Val Schirmer, Charlie Hendricks and Elizabeth Hendricks of Three Toads Farm (c) Melanie Mauer
The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers has supported Slow Flowers as a sponsor for the past three years, which I believe is a reflection of our mutual values and goals of expanding domestic flower farming as a profession. Over the years, I've interviewed many ASCFG members who are also Slow Flowers Members, bringing their inspiring and informative stories to you.
For 2020, I have made it a goal to host ASCFG's leadership on the Slow Flowers Podcast, highlighting the organization's many regional directors across North America. In March, you heard from Erin McMullen, co-owner of Rain Drop Farm and ASCFG's West & Northwest Regional Director. In April, Janis Harris of Harris Flower Farm, ASCFG's Canadian Regional Director, joined us on the Podcast.
And this week, I'm happy to introduce you to Val Schirmer of Three Toads Farm, based in Winchester, Kentucky - she's the Southeastern Regional Director for ASCFG, representing members in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Val Schirmer (c) Chris Benzakein (left); a premium amaryllis bulb (right)Val is founder of Three Toads Farm and SE region director of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers
Here's a bit more about Three Toads Farm:The three toads of this established specialty cut flower farm and fine floral design studio include longtime friends and business partners, Val Schirmer and Charlie Hendricks, and Elizabeth Hendricks, Charlie's daughter. Three Toads Farm is most known for its year-round greenhouse production of show-stopping Oriental lilies.
The farm also produces huge pollen-less sunflowers, varieties of celosia, lisianthus, unique forced spring bulbs, Amaryllis, French tulips, Parrot tulips, ranunculus, English Sweet Peas, and a farmer's market favorite, bouquets of colorful zinnias nestled in lemon basil.
Growing big gorgeous Oriental and hybrid lilies — using the largest bulbs commercially available — has been foundational to the small farm’s success and applies toholiday and spring bulbs too. Val says not many growers will pay the cost or go to the trouble of sourcing these bulbs, but “the bigger the bulb, the bigger the show!” That’s how you get the largest, most spectacular flowers, strongest stems and greatest number of blooms.
Each spring and fall, Three Toads Farm hosts a lily bulb sale, encouraging customers in the community to grow their own lilies. You can find Three Toads Farm at the Saturday Farmers' Market in Lexington and select days at the Market's Tuesday and Thursday location.
Three Toads Farm offers seasonal bud vase deliveries to restaurants; local businesses and private customers can also subscribe to bi-weekly deliveries or shop at the greenhouse by appointment.
This is one of two sold-out Spring Bulb Garden workshops this past February at Three Toads Farm’s new workshop space. Val applies the same principles to forcing spring bulbs as she does for holiday Amaryllis and Paperwhites. Worship guests get “first dibs” from the 6,000 spring bulbs she forces in deep 6-packs specifically for creating tabletop bulb gardens to enjoy indoors, and then plant outside to rebloom for years to come.
For more than six years, flower lovers have enjoyed on-the-farm workshops which invite them to tour Three Toad's fields and greenhouses and make an arrangement with just-picked blooms. And, as you'll hear us discuss, for the holidays Three Toads Farm grows potted Amaryllis from jumbo-sized bulbs, which are available by special order.
Elizabeth Hendricks (left) is the creative force behind every one of Three ToadsFarm’s weddings and events. Val Schirmer (right) often says Elizabeth’s a big reason thatMartha Stewart Weddings named them one of the country’s Top 10Farmer-Florists (c) Melanie Mauer
Wedding flowers for a bride and groom who worked with Eliz...