'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

christmas happy holiday twas the night before christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the greenhouse

Not a creature stirring, not even a field mouse.

The stems were counted by the bucket with care,

In hopes that FedEx soon would be there.

The flowers were nestled all snug in their sleeves,

While visions of vases ruffled their leaves.

Tulips in their crates, and iris in the ground

Had just settled their bulbs for a nice winters' round.

When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,

I raised my petal to see what was the matter,

Up to the ceiling I directed my eye

rubbed the pollen from my petals and looked to the sky

The moon on the glass with the new fallen rain

gave the luster of magic to each greenhouse pane

when, what to my eye should appear at this hour

but a miniature sleigh and eight gorgeous flowers.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick

Better than silk, his fresh flowers so tall,

he whistled and shouted and gave them a call:

"Now Tulip! Now Lily!

Now Rosehip and Ilex!

On, Freesia! On, Calla!

On, Lizzy and Iris!

To the top of the greenhouse!

To the top of the wall!

Now bloom away! Bloom away!

Bloom away all!"

As  leaves that before the wild hurricane fly

when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky

so up to the house-top the coursers they flew

with the sleigh full of flowers, and St. Nicholas too.

And then in a twinkling, I heard a great hub,

the opening and blooming of each flower bud. 

As I drew in my head and looked to the side

down the drainpipe came St Nicholas inside

He was dressed in all pine, from his head to his knees

and his clothes were all tarnished with soil and greens

A bundle of lilies he had flung on his back

and he looked like a florist just opening his pack

 His tulips- how they shone! his ilex, how pretty!

His freesia were fragrant, his ilex so merry!

His pretty bouquet was tied with a vine,

and the blooms of his lily were red like wine;

The stem of a calla he held in his teeth,

and around his head was a hydrangea wreath;

He held stargazers in one of his hands

and gave a big smile, showing his plan,

 He was strong and devoted, a true flower farmer,

And I smiled when I saw this faithful plant charmer,

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon let me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

planting some seeds; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the drainpipe he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, as he drove off with power--

"Happy Christmas to all, and may all have Fresh Flowers!"           

 

Lifestyle Review: Pergola on the Roof Winter Edition

Lifestyle Review: Pergola on the Roof Winter Edition

bbc television centre christmas christmas food pergola on the roof places to go in London in the winter television centre

Back in the summer, I shared a post from my day out with Pergola on the Roof. Well, due to it's amazing success, it's back and better than ever with a special Winter Edition. Now transformed to a Nordic-themed Winter wonderland, Jack and I popped back to sample it's Christmassy delights.

The pop-up located on the roof of the iconic Television Centre may have gone away temporarily in Autumn, but it's back just in time for Christmas. Once decorated with flowers and sun loungers, Pergola on the Roof is now a Nordic inspired food hall and bar complete with tea-lights, yule logs and Christmas trees. Fully covered by a heated dome to lock out all the cold wind and rain, Pergola still has 600 seats, 2 bars and 4 restaurants although the restaurants have changed slightly since the Summer. Instead, this season features a whole new array of pop-up treats including Danish restaurant, Snaps & Rye; gourmet kebabs from Le Bab, Patty & Bun and Le Bao. 

Excited to try out some Danish delights, I opted for the 'Great Dane' Danish Hot Dog. Exclusively available at Pergola, this pork sausage dog comes served in an Artisan Bakery demi-brioche bun; topped with crispy onions, malt rarebit sauce, scorched Camembert cheese and spicy Viking ketchup. With my eyes far too big for my belly, I also added a side of chips which also comes with Danish squash and caper mayo. The hot dog itself was bursting with flavour and had the perfect ratio of topping and meat.  

Jack, however, went straight in with some Le Bao buns. These tasty little steam buns have truly taken the foodie community by storm lately as the 'latest trendy dish'. Taking a modern twist on traditional Bao (a fluffy steamed bun filled with steamed meat), these were made with soy milk meaning they are vegan friendly. Jack tried out the chicken and lamb options - both of which were amazing. I had some serious food envy watching him eat these and so it seemed only fair that I try them out for myself. 

All in all - we had a fantastic few hours trying out the wintery delights at Pergola on the Roof. Personally, I actually preferred the Winter theme to the Summer as I just loved all the lights and Christmas decorations. Pergola at Television Centre closes on the 23rd of December so get your bookings in quick or pop by if you're in White City. Don't forget you can also subscribe online via the Pergola website to get a free mulled cider. Having now tried both terms, I think it makes for a fantastic London venue and I'm excited to see whether they'll renew their licence for 2017. 

That's it for another lifestyle post. Have you been to Pergola on the Roof yet? Where are your favourite wintery spots in London? As always, I love reading your comments so please do leave me lots of lovely ones below. 

Until next time, 

Disclaimer: This post was created in collaboration with Television Centre and Pergola on the Roof. All opinions are my own and do not reflect those of the brand. 

Everything You Need to Know About Holiday Greens

Everything You Need to Know About Holiday Greens

christmas Christmas greens holiday greens holiday season pacific northwest greenery seasonal greens West Coast Evergreens Western greens winter

It isn't quite the holidays without the sights and smells that make us feel as if we're on a tree-covered mountaintop.  Greens such as pine, cedar, and fir are the aromatic beauties that let us know that the holiday season has truly begun.

L-R: Underside and top of Pacific Silver Fir, Noble Fir, and Mountain Hemlock

Lucky for us, our Arcata farm is located in the Pacific Northwest where the world's old-growth redwoods and evergreens reign supreme.  Our West Coast Evergreen Division, spearheaded by our resident expert, Debbie Hartman, brings the forest to you with Seasonal, Western, and Christmas Green selections.  Debbie and her team of foragers have been working with Northwest flora for over 35 years--their knowledge, respect for the forest, and responsible foraging provides us and our customers with high-quality greens season after season.

Christmas Greens Mixed Box

According to Debbie, "the backbone" elements of our Christmas Greens are Fir, Pine, and Cedar.  These three greens give us the signature smells and textures of Christmas, and pair nicely with other winter classics, such as juniper berry, white heather, and autumn huck. 


Firs

Firs are high-elevation greens and are very fragrant with beautifully shiny, compact needles. Three holiday favorites are Pacific Silver Fir (also known as White Fir), Noble Fir, and Douglas Fir. 

From L-R: Silver Fir and Noble Fir

Pacific Silver Fir (pictured above on the left) is known for the silvery-white underbelly of its needles, and Noble Fir (pictured on the right) has blue-green needles, with a bluish underside.  Douglas Fir, below, is similar in shape to Pacific Silver and Noble, but ranges in color from light to dark green.  All are very popular Christmas branches which are easy to work with and recommended for beginner and advanced floral projects.

Douglas Fir

Pines

Mountain Hemlock, one of our most exciting offerings this year, is found in the high elevations of the Northwest.  Mountain Hemlock is blue-green in hue and prized for its long, shapely boughs which work well in elegant holiday arrangements such as wreaths, garlands, swags, and centerpieces.  Once exposed to warmth, the needles spread out and separate, providing a nice, full appearance.  It holds it shape well, lasts for weeks, and looks fantastic on a mantelpiece! Its shape and colors contrast especially well with Silver and Noble Fir, as seen in the first photo of this blog.

Mountain Hemlock boughs

Princess Pine (also known as “Western White Pine) is another high elevation pine.   As you can see in the photo below, it has lovely long, blue-green needles and a soft texture.   Pictured to its right is a favorite of the San Francisco Flower Market, Shore Pine, aptly named for its low-elevation setting near the ocean shore.  It features dark green needles on branches which are sometimes dotted with small pine cones.

L-R: Princess Pine and Shore Pine

Cedar

Port Orford Cedar is a versatile holiday green with lovely long stems and flat, lacy foliage.  While its filigree tips give it a delicate appearance, it is quite hardy, maintaining its color and vitality for weeks and weeks. 

Specialty Greens

Two hot items this year are our Incense Cedar (also known as Yellow Bloom Cedar) and Berry Juniper. I love the colorful gold tips and blue berries on these branches.  They both have great focal texture and punch when combined with other greens.

It can be difficult to find nicely yellow-bloomed incense cedar during heavily coned seasons, such as this year.  However, the experience and hard work of our team of foragers paid off as they found a great supply of densely bloomed cedar.  We are thankful for the additional pop of color this product brings to our Christmas greens assortment.

Seasonal and Western Greens
 

L-R: White Heather and Blue Prince Holly

Heather is here and we will have it for Christmas and beyond!  Heather has needle-like green foliage with clusters of tiny white and pink flowers.  Heather works well as a soft filler in arrangements, providing a delicate and ethereal look.  Also available now is our Willow Creek-grown Ilex M (aka Blue Prince Holly), a beautiful dark blue-green branch with serrated edges and incredible lasting ability.

Want more greens? Check out our other seasonal and western greens, including fragrant California bay leaf, red-tipped European holly, spiral-shaped autumn huck, lush salal, and lengthy beargrass and ponytails, which can bring depth, color, or height to any kind of holiday arrangement.  Many of these are available in Pacific Northwest Greenery mixed consumer bunches.

Seasonal Greens Mixed Bunch

Greens are known for their lasting ability, but to keep them in their best-looking condition, be sure to store them in their boxes in cold temperatures before using them.  Once you’ve made your wreath or arrangement, keep it looking fresh by using a spray bottle to mist it with water. Evergreens absorb water through their needles, and misting will keep them looking lively and fresh.

Wreath made from mixed greens

Right now we are filling the wonderful world of wholesale with our holiday greens, and now is the time to buy! This winter season, bring the smell and look of the Pacific Northwest forest home with you.

Hope, Faith, and Joy

Hope, Faith, and Joy

christmas December flower farming holidays

Here on the farm, Christmas is a wonderful time of year.  We are busily sending out all sorts of colorful flowers and hefty bunches of greens across the nation to make everyone’s holiday extra special.

 Planting flowers involves a lot of hope. When you cover that bulb or seed over with soil, you get no guarantee that it will ever come up.

It takes faith to be in this business. Faith that nature and our own skills will nurture the flower to harvest. 

 When your hope and your faith are strong, you are rewarded with joy.  When the flower pokes through the soil and reaches for the sky, and when a person experiences our flowers in their home and shares them with their family. This is the joy we share as flower farmers.

 Flowers are the embodiment of hope, faith and joy. We sincerely hope your holiday season is filled with all three.



Merry Christmas from Lane and the Sun Valley Team.

Your Guide to an Evergreen Christmas

Your Guide to an Evergreen Christmas

#CAGrown christmas Debbie Hartman Holiday flowers holiday greens Lady Aster West Coast Evergreens

If you are familiar with Sun Valley, you know that our Arcata farm is located in the Pacific Northwest, in a region that has been rightfully dubbed, "The Redwood Empire." Here is where the world's old-growth redwoods--along with Fir, Oak, Spruce, and Cedar—reign supreme.  These aromatic beauties stretch up the coast and inland to the mountains, providing us with an unbelievably gorgeous landscape as well as beautiful greens—West Coast Evergreens, that is.

Our West Coast Evergreen Division brings the forest to you.  Our resident greens expert, Debbie Hartman (Queen of Greens!), has been working with Northwest flora for almost 35 years and has built valuable relationships with those who gather our greens.  These are generations of foragers who know and respect the forest, so between them, our location, and Debbie, we have all the resources, wisdom, and experience we need to offer you a wide variety of quality Seasonal, Western, and Christmas Greens.

As you can imagine, the Christmas season is when our greens department really shines. And now, as the holiday season descends upon us (can you feel it?) West Coast Evergreen takes the reins.  Right now we are filling the wonderful world of wholesale with our Christmas greens (now is the time to buy!), and we are also supplying the good stuff for Sun Pac’s Winter Bouquets, as well as our own Enhanced Seasonal Bunches.
 

This Ilex, Lily, and Cedar bunch is one of the seasonal favorites around here. 

Before you pick up the phone and call your rep, I’d like to give you a chance to meet all our evergreen friends and learn a bit about where they're from and what they can do for you.  So put on your best Christmas sweater, grab a cup of hot chocolate (or spiked eggnog) because it’s time for Sun Valley’s annual Christmas Greens Meet and Greet!

If you want them all, check out our Mixed Greens Season's Greeting Box

The main stars of our Christmas Greens are Fir, Pine, and Cedar, though Christmas really wouldn’t be complete without a few other special players.  However, these three kings greens, are the ones that give us the signature smells and textures of Christmas, the ones that make us feel as if we're on a mountaintop even though we’re warm and toasty inside.

THE FIRS:

Pacific Silver Fir and Doug Fir (L--R)

Firs are high-elevation greens, very fragrant and have beautiful shiny, dark green needles.  The Pacific Silver Fir (see photo above) is known for the silvery-white underbelly of its needles.  Its  cousin on the right, Douglas Fir, is a very popular Christmas branch that easy to work and highly recommended for DIY projects for beginner and advanced floral enthusiasts alike.   

Noble Fir

Another favorite branch, the Noble Fir, is similar in shape to the Pacific Silver, but has blue-green needles, with a bluish underside.  Debbie said that many people can get the two mixed up, but all you have to do is take a peek at their backsides to see what is Silver and what is Noble.

THE PINES:

Princess Pine

Next up in the meet and greet are the Pines.  Pictured above is the high-elevation Princess Pine, also known as “Western White Pine.”  As you can see it has lovely long needles and a soft, interesting texture.  Pictured below is the Shore Pine, aptly named for its low-elevation setting.  It is a local pine, found near the ocean shore, with dark green needles and small pine cones.  Debbie said this had always been a favorite of the San Francisco flower market, and still is.  

THE CEDAR:

Our next featured Christmas Green is one of my favorites, and according to our Queen of Greens, Port Orford Cedar is the Queen of Cedar!  It has lovely long stems, 24-inch branches, and beautiful, lacy tips.  It is also the best holder of all the greens, maintaining its color and vitality for weeks and weeks.

Port Orford Cedar

THE SPECIAL PLAYERS:

Two low-elevation must-haves for Christmas décor are our Berry Juniper and Incense Cedar.  I love these specialty Christmas branches—they both have great focal texture and look amazing in wreaths. The gold tips of the incense cedar and the berries on the juniper really pop and add depth. 

Incense Cedar and Berry Juniper

Close-up of incense cedar tips

Our seasonal greens, such as California bay leaf (great for wreaths!) European holly, red huck, blue prince holly, and heather are beautiful holiday fillers.  Woodwardia (pictured below) is an excellent branch that designers absolutely adore--it has a rich, dark color, very tall stems (up to 4-6 feet long), and its dramatic shape looks amazing with other flowers and in large displays..

Woodwardia with orange for scale

CHRISTMAS GREENS TIPS AND TRICKS:

Greens are known for their lasting ability, but here are some tips to help keep these long-lasting branches looking green and lasting even longer—before you add them to your arrangements, be sure to store them in their boxes in cold temperatures (the colder the better).  For example, Port Orford will last 3-4 months in a 34 degree cooler!  This is because cold is their natural habitat (up on the mountaintop), so they respond well to it.  Once you’ve made your wreath or arrangement, keep it looking fresh by using a spray bottle to mist it with water. Since evergreens absorb water through their needles, your misting will add life and sheen.



This holiday season, bring the mountaintop home with you, and have a lovely Evergreen Christmas.