The Life of an Annual or Perennial Flower in an Ottawa garden!

When you put that pretty potted annual, perennial, or hanging basket into your cart, do you ever wonder where it came from? Most people do not, and that is perfectly okay. Flowers are loved for their colour, their beauty, and the joy they bring to our gardens. Honestly, that is why we grow them.

But the life of an annual or perennial flower actually begins the year before you ever see it. In September, we spend hours pouring over catalogues and plant lists, researching new varieties while revisiting our tried and true favourites. Everyone has strong opinions and personal favourites, so friendly debates, negotiations, and plenty of persuasion are all part of the process. Once the list is finalized, our grower Matt places orders with seed and cutting suppliers and carefully schedules every stage of seeding and planting for the season ahead.

Seeds and Cuttings

In December and January, seeds begin to arrive and are planted in our germination room, a warm misting chamber that feels a bit like a sauna for seeds. Once they push their tiny heads through the soil, they are moved into our growing greenhouse and placed on misting benches to keep them evenly moist.

Plants that grow best from cuttings, such as geraniums, petunias, calibrachoa, and coleus, arrive throughout February. Each cutting is hand planted into small trays called one hundred and fives. Throughout February and March, seeds and cuttings grow steadily in the warm and humid environment of the greenhouse.

Transplanting the Baby Flowers

During March Break, we bring in a team of local high school students from Smiths Falls, Kemptville, Merrickville, and surrounding communities. At this point, the greenhouses truly become a plant factory. Every young plant is transplanted into its final pot or hanging basket across our twenty greenhouses.

There are dedicated crews for hanging baskets, four inch pots, perennials, and soil. It is hard work that requires organization, teamwork, and care, and we could not do it without their help. To give you an idea of the scale, during March Break alone this season we planted nearly thirty thousand annuals, over five thousand hanging baskets, and close to ten thousand perennials.

Summer Flower Debut

In May, the plants are moved from the growing greenhouses into our main retail space. Here, they are organized by colour and variety, waiting to be chosen for gardens all across the Ottawa Valley. When you select your annuals, perennials, or hanging baskets this spring, take a moment to appreciate the long journey they have taken and the many local hands that helped bring them to life.

Every plant has a story, and we are proud to grow them right here for our community.

Peace and Plants,
Kelly