Books! Books are a great resource.
Either from a bookstore, the library or second-hand value store.

Below: Left is from an Etsy ad for $15.00 for a couple of Black rose seeds.
Right is Black Baccara in someone's garden, taken at peak condition.
The third is also Black Baccara, heavily colour-enhanced from an online market, but the shape is accurate.

11/18/2024

Sometimes a shift in your creative view is good for inspiration and provides a welcome break.
Created and installed this Krampus Earth Breaker at my mother's house in time for the Santa parade.
A nod to my Germanic heritage and haunter's heart.
Dec.5th is Krampusnaucht where naughty or ungrateful children are sought out, collected in a basket and tossed in the river or chased and hit with a birch switch.
As the compatriot of St.Nicholas, Krampus has been given Christmas associated fame.
Much more convincing than a tattling elf on the shelf.
Nice to use my costuming skills outside of the theatre.

11/14/2024

So I should be outside tying down the last of the roses to the new arbours and digging out the last bed of dahlia tubers but it is a bit too chilly to be up on the ladder today or mucking in the soil.
Going to spend the day doing research and sorting seed packets with a pot of tea and 3 cats.

I still have some paperwhite kits available and if you would like flowers blooming for Christmas, now is the best time to plant them up to set roots for the window of fragrance.
I will pot up some in fancy containers and pre-start them for those who want something more of a ready made installation but they will be a bit more expensive than the $5.00 a sleeve or kit.
Stay warm.

11/08/2024

As a flower farmer, one constantly is in flux about your business.
There is that little voice that you historically bump into that rattles your confidence saying,
"what are you doing? "
"what does it matter?"
"you are out of your depth and foolish for taking such risks."
As I am arguing with myself while digging out dahlias, I am repeatedly greeted with the sweetest of fragrance.
I glance over to an entire row of flowering sweetpeas (!) and blooming French roses.
On November 8th in Ontario.
I may not know what I'm doing, but it certainly is rewarding.

11/05/2024

Paper white kits are still available for gift giving or to start soon for your Christmas decor.
Sweetly scented and delicately white flowers looking like small, species daffodils to bring a bit of beauty, blooming.
$5.00 for a single kit or a sleeve of 5 to grow in your own containers.
Think a line of crystal champagne saucers with a paper white bulb snuggled in glass glitter snow, based with green cedar boughs and tea lights along the mantle.
Paperwhites do not need soil to grow and can be set with river rocks, marbles, mini Christmas baubles, lengths of silver chain or beads.
Place in a container and add water to just the bottom of the bulb and in 4-6 weeks you will have blooms.
Porch pick up or local free delivery in Brighton.

11/03/2024

I went at dusk before it got too cold and was able to get a lovely cut-flower harvest in.
By the looks of the flowers conditioning in the cold room, there should be 3 mason jar bouquets available at the Codrington Farmers' Market on Sunday 10-2.
These will most definitely be the LAST bouquets of this season.
Some stunning heirloom chrysanthemums, late dahlias, celosia, lace flower, scabiosa, some roses ( I couldn't resist) cedar, dogwood, ninebark, sweet william and stocks.
Not bad for November 3rd.
Remember the clocks fall back tonight.
The cadets will be on hand to direct parking on the lot and field
(and keeping the road clear for the fire hall).
There will be lots of artisians, foodies, creators, music, a bonfire, treats and festive good cheer.
Come support local and get a jump on your Christmas shopping where the appreciation abounds.
I will be back in person in May.
Customized Gift Certificates are always available and the 2025 Subscription options will be live on the website by the end of the month for gift purchasing.

11/02/2024

Although the majority of my cut flowers are complete for the season,
(I might possibly have cut heirloom mum bouquets for Sunday)
I will be bringing festively packaged paperwhite bulb kits to the Codrington Farmers' Market Christmas Market this Sunday 10-2.
These easy to grow indoor bulbs are delicate in form and delightful in fragrance.
Great for gift giving or seasonal home decor,
priced from $5.00 a kit to $20.00 for a large, vintage glass compote with bulbs.
I will also have our much appreciated printed cloth market bags featuring our seasonal bouquets,
some blank cards and a few hand-woven Brigid's wheels for a prosperous year ahead.
Personalized gift certificates can be requested as well as information for our weekly or monthly bouquet subscriptions for 2025.

Our flower season may be done but we still have lots to offer.

From Our Farm to Your Arms,
Naturally.

10/28/2024

There are so many ways to support a small business!

10/26/2024

A lovely night out (a rarity for me) at the QBAA awards gala tonight.
So appreciative to have been nominated in the agribusiness category ( Congratulations to Cheer Farms on their win.) Floriculture often does not get much of a recognition for growing and providing beauty but as a 4th generation horticulturalist and agricultural preservationist, it is nice to be in a community of brave and/ or foolish entrepreneurs who all decided they no longer wanted to work for some else's dream.

Address

Brighton, ON
K0K1H0

Opening Hours

3pm - 5pm

Website

https://owlgroveroses.square.site/, https://www.redbubble.com/people/OwlGroveRoses

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