Peony Farm Is A Family Affair

Peony Farm Is A Family Affair FARM HOME Miscellaneous Though comfortable in their suburban family home Laura and Bryan Kubes still visualized relocating their family with three young daughters to an acreage in the driftless area of southern Minnesota They knew it would be a significant change since Laura was a meteorologist at a local TV station and Bryan worked for a farm seed company Their dream was to start a specialty crop business on a rural acreage that included wooded and tillable acres and a source of clean water That vision didn’t include locating to a peony farm but that’s precisely what they found near Spring Grove Minn Now in their third year of operating Hidden Springs Peony Farm they’ve ramped up their knowledge and appreciation of peonies They also have a growing list of agrotourism and specialty crop opportunities for the future Hidden Springs Peony Farm raises 15 000 plants of 600+ peony varieties including heirlooms Potted peony plants can be ordered from a catalog or purchased at the on-site garden center Bareroot plants can be ordered for shipment in early October “Last year we sold to 44 states ” Laura says “As I’ve learned more about peonies I’m amazed by the great variety of flower types the broad range of colors and fragrances and the variation in bloom times ” Besides peonies the garden center offers unusual and native perennial flowers fruit plants houseplants heirloom roses and orchid cacti After two years of operation Laura says it was abundantly clear that their three daughters loved their new home “Our 9-year-old is a math whiz and is really good at the checkout Our 7-year-old loves picking and arranging flowers and bouquets and our 3-year-old is a natural-born saleswoman! She tries to sell every customer lemonade from her stand ” After they took over the farm from the previous owners Laura renovated the website extensively and continues to tweak it weekly She also emails every name on their customer and prospect list weekly These emails offer growing tips fun facts about peonies and gardening and answers to questions Looking ahead Laura says future changes to the farm will come from “whatever way our hearts and finances direct us ” The farm already offers custom photoshoots pick-your-own bouquets potting parties farm tours and picnics at the Peony Farm three weekends in spring Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Hidden Springs Peony Farm 18581 County 4 Spring Grove Minn 55974 ph 763-218-4540; www hiddenspringspeonyfarm com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.