SNUG HARBOR FARM

The Gardener's Emporium: A Fall Plant & Garden Accessory Sale

2011-09-06T16:14:00.000-04:00

Keep your schedules open for this Saturday, September 10, and you'll find us among the many other vendors at Tower Hill Botanic Garden's 8th annual "Gardeners' Emporium!" We''ll be bringing a little bit of everything down with us!

For further details visit: http://www.socialweb.net/Clients/THBG/?id=126876

Begging for Begonias!

2011-08-03T16:51:00.000-04:00

We got into Begonias sideways! We have enough of these plants here at Snug Harbor to get lost in! But just to name a few, here are some pictured below that we really like...

Green Jewel, Art Hodes, Iron Cross, Soli Mutata Twisted Sister, Wild Pony, Bomerae, Tiger Eyes

Escargot, River Nile, Bunchii Benitochiba, Carolinianum, Dragon Wing, Sophia

We have lots more, come and check them out!

Flora, Fauna, Food: Come Join Us at Snug Harbor!

2011-07-29T14:21:00.000-04:00

Garden Sculpture Workshop: All and Everyone Welcome!

2011-06-19T20:49:00.001-04:00

Our Annuals have Arrived!

2011-06-19T20:43:00.003-04:00

We've got many beautiful annuals to choose from, and all are welcome to stop by and have a look! Here's some of our annuals that we really like:

Eupatorium capillifolia Cuphea llavea

Amicia zygomeris Tuberous Begonia

Hidcote Fushia

Phygelius Iochroma

Heliotropium hybrid Scoparia

The Hostas Have Risen!

2011-05-20T22:55:00.000-04:00

It's been a rainy week, but all of our beautiful Hostas don't seem to mind at all! We have many varieties with different shapes, sizes, and colors...

'Wide Brim' 'El Niño'

'Blue Mouse Ears' 'Halcyon'

The 'Abiqua Drinking Gourd' Hosta, pictured below, has especially deep cupped leaves to catch and retain water:

'Dream Queen' 'Sum and Substance'

May Day in Downtown Kennebunk!

2011-05-09T21:52:00.001-04:00

The make-your-own May Day hats were being crafted by the dozens at the Snug Harbor Farm booth this past Sunday. All the kids did a great job and left with their own unique hats, with decorations of various ribbons, beads, flowers, and peacock feathers!

How cute are they?? I don't know who had more fun...the kids or us!?

I think they like what they see...

Easter Egg Hunt a Success!

2011-05-02T14:07:00.002-04:00

Thanks to all the families who came out dispite the rainy weather - we had a great turnout here at Snug Harbor for our first annual Easter Egg Hunt! We all had a lot of fun, and all the kids left with a full basket of found goodies...

We have also just recieved a cast stone delivery from Campania, with lots of new planters, urns, bird baths and garden creatures now for sale here at the farm...

Come join us for the May Day events this Saturday in downtown Kennebunk. We'll have a booth in the Lafayette Park, and all are welcome to come and make your own paper May Day hats (pictured below).

Easter at Snug Harbor Farm: Flowers, Fuzzy Yellow Chicks and an Egg Hunt!

2011-04-18T22:18:00.142-04:00

UPDATE: Just to let everyone know, the Easter egg hunt will indeed happen rain or shine. I've also added a link to our new website (which we're really excited about!) in the "Contact us" section to the left.

Below are some newly prepared Easter flower arrangements in the greenhouses, along with our new fuzzy little friends mingling in the shop...

Spring Is Here at Last!

2011-04-13T02:41:00.016-04:00

And with it arrived trees and shrubs by the dozens here at Snug Harbor, soon to join the others who endured the winter at the farm. The new arrivals include various types of Japanese maple, apple espalier, Globe blue Spruce, arborvitae, several forms of boxwoods and more!

Buxus Sempervirens 'Spiral'

Thuja Plicata 'Excelsa'

How to Make a Terrarium with Emily

2011-02-22T14:50:00.002-05:00

This is a slide show demonstration of Emily planting a terrarium. We think it is somewhat self explanatory but please feel free to ask any questions you may have in the comments below.
Thanks and enjoy!

Winter Willies

2011-01-27T12:51:00.006-05:00

It is getting pretty cold outside. I'm sure you've noticed. To help you shake off those winter willies we thought we would share a lovely little photo montage of a few of the many beauties spreading their joy despite the cold most recently at the farm.

If you want to brave the cold to come in for a visit the greenhouses are warm, full of plants and open daily for you to peruse. Please make sure to call ahead in inclement weather to make sure we have things shoveled out.

First Annual Holiday Open House is a Blowout!

2010-12-16T20:50:00.002-05:00

Happy Holidays from all of us at the farm!

We are very happy to report that our Holiday Open House Weekend was a roaring success. The turnout was beyond our wildest dreams so thanks to all of you who made it over for the festivities and to show your support.

We want to especially thank River Tree Arts for the opportunity to host the 'Views of Snug Harbor Farm' art show featuring works by artists who have painted, photographed and drawn at Snug Harbor Farm. It has been extraordinary to see all the art displayed in the same surroundings from which it was inspired. And it was great to get to meet so many of you at the reception. If you didn't make it for the open house or artist's reception, you can still come see all the beautiful works on display(and for sale) in the shop through January 5.

Also thanks to all our staff for providing all the food, drinks, and good cheer. We all had so much fun that we have decided to make this an annual event to coincide with the Kennebunkport Christmas Prelude events which happen right down the road from us each year.

The workshops also went swimmingly over the open house weekend. If you didn't get a chance to make a wreath or terrarium we have some we made for you for sale in the shop. And the greenhouses are plentiful with topiary and other plants and greenery for your holiday tabletop displays.

We will continue to be open Monday-Saturdays 9am until 4pm and Sundays 10am until 3pm through December 24. After that we will be open from 9am until dusk Mon-Sat and 10 until dusk Sundays through the rest of the winter.

Countdown to the Open House Weekend

2010-12-02T18:35:00.006-05:00

Things are getting quite festive at the farm this week in preparation for the Open House events this weekend. We are really looking forward to meeting and greeting you all. Here's a quick look at the things starting to come together in the shop and some busy workers putting together wreaths and holiday arrangements in the barn.

Be sure to stop in sometime Saturday or Sunday for some fun and refreshments, we will have events going on all weekend.
Here's the rundown of events once more:

SATURDAY DECEMBER 4
Snug Harbor Farm Open House 9am to 5pm.

Visit our greenhouses and enjoy some holiday cheer and refreshments.

Wreath making workshop 10am to 2pm.
$10 material fee. No registration necessary. Please bring your own pruners if you have some available as we have a limited number to share.

Artist's reception 2pm to 4pm
'Views of Snug Harbor Farm' art show featuring works by artists who have painted and drawn at Snug Harbor Farm. Presented in conjunction with River Tree Arts.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 5
Snug Harbor Farm Open House 9am to 5 pm.
Open greenhouses and refreshments.

Terrarium making workshop 10 am to 2 pm.
Workshop is free, with plants and containers available for purchase a la carte.

All events are open to the public at Snug Harbor Farm, 87 Western Ave. Kennebunk.
FMI: 967-2414

Hope to see you soon!

Our Calender is Crowded!

2010-11-01T16:58:00.002-04:00

We have so many upcoming events planned for you I don't know where to begin. I will try to start at the beginning.
We are very pleased to announce that we will be hosting a local art show:

SATURDAY DECEMBER 4 - JANUARY 5

Presented in conjunction with River Tree Arts,

'Views of Snug Harbor Farm' art show features works by artists who have painted and drawn at

Snug Harbor Farm.

We also want to share a call to artist's for the show from our friends at River Tree Arts:

Snug Harbor Farm, in collaboration with River Tree Arts, announces a Call for Artists. This community show of paintings, drawings and photographs is open to all who have been inspired by life on the farm. Subject matter at Snug Harbor is rich, diverse and beautiful, and we've enjoyed hosting a great many artists and art classes there over the years. It's wonderful to be able to share our space with people who find it as magical as we do.
Submission of work: 11/26 & 11/27, 9am - 5pm at Snug Harbor Farm. Bring up to five pieces framed and ready for hanging. For display and intake requirements please go to www.rivertreearts.org/artist-requirements.php and download the forms listed.
FMI Contact:
Michilyn at Snug Harbor Farm, 87 Western Avenue, Kennebunk, Maine 04103,

207-967-2414 or michilyn@snugharborfarm.com
or
Christina at River Tree Arts, 35 Western Avenue, Kennebunk, Maine 04103,

207-967-9120 or christina@rivertreearts.org

We are also excited to invite you to join us for our two day Open House at Snug Harbor Farm:

SATURDAY DECEMBER 4
Snug Harbor Farm Open House 9am to 5pm.

Visit our greenhouses and enjoy some holiday cheer and refreshments.

Artist's reception 2pm to 4pm

'Views of Snug Harbor Farm' art show featuring works by artists who have painted and drawn at Snug Harbor Farm. Presented in conjunction with River Tree Arts.

Wreath making workshop 10am to 2pm. $10 material fee. No registration necessary.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 5

Snug Harbor Farm Open House 9am to 5 pm.

Open greenhouses and refreshments.

Terrarium making workshop 10 am to 2 pm. Workshop is free, with plants and
containers available for purchase a la carte.

All events are open to the public at Snug Harbor Farm, 87 Western Ave. Kennebunk.
FMI: 967-2414

We hope to see you there!

Gargoyles and Grotesques

2010-10-14T13:59:00.001-04:00

The Halloween spirit has set in and the season is ripe to talk about gargoyles, grotesques and other spooky specters.

The history of gargoyles is long and full of speculation but at the farm we have put any bad omens aside and made these ancient beasts our friendly familiars by making a place for them in the garden.

Here are a few of our friends doing what they do best, frightening away any bad thoughts by brightening our day. We hope they bring a smile to yours!

Autumn Colors in The Shop

2010-09-28T17:19:00.001-04:00

After the heat of this summer, we have been enjoying the colorful arrival of autumn at the farm and hope that you are too. We always love this time of the year and have been busy stocking up on items for the Shop to help inspire you to enjoy bringing the seasons themes and colors(and always a bit of the garden) into your home.

Here's a quick look at a few of our favorite new items for setting a festive mood.

There is too much to post it all here and new things are always arriving so we hope you'll consider stopping by to check it all out.

See you soon!

Focus on Fall Texture

2010-09-15T14:58:00.002-04:00

The crisp fall weather has finally arrived in New England and this always conjures up ideas for getting that color and texture of the season into the garden. Perennial grasses can be an easy solution, offering a painter's palette of delights to be best enjoyed during the cool and breezy autumn days and evenings and sometimes right up until the snow flies.

Most perennial grasses will do best in a sunny location, although there are some varieties that will tolerate part sun. Many are drought tolerant but some will tolerate moisture. They are easy to care for once established, most have nice tidy clump forming habits and they come in all sizes and colors. With a little effort, you can surely find one that will be perfect for your location. They are great for setting off other perennials in a border, filling in those dreaded "holes" and adding wonderful vertical movement. May we suggest...

Pennisetum alopecuriodes 'Little Bunny' is a miniature fountain grass that will tolerate part shade.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Autumn Light' is a maiden grass that is a tall and textured delight.
Panicum virgatum 'RR1 Ruby Ribbons' is a switch grass with bright sturdy foliage and the most delicate graceful blooms.
Crocosmia 'Emberglow' is not really a grass but has similar vertical foliage and will steal the show with it's glowing prolific orchid-like blooms. This one does best with some winter mulching in colder climates but is well worth the extra effort.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' is a zerbra grass that adds instant contrast.
Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head' is a tall fountain grass with interesting fuzzy poker shaped blooms.
Leymus arenarius 'Blue Dune' is a sharp blue dune grass that will tolerate part shade.
Chasmanthium latifolium or northern sea oats is a stunner, tall and delicate with incredible movement in the autumn breezes. It will also tolerate part shade.
Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' is a tall switch grass that puts on a bold display of wild and wispy blooms.

Vegetables on Display

2010-08-31T11:53:00.001-04:00

                     I can't recall a summer in Maine with more sunshine than this year. Tony decided this spring that we should convert the outer horse pasture at the farm into a vegetable and flower garden and try our luck selling some of the rewards at the shop. I'm sure many of you in our area recall what last season was like for your vegetable gardens. There was literally 90 days of rain here and things got pretty dreary. If it had been like that again this year our little foray in the field could have been a disaster. But the sun gods have been unimaginably kindhearted and the garden is thriving and moving right into high yield September production.
   It would have been easy to just take some pictures of the veggie field and post them here for you(and actually I could not resist and did take more; I will post some of the good ones up on our new Facebook page if you want to see them) but of course Tony had a fun and fabulous idea to do something different for you.

                     So without further ado, here are some of our current favorite summer vegetables for you to enjoy. I think you will agree that they are such beauties they deserved to be put on display!

Turk's Turban
Sweet Dumpling Squash
Delicata
Striped Acorn Squash
Onion
Flying Saucer Patty Pan
Green Tint Patty Pan
Carnival Acorn Squash
Kabocha
Sungold Cherry Tomatoes
Green Beans
Red Cabbage

While we are sharing favorites, one of our best clients, Seana Wood sent us some recipes she has been using with all the wonderful vegetables from her garden this summer and we thought you would all enjoy them as well. Click through the jump for the best part of an abundant vegetable garden, Patty Pan Squash Casserole, Mediterranean Chopped Salad and Creamed Chard. Yum!

Patty Pan Squash Casserole

Adapted from the Blackberry Farm Cookbook. A delicious summer side dish or easy dinner served with a garden salad.

4 Tbsp butter
1 onion, chopped
2 lbs. patty pan squash, roughly chopped
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 cup grated manchego cheese (or sharp cheddar)
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 375 F and butter a casserole dish.
In a large skillet or dutch oven with a lid, melt the butter. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the squash and stir well to combine. Cover & cook gently, stirring often for 7-8 minutes until squash is tender but not browned.
Remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes. Stir in the parmesan and 3/4 of a cup of the manchego (or cheddar) and 1/2 a cup of the breadcrumbs. Stir in the egg to combine.
Transfer the squash mixture to the prepared dish. Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheese and breadcrumbs.
Bake for 30 minutes until brown and bubbly. Serve hot or warm and enjoy!

Mediterranean Chopped Salad

4 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 onion (or a small bunch of scallions), finely chopped
1/2 cup basil chiffonade, or rolled up and finely sliced
1/2 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
2 cucumbers, chopped into large chunks
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp quality vinegar, red wine or balsamic
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 Tbsp salt & pepper (or to taste)

In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, onions, cucumbers & herbs.
Toss with cheese, oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Eat!

Creamed Chard

An excellent side with grilled fillet of beef or salmon, or anything else that pleases you!

2 Tbsp butter
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 lbs. chard, washed well with stems removed and leaves roughly torn
1/2 tsp kosher salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Melt butter in large skillet. Add onion & cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add chard & salt. It will seem like a lot but will cook down considerably. Stir gently while cooking until leaves start to wilt and soften, about 10 minutes.
Add cream and cook on medium stirring often until it thickens, about another 10 minutes or so.
Add cheese and pepper to taste and mix well to combine.
Enjoy!

Cool Annuals for Plant Geeks

2010-08-18T16:01:00.004-04:00

The cooler evenings of August have us contemplating interesting annuals for next season's garden. For all you fellow plant geeks out there looking for some exciting drama in your life, here are some of our favorite new annuals (most zone 7-10) sure to steal the summer garden spotlight.


Eupatorium capillifolium

This Eupatorium capillifolium is a textured wonder. It is fast growing, tall and feathery soft to the touch. Someone probably asks about it on display in a large pot at the nursery at least twice a day.


Amicia zygomeris

This Amicia has great color, texture and pendulous foliage with incredible movement in the fall breeze. It is also quite tall and gets a lot of attention at the nursery.

Salvia madrensis "Red Neck Girl"

You may have seen this tall striking sage growing in a friend(who's in the know)'s garden. It has huge soft foliage and bold striped stems. A real stunner in or out of bloom.


Leonotis leonurus

This Leonotis looks almost unearthly. It grows tall and lush and then starts throwing out these wild spikey blooms that just seem to get cooler as they go to seed. Truly a unique find, this one really is a plant geek's dream come true.

Iochroma tubulosa

This Iochroma has sturdy woody stems and prolific bunched blooms. And I bet no one else you know is growing it. Plant geek heaven.

Salvia cacaliifolia

And finally, this Salvia cacaliifolia always sells out of stock at the farm, so be sure to get some early in the season. People love the bright color of it's cerulean blue blossoms against the bright green foliage. This one on display at the farm has been blooming since May.

Check back soon for a new post about our explorations in growing interesting vegetable varieties. It's been a very fruitful summer!

July Spendor in the Front Garden

2010-07-30T18:39:00.004-04:00

Today was one of those bright and breezy Maine summer days people write home about. So I thought it a perfect excuse to roam about the property enjoying the weather and take some updated photos of the farm for you.

Everything is so lush this time of the year and I have a new camera I have been wanting to try out on you here.

I did manage to get some shots of the perennial display in the front by the road and the garden in front of the barn, which is planted with a lovely display of annuals and topiary from our greenhouses.

But as luck would have it, as I was trying out the zoom on the swans, the battery died!

Oh well, I promise to try again soon. It has been so sunny this summer, I have been waiting for a few clouds to roll in for a better exposure. But I'm not about to complain about all the abundant sunshine. Not one bit.

Snug Harbor Farm on Local Discovery TV

2010-07-23T13:51:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone! We hope you have all been enjoying this glorious summer!

We were recently featured on the program Local Discovery in there Kennebunk Lower Village edition and I thought i would share it with you here. They did a great job showcasing some of the wonderful local businesses in the area. I especially liked the segment about the Franciscan Monastery just down the road from our place.

Well, here's our bit. Check it out!

Welcome to Summer!

2010-05-31T12:48:00.005-04:00

Syringa vulgaris 'Sensation'

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

Today officially kicks off Maine's summer season so I thought it was about time I got around to doing a summer post. All the sunshine we have been getting has things off to a great start at the farm. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here are some shots of the nursery and grounds to show you what I'm talking about.

The Shop at Snug Harbor Farm

Some early summer views of our grounds and gardens.

The Nursery at Snug Harbor Farm

We have a varied selection of Hosta as well as many other plants that will do well in your shady perennial garden.

We also have a hugely varied selection of sun-loving perennials, annuals, trees, shrubs, herbs and vegetable seedlings.

Perennials at Snug Harbor Farm.

Besides all the great finds on display in The Shop, we have a fabulous collection of large pots and containers displayed between the greenhouses in the nursery.

Unique Planters and Pottery at Snug Harbor Farm.

Something interesting to be found behind every corner!

Malus and Prunus (Apple and Pear) Espalier trees.

Picea Glauc

Cornus stolon 'Bud's yellow'

Acer palmatum 'Tana'

Viburnum carlesii

Syringa vulgaris 'Wonderblue'

Stop by soon to see for yourself what latest wonder is in bloom. And do get out and enjoy this weather in your garden. I'm off to water mine now!

Get the fever with a visit to the farm!

2010-04-19T18:43:00.007-04:00

Spring fever that is!

Things are really starting to take off at the farm with new plants and supplies arriving everyday. The weather was perfect today for a visit. I thought I would share with you all a little virtual tour of what is going on to wet your appetite for your spring or summer visit.

New gift and garden finds are arriving daily at The Shop.

A peruse past the old barn out front bestows some of springs treasures.

A small display awaits passerby's on Route 9.

Perennials, herbs, trees and shrubs already in bloom and ready to show off in your garden.

The spring shade garden by the Shop has something new sprouting up everyday now!

Let's take a quick peek inside the Shop...

New items arriving daily in here! You never know what you might find!

Let's take a quick walk back to the greenhouses, to see what is happening there.

The lavender is in bloom like there's no tomorrow!

And there is still a great selection of potted succulents.

Oh, did I mention hydrangea?

And hydrangea...

And still more hydrangea!

Had enough?

Ok, on yonder to the trees and shrubs...

New shrub stock is being potted diligently everyday by our hardworking staff.

We have a variety of beautiful trees already tempered to the season and ready to plant.

I may need one of these for my own yard!

Spring has sprung in The Shop!

2010-04-02T17:51:00.007-04:00

Spring has sprung and is getting by us all too quickly as there is so much to do this time of the year! Thanks to some of our hardworking crew, we got through the Boston and Portland Flower Shows successfully and are now furiously preparing for the summer season. I thought it would be a good time to give you an update on The Shop here at the farm. It is readily stocked and spruced and awaits your visit!

Our "new" old shelves have a treasure trove of interesting finds on display.

We still have a couple of these great "mini" greenhouses.

And some cute little potted agaves!

An assortment of pot feet...

Garden ornaments and pottery and urns...Oh my!

Some spring critters and bird baths to encourage more to visit...

A newly updated selection of quality seeds, supplies, and tools...

And of course, some lovely plants in bloom fresh from the greenhouse!

We will be open this Saturday and buzzing with the bee workshop, but we will be closed this Sunday for the Easter holiday.

Whenever you can make it for a visit, we look forward to seeing you!

A spring workshop that's the bee's knees!

2010-03-13T13:21:00.006-05:00

We are very pleased to announce a free beekeeping workshop to be held at Snug Harbor Farm on Saturday April 3 from 12 to 2pm.

“How and Why to Keep Bees in Top Bar Hives” is an introductory workshop to demonstrate this natural, green method of keeping our important pollinators. A top bar hive lets bees make their own wax - learn why this matters! This workshop is hosted by Gold Star Honeybees at no charge. For more information on Gold Star and other workshops they are hosting this season, please visit there website at goldstarhoneybees.com.

Please register for the workshop and confirm your spot with Christy through an email at Christy@goldstarhoneybees.com or call her at 207-449-1121 with any questions.

Spring has Sprung at Snug Harbor!

2010-03-10T13:17:00.017-05:00

With the flowers blooming and the warm sun shining, a hustle and a bustle of spring energy has started to stir things up at the farm.

The show in Connecticut was a great success for us last month and today we are busily preparing to set up our booth at the Portland Flower Show taking place this weekend.

We will have our current best selection of topiaries and other houseplants available for you to purchase there. Here's a link for more details about the scheduled events. http://www.portlandcompany.com/flower/events.html

And here's a little of what you can look forward too!

We will see you there!

Easy Potted Houseplants

2010-01-25T14:31:00.018-05:00

If you brave the slippery walk to the greenhouses this time of the year, you will be rewarded with a plethora of obliviously blooming begonias.
These make great houseplants in most climates as they prefer bright indirect sun and regular watering and will bloom throughout the year. In our northern climate, sometimes they do best with a bit of direct sun through the winter months.

We currently have two different types of Begonia Fuchioides with flowers either in pink or red. These both look great in pots as they are upright in habit and can be prolific with blooms. You can see here why we like them so much. With there striking contrasting stem, bright green foliage, and abundant fuchsia-like blooms they are very appealing.

For something really striking we have Begonia 'Bandit'. This dark leaf variety has gorgeous red stems and undersides and tall white blooms that open to pink.

Spectacular!

As if that weren't enough, we have another larger leaf variety called 'Art Hodes'. This one has wide green, grape-like, fuzzy foliage and contrasting tall white flowers.

Finally, here is a furiously blooming Begonia 'Ulmifolia' with it's white flowers against the bright green leaves reminding us spring is certainly on it's way.

Mark Your Calendar!

2010-01-05T16:56:00.026-05:00

Happy New Year!

Our resolution this year is to be better organized and to keep you better updated with our goings-on. So, while we work out the organizing business I thought I could give you a quick update on our seasonal New England garden show migration tour. Every spring we bring the plants to you by setting up a retail booth at a number of regional events.

Here's what we have on the calendar so far for 2010.

The Connecticut Flower & Garden Show will be held February 18-21 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

The Portland Flower Show is March 10-14 at the Portland Company Complex on Fore Street in Portland, Maine.

The Boston Flower & Garden Show is March 24-28 hosted by MassHort at Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

We will also make our annual trek to the Trade Secrets Antiques and Garden Show in Sharon Connecticut hosted by Bunny Williams on May 15 2010.

I've included some pictures from one of our past shows to give you a taste of what we have in store for you.

Hope to see you in the near future!

Myrtle Topiaries Demystified!

2009-12-13T11:06:00.003-05:00

One of the most common questions I seem to get from both novice and experienced gardeners alike this time of the year is "How do I keep my myrtle topiary alive indoors through the winter?". I will admit they can seem a bit finicky, but just like any houseplant, all they need is the right balance of sunlight and water to sustain their growth. Well, that's the short answer, anyway.

The long answer is that myrtle (we grow myrtus communis compacta, a small leaf variety) has been kept clipped this way as topiary for hundreds of years because it responds so well to being clipped into shapes, even if grown in a pot indoors.

We grow our topiaries on sight in the greenhouses at the farm. This requires practice and patience but also allow us to supply you with a well established plant that you will only need to maintain without too much trouble. Most of the topiaries we sell are already 1 1/2 to 2 years old and already well formed.

Most people find there myrtle plants thrive in the summer months. This is because myrtle prefers full direct sun. They can take a large amount of water in these conditions, especially for an established potted plant and so do best with regular, maybe even daily, watering in the summer. It is also best to clip your topiary often during it's high growing season. This will not only make it easier to keep sufficiently watered, it will also keep the growth looking full and the shape well formed.

As the days get shorter in the fall and into the winter, the growth is likely to slow down considerably on your myrtle topiary. So should the amount of water and clipping necessary to maintain it. This means you won't have to water or trim it as often! This is good, right? Just water it generously when the soil has dried out, you don't have to soak it or mist it and the soil doesn't want to be wet all of the time, watering approximately one to three times a week depending on how warm and dry your home is in the winter should do it, and just give it a quick trim when it starts to look shaggy, maybe once or twice a month.

Move your potted topiaries around inside if you don't have a lot of light where you want to keep them. For instance, they look great on a mantle or tabletop but don't get much sunlight, so once a week or so move them to a sunny windowsill for the day and give them a little water. This can be enough to keep them looking great through the winter months and ready to be enjoyed for years to come!

If you have had your topiary for some time or it's growth has become much larger than the diameter of the pot that it is in, or if your New England home is drier than the sahara in the winter (I'm looking at you woodstoves and radiant heat) and you are finding it difficult to keep your topiary watered (i.e. I water it all the time and the damn thing is always dry!) it is time to transplant it into a larger pot. Pick a pot just slightly larger so the proportions will still be right, we have a great selection of terra cotta at the farm, and if it is particularly pot-bound you may want to loosen the roots a bit when transplanting. Always use a pot with a hole in the bottom and put something for drainage in the bottom of the pot like gravel or some broken pottery pieces. Myrtle requires good drainage. And make sure to stake and tie your topiary to support it's shape, we use bamboo and raffia for this and both are readily available (bamboo stakes at most hardware stores, raffia at most craft or floral supply stores), inexpensive and have a natural appeal.

If you live nearby and want us to re-pot a topiary you got from us, we would love to have you bring it by. If you are not local, you can always email me at patti@snugharborfarm.com with any questions you may have that I haven't covered for you here, or even just for some encouraging words on how to re-pot it yourself.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2009-12-07T14:14:00.019-05:00

That's right, we are open and ready to serve all your holiday needs this season.

We have everything from the tree to the trimmings as well as gifts and holiday greenery galore.

We've been busy in our wreath making area making you fresh and unique holiday decorations.

Potted plants from the greenhouse and locally crafted ceramic vegetables make great gifts for gardeners of all types.

We also have these great lightweight tabletop greenhouses and terrariums and an assortment of unique plants with which to fill them.

Paper whites always make a great gift. We have ones that are already potted and blooming for instant gratification as well as ones that are sprouting and ready to be planted for enjoyment later on in the winter.

The shop is overflowing with holiday gift ideas.

Here are some garden critters in cement and iron as well as some St. Francis statuary to watch over them.

Here are some more topiaries ready for your holiday table.

And did I mention wreaths?
We have an ever changing supply made fresh on site right here at the farm!

Even the gargoyles are getting in the spirit!

We have potted evergreens of all shapes and sizes, great for holiday decorating now and planting later. Now that's a gift that keeps on giving!

And we still have some Maine grown and cut trees, greenery, and berries for your traditional indoor and outdoor decorating as well.

Happy holidays from all of us at the farm.
We look forward to seeing you soon!

A Cornocopia of Interesting Houseplants

2009-11-09T17:18:00.011-05:00

While the temperatures outside begin to dip, we will all be spending more and more time indoors. We have an interesting selection of houseplants in the greenhouse that make for lovely greenery to be enjoyed in your home through the holidays and beyond.

Of course we always have topiaries. Besides the myrtle shown in the previous post, we have some unusual coleus standards(shown below) and some bright lemon cypress pruned into classical shapes(shown left).

We have easy to care for ivy, a variety of different ferns and some adorable mini fushia standards in bloom.

We have a lot of blooming begonias and ferns that do well in pots even with low light conditions.

Come in and find out what's in bloom today!

Autumn Colors Abound in The Shop!

2009-10-14T10:39:00.009-04:00

The days may be getting darker but warm festive colors are still aplenty in The Shop here at the Snug Harbor Farm. We are excitedly stocking up on many new seasonal items for both indoors and out. Come by and have a look!

Hope to see you soon!

An Endless Summer of Potted Succulents

2009-09-27T17:44:00.014-04:00

The summer here in Maine has slipped by all too quickly and the autumn air is creeping in. But we are managing to still keep ourselves quite busy at the farm preparing the hardy stock for the colder weather to come and planning, planting, and pruning with abandon in the greenhouses in anticipation of next season. If you haven't visited in the off-season you really should. The greenhouses are open year round and can be a retreat of tropical lush greenery much appreciated on a blustery cold New England day.

Most recently we have become very excited about our ever-expanding inventory of potted succulents. They are possibly the lowest maintenance of all our greenhouse plants and are just as easy to keep as houseplants as long as you have a bit of direct sun. They generally thrive on a windowsill in well drained soil when watered just once or twice a month through the winter. It really doesn't get much easier than that! The color and shape variations available are practically endless and almost sculptural. Here's a taste of what we currently have in stock to get you salivating.

A varigated aloe variety

An echeveria hybrid

An unusual sedum variety

Sedum 'Hens and Chicks'

Agave 'Retro Choke'

Agave 'Sharkskin

A small leafed jade

Sedum hispanicum 'Blue Carpet'

An assortment in our own hypetufa pots

Kalanchoe 'Flapjack'

An assortment of potted echeveria varieties

A closer look

A profile view

And our HUGE varigated agave
Well it's pretty large for around these parts, anyway.

Feel free to comment if you know any of the horticultural names I have missed.

Passionflowers For Instant Summer Opulence

2009-07-31T17:14:00.019-04:00

This week many of our visitors seem to be noticing the passionflower vines that are blooming furiously at the farm. We always have a variety of hanging baskets available, but currently these are the ones stealing the show. Passionflowers, although not at all winter hardy here in Maine, are very vigorous growers and bloomers, even if just for the summer season. You can bring them in for the winter and keep them as a houseplant as well, if you are so inclined. They are always satisfying to grow, wherever you choose to put them.

Just have a look at the size of them already, and this is just in an 8 inch pot!

You can let them hang wild like you see here, or you can transplant them out of the hanging pots we grow them in and easily train them to grow up a trellis or fence. When given some blooming fertilizer regularly, they should bloom all summer in full or even part sun.

Of course, it's these spectacular flowers that usually stop people in there tracks. Here are a few of the varieties we grow right at the farm.

This one is Passiflora 'Purple Haze'. It is a lovely P. caerulea hybrid that has large showy flowers with white and pale purple petals, a dark purple center, and a white and purple corolla.

This one is Passiflora 'Inspiration'. It is truly stunning with a very large frilly flower with lavender and purple petals, a lavender center, and a white and dark purple corolla.

As if that wasn't enough, here is one of the few true red passionflowers we have found to be as prolific a bloomer as the purple ones. This Passiflora 'Lady Margaret' has large flowers with crimson red petals, a white center, and dark red corona with white tips.

I know. Wow, right?

Sun Shiny Summer Days on the Farm

2009-07-24T16:48:00.004-04:00

The sun has actually shown on us a bit between all the bouts of summer rain here at the farm and it has allowed the perennials are really start showing off there best faces. We still have lots of plants in bloom now to fill up any empty spots that have been haunting you in your garden.

This Filipendula purpurea 'Elegans' has been the favorite new addition at home in my garden.

It is thriving in the back of my shade garden and is tall enough to stand out back there with it's long lasting blooms. The flowers are really pretty, white with flecks of pink, and look very delicate against the green broad leaves.

Here is a great view of an established day lily planting. These ones are Hemerocallis 'Big Bird', a great lemony yellow and a steady summer bloomer. We have many different heights and colors to choose from at the farm, not just your general tall orange garden variety. They are always a reliable choice and can be established quickly even in an unreliable place like here by the side of the road.

We also still have shrubs and trees galore if you want to take advantage of the all the rain and do some serious planting. The Buddhas are happily watching over these lovely climbing hydrangeas, a great choice for planting on a stone wall.

And here is the ever popular Hydrangea 'Endless Summer', the loveliest steady blooming large leaf blue variety. If it starts to turn pink on you, try giving it a little acidic fertilizer. Come and get them while they last!

So, I promise to do another posting soon. Feel free to let me know what you want to hear about in the comments. I apologize that it took me so long to get this post together. I need to start making a habit of getting out of the greenhouse for a few minutes every few days and get into the office to post more regularly. It is just so hard to pull myself away!

What's old is new again!

2009-07-06T19:30:00.014-04:00

Last year we started carrying our very own Snug Harbor Farm reproduction terra cotta pottery. I am still really excited by how well they came out and am hoping that you will be just as pleased. These are our own exclusive designs cast from some of our favorite hard to find shapes and sizes of antique English, French, and Italian terra cotta. We had these pots made to grow our topiaries in, but they are also available for purchase at the nursery, some very nicely preconditioned for you in the greenhouse for a lovely instant mossy old feel.

We have Snug Harbor Farm rim stamped classic Old English styled pots in three sizes.

The classic azalea styled pots have a double rolled rimmed. and a circular Snug Harbor Farm stamp.

Three sizes of Tuscan hard to find rectangular footed planters.

Unique round bottomed crucible pots in three sizes.

Shallow bulb pan pots in two sizes are perfect for small windowsill herb gardens.

These Anduze styled footed pots are are the perfect size for a small mantle.

There are three sizes of orchid pots, with holes for proper ventilation of the roots.

And lastly to tempt you to stop in for a visit, here are some gorgeous mossy old grower styled pots, available in two sizes.

Come in and get them before they are gone!

Welcome to Snug Harbor Farm!

2009-07-04T09:44:00.034-04:00

Hello modern world! Welcome to the first post of our new blog about all things Snug Harbor Farm!

After years of talk about a possible website for our Kennebunk, Maine plant nursery, we have decided to get our feet wet and set up this blog. As you can imagine, the difficultly involved in shipping live plants is innumerable, so we won't be posting things for mail order here. I do, however, think it will be a great way for us to keep you plant geeks up to date on all the exciting going-on's at the farm, to share plant care knowledge, and to share some great pictures of our ever-growing nursery.

This June had been a bit of a wet one. It has rained almost everyday here, leaving the nursery on the soggy side, to say the least. If you are coming to shop for perennials, we have lots to choose from but I would suggest you wear your boots.

Rain or shine, it is a great time to come visit our newest retail addition to the farm, The Shop. Inside the 1750's house on the property we have put together an eclectic collection of gifts, home decor items, potted houseplants and gardening tools and supplies for you to peruse.

Here's a peek at what we have put together for you!

Seeds, terra-cotta pot feet and cloches, fertilizers, glazed plant pots, colorful paper mums and some handy long necked watering cans.

Garden twine in these great retro tin's and in different festive colors, and some more fun little watering cans.

We have terrariums! We put these together ourselves right here at the farm.

An assortment of bundles of fresh cut foliage for decorating and arrangements.

An assortment of concrete garden ornaments and small cast iron urns, with or without something green growing inside!

Some more concrete garden ornaments and a fern from the greenhouse.

An assortment of birdhouses for your garden in all shapes and sizes.

Hope to see you soon!