FLOWER SEEDS

The Beginning:

Our flowers are grown at home naturally. I started just by growing a lot of flowers over and over. Collecting seeds in the process. Maybe not saving at that time a lot but I am doing so now so I can put them on our site for you. The flowers are all grown at the foothills of Yosemite, Calif. We are smack dab in the middle of Calif. Such perfect weather! I try not to use any poisens at all or bug sprays or anything like that unless I absolutly have too. I usually try a natrual deterrent first. Thats's where a lot of Marigolds come in handy because they do help to keep insects away. Another thing that does help your plants but can be a nuisance are frogs! I happen to have hundreds of them (don't know why, no water around me) but they do help to keep the bugs at bay!

It all began when I was working in my garden with my two grandaughters, Jenna, 9 and Jordan, 6 yrs old. Sometimes when my granson, Zack 10 yrs comes to visit I try to get his help but not to often. LOL  I just so happen to have an extreme amount of Marigolds that year from years of replanting and transplanting.

That's when my oldest asked what I was going to do with all those seeds this year that we were collecting.  I told her I'm going to save them and replant as usual. She suggested why can't we sell them this time? (She had just gotten through with a fundraiser at school, gave her the idea) That when I thought what a  great Idea! I suggested we could start a little business and save for their ballet class trips. But they needed to help. They LOVED the idea.

It took several weeks to come up with the name "The Garden Faries", happen to be the youngest , Jorden's idea mostly. It was perfect for them because they really do look like little fairies in the flower garden! Also Jorden loves fairies!  So we really didn't have a choice! The signs I had made for the door of my car look great BUT my oldest son who's 26 takes them off when he goes anywhere with me. It just states our name "The Garden Fairies". Sorry I think its just too funny!

They really NEED to help get to working pucking seeds when they are ready!  lol. They like to do that. It won't be to long to start doing that. Plus they play in the garden looking at the bugs more than anything else, more then really do much work but I really enjoy their company more while I do the seeds, and I think they enjoy it too. Thats ok as long as they think they are working makes me happy.

 So that's how this all got started.  I do the ground work, the girls do the deadheading (pick off the dead blossoms) and we all hand sort the seeds.  Yes each seed gets checked. We want to make sure only the good ones get through.  

 But don't wait too long it may be to late. I don't want to run out. First, its cheaper to buy the larger amount and second YOU WILL find the space. Once you start planting you'll be putting them every where. Remember they are a natural pest deterrent and are great in between your other flowers or through out your vegetable garden.

Also if you don't deadhead some of them they'll pop out and save them selves for next year. And if they are in an area you don't want them in wait till they are a about 2-3" tall and transplant them!  Be gentle!

 You can also put them in your salads. They are edible!

Suppies are limited till new crop comes in! HURRY!!

 Happy Gardening! Hope to hear from you. The Fairies.

The money they want to save for is for their ballet class trip. It was this past April but Jorden wasn't 6yrs and not old enough yet so she had to wait till April 2010. They were going to go to Disneyland to Dance down Main Street. So it gives us another year to save up and work for. I can't let one go and not the other it just would'nt be fair. Even thou Jenna (the (oldest) has to wait and is upset about it she understands. Thats my girl!

They now have just finished their year end  June ballet recital for 2009, (yeah but fun) and did great and now we're hoping to get them signed up the performance team for July 2009 for the show in April in 2010! Which means 3 classes EACH! Oh well thats what they truelly want to do.

So now I tell them we can work together to get what we all want and have a lot of fun in the poccess!

I now have been informed they are changing the ballet trip to maybe to a cruise trip, which the girls were really excited! But Jordans has to be 7 yrs old now. They are devastated. I had to have a talk to owner and plead for the girls. She knows how much Jorden was counting on joining this year so shes going to try and work something out for her so both can still go.

Told girls that things happen and never ever give up!  Plus grandmas on the case!  We'll work something out. So keep your fingers crossed for them and I'll keep you posted.

More pictures of them for latest recital coming soon.

Jordan at her first recital June 2008

I'm sorry this has nothing to do with flowers but it does have everything to do with my fairies!