Growing Hope Blooms

01/18/2025

We are still sick over here. Pretty sure our bronchitis has turned into pneumonia.

You can't hold a conversation or watch tv due to the constant coughing.

I've got semi-toned abs for the first time in 30 years, though. 😂

Between sleeping and sleeping some more, I started something new.

I've been wanting to do this for awhile now, so I'm super excited to try it.

I'm sure there will be mistakes made, but that's how I learn best.

Ready to see?

We should have some tulips ready a little earlier this year thanks to forcing them hydroponically! 🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

They will grow, start to finish, in these trays of water.

I'm just trying 400 this way, and if it works, maybe I'll do 4,000 this way next year!

01/14/2025

Remember my garden buddy Frank?

Even though rabbits cause me a lot of grief, It's easier for me to work with them than against them.

So I do stupid stuff like prepare them daily salads so they leave my ranunculas alone.

But it seems to mostly work.

Anyway, we tend to think wildlife can survive these incredibly cold temperatures. They were made for these temps, right?

Wrong. It becomes a game of survival of the fittest.

Temps like those we've been experiencing are stressful and deadly for wildlife.

You can help the wildlife by tossing any grapes, blueberries, or lettuce that you aren't going to use into the cleared paths near your house or by low shrubs where rabbits hide. You can slice mandarin oranges in half for squirrels. Small plastic dishes of water are important, too, but so difficult to maintain due to freezing.

The wildlife will thank you later when you watch them in your backyard.

01/10/2025

Not only is snow beautiful when it's falling, but it adds nitrogen back into our soil. Think of it as free fertilizer!

01/07/2025

Good deeds are awesome!

DutchGrown, a bulb company in the Netherlands, recently heard about the flood devastation in North Carolina and touched based with a man who originated from the Netherlands. Dutch Grown wanted to make a tulip bulbs donation to help beautify a park.

The man wasn't expecting 10,000 tulip bulbs! Several volunteers help get them into the ground right before Christmas, and they'll bloom this spring.

Such a beautiful story!

A garden of hope is growing in Swannanoa after a company in the Netherlands donated 10,000 tulip bulbs.

12/30/2024

This week two things happen:

1. I'll be mailing out gift subscription info to those who received them (unless otherwise requested) by the end of the week!

2. Some seed sowing for 2025 starts in the basement!

12/28/2024

January. I used to loathe the month. Admit it--it's rough in Indiana.

These cold, dreary, gray days with little to no sunshine and bitter winds...shudder.

I began limiting how much I had to go out in it. I know I'm not the only one.

Then, once I started spending ten months of the year working outside either growing flowers or preparing to grow flowers, I realized what a gift January is.

It's a month to recharge. For all of us.

It's a month to hunker down under the blankets, to sit by the fire or the electric space heater with our favorite book or movie.

It's our month to recover and rest.

Even if you work full-time, try to use these short days to recover and treat yourself right.

Sit with your kids and grandkids. Make cookies and let the dishes sit till tomorrow. Take a bubble bath (or many). Peruse seed catalogs. Breathe.

Spring will be here before we know it. Until then, rest when you can.

January will be much more tolerable if you think of it as your forced month to rest, recover and recharge.

Restore calm, beauty, and peace into your life.

12/22/2024

Still need a gift for your wife, mother-in-law, girlfriend, or best friend?

I've got the perfect solution as long as they live in Sheridan or near Westfield.

Give a tulip subscription!!

This spring they'll get three sensational tulip bouquets spread out over three weeks!! They look nothing like the bouquets you get at the grocery store. These are sophisticated, luxurious tulips-- varieties grocery stores don't typically sell.

How do you sign up? Head over to my website https://www.GrowingHopeBlooms.com and look at the gift subscriptions.

I'll send your recipient a gift card after Christmas. In the meantime, you can tell them yourself and see their reaction.

People LOVE receiving flowers as a gift! Promise!

12/21/2024

12/16/2024

At first glance they may look like peonies, but they're actually double tulips!

I sell premium tulips that you don't typically find in any grocery store!

12/12/2024

Oh, the weather outside is frightful--but, my flowers are so delightful!

Finish off your shopping for that special someone who lives locally with a three week tulip subscription!

They'll feel loved when you gift it to them, and then anticipate it all the rest of winter ❄️. Once they start pickups, they'll feel happiness and your 🩷 and thoughtfulness all over again!

https://www.growinghopeblooms.com

12/11/2024

It won't always be gray! ☀️🌈🎨

12/09/2024

I've had a few people message me--yes! There's still flower subscriptions available!!

Choose three weeks of tulips, or a full season subscription!

It's a wonderful gift for the person who has everything, and they'll think of you over and over!

https://www.growinghopeblooms.com

12/03/2024

Thank you to everyone who has already purchased a flower subscription for next season!! It means so much to me! 💜

A flower subscription is a fancy schmancy way of supporting my micro flower farm in exchange for glorious blooms next season.

I have the moolah to purchase the seeds, bulbs, and compost I need, and you reap the rewards of all my hard work.

Want to know more? Send me a message any time. Or head over to my website

Growing Hope Blooms provides locally grown, fresh, in-season flowers for central Indiana. Order a wrapped bouquet of blooms for pickup in Sheridan, IN, or order bulk flowers for an event. Serving Hamilton County, Indiana and beyond. All grown right here in Hamilton County! CSA subscriptions now avai...

12/01/2024

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

🌼 Flower subscriptions for 2025 are now open! Pick up .coffee or in lovely Sheridan, Indiana at the roadside cart!

Choose tulips only, or get a full season subscription that takes you through the season (either one, two, or the bouquets a month).

They make the BEST gifts, too!

Subscriptions will sell out! Buy early ensures you the most options.

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11/30/2024

If you're shopping for someone who lives nearby, I've got the perfect gift.

I mean, it's perfect unless they're allergic to flowers. 🥺

Seriously. Over one-third of my subscriptions are sold as gifts.

You can choose the pickup location for them, or let them do it.

I'm willing to work out any kinks for you. Sometimes it takes an extra text or two, but I don't mind!

People tell me that the flower subscription was the best gift they ever got, and I didn't pay them to say that or anything. I think they mean it.

Subscriptions are open on the site for the 2025 season. Head there so you can cross off your favorite person's name from your list.

I'll take it from there!

https://www.growinghopeblooms.com

11/28/2024

Oh boy! Flower subscriptions are available for everyone beginning Friday!

Are you wanting to purchase one for a gift?

Maybe you want one for yourself. Or maybe you're hoping someone will see this and gift one for you.

If so, you can drop that person's name 👇so they'll see this and take a hint. Don't be bashful! 😁

The ✨️ starts Friday!

11/23/2024

I don't give these beauties much attention because I've struggled to grow them thanks to the rabbit population in my yard.

Ranunculas are so incredibly colorful, though, and so pretty, that I tried growing them again this spring.

I *think* I finally won against the the rabbits and am ready to go full speed ahead next spring.

I've purchased over 500 ranuncs corms so I'll have plenty for my subscribers and to put in my roadside cart.

What's your thoughts on ranunculas? Yay or nay??

It's a YAY from me!

11/18/2024

Over 200 peony plants, 15 different varieties... surely you know what my favorite flower is!

There's a favorite for everyone. What's yours?