Willow & Mabel Garden Co.

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Poulsbo, WA
Willow & Mabel Garden Co.

Willow & Mabel Garden Co. Willow & Mabel Garden Co I am an English transplant living outside of Seattle, USA. Well, it did not beat us. I am very nervous and very excited too.

For most of my life I have enjoyed growing vegetables and flowers but just as a hobby and a way to relax after a day at the office. A couple of years ago, my husband and I and our two teenage boys moved from our beautiful self-built house into a 100 year old dilapidated farm house on 5 acres of land. I think that everyone thought that we were crazy and had taken on a DIY project bigger than even m

y carpenter husband could tackle. My husband and two teenage boys, with help from lots of friends, transformed that dilapidated farm house into a wonderful, welcoming home that we are all so happy living in. Last year I was flicking though a magazine and came across an article about two women who gave up their office jobs and followed their dream of becoming farmer-florists. I read, and re read this article and thought how I would love to do that. The magazine article floated around my head for weeks thinking about it. I mentioned it to my husband, who never shy’s away from a challenge and he said “what are you waiting for? Do it!”

So here I am making my first tentative steps towards achieving my dream. The fear of failure keeps churning in my stomach, but as my husband says, “what is the worst that can happen? – We will have a lovely flower garden and green house.” I cannot afford to dive into this as a full time project but I am going to make baby steps towards that goal with the help and support of my family. So that is how Willow & Mabel Garden Co. started – which is lovingly named after our two Pygmy Goats! Now you can follow my muddy footsteps down this road & see what happens. As I was told recently – “Never die not knowing”.

02/07/2025

The first flowers of the year from my farm showing that everything is starting to wake up. I cut these at the weekend. The rest of the hellebores are now buried in snow but despite their fragile looks they are tough and can withstand the cold.

Hellabores are little glimmers of hope proving that lighter days are around the corner.

02/04/2025

Just a little dusting of snow changes everything. Here in the Pacific Northwest it is normally rain and then of course mud..the endless washing of dogs after their walks. But just for a few days this week it looks like everything is going to be white and magical. Here are a few scenes from around our farm today ❄️

01/31/2025

Todaya is the day that we start dividing all of the dahlia tubers clumps that are tucked away in root cellar. We inventory all of them so that I know what will go into my field and what I will have in my tuber sale.

I am planning on the sale being at the beginning of March, if all goes to plan 🤪

If you would like to be added to my email list so you will be the first to know the sale date drop me message in the comments or DM.

01/28/2025

Sweet Pea sowing is well under way. Yesterday we planted over 2,000 seeds. The seeds get planted in forestry trays ~ I found these several years ago. They have nice deep cells to encourage strong root growth. Once the seeds have germinated they will stay in the greenhouse until they have a couple of sets of leaves. At that point they will be placed outside…cooler temperatures are best for growing sweet peas so they don’t get long and leggy.

Sweet Pea Starts are available for purchase on my website ~ farm pickup only.

01/18/2025

This little flowery baby did not make it onto the grid last year and as there really aren’t a lot of flowery happenings out there at the moment so here she is to brighten your day.

Dahlias: Alpen Sundown, Golden Septar, Hollyhill blackwidow and of course one I can’t remember the name of! And the bronze fennel in there…✨

And of course foam free 😘

01/16/2025

January is a month for organization and planning around here. The Potting Shed which is my studio & office ~ depending on what is going on at any particular moment, had a major clean up yesterday. At the end of last year a lot of dried flower projects took place in there plus it became a dumping area for things that needed to be put away but didn’t because I was busy running to the next project. It is now clean and organized. The floors have been swept and I feel like I can breathe again in there. Having clean spaces gives my mind the clarity to think and be creative.

Photography

01/12/2025

In the Pacific Northwest you can never, ever guarantee what the weather will be like…if it rains on your wedding day it is supposed to symbolize a good strong marriage…As you know, a knot that becomes wet is extremely hard to untie.

Emma & Jake ~ so absolutely gorgeous in the rain.

Photography
Venue .weddings

01/08/2025

Windowsill Wednesday….with a little twist… in November I was lucky enough to attend a private pottery workshop with at the studio of ~ and this is what I created…✨ All the everlasting flowers are of course from my field.

01/06/2025

Back home after two weeks of family time, country walks & afternoons in the pub.

Easing into January slowly, trying not to rush. Savoring the slower season.

I also struggle with what is home for me…I think that England will always be my home… but for right now I am choosing to live in the USA…but the English countryside where I grew up will always have my heart.

12/22/2024

Out of office is on….I reached the end of the year…A glass of champagne in my hand…Next stop London and some grand adventures with my family.🎄✨

12/17/2024

Finally finding some time to add some Christmas Sparkle to the house…just in time to go home to England for Christmas…but hopefully our house sitters will enjoy it…but also realizing that our copper needs a clean…that will wait for another day or another year perhaps. ✨

12/11/2024

Yesterday was a day playing catch up and it felt so good. I will be totally transparent ~ I ran out of time when we were clearing the fields up for the winter and we didn’t finish pulling up the landscape fabric or irrigation in the annuals. It actually made a lovely change for all things wreaths to get out there yesterday. The weather was so glorious and we got everything done in a couple of hours. This past season I reduced my growing space - it truly was the best business decision I have made to date - never be scared to make changes if something isn’t working for you x

Photography

12/02/2024

This week is all about wreaths. Finishing off the last of the custom order wreaths and then this Thursday we host our first Christmas Wreath workshop…how fast December has descended upon us…busy days and then cosy nights in front of the fire with the warm glow of the Christmas Tree lights. 🎄

If you would like one of my custom ordered wreaths comment below…✨

11/30/2024

Just a little note to say….this weekend with all the “sales” and the shopping leading up to Christmas, it does not have to be about all the big guys out there. There are little guys like me frantically padding away, trying to keep out heads above water, keeping our businesses alive. We can not afford to offer deeply discounted prices but what we do offer is a personal service for our wonderful customers. Shop locally wherever you can, doing this keeps someones dreams alive! ✨

These are my new note cards…images captured out in the field this season. They are available for purchase through my website. 💕

11/28/2024

Another year to be so very thankful for so many reasons….my business continues to thrive with the support of this amazing community. My family…very, very grateful for their support and of course friends that really are like my family and lastly my health…never take it for granted. May you have the most wonderful Thanksgiving with those closest to you xx

Photography

11/25/2024

Thanksgiving week..still a few work days for me but I am so grateful my boys are arriving for the holiday …there is nothing like having a house full of family and dogs.

were able to spend a few quiet hours together this weekend creating something lovely for our Thanksgiving Table. All dried flowers from my field and the cutest little pumpkin 🎃

11/23/2024

Tis’ the season to have hands covered in sap. For about a month I constantly have very grim looking hands (well to be honest this is the case year round but in the winter it is always sap)…and yes I do have all the scrubs…my favorite being from - which I can not be without. No sooner do I have my hands cleaned up, then I am off either rummaging in the woods or creating wreathes. I guess there are worse problems to have! 🎄

If you are new to my IG page this is Charlie one of my labs..we have a second one called Ruby who is rarely still enough to have her photo taken.

Photography

11/20/2024

This week I am creating some beautiful Christmas Wreaths for my CSA subscribers and some special orders that I have received. Created with evergreens and everlasting flowers and dried grasses from my field and finished with a luxurious velvet ribbon ~ something just a little bit different.

If you would like one for your home, I have a limited amount available for purchase on my website or drop me a message in the comments and I will send you the details on how to purchase a wreath. 🎄

Photography ✨

Address

Central Valley
Poulsbo, WA
98370

Website

http://www.willowandmabelgardenco.com/

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Videos

Yesterday was a really wet, cold harvest. When I fell out of bed this morning I knew what it was going to be like out there after all the rain yesterday. Yes, I could have worn waterproofs but to be honest with you I hate them…I end up hot and sweaty in all the wrong places so I just battle on in my work trousers and get on with it. The feeling when you pull off your wet clothes and put on some dry ones added with a big mug of tea can’t be beaten. This little beauty Kelgai Ann survived the rain 🤍

Oh goodness…I think I have found the most perfect Cafe Au Lait dahlia EVER! Yep…I said it…she has perfect petal formation…beautiful coloring…no bug damage…(seriously how is that even possible) and a long, long stem…..I want to keep her alive forever!

Are you in panic mode for that last minute Christmas gift? I still have a few CSA share available for purchase on my website…give the gift of flowers this summer…hop on over to my website for all the details. 🎄

Today we start putting the fields to bed for the winter. Penny & I will work down each row and start taking out all the support netting and hardware. Over the years the two of us have created a good system to get this down quickly and efficiently. 💪🏼 - also I have deliberately not put music to this reel…the birds in the background make the most beautiful music…..

Inside the Drying Shed…a constant shuffle and this time of year making room for more flowers coming in.

Dahlias from yesterday’s harvest 🧡

The first weekend that I have no events or weddings on the calendar for a very long time. Just catching up with good friends, we will be sitting in the apple orchard sharing good food and a couple of drinks and much laughter. Dahlia: Polka

This is why we are so anxious for the dahlia field to start blooming. This dahlia appeared yesterday and she is beautiful. This is the first time I have grown her. Her name is Daddy’s Girl…not sure if I am keen on her name but she sure is pretty.

Happy Monday….we are going to be busy as bees are here on the farm this week with beautiful sunshine in the forcast.

One thing that this nightmare situation with Covid has taught me is that nothing ever goes to plan at the moment. My family in England has not been all together for Christmas for 27 years now…this was going to be the year…..and then my nephew got Covid 4 days before Christmas….so that turned things upside down, so we will have to wait another year!….but we worked it all out….today my sister and I and the boys headed to London to do the things we were going to do before Christmas….we avoided the tubes….we walked everywhere….we saw so many things we would not have done if we had taken the tube….we drank champagne in Harrods and saw the all the Christmas lights just as we planned before Christmas. It was the best day. If you ever get chance to go to London at Christmas time you must go….it’s amazing.

Happy snow day!! I’ve been hoping for some snow this winter and I’ve got it and some more! It’s certainly a winter wonderland around here at the moment ❄️