The Farm

Closing House

2011-12-18T07:32:00.000-06:00

We should have called it Full House because the place stayed packed all day! Yes, we took some shots of the farm gals lined-up-in-a-row-saying-cheese--but this was the blogger's favorite, so it's the one that gets posted :) It has been a fantastic year. We are blessed with amazing friends and customers. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts <3

Closing Week Gift Ideas

2011-12-15T20:44:00.000-06:00

Thanks so much to WICS for visiting The Farm yesterday! The Farm, along with Apple Barn and Hill Prairie Winery, were featured on the segment that will air Friday at 5:45 am and at 5:10 pm. But you don't have to get up before dawn or wait around to see its premiere, just click here :) Only two more days of the 2012 season--Saturday is Closing House. We still have a really nice selection with

Closing House

2011-12-13T04:58:00.000-06:00

Shannon's Red Velvet Cupcakes at Open House This is our final week of the 2012 season! Closinghouse sale is Saturday, December 17. It's been a great year--thanks so much for visiting with us. While the shop will be closing for the winter season, The Loft is open. For reservations, call 217-632-2888.

Tree Toppers

2011-11-26T09:19:00.000-06:00

That Cheryl has been at her creative re-purposing again! Who would have thought to use this cute little girl's dress as a tree topper? And here's a close-up of the kitchen tree. Such a cute idea to tuck everyday items in a little tree for the kitchen. . . And for your gardening tree, a little clay pot topper. So how are you topping your tree this year??

Merry Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T18:58:00.001-06:00

Hope your Thanksgiving was happy and turkey-ful :)

Farm Mail

2011-11-12T08:33:00.000-06:00

Farm Gals Barb, Cheryl, Kynda, Gail, Sue No matter what your preference of seasons right now, you will find the shop delightful! We are still savoring the richness of Fall & Thanksgiving (most of it on sale) in the main room. AND elsewhere, the beauty and magic of Christmas has arrived! New items show up everyday, and Cheryl’s talent for displaying them is amazing! And you know The

Pumpkins Under The Tree

2011-11-07T06:40:00.000-06:00

Take a look at these cute fall trees that Gail found for the shop! Love them, especially in pairs with a few pumpkins and a couple of faux sunflowers. . . And if you'd like to add a little richer color to your pumpkins and sunflowers in this later fall season, try a little Glossy Wood Tone or Cherry Wood Tone spray paint by Design Master. Hobby Lobby or Michael's has a good selection.

October Pumpkins

2011-10-28T07:10:00.001-05:00

Are we really coming to the end of October? Guess so--the calendar says November 1st is just a few short days away! We're still enjoying this pumpkin-time of year, especially because we can enjoy them across several months--all the way from early-fall days of September, across Halloween, and on through to Thanksgiving. The shop is ready to celebrate this later fall season too. Local

Introducing The Loft

2011-10-16T22:09:00.000-05:00

We're so excited about The Loft, our new bed & breakfast! Want to peek inside? Eric (yes, that Eric of Adamski Construction and Gail's husband) built the barn and The Loft with his own two hands! We love the hardwood floors and all the custom woodwork. The bathroom features a beautifully tiled walk-in shower--Eric's handywork again :) Gail splurged on the bedding--comfy mattresses, soft

October Sunday

2011-10-16T06:33:00.000-05:00

Open House Scenes

2011-10-05T06:54:00.000-05:00

Thanks so much to everybody for coming out to see us during our Open House last weekend. We had a HuGe turnout! So nice to see everybody. The weather was gorgeous! The Shannonberry jelly flew out the door, almost as fast as the decorated pie pumpkins :) And the surprise feature of the weekend--a tour of The Loft, the newly opened bed-and-breakfast right here at The Farm! Yes, you can spend

2011-09-24T14:17:00.001-05:00

Here's Spot, keeping an eye out for all the fall happenings at The Farm. This weekend, there's even a wedding! Can't wait to see those pictures. During the spring and summer, it's natural to assume the bittersweet is just another green vine providing shade for the chickens. But then the berries explode in shades of orange, red, & yellow, and we all HaVe to have some to drape over our

The pumpkins are here!

2011-09-18T19:39:00.000-05:00

Welcome, Fall!

2011-09-15T06:27:00.002-05:00

By the calendar, we have another ten days til fall officially arrives. But as we're waking up this morning, it's forty degrees! So we're thinking soup, sweater weather and, of course, PuMpKiNs :) October 1st is Open House, so put us on your calendar!

More Pie Please

2011-08-22T15:40:00.001-05:00

"Perfect Peach Pie" or "Perfect Strawberry Pie"Crust:1 1/2 C flour2 1/2 T sugar 1/2 t salt2 T milk1/2 C oilMix minimally & press into pie plate with large spoon (fingers work too). Bake @ 325 til golden. Easy!Filling:1 C sugar1 C water3 1/2 T corn starchdash saltCook & stir til clear (3-5 min). Add 3 T dry peach jello. Cool a bit.Layer sliced peaches (4-6) & filling. Cool in fridge.

Art Jewelry by Megan

2011-08-12T21:03:00.000-05:00

Aren't these pieces--and the photography--gorgeous?!? Handmade jewelry by the artist Megan Adamski. Love these feather earrings. Watch for Megan's art jewelry at The Farm. We hear she can be persuaded to make custom pieces too!

Preserving Hydrangea Blooms

2011-08-03T05:54:00.000-05:00

We love hydrangeas at The Farm and we're always looking for ways to preserve them so that we can enjoy them year-round. Many of our customers consider them their favorites too, so you'll find them tucked into our wreaths and arrangements throughout the shop. Last weekend we traveled to Ohio Street Originals in Quincy, where our friend Deb Damhorst is our go-to expert on preserving flowers

Farm Mail from Gail

2011-07-21T18:45:00.001-05:00

I must say, I don’t remember such a long heat wave! But we know this too shall pass, right? And on the up-side – the shop is cool, and stocked up, AND we’re serving icy tea to make your walk in the garden more pleasant. (because there are a lot of things blooming!) And inside, you’ll find quite a few things marked down to make way for new goodies. So, grab a friend or two, maybe plan

Fruit Pie

2011-07-07T19:18:00.002-05:00

How long has it been since you're had real, home-made strawberry pie? Too Long?? Yeah, here too. This was made with a combination of an old old recipe from a church cookbook--still one of the best places we know to find a tried-and-true recipe--along with a new crust & topping recipe from Cook's Illustrated. CI always has gorgeous recipes that tell you exactly why you should follow the

Quilts in the Garden

2011-06-28T06:05:00.000-05:00

You might remember that the Farm gals are quilters (except for the blogger and we won't talk about when she last picked up a needle!). These pictures from a recent Michigan garden walk & quilt show may inspire us to have a "quilts in the garden" day at The Farm too :)No, we don't have a buggy, but we do have a tractor. Maybe Eric would let us use it for a quilt rack? As you can

Every Fairy Needs A Garden

2011-06-25T19:58:00.000-05:00

We're seeing fairies these days. And not just at The Farm! What?!? You don't believe in fairies? Hmmm. . . Well, take a look at these gardens and let us know what you think :) These little guys were spied on a recent Michigan garden tour: And this last garden is by Growing Herbs for Beginners in Rochester. Check out their how-to if you'd like to build a little garden for

Garden Tour Season

2011-06-12T22:47:00.001-05:00

Look what we spotted on the Rochester Women's garden tour today--a flower-filled Rich Zimmer arranger from The Farm! You know how much we love those flower arrangers so it was really fun to see this one. This garden was featured on the tour and Sue made us feel so welcome. She even shared a seedhead from these gorgeous fluffy pink poppies. And she had another sweet surprise for us too.

The Artist Known as Peggy

2011-05-28T06:56:00.000-05:00

You might have noticed these angels at The Farm on a recent visit. Each one is a little different with vintage touches. They're hand-made by Peggy who lives, gardens, and creates in Michigan. She's been a long-time fan of The Farm and now she's a featured artist here too! You can visit Peggy anytime at her blog A Primitive Plot.

Farm Mail!

2011-05-26T21:24:00.000-05:00

Well, well…Spring is moving right along! We are making good progress on the garden and hope you are too. There is already much in bloom, a riot of fragrance & birds galore (hummers, Indigo Buntings & our resident mockingbird). The greenhouse holds a good selection, and in case you like a bargain, for an unlimited time: Buy 2 plants, receive the 3rd one free Also, I

A Farm Gal Goes to Denver

2011-05-21T06:43:00.000-05:00

What does a Farm gal do when she visits Denver? She goes to the Botanic Gardens, of course! I was surprised to find beautiful lilacs there. I guess I thought it would be all cacti all the time. Wrong--loved this beautiful border of lilac shrubs where you can go from one plant to the next, sampling the colors and smells of each named variety. The Japanese Garden was beautiful too. Pond +

Spring Open House

2011-05-21T05:44:00.000-05:00

That Cheryl, she can make a floral display out of anything vintage! Thanks to everybody for visiting us during Open House on Mother's Day weekend. The Halladay dip mixes were a hit as usual. Some new flavors added to the line this year--thai curry (spicy!), creamy dijon, and chive blossom. And we could not decide which of the sweet mixes was our favorite-- lemon-blueberry, strawberry

Drennan Pottery

2011-05-11T20:09:00.000-05:00

Kirby Drennan set up her studio in the garden last weekend! Fascinating to watch her turn pieces on her potter's wheel--she makes it look effortless. Kirby is from Cass County and she's been making functional stoneware pottery for the last 20 years. These pieces are really special to us since she used flowers and seedheads from The Farm's garden. You can find these beautiful

Open House This Saturday!

2011-05-03T01:05:00.000-05:00

The chickens have been watching us getting the garden ready for Open House! Stop by on Saturday, May 7th. We've gathered some really fun things for your home and garden this season. And this year, Open House falls on Mother's Day weekend! So bring your mom, too :-) Vintage Purses Ceramic Mushrooms Never-Lose-Your-Garden-Gloves-Again

Weeders Wanted

2011-04-28T07:14:00.000-05:00

The Farm needs some help! Would you be willing to weed or mulch in exchange for plants?? We're short-handed this spring, and if you have the desire to be outside, get a little dirty, and earn some nice plants (of your choice)--well then, you're our gal (or guy!). No experience necessary. Call Gail at the shop 217-632-2888 or in the evenings at 217-632-2871.

2011-04-23T20:07:00.000-05:00

Gail's Latest E-Mail

2011-04-21T21:03:00.000-05:00

Greetings from the greenhouse! Even on a blustery day, it’s cozy in here, and getting full I might add. We have some wonderful new perennials that have performed well in our garden, and quite a few that are deer-resistant (that’s been a problem for us lately!) Inside the shop, you will find: ~ lots of fun new jewelry for spring & summer ~ inspiration for a new

Children's Corner

2011-04-20T21:44:00.000-05:00

Is the Easter Bunny getting ready to hop to your house? With all this rain, he might have to swim! We have some fun things in the children's corner to tuck into a basket.

Farm Visitors

2011-04-13T20:29:00.002-05:00

Cheryl brought Mary and her granddaughter Kelsey out to visit us this past weekend. It was a beautiful day to explore the garden and browse the shop. They even got a peek at the new Loft! Come back to see us again :)

Early Bloomers

2011-04-12T21:17:00.000-05:00

Okay all you early spring bloomers, time for your close-ups! And you know, not a one protested having their picture taken :) t Pasque Flower

Garden Clean-Up

2011-04-11T19:28:00.000-05:00

Do you ever get overwhelmed with all the big gardening chores in the early spring? It can be daunting to look out over your garden when there's still so much clean-up from last fall. Maybe it looks something like this: Sue calls the first garden-cleanup of the year "getting rid of the big uglies"--you know, things like dead wood on the shrubs and the huge clumps of leftover

It's Here!

2011-03-20T12:00:00.000-05:00

It's SpRiNG sPrInG spring!!! We'd turn cartwheels if we didn't think it might seriously impact our ability to garden for the rest of the season :)

Signs of Spring

2011-03-07T06:46:00.000-06:00

Miss Rose says Welcome Friends! She's sporting a felted-wool pin with an antique button. You'll find a nice selection of these for your spring jacket or purse too! Love these new lighted spring branches. Great to light up your table, a corner, or even the front porch! Happy Spring, everybody--Come see us soon!

Farm Mail!

2011-02-28T06:27:00.000-06:00

Gail's latest e-mail to our visitors:It’s true: There is a time for every season. And it’s time for winter to be over and spring to come on in! I’m happy to say that neither blizzards, nor wind-chills, nor lack of sunlight have kept The Farm gals from their appointed duty. The shop is once again transformed, and I dare say I’ve never seen it so cute! See what you think. We will be open

Blizzard at The Farm

2011-02-05T21:15:00.000-06:00

Wow, that was some blizzard, wasn't it? Even though most everything can close down during a storm like this, we still brave the elements to get to the animals. LoTs of work to get through all that snow! Spot is safely in the shop and he'll stay there til the weather is more reasonable. If Gail had her way, she'd have the chickens and the horses in there too!

2011-01-22T22:10:00.001-06:00

Special order of posies, given as Christmas gifts Are you missing the garden these days? Us too! Gail's been busy ordering perennials & shrubs. And today, the mail lady brought seeds :)

Lunch!

2011-01-18T19:20:00.002-06:00

Kynda, Barb, Gail, Cheryl What are you doing to make it through these cold dreaming-of-spring January days? We thought maybe lunch at Panera would be a good way to touch base during this off-season. We missed Sue and hope she's feeling better! Gail showed up bearing gifts--an embroidered pillow, an armillary sundial for the garden, and a box of melt-in-your-mouth caramels with the

Bouquet Garni

2011-01-04T06:41:00.002-06:00

Have you been using your spices and seasonings from The Farm kitchen? We know a lot of you stocked up for the winter. If you didn't, be sure to put those on your list for your first 2011 spring visit. We'll be reopening March 1st--eight weeks from today! Bouquet garni is one of the staples that we keep in the The Farm kitchen and in our kitchens at home. We've been using the same recipe

2011

2010-12-31T06:44:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year from The Farm! Guest House Opening 2011 A New Year already . . . Seed catalogs in the mailbox. . . An extra minute or two of daylight every week. . . We're hoping that spring comes as quickly as the old year flew by. Wishing all our visitors blessings and happiness for 2011!

And a New Greeting

2010-12-23T11:37:00.001-06:00

Merry Merry from all of us at The Farm. May your Christmas be filled with love and blessings.

Vintage Greeting

2010-12-21T19:10:00.001-06:00

This vintage postcard, found in one of our local antique malls, says Merry Christmas even after all these years. It's dated 1923. Does anybody know of a Miss Bertha McElroy of Hillsboro? The message reads: "We are all well. Hoping you are the same. Did you get my last letter? Why don't you write? Have been looking everyday for a letter. Wish I could be at your house for Xmas dinner.

ClosingHouse!

2010-12-18T06:50:00.001-06:00

Lots of deals & steals today as we close down the shop and take a break for the winter. Thanks so much to each of you--our visitors, our friends--who have helped make this 2010 season one of the best ever. As Gail said in the television interview, we look forward to going to work everyday :) Have a great weekend-before-Christmas!

The Farm on TV!

2010-12-16T07:02:00.000-06:00

Have ya seen Channel 20's Sunrise On The Farm series? It's a regular Friday feature, spotlighting a local ag-related business. And this week, they came out to visit us at The Farm! We have to admit, we're not usually glued to the television at 5:45 am on Friday mornings, but we will be tomorrow! Pretty exciting when TV people show up with their cameras and want to know more about The Farm.

Progressive Sale

2010-12-14T06:31:00.001-06:00

Countdown to ClosingHouse:Each day, a new category is added! Dec 8 all wreaths, swags, arrangements 25% offDec 9 :all cookbooks 25% offDec 10 all candles 25% offDec 11 all ornaments 50% offDec 14 all Santas & snowmen 50% offDec 15 all bundles & stems 50% offDec 16 all scented & fireplace pinecones 50% offDec 17 all cooking herbs & Halladay's mixes 50% offDec 18 all remaining Christmas items

OpenHouse Report

2010-12-06T07:12:00.001-06:00

Thanks so much to all of you who stopped by to see us Saturday! We hope you had as much fun as we did. One of the big hits was the cinnamon pretzels. Here's the recipe: 1 lb bag mini pretzel twists, 2/3 cup veg oil, 1/2 cup sugar, and 2 tsp. cinnamon. Combine well & spread in a large roasting pan. Bake 300 degrees for 30 min, stirring 1/2 way through. Spread on wax paper to cool.

New Pottery

2010-12-02T06:21:00.001-06:00

The clearance closet got another make-over and it's now featuring a new line of pottery. Love those wall vases. They can sit on a shelf or hang from the wall.

Children's Corner

2010-12-01T20:40:00.001-06:00

Are you looking for something a little different for the kids on your list? We're featuring several great lines in the children's corner--Laughing Elephant books, plush animals, award-winning Folkmanis puppets . . .

Farm Calendar

2010-11-30T06:52:00.001-06:00

We can't believe the 2010 season is coming to a close so soon! The Farm had a healthy year, plans are underway for next year’s growth, and we are SO very grateful to all of you. But the success of business pales next to the sweet folks we get to be friends with over time. You are a delight! Here is our schedule for December ~ hope we get to see ya at some point. Have a very Merry

You're Invited

2010-11-29T18:01:00.000-06:00

Christmas Openhouse is this Saturday, Dec 4th, 10-5. Stop by, we'll have refreshments and all sorts of finds for your holiday shopping!

Candle Care & Handling

2010-11-18T06:19:00.002-06:00

Clove, Cranberry Nut Bread, Candied Ginger Apple, Welcome Home. . . We're loving these Wickman candle wick trimmers and dippers that give our candles longer life and make extinguishing so much cleaner. And don't forget Cheryl & Gail's how to light your candle suggestion!

Jewelry Trees

2010-11-13T07:31:00.002-06:00

The Farm gals have decorated a couple of small trees with the jewelry selection just inside the front door. Most all of us could enjoy a little jewelry tree for the holiday, don't you think? Maybe one for the dresser or the table in the hall--decked out with bracelets, necklaces, and earrings from the jewelry box. . . That sounds like a fun decorating project :) If you make one, be sure to

It's A Tie

2010-11-08T05:47:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everybody who "voted" for their favorite holiday! Okay, so maybe it wasn't the most official of elections here at The Farm, but it was a really close vote. And you know we can't favor one holiday over the other, so we're just going to declare it a tie and celebrate both at the same time! Thanksgiving is two weeks from this Thursday. Two weeks! Wanna know how many shopping days

Election Day at The Farm

2010-11-01T06:54:00.000-05:00

We, the gals at The Farm, have elected to exercise our freedom to celebrate more than one season at a time. Due to popular demand, by the people, we hereby announce that the newcomer, Christmas, will appear in our humble shop, along side the incumbent, Thanksgiving! We campaign for your participation beginning Tue, November 2. Whether you go right or left when you enter the door, you

Thursday Night Forecast 30 Degrees

2010-10-27T19:42:00.000-05:00

How To Make Spiced Apple Cider

2010-10-24T15:46:00.001-05:00

If you've ever been to a Fall Open House at The Farm, you've probably tasted our tried-and-true cider recipe. Lots of people have asked for it, and we're happy to share it below. But if you want a convenient, everything-you-need kit, we've got those made up for you! How easy could that be? Just add apple juice and simmer on the stove. If you want to make your own, here's what you need to

Halloween Closet

2010-10-16T07:00:00.002-05:00

Our clearance closet got a makeover for Halloween! Leave it to Cheryl and Gail to get some inspiration from a ruffle of black tulle :)

Pumpkin Parade

2010-10-12T06:57:00.002-05:00

Thanks to everyone who visited with us for Open House, making it our second largest ever! Everything's coming up pumpkins these days:)

Open House

2010-09-26T07:25:00.000-05:00

Glorious Fall has officially arrived at The Farm! Come on over for Open House on October 2nd, 10am-5pm & October 3rd, 1 to 4 pm. See you then!

More Vining

2010-09-15T06:47:00.001-05:00

Morning glories shading impatients on the mailbox. And pumpkins! Don't forget Harvest Fest in Petersburg this weekend!

Late Summer/Early Fall Vines

2010-09-11T07:53:00.002-05:00

People have been asking about the malabar spinach that's growing on the head board out back. It is edible, although we grew it cause it's pretty. It was a little slow to start, but once the heat came on, it really took off. Beautiful deep green leaves, shiny red stems, and now little pink/white blooms. Put this one on your plant-one-of-these-next-year list. And

More Mascots

2010-09-02T06:54:00.001-05:00

This little guy has been "traveling" the garden this summer. And Miss Rose, below, greets visitors at the front door.Did you get your note from Spot last week? If you didn't, send us a note at farmmail@dishmail.net and we'll make sure to add you to our mailing list!

Happy Birthday!

2010-08-31T05:56:00.002-05:00

Margie, Chis, and Suzanne The Farm is honored to have visitors who come out to celebrate their birthdays with us. A drive through the country, lunch at Morningstar, then shopping and a walk through the garden at The Farm makes a special time for special friends. And we have to admit, it's fun for us too--we love it when people pop through the door and say "the party's here!"

A View From the Window

2010-08-26T17:27:00.001-05:00

Here's what a smart cat does on the dog days of summer! Our Spot has grown into a long-legged-full-grown cat; but as you can see, he hasn't lost his spots that gave him his name. These may be long lazy days of August, but inside we're gearing up for the fall season. See ya soon!

How to Design with Frog Pins -- One Last Look

2010-08-09T18:23:00.001-05:00

A couple more ideas for designing with your flower arrangers that have the frog pins: --Go Low. Using a bigger flower at the base of the arrangement is an easy way to create a focal point. The rest of the arrangement rises up from that point. --or Spice it up. Tuck in some herbs for their fresh color and fragrance. Here the celosia is joined by some basil and rosemary. And if

Part Three: Flower Arrangers

2010-08-05T05:58:00.001-05:00

--It only takes one. A single large flower such as a peony, zinnia, or this blue hydrangea, is beautiful by itself. --Far & Wide. Here's another way to add grasses to your designs. These blades of lily turf grass are bound with raffia and draped off to the side. We'd love to see how you're using your flower arranger, so send us a picture!

Tips for Using Your Flower Arranger

2010-08-04T06:01:00.002-05:00

As promised, here's the second of this week's series of ideas for the flower arranger. --Take it up a notch. Use grasses or even a stick (we love sticks!) to give your design some height. --Smaller stems like a grass are a little trickier. Add them last, using the larger stems to provide support. Or you can bind a bunch of them together as with the lily-of-the-valley shown below. We've

Flower Arrangers

2010-08-02T21:26:00.001-05:00

One of our best-sellers here at The Farm--the flower arranger by local potter Rich Zimmerman--makes arranging flowers easy. The secret is the frog pin in the bottom--similar to the antique frogs that our grandmothers used. Just add a few garden blooms and you've got a beautiful little arrangement to brighten up your kitchen counter, the bedside table, bathroom sink, maybe

Summertime Blues

2010-07-31T07:01:00.002-05:00

Here are a couple of height-of-the-summer blooms in the garden these days. There's just something about blue flowers, don't you think? We get lots of questions about blue hydrangeas. Like, how to make them blue. Some varieties are bred to be pink and only pink, but some can be either blue or pink depending on the acidity of the soil. Blue Mophead To get the blue color, the soil needs to

Linens

2010-07-27T20:56:00.001-05:00

Vintage linens at The Farm. Do you have a linen collection stashed away at your house? Pillowcases made gorgeous with lace or fancy embroidery. . . tablecloths. . . doilies. . . all made by hand with love by someone way back when. Why is it that we keep them hidden away in our closets and cedar chests? Our display here at The Farm features multiple pieces, but it's okay to show off just

A Note From Kynda

2010-07-26T06:35:00.001-05:00

I'm stepping outside the blogging voice today to say that our blog is a whole year old! Like many of you, I've been visiting The Farm for that unique country shopping experience for years. Going to The Farm feels a little like going on retreat. There's always something new to see--thanks to Gail, Cheryl, Barb, and Sue who make it fresh and new every season. But no matter how many

Cake!

2010-07-21T06:30:00.002-05:00

Here's an easy-to-make yummy chocolate cake recipe that's one of our favorites. Try it next time your friends are coming over. Or maybe you don't even need a special reason--just make it a cake day! Cheryl's One Bowl Chocolate Cake2 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp saltCombine these dry ingredients and stir in:1 cup oil, 1 cup

Summer Scenes

2010-07-14T20:02:00.001-05:00

Lots of activity among the flowers in this high summer gardening season. Here's a couple of gorgeous butterflies, and below you'll see Fred, who has made his summer home in the watering can on the front porch!

Chives

2010-07-12T07:04:00.003-05:00

Gail says if you're only going to grow one herb, make it chives. They're easy to grow and need hardly any care at all. In the spring, you get these sweet little pink flowers. And these overwintered in a particularly hardy strawberry jar. Didn't bother the chives one bit. Not recommended for the jar, though! Using fresh chives is easy too. A few snips and it's amazing how much flavor is

Christmas in July

2010-07-05T21:02:00.001-05:00

Only 173 shopping days til Christmas! If you're really organized and know exactly who's on your list--or if you made a resolution last year NOT to wait til the last minute again--or if you fall somewhere in the middle, here's a chance to get a head start on Christmas now. We'll be joining several shops in Petersburg for this event, so come on over Friday and Saturday, July 9th & 10th, for a

2010-06-28T18:44:00.001-05:00

One of The Farm's signature designs--a window box that comes with its own window!

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T08:35:00.005-05:00

Perennials in Bloom

2010-06-11T05:27:00.000-05:00

Meet some of our old-friend perennials that are blooming in the garden these days: Bellflower. Love that purple! Astilbe. Cool white for the shade garden. Sundrops. Gorgeous golden color for the late spring garden. And Tiny Rubies Dianthus. Great ground cover that's neat and well-behaved.

Our Kind of Containers

2010-06-08T06:13:00.000-05:00

Did you see the article in the S J-R about junk planters the other day? Those are our kind of containers! Watering cans, minnow buckets, tea pots, yes--even the kitchen sink :-)

Dried Flower Designs

2010-06-03T22:08:00.004-05:00

Such a beautiful blooming show happening outside in the garden right now. We'll show you some more pictures of what's in bloom over the next few days. In the meantime, here's a peek inside the shop! Hydrangea topiary with gardening accents. And one of our all-time customer favorites, the twiggy wreath.

What's In Bloom?

2010-05-31T20:44:00.001-05:00

May went by at the speed of light, didn't it? And now we're going into June, another busy gardening month! Here are a few of the late-spring bloomers that we've been enjoying this week: Love-in-a-mist. Sweet blue flowers with feathery foliage, followed by wonderful purple-tinged pods that dry beautifully. Money plant, with blooms & early pods. Later the pods will dry into silvery, papery

Morning Star

2010-05-28T06:15:00.002-05:00

Anytime you come out to The Farm is a good time to stop by Morning Star Mercantile & Cafe too. Look for Katelyn, Gail's daughter, and tell her we sent you by for some carrot cake!

Buy One Get One

2010-05-25T21:50:00.001-05:00

We're having a plant clearance: buy any plant/shrub/tree, get another of lesser value FREE! (e.g: buy a $7 shrub, get a $6 shrub free) There is still a very good selection to choose from. And inside the shop…well one can only say… “Summer’s coming!”

How To Dry Peony Flowers

2010-05-19T19:27:00.002-05:00

Wow, what a bumper crop this year! Gorgeous! Ever thought about drying your own peony blossoms? Well, if you've got the flowers growing in your garden, we'll talk you through it! Just cut a few stems of blossoms. Doesn't matter if they're wet from all these rains--just shake them gently in a downward motion while holding the stem just under the head (so that it doesn't break). It's okay

Pretty Much Picasso

2010-05-11T06:24:00.001-05:00

Here's a new petunia from Proven Winners called Pretty Much Picasso. Amazing what hybridizers can do! We'll be keeping an eye on this one to see how it performs this season. What have you found new for your garden this year?

Plant Swap at The Farm

2010-05-07T06:35:00.001-05:00

Okay, all you fellow gardeners! Tomorrow, Saturday May 8th is our first-ever plant swap! We hope you've surveyed your garden and found a few plants that you'd like to trade for something new and different. If you missed the details, check out this post about the plant swap at The Farm. And even if you're not looking for the plant swap, come on out anyway. There's still a great variety of

Openhouse Report

2010-05-03T06:25:00.002-05:00

Fabulous bleeding heart in the lover's garden. Openhouse was wonderful! So many of you stopped by and it was great to see everybody. You never know who you're going to run into-- friends who visit every season, friends bringing their friends, or new friends who have driven across our central Illinois area just to see The Farm. The shop was full of gardening questions, catching-up

Open House Today

2010-05-01T07:57:00.003-05:00

We're opening the house for you today! Beautiful, healthy plants in the greenhouse just waiting for their new home in your garden . . . and you don't want to miss early spring perennials putting on their show out back . . . the bleeding heart is fantastic this year! So come on out to see us on this glorious first day of May!

Plant Combo of the Week

2010-04-27T19:49:00.003-05:00

Japanese painted fern and columbine. Lots of beautiful early spring perennials putting on a show right now, but these two together have to win this week's prize for best combination. Worth the walk out to the back of the garden!

Oops!

2010-04-19T18:12:00.001-05:00

Our postcard that was mailed last week wasn't exactly clear about the date for our first annual plant swap. The correct date is Saturday, May 8th, the day before Mother's Day. Here's how it works: 1) Just bag or pot some of your favorite pass-along perennials growing in your garden and mark them by name. (Limit ten, please.) 2) When you get to The Farm, check in at the front counter and

Two Great Saturdays

2010-04-19T17:38:00.006-05:00

Sat, May 1: Spring Openhouse ~ very fun day ~ plants, treats, sales. But too crowded you say? Pssst: come on Friday eve (Apr 30th) from 6-8pm for a ‘Sneak Peek’ ~ and take home all your goodies for 10% off! Sat, May 8: The Farm’s 1st Annual Plant Swap ~ What a fun activity to do for Mother’s Day (before or after a great lunch at Morningstar, of course!) Bring potted or bagged perennials,

Meanwhile. . .

2010-04-15T06:59:00.001-05:00

Is it really April? Sometimes it feels like June! We're spending lots of time in the garden and greenhouse in this gorgeous weather, but here's a little peek inside the shop too.

April Days

2010-04-09T07:03:00.002-05:00

Gail and the Farm Gals are busy with the greenhouse where the new plants are getting started for our spring & summer gardens. Lots of shrubs (yes!), lots of fun new perennials and annuals, and of course, those favorites that make you feel like saying "oh, it's so good to see you again!"You might remember the picture of these great double daffs in the bud stage from a couple of weeks ago? Now

Saturday Visitor

2010-04-07T06:53:00.002-05:00

Well, yes, Goliath does live at The Farm, so he's not exactly a visitor. But he did get to come up to the shop on Saturday and he LOVED that new green grass right by the front door. Doesn't he take a pretty picture?

Blue Hydrangea Pruning

2010-04-05T19:18:00.002-05:00

Here's Gail, sharing a bit of information about how to prune our blue hydrangeas now that it's spring. Won't it be great to see those big blue blooms again?

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T06:59:00.002-05:00

Easter says you can put truth in the grave, but it won't stay there.Clarence W. Hall

Please Don't Eat the Daisies . . .

2010-04-03T07:07:00.005-05:00

. . . or the peeps! These little guys will be hopping down to The Farm this afternoon. See ya there!