Easter Lilies- how to care for them once you get them home

Easter lily buds will continue to open for the next few weeks once it's in your home.  The Anthers (the puffy yellow part on top of the Stamen) should be pulled off to prevent staining of the lily bloom.  This process will also make the bloom last longer.  They prefer to be in a cool window in bright indirect natural light.  Water the soil when it feels dry, but let the water drain from the pot freely. 
As the white blooms wither, cut them off at the stem.  In about 2 to 4 weeks, the plant will be just a stem with a few leaves on it.  It's time to plant it outside at that point.

Since lilies are natural outdoor plants, their normal blooming period is in the summer.  They are perennial bulbs that will enjoy being planted outside in a sunny spot in your garden.  The bulbs will divide and multiply as any lily would.  The blooms may grow a little smaller than when you received it for Easter.  They'll look nice with some Asiatic lilies and Stargazers combined.  Since your Easter lily has been forced to bloom, it's first summer may produce very little, if any signs of major growth. 

This is a Lily "BUD CARD".  It's a lot like a ruler, with a bunch of numbers on it.  Growers use these to measure the rate in which the bud will open.  For example, see the small yellow dot at the tip of the bud.  You'll see a number 2.   Then follow the graph to the other small yellow dot, it says 21C or 70F- this means that this bud will open in 2 days if the greenhouse temperature is 70 degrees.  The lower the temperature, the longer it will take to open.  If the crop is opening up too quickly (really sunny warm days) we move all the plants to a cooler greenhouse.  This process is repeated every single day for the few weeks before Easter/ shipping.
History:
Easter Lilies (Lilium longiflorum) have been the favorite flower of Easter for centuries.  The solid white flowers represent purity, life and renewal.  The flower’s trumpet shape is a reminder of the heralding of Jesus, returning triumphant to Jerusalem.

 

According to Biblical scholars, the Easter Lily was found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas is said to have betrayed Jesus. Legend tells that white lilies miraculously sprung up from the ground where drops of Jesus’ sweat and tears fell during his last hours.

In early paintings, the Archangel Gabriel is pictured extending a branch of white lilies to Mary, symbolizing that she had become the virgin mother to the savior.

Native to the islands of Japan, White Lilies were imported to the United States until 1941, when Americans were prompted to start growing their own bulbs due to the war.  Today, nearly all of the 15 million Easter Lily bulbs grown in America are produced by just 4 farms along the California-Oregon border. The bulbs are harvested in the fall, and then shipped to commercial greenhouses in Michigan, California, Pennsylvania and Ohio, where they are planted in time to bloom for Easter.

Dan Schantz Farm and Greenhouses, LLC is responsible for growing 300,000 Easter lilies produced in the United States. 

I had help from these links

http://www.holidays.net/easter/easterlily.htm

http://www.appleseeds.org/easter-lily.htm

 

 

 

 

pepper list preliminary 2016

Norfolk Island Pines for Christmas (and all year long)

July 9, 2015

It's Time for Planting Fall Garden Vegetables 

July-August

It may be hard for some of us to plan that far ahead, Summer is still in full swing!  This is the time of year that you need to start planning and planting Fall & light Winter vegetables. Dan Schantz Greenhouse & Cut Flower Outlet carries many cold weather vegetables (aka COLE Crops) but you can also find seeds, root crops etc. on line at various locations.   You have until mid-August to get these in the ground for Fall harvest. 

 

 

Some vegetables that are introduced to a frost will improve their flavor. Starches in the vegetable will start converting to sugars, actually producing sugar after the frost. Here are some examples of vegetables that are improved after a few cold nights or a frost, banishing the slight bitter flavor some greens will have.
Cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards, chard, Brussels sprouts, broccoli are vitamin rich greens that thrive in cooler weather.
Carrots are always sweeter after a frost or two! 

Leeks and onions also tend to produce more sugars after a cold snap. This is especially noticeable in the stronger onion varieties. The frost tends to temper the strong taste and provide that onion seasoning flavor that is often sought after.  Since they take longer to grow, they should be in the ground by July 1st. 

Additionally, these crops do well in cold frames over winter, so it is possible to extend the growing season into the winter, so fresh vegetable are available nearly year round.

Light Frost Tolerant:
Peas 
Lettuce 
Swiss Chard
Onion
Endive
Potato (you can use the ones with EYES in your kitchen if you can't find late sets- see photo left)
Mesclin Mix
Parsnip
Hard Frost Tolerant:

Broccoli
Cabbage
Chives
Collards
Kale
Kohlrabi
Parsley
Sage
Spinach
Turnip

Link from 2013 cole crops

Potted Flowering Plants for Mother's Day 2015

It doesn't have to cost a fortune to give the best quality flowering plants for Mother's Day.  You only have as far as Dan Schantz Greenhouse to find exceptional quality at the best prices.  We grow millions of flowers and plants at our (now 60 acres) farms - under roof!  not to mention the field growing space. 

Calla Lilies, Cinneraria, Martha Washington (Regal) Geraniums, Non Stop Begonias, Hydrangeas, Florist Mums, Gerbera Daisies, Campanula and so much more- beautiful plants that will delight Mom or Grandma.. and anyone else on your list.  Here are some lovely plants growing for you for Mother's Day:

 

Cut Flowers & Arrangements

The "Cut Flower Outlet" in our name is usually smaller and sometimes omitted.  But the truth is, that Dan Schantz Greenhouse has the finest design team in the area.  Our flowers are chosen by our seasoned florists, some stuff is so exotic you can only find it at the finest trade markets in big cities. 
But, after all, we are an outlet.  So you'll get the best flowers at the lowest prices.  Fresher, better, newer, best.  Dan's designers?  Top notch.  I've seen the things they create with amazement and after 23 years of my working with Dan Schantz, they never seem to disappoint. 
The gals at the florist counter have been doing amazing arrangements for years, and as an added bonus in the greenhouse, we have Howaida who adds that "European Flair" with specialty large arrangements that you can't possibly find anywhere else in the Lehigh Valley.  You want something special?  No Problem.  Just ask- but remember that special requests at a holiday need to be ordered about 2 weeks in advance.  If you can dream it, they can do it.  And believe me, they do it better than anyone else I've seen...at a way cheaper cost.  Check us out. 
Oh, and they do the most fabulous weddings!

 

Gift Baskets and Dish Gardens

Most gift baskets, Dish Gardens and compilations of flowers and plants are made on our Lehigh Street property.  Some Dish gardens come from our Pipersville location- where we have tropical foliage plants shipped from Florida and we place them in containers  with same type plants (so they grow together in perfect harmony!)
The designers choose plants and flowers in season that will give the best performance for the recipient.
There may be a time that the plants in the arrangement gets too large.  It may need to be transplanted into a larger pot.  Simply remove the entire plant from it's dish (or basket) and either plant the whole root ball into a larger pot, or you may be able to carefully separate them and just remove one or two plants, and keeping the rest in the bowl.  You may wish to ask your friendly Dan Schantz associate for some help if this makes you jittery.