Here at my farm a mix of rain and snow are expected today, but inside my greenhouse there's a flurry of spring activity. My head gardener, Ryan McCallister, is starting flower seeds in preparation for the coming growing season.
We sow thousands of seeds every year - all those wonderful seeds I enjoy purchasing during my travels and seeds we order from our favorite sources. Our first trays include a selection of poppies, foxgloves, and violas.
Enjoy these photos.
This time of year my head house tables are often filled with seeds ready to be planted in trays. Seeds are available online, at garden centers, and through friends and family. One of my favorite seed sources is Johnny’s Selected Seeds in central Maine – a company I’ve been using for quite some time.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds offers hundreds of varieties of organic vegetable, herb, flower, fruit and farm seeds that are known to be strong, dependable growers.
Ryan keeps them well-organized by type, so they are easy to go through when selecting what to plant.
Ryan also chooses the necessary seed starting trays. These trays from Johnny’s can be saved from year to year, so don’t throw them away after the season. Seed starting trays are available in all sizes and formations depending on seed needs.
He fills several trays with a pre-made seed starting mix. I use Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix, which is specially formulated for fast root development.
These seeds trays have deeper cells for those plants that have tap roots or those that are sensitive to root disturbance.
Here it is from the bottom. Johnny’s has a large variety of seed starting trays from which to choose. Ryan fills a series of trays, so they are all ready when he plants.
Ryan uses the top tray to make cell indentations in the bottom tray for the seeds. The holes just needs to be big enough for the seed to be dropped in and then covered.
Small wooden markers identify the specific flowers and varieties, so we can keep track of the kinds that grow best in my gardens. Ryan prepares the markers for the Icelandic poppies, writing down the flower name and variety.
Poppy seeds are very tiny, kidney-shaped seeds that are less than a millimeter in length and typically bluish-black in color.
Ryan drops the seeds into the cells by hand – about two for each cell. Germination is never guaranteed, so multiple seeds are always planted. This provides a better chance at least one will take root.
The seed packet itself is very useful. It provides the common plant name, growing duration, and plant size.
The back of Johnny’s seed packets also provides blooming information, light and soil requirements and plant spacing. It’s important to read these seed packets for valuable information and tips.
For these seeds, Ryan covers the trays with a layer of vermiculite. Vermiculite is a mica-like mineral often used as a soil amendment. It is mined out of the ground, exfoliated, treated with high heat and pressure to force it to expand. Vermiculite absorbs and retains water, allows for proper air circulation and takes in essential nutrients for healthy seeding development.
And don’t forget the water. Ryan gives the trays a drink before placing them on the shelf. Seeds will start to grow within days in optimal temperature and lighting environments, which is 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit under bright light.
These foxglove seeds are pelleted. Pelleting is a process where seeds are coated so they are easier to see and handle when sowing.
They make it much easier for Ryan to drop into the designated cells.
The wooden markers are inserted into the tray where the seeds are planted.
And finally he prepares to plant some viola seeds in another tray.
These seeds are also extremely small. They should start to sprout within seven to 21 days depending on growing conditions. Once a few inches tall, the plants will get selectively thinned so the stronger ones are left to continue growing.
We’re off to a great start for my flowers. We have many more trays to go. Seeds are usually started about two months before the last frost – we’ll be starting seeds indoors through this month.
Mark your calendar - if you’re in the Philadelphia area March 12 to 21 of next year, be sure to stop in at the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the 2026 exhibit. The Philadelphia Flower Show is an annual event hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. It is the nation’s largest and longest-running indoor flower show and proceeds benefit the year-round programs organized and managed by the PHS. Started in 1829, the Philadelphia Flower Show gathers hundreds of talented florists, landscapers, and designers from around the world and showcases interesting plant varieties and garden and design concepts. The event also hosts competitions in horticulture and artistic floral arranging and growing. This year's theme was called "Rooted: Origins of American Gardening" - a celebration of the history and traditions that shape American gardening.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
This is the impressive Entrance Garden. It is the first garden visitors see upon entering the show. Titled “The Forest Floor” it features a sweeping 200 foot Floral Arch designed by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
This year’s Entrance Garden focuses on the history of gardening in America, with the entrance designed to create an immediate and dramatic impact.
This Entrance Garden is also features local landscape elements, and an immersive aroma therapy experience.
Here is a close up of the display from the Schaffer Designs’ exhibit, showing two contrasting sides, each rising from its own roots. Above, a network inspired by mycelium, symbolizing partnership, collaboration, and shared growth.
The pink trees in the back are Prunus x incam ‘Okame.’
This display was done by Alex Segura Arana, one of four international florists that exhibit in “First Bloom – Rooted in Memory,” where they share the origin moments that sparked their passion for flowers. Other artists include Gábor Nagy, Chantal Post, and Conny van der Westerlaken.
This photo was taken at the PHS Hamilton Horticourt, where every year garden enthusiasts showcase their prized plants and skills to compete for awards. This is a cacti display.
Shown here is Echinopsis pachanoi f. cristata in ‘variegated form.’
This is Clivia Miniata. I also have many clivias at my farm. Clivia miniata, the Natal lily or bush lily, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Clivia of the family Amaryllidaceae. It is native to woodland habitats in South Africa.
This section shows Chanaecyparis, which is often more recognized by its common names, cypress or false cypress.
Deuterocohnia brevifolia, a species of plant in the family Bromeliaceae. This species is native to Argentina and Bolivia, and is popular and interesting as a potted houseplant with its mounding form.
In this area – Sansavieria plants, or snake plants, which are low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and air-purifying indoor plants that thrive in bright indirect light.
These are clivias. Clivia flowers primarily bloom in vibrant shades of orange, yellow, and red, with many cultivars in interesting variations like creamy yellow, peachy-pink, apricot, and even white with green tints.
There is always so much one can learn from attending a flower show. These unusual plants are Bowiea volubilis, or climbing onions. They are succulent perennials that thrive in the dry desert regions of eastern and southern Africa.
There was also a large display of begonias. There are thousands of species and varieties of begonias. Some are classified as tuberous, and others as fibrous, but it’s the rhizomatous begonias that make beautiful houseplants all year long because of the amazing colors, shapes, sizes, and textures of their foliage.
Cleistocactus winteri a succulent of the family Cactaceae. Its common name is the golden rat tail.
These are various Euphorbia specimens. Euphorbia is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge
Cactus plants were shown at the Philadelphia Flower Show as early as 1831, and one of the highlights of the 1891 Flower Show was an exhibit of 500 cacti by Mr. A. Blanc, a Philadelphian who had the largest cactus nursery in the United States. The show features cacti every year.
Here is a display of various ferns.
Here – various rhododendrons and azaleas in bloom. I can’t wait to see all my azaleas blooming this year.
Cymbidiums flower anywhere from four to 12 weeks on the plant and last at least two to four-weeks as cut flowers.
This is David A. Rubin’s Antique Garden Tool Collection. This display of garden implements represents the human past of “writing” the earth, and a long tradition of invention and ingenuity.
This part of the collection shows various shovels and spades.
And every time I attend the Philadelphia Flower Show it is always nice to catch up with PHS President Matt Rader and Seth Pearsoll, Creative Director and Vice President of the Philadelphia Flower Show. Thank you to the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society for a wonderful and informative show. (Photo by Morgan Horell for PHS)
If you want to add container plants to your collection, consider succulents - they come in such a large variety of different shapes, sizes, and colors.
I have many succulents in my greenhouse. They're easy to maintain and are able to survive prolonged drought because they store moisture in their fleshy stems, roots, and leaves. Some types even remove toxins from the air, promoting healthier indoor environments. Last week, my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, potted up a group of different succulents - several echeverias, a cactus, a jade plant, and a Burro's Tail sedum.
Enjoy these photos.
If you like growing plants, but don’t really have the time to care for them properly, I encourage you to consider growing succulents. They’re inexpensive and easy to maintain. And don’t shy away from smaller specimens. Several displayed in similar pots can look great on a table, along a windowsill, or anywhere they can get lots of light.
One type of succulent is the Echeveria, known for its rapid growth and distinctive rosette shaped plump leaves.
Here’s another Echeveria with fuzzy green leaves tipped in red and densely covered in fine hairs giving it a soft, velvety appearance.
Each pot has a drainage hole. A clay shard is placed over the hole to help with drainage. I also like to use clay pots because they allow proper aeration and moisture to penetrate through the sides and to the plant. Ryan chooses the appropriate size container for each specimen. All these are hand made by master potter Guy Wolff.
Before potting, Ryan puts together a suitable soil mix. The right soil mix will help to promote faster root growth and provide quick anchorage to young roots. I use Miracle-Gro potting mix specifically formulated for succulents. Ryan adds more perlite, a lightweight, porous volcanic glass used to improve aeration and drainage in soil and other plant mixes.
Ryan fills the pots with the soil mix, adding just enough so it is filled just below the top rim of the pot. When potting several plants, Ryan works in an efficient production line process – filling all the pots first and then planting.
If the plants seem dry, Ryan dunks the entire root ball into water first and then lets it drain – this boosts hydration before planting and helps in the absorption of nutrients. It will also help the plant become more resilient and better prepared for its new environment.
Ryan places the plant in the pot at the same height it was previously.
Once established, this plant will only need watering when the soil is completely dry.
Next, Ryan plants a barrel cactus, which forms a green, barrel shaped stem with prominent ribs and bright spines. Because the spines are so sharp, Ryan uses a glove to remove it from its original pot.
Just like the others, Ryan places the cactus root ball in water for a boost of hydration.
And then he places it into its new pot.
Here is Ryan potting up another Echeveria. Ryan selects a pot that is slightly larger than the current size of the plant. Terracotta s porous and allows for excellent airflow.
This is called a jade plant, Crassula ovata, a popular succulent native to South Africa. It has thick, glossy, oval shaped leaves that store water.
This is called a Burro’s Tail or Donkey’s Tail, Sedum morganianum. It is a trailing perennial succulent with cascading blue green foliage native to southern Mexico and Honduras.
Because it is a trailing plant, it needs a tall, narrow pot such as this.
These plants store water in their fleshy knob-like leaves making them very drought tolerant. It requires deep watering only when the soil feels dry.
This Burro’s Tail will do nicely in this pot for a couple of years.
Ryan places it on a windowsill in my greenhouse where it will get at least six hours of bright, indirect sunlight per day.
Ryan gathers all the newly potted succulents on the greenhouse floor so he can give them all one more good drink.
These plants will join others in a section of my greenhouse designated just for succulents, where they can thrive for many years.
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