
As we patiently await the first daffodil blooms to pop in
the fields, we can look to our fresh cut flowers standing tall in vases on the
table tops in our homes. If you have been with us for a while, you know that our tulips are not just available
for the spring season but all 12 months out of the year! Most of our other
blooms come and go, except for Asiatic
lilies, these are also offered year-round. How is it exactly we continue to
keep these blooms bustling throughout every season? The answer is simple, Greenhouses, but the process,
that is a bit more complex.
We currently have approximately 16 acres of greenhouses that
are growing blooms throughout the year. This was not always the case. The number, mechanics, and
structure of our greenhouses has improved immensely over time. In the beginning,
there was barely a handful of greenhouses on our grounds. The structure
consisted of a wooden A-frame that had plastic covering wrapped around it.
After some years, the couple of simple A-frame greenhouses, increased in number
and transformed in style to what is called Quonset Huts (think of a huge half
cylinder tube wrapped with thick plastic). During these years, all the planting,
growing, and picking processes were done manually. Fast forward to today and you
will still see some of the earlier day greenhouses around (though not the
originals), but most of what will catch your eye, are the large glass
structures. Much of the processing done within the glass houses is still done
manually, however, as our wisdom and machinery have advanced, we now have
state-of-the-art technology that allows us to utilize every inch of floor space
and then some.
Greenhouses have allowed us to go from being solely a bulb growing company to one of the largest flower producers in the nation. Without
these structures, our blooms would only find a way to your home throughout the
spring months. And I think we can all agree that during our winters, we need
these colorful beauties to keep the dreary wearies from getting us down. Our blooms that cover
much of the Skagit Valley throughout the spring are planted in the fall. The
first blooms to peep up take around six months to burst with color. In our
greenhouses, some of our blooms can pop within less than a month, others, may
take upwards of two months. It all comes down to a perfect science - moving the
bulbs in the greenhouse at the right time, atmospheric control (ventilation,
circulation of air, temperature), and proper lighting. All these factors must
be spot on for production to be at its best. Our crews are regulating every
step of the way to ensure that every bloom making it to your doorstep is top
quality.
Our greenhouses may not be as glamorous as a field coated in
color, but they sure are necessary for our flowers to grow on. A month without
flowers would be like a birthday without cake - it will continue, but it lacks
the pizazz of a full celebration. We hope you enjoy your fresh cut blooms with every
season!
I must have flowers always and always. - Claude Monet