Chaletmomma

I’m excited to share the visit my sister Noreen and I had Sunday May 25th to Long Valley Peonies Located at 227 West Mill Road, Long Valley, NJ, 07853. The farm is open 9am-6pm, rain or shine every day, including Sundays, until the blooms are finished. It costs $10.00 CASH to visit and walk the farm. The bouquets are $35.00 for 10 blooms - they accept CASH and Venmo. When we walked around there were more folks at the farm stand buying blooms than walking around. It was in the low 60’s* but the sun came out just as we started walking around.

We started the afternoon off with a yummy lunch at Chesapeake Tavern.

This year the peonies were not as far along in their bloom cycle as they were in both 2023 and 2024. Unfortunately, this was the only day we could get there. Not that I’m complaining but, I do wish I could go again this week.

I encourage you to visit Long Valley Peonies. If you’re very far from New Jersey look in your own area and find a farm or garden to visit. 🌼

Give Long Valley Peonies a follow and check out their Website.

Til next time friends be well and I’ll see you over on the Gram!

Daffodils (plural noun): any of various perennial bulbous herbs (genus Narcissus) of the amaryllis family

especially: one whose flowers have a large corona elongated into a trumpet

It’s starting friends… the ground is showing the first signs. This beautiful bunch was purchased at Trader Joes a few weeks ago. I can’t wait to cut my very own. I have a few varieties here are the Chalet. I’ve purchased all from White Flower Farm through their catalog.

Arkle (Large Trumpet unscented)
Sun Discs (Small Double Yellow unscented)
Acropolis (White with Orange center - amazing scent)
Thalia (White with sweet scent)
Le Torch (Yellow with Orange center)

Out of the varieties I’ve planted - the Acropolis this large white is my favorite. It has a delightful scent that is not overly sweet. I’d love this in a perfume.

Daffodils have a sap that leach from their stalk - therefore they don’t play well with other flowers. I came across this method of burning the ends to stop the sap on Instagram. I haven’t tried it. But, I did try to find this method listed anywhere on the Internet - I looked and looked and could not locate a source. I believe its from a florist in Michigan.

But, interestingly enough a good friend, floral designer and gardener Sandy Devaney of The Collected Garden (who I interviewed here) saw me talking about this method and told me the following:

“The only thing you need to do for daffodils is – Give them a fresh cut, leave them in their own vase for 24 hours so all the sap seeps and then they can get placed in with other flowers after a day just don't re-cut the ends.”

Are you a lover of Daffodils? Do you grow your own or are you grabbing them from your local market or florist? However you enjoy them I hope you do… this season lets us know Spring is here! Life is renewing!