2026 Year
Wow! What an amazing year! Classes sold out very fast and the you-pick lavenders was a success as well. Sold out every day and still had visitors being able to pick lavender upon arrival without a pre-sold ticket. We try to manage the pre-sold tickets with this in mind so that all visitors are able to pick. This year we dd switch some things up. The best idea or change you may say was making the you-pick lavender field in one field - the south field. There was so much lavender in bloom here in this field we were able to allow everyone that visited to pick in this field. This also meant we did not have to move the tent, caution tape, or signs. Perfect for everyone.
Another change we didi this winter, David (hubby) was so smart buying a construction heater with two propane tanks for the high tunnel. This made it so easy to keep the ice off of the plastic on the top of the high tunnel, preventing any tears or collapse. Even I could get it started. We had to defiantly think outside the box this year with David being laid up from his car accident back in October 2026. The snow at the farm as no words to describe. Snow blankets the lavender causing a hush. So quiet, so beautiful. The lavender sleeps under the blanket of snow seeming to say I'll be awake when the warmer weather arrives. Winter also gives us a break, to curl up with my favorite book about flowers, and time to wake up seeds in our germination set up under grow lights and on top of heating pads. Signs that spring with soon be here. Time to plane out our flower fields and which colors go where. Do I make more seeds than needed? Yes, for our visitors to purchase their flowers and lavender in spring for their gardens of beauty to create.
Weather: It was though however a year not without the troubles. Weather was crazy this year starting in early spring with the changes in temperatures going from warm temperatures to cold snaps down into the 30s again. It seemed to switch up every week. This meant no early planting in the high tunnel, which caused our spring bouquets not to happen. I did not want to have to cover the baby spring flowers with frost cloth at nought and uncover them during the day. I was trying to save some work for me, since hubby was down with a broken heel and in a cast. Our outside workers help a lot, but covering them at night and doing both covering and uncovering would have been my job on the weekends.
Then came the rains. I mean monsoon weather, rain, rain, and more rain, which meant no planting of the dahlia tubers and the baby outside flowers. So another delay. The dahlia tubers cannot have very wet ground to grow. They would have rotted in the field. This past fall of 2025 we had to dig up most of our 1,500 dahlia tubers and winter them in the cool room. We had no idea what weather would be like in spring. That is farming. You hope and pray, and then do a lot of changes and problem solving. We were however then given the opportunity to sell a lot of our extra dahlia tubers during the rains. This was our first year selling dahlia tubers and also added a class on How to Grow Dahlias, which was sold out quickly and had a lot of interest in the class, we could see adding two classes of this for next year.
New Class This Year - Creating a Fairy Garden
Next the heat wave came. I thought I would die out in the heat, but the plants needed care. I am now 68 years old and the farm keeps me young working. One class had to be rescheduled since it was 105 F outside and without an inside venue we make do. We are just a small farm and do this as a passion. The blooms can still take my breath away, so beautiful, and I love working in the fields, the peace, and the bird song. When my first husband passed away due to agent orange I thought he worked every day of his life and died, always busy with work, and no time for memories. He and I started this farm and he did enjoy this land and wanted to make me happy. I wanted to make sure the farm stayed alive for hime in his memories and for all that visit the farm to take the time to enjoy friends and family and take in the relaxing beauty here on this land. Through out all the weather conditions it has been worth it all. I love seeing the smiles and laughter, even the happy tears from our visitors. One day two daughters brought their mother that had cancer here to let her see this beautiful farm. It was the first place the mother wanted to visit right after Covid opened and she had the strength to get out. Imagine, I thought, my little farm was a true destination. Makes my heart happy. Happy to make others happy. That's a good thing, I think.
The lavender made it all through the many weather extremes and blooms, I think, The prettiest it's ever been. To see the lavenders double in size and full with purple blooms waving in the winds, and smelling that truly intoxicating floral scent. Truly a sight to behold. To make it more amazing was to see all the visitors here filling their baskets up with lavender bouquets, picnicking with their family among there lavender rows, artist painting in there lavender fields, photographers capturing family moments against the backdrop of the purple lavender blooms, and people wondering among the rows and rows of lavender in bloom relaxing and taking in the beauty and scent. Ahhh... was the sound of amazement when visitors walk into the shop. So all the work in the fields and handcrafting our products makes it worth wild. Lavender is truly amazing and the most valued crop to grow in Georgia. It's more than just lavender!
