Fraser Valley Rose Farm

Join me for an insider's view of the retail garden center business as Rob Wein takes us on a tour through the Clearview Garden Shop. I previously uploaded a tour video at one of Clearview's wholesale growing facilities and here's the link: https://youtu.be/QZ1rcO_FznM They specialize in clematis and other vines, but as you'll see on this tour, Clearview also grows a wide assortment of annuals and other plants. For more info on Clearview Horticultural Products, here's their site: https://www.clearviewhort.com/ I want to thank Rob, the Wein family and the whole crew at the Clearview Garden Shop for their expertise, patience and hospitality. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm Photo Credits: Clematis Westerplatte by F.D. Richards CC BY-SA 2.0 Blue Passionflower by Loki 66 CC BY-SA 3.0 Clematis heracleifolia by Salicyna CC BY-SA 4.0 Alstroemeria inticancha series by Andy Mabbett CC BY-SA 3.0

We're planting in tires as "bottomless planters" or garden edging for our field roses. Viewers and customers alike have asked us why we do it. It comes down to a cost & benefit comparison with other solution. We looked at planters and garden edging solutions made from wood, metal, plastic and ceramic, and they all posed challenged. Some were too expensive (compared to free! for old tires). Some were vulnerable to damage from our lawnmower & string trimmer. Some would begin to rot as soon as we put them down. Almost all would have taken more time and work to build, install & maintain. So it really came down to a matter of practicality. Anyhow, I remain open to better options - but this will do the job for the time. Here's a link to the article I mentioned about used tires by Robert Pavlis: https://www.gardenmyths.com/tire-gardens-safe/ If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

Let's talk about the difference between a climbing rose and a rambling roses. "Climber" and "rambler" are used almost interchangeably in describing roses, and indeed there can be some confusing borderline varieties or exception, but the main difference is that climbers are generally repeat blooming. They're derived from the repeat-flowering modern classes of roses, and can have flower form just like the garden hybrid teas and floribundas you're familiar with. Ramblers are more closely related to some of the wild species, and so they typically bloom once in the spring or early summer - covering themselves with masses of small simple(r) blooms. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm Photo Credits: Aloha by David J. Stang CC BY-SA 4.0 Queen Elizabeth by T. Kiya CC BY-SA 2.0 Rosa wichurana by A. Barra CC BY-SA 3.0 Rose Bleu Magenta by T. Kiya CC BY-SA 2.0 Goldfinch by Brittas World CC BY-SA 3.0 American Pillar by Spedona CC BY-SA 3.0 Adelaide d'Orleans by Leonara (Ellie) Enking CC BY-SA 2.0 Adelaide d'Orleans by . Barra CC BY-SA 3.0 Lady Banks by Maria Filippi CC BY-SA 4.0 Paul's Himalayan Musk by T. Kiya CC BY-SA 2.0 Manington Mauve Rambler by T. Kiya CC BY-SA 2.0 Climbing Iceberg by T. Kiya CC BY-SA 2.0

Video of one of our new mini roses this year, accompanied by suggestive music! #shorts

I can't leave out gardeners from colder winter climates: here are my perennial selections for USDA zones 3 (ideally) upwards. I've tried to pick some beyond the classic peonies, bearded irises and lilies (although there's lots nice to say about those too!). If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm Photo Credits: Echinops by Jonathan Billinger CC BY-SA 2.0 Delphinium by KENPEI CC BY-SA 3.0 Heliopsis by cultivar413 (flickr) CC BY 2.0 Monarda punctata by Bob Peterson CC BY 2.0 Sempervivum by Magnus Manske CC BY-SA 3.0 Primula auricula by Rasbak CC BY-SA 3.0 Primula auricula by Ghislain118 CC BY-SA 3.0 Gaillardia Arizona Apricot by Don McCulley CC BY-SA 4.0 Echinacea Hula Dancer by Eric Hunt CC BY-SA 4.0 Comfrey by Ann Burgess CC BY-SA 2.0

We've put up some sections of 6ft reed fence as a privacy screen in our backyard nursery. It's not exactly a DIY job (except for the install) because the sections come ready-made in 16ft long panels. We chose this as a temporary (2 year probably) solution until we begin growing in a hedge or row of shrubs in espalier form along the back end of this curved bed. Final footage (both sides) in the last 30 seconds of the video. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

Here's a video discussing the best plants to help support bees in the garden and environment. I give some of my favorites - long lasting flower, loads of nectar and pollen, and bees love them! For an alternate point of view, I visit Josh Thompson at Plan Bee Native Plants. He discusses the special requirements of native specialist bees, and recommends native plants as an alternative or in addition to the more "worldly" cultivars you often find in garden centers. Thanks Josh for the tour and your insights! If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm Photo credits: Henderson’s Checkermallow by Richard Griffin CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Baldhip rose by Robert Flogaus-Faust CC BY 4.0 Hooker’s Onion by Matt Lavin CC BY-SA 2.0 Oval Leaf Blueberry by Walter Siegmund CC BY-SA 3.0 Great camas by Bureau of Land Management CC BY 2.0

Let me show you the difference between a hybrid tea rose and a floribunda: the two most dominant classes of modern roses. Here I'll compare the flowering structure, shape. fragrance and size as well as the overall growing qualities of the shrubs. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

I spent a few years working as a professional grower (wholesale perennials). The scale of my growing has changed to much smaller crops on my little farm, but the decision making process as I walk through the greenhouse is much the same. I look for watering requirements, of course, but also for any pests, pinching/pruning requirements, assess the need to supplemental fertilizer, and decide when the crops are moved to a cooler location or if they're ready for sale. In this video, I'll show you the way I look at my small crops - and knock wood, they look pretty good so far this season. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

Four major plant families contain plants so useful in supporting beneficial insects, I've decided to highlight them in this video. From the thumbnail: 1) The carrot family (Astrantia pictured) 3:20 in the video 2) The mint family (Agastache pictured) 9:31 in the video 3) The mustard family (Erysimum pictured) 5:21 in the video 4) The sunflower (or daisy) family (Calendula pictured) 7:35 in the video I made this video as a companion piece to the interview I has on the Rosechat Podcast: https://rosechat.podbean.com/ They're a great resource for the rose community, and well worth checking out. Planting diverse flowering plants from across these four families (and indeed you could include a much wider diversity in this list) will help to stabilize predator and pest populations on around your garden. It doesn't mean you'll be pest free, but it might mean (as it has for me) that you won't have to spray the "hard stuff" as much or at all. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm Photo credits: Erysimum photo by Krisame CC BY-SA 3.0 Calendula by Tero Laakso CC BY-SA 2.0 Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata) by Meneerke bloem CC BY-SA 3.0 Ravenswing anthriscus by Megan Hansen CC BY-SA 2.0 Astrantia by Jamain CC BY-SA 3.0 Lunaria by Jamain CC BY-SA 3.0 Salvia East Friesland by FD Richards CC BY-SA 2.0 Nepeta by Andrea_44 CC BY 2.0

Join me for a tour of Clearview Horticultural Products - propagating and growing millions of clematis vines and a large assortment of other flowering and fruiting vines. Rob Wein takes us through their assortment, discusses their hybridization program, shipping, plant care - all the behind-the-scenes details of how this busy nursery produces and ships 3.5 million plants per year. BTW - if you're reading this far into the description, my favorite part of the tour happens at around 11:20 You know, superhero action movie kind of stuff. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm Photo credits: Clematis jackmanii by scott feldstein CC BY 2.0 Clematis florida sieboldii by Stephen Hopkins63 CC BY-SA 2.0 Lonicera ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ by Matt Lavin CC BY-SA 2.0 Jasminum polyanthum by 阿橋 HQ CC BY-SA 2.0

Black is the color of dead tissue on plants - so the fact that the stems of my roses have turned black is not good news. There's also a lot of reasons is could happen, some more concerning that others. In this case I'm seeing: whole stems from the tips to near the base uniformly turning black. I also know that we had a cold stretch that was more severe than normal for our climate. The damage is more severe on tender Hybrid Teas than on the hardier old garden roses. All of this taken together allows me to conclude that it's simply cold damage, and not some disease or root rot issue. In this video we'll look at some examples, and I'll also discuss some of the early steps in pruning and maintaining roses after the winter. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

If you're in a job you don't love, I can relate. I spend 20 years in corporate jobs, managing meaningless things. I hear from a lot of people who would like to step away from these kinds of jobs, and get back to farming (veggies, flowers, animal husbandry). My kick is ornamental landscape plants. Whichever route interests you, I think there's something special about local agriculture. Customers are looking to connect with and reward local growers - and I think this makes for nearly unlimited opportunities for specialty farms and nurseries. In this video, I'll tell you four lessons I learned while transitioning towards the nursery business, and I hope you might find them helpful if you're considering making the leap. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

Do you have an unidentified rose in your new yard? Or did your aunt pass you down a potted rose that's been "in the family"? How would you even go about identifying this mystery rose? In this video, I'll answer a few questions about it. Spoilers: it's probably not a DNA test (at least not yet!). It's probably also not an email to me - I've grown only a small assortment of roses compared to what has been released in the market. I'll give you some practical tips on how to direct your efforts, but the first question, I think, is whether it's worth the trouble. BTW, the rose in the thumbnail only looks "mysterious" - it's actually a well-known hybrid perpetual called 'Commandant Beaurepaire' If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm ‘Ketchup & Mustard’ rose by Waferboard (Flickr) CC BY 2.0 ‘Belinda’s Dream’ Rose by Malcolm Manners CC BY 2.0 ‘Olympiad’ by Ryan Somma CC BY-SA 2.0

If you want to propagate lavender, you have two easy options: grow from seed or start from cuttings. Either one is fairly easy, but there are some advantages to each. In this video, I'll go over the two options, discuss timeline and also varieties. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

This is more a nursery topic, but I'm sure home container growers will also benefit from the discussion. Traditionally, I up-pot my plants from smaller sized pots or plugs, through intermediately sized pots, and then on to the final pot size. But that can be a lot of work! What about the approach of potting the smaller plant into its final pot size to "grow into it"? There are pros and cons of both methods, and here I'll discuss some of my considerations around labour, space, soil and watering. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

Forgive me my flow-charts, spreadsheets, charts and graphs! I can understand why those brand-new to growing roses might be a little intimidated. We make it sound so complicated! No doubt there's a place for detailed technical conversations about rose care topics, but now I'll say this to beginners: you'll do just fine if you put us on [mute] or [pause] for a while -just don't hit [delete]! Basic gardening techniques are fine to guide your feeding, pruning, and pest control. When you've settle in a bit, we'll still be here. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm Photo credits: Rose Exhibition by Dog Walking Girl CC BY-SA 3.0 Pesticide Warning by CGP Grey CC BY-SA 3.0 Pruning Apple Trees by Apple and Pear Australia CC BY 2.0 Pruned Roses by Malcolm Manners CC BY 2.0 Knockout rose by Ryan Somna CC BY-SA 2.0 Abraham Darby by T. Kiya CC BY-SA 2.0

Behind the scenes at a modern potting soil production business: Sumas Gro Media. I was lucky enough to catch up with Bert Bischoff this week, and he agreed to take us through a discussion of various ingredients and considerations for a potting mix. We touch on pH and salinity, peat and coir, perlite, pumice, and also some great wood-based alternatives to the various ingredients. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

Previously I've copped to the fact that I burn a large amount of trimmed branches and stems in my garden. I've been looking for a more elegant solution, and I think this electric wood chipper might be the answer! It took everything from the back of my trailer, even relatively thick branched and chopped it into a coarse mulch. I'll use that mulch for pathways around the yard, as a mulch for garden plants, or as the brown (high carbon) component in my compost pile. The companion video on Garden Gear Reviews: https://youtu.be/fr7ky9XTKwY If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

I want to show you 10 perennials you're not likely to see in the big garden centers - and not because they're poor performers. I think they're all wonderful! Some are a little obscure, hard-to-explain, hard to find in the wholesale trade, or have a reputation for spreading that keeps the big box stores from stocking them. You may have better luck finding some of these in a more specialty garden store, but even if you can't, I'll tell you in this video where to find them. Spoilers: I think 6 or 7 of the ten plants I started originally from seeds I bought at Jelitto: www.jelitto.com They're not sponsoring me - I've just always liked their assortment. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm Photo credits: Centaurea ‘Amethyst in Snow’ by Captain-tucker CC BY-SA 3.0 Digitalis ‘Monstrosa’ by Jürgen CC BY-SA 3.0 Digitalis ‘Monstrosa’ (2) by PotatoesJohnson CC BY-SA 4.0 Euonymus by Leonora (Ellie) Enking CC BY-SA 2.0 Clematis integrifolia (1) by Kenpei CC BY-SA 3.0 Clematis integrifolia (2) by Salicyna CC BY-SA 4.0 Lysimachia Beaujolais by Kenpei CC BY-SA 2.0 RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016 by Mark (Flickr) CC BY 2.0 Anthirscus sylvestris Ravenswing by Megan Hansen CC BY-SA 2.0 Trollius ircuticus by Pintafontes CC BY-SA 4.0 Garden Center by Bradley Gorden CC BY 2.0

I created an under-bench heat system to protect my cuttings over winter, and here's an alternate way to add the BTUs - a diesel cab heater. These are interesting little heaters because they can pump out a ton of heat, run off of a batter and the diesel consumption is fairly low to maintain the temperatures I'm looking for. Do be careful in your setup - the exhaust is hot, and the instructions that come with the inexpensive kits are poor. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

Did I mention that I'm opening the nursery to the public this year? Yeah, I was pretty sure I did! I'm working now on ways to easily give customers information about our plants - and right now, I think the best way is to give them a direct link to our plant database and inventory. That's where QR codes come in. Most customers are shopping with a smartphone in hand anyway, and by placing these codes with the stock plants and in the display gardens, I hope to give customers a "self serve" option. This is a follow-up of sorts to my previous video on plant tagging and signage: https://youtu.be/Irt2KOir3zo If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

Rose hip tea, aromatherapy oils and rose water - there's no shortage of herbal and culinary products made from rose flowers and hips. In this video, I aim to make a quick survey of the supposed herbal used of rose products, and recommend which kinds of roses would be good recommendations for growing and harvesting your own. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm Photo credits: Rosehip Oil by Depositphotos Rosa gallica officinalis by Col Ford and Natasha de Vere CC BY-SA 2.0 Rose Petal Tea by Marco Verch CC BY 2.0 Général Jacqueminot by by A. Barra CC BY-SA 3.0 Eugène Fürst by T. Kiya CC BY-SA 2.0 Mr. Lincoln by Roozitaa CC BY-SA 3.0 Rosa rubiginosa/eglanteria by Yoan Martin CC BY-SA 2.0 FR Perfume factory by Dennis Jarvis CC BY-SA 2.0 Rosa alba by Ausis CC BY-SA 3.0

It's time to start plant propagation for the season, and I usually begin with my seed varieties (perennials mainly) in mid January. This year we put together a DIY version of a seed germination chamber to help sprout our seeds quickly and consistently. The overall setup is really simple: temperatures around 25C/77F and consistent high humidity. So far, the results have been great: some varieties of seed have been coming up within 5 days or so. I'll talk about the temperature/humidity controller I used for the project and also some alternate methods. DIGITEN links for the thermostat and humidity controller: Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08K31FCFC Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08K31FCFC If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm

This is a follow-up for questions about this video: https://youtu.be/TycvvVdvL_s Loads of viewers had questions about the use of Borax, the right kind of bait for various ants, and also about the safety of this kind of DIY ant trap. If Borax is banned or regulated in your country, I'll also discuss the reasons. If you find these videos useful, here are a few things you can do to help us out: Send a tip: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/fvrosefarm Have a look at our Amazon shop: https://www.amazon.com/shop/fraservalleyrosefarm Follow our farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraservalleyrosefarm Or Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FraserValleyRoseFarm