Schmidt Farm & Greenhouses
News From Your Local Farmer Keeping Roots Strong
The Falcon & The Branch
Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons. They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he had ever seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be trained.
Months passed, and one day the head falconer informed the king that though one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the sky, the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had arrived.
The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all the land to tend to the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly.
He presented the task to the member of his court, but the next day, the king saw through the palace window that the bird had still not moved from its perch.
Having tried everything else, the king thought to himself, “May be I need someone more familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of this problem.” So he cried out to his court, “Go and get a farmer.”
In the morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon soaring high above the palace gardens. He said to his court, “Bring me the doer of this miracle.”
The court quickly located the farmer, who came and stood before the king. The king asked him, “How did you make the falcon fly?”
With his head bowed, the farmer said to the king, “It was very easy, your highness. I simply cut the branch where the bird was sitting.”
We are all made to fly — to realize our incredible potential as human beings. But at times we sit on our branches, clinging to the things that are familiar to us. The possibilities are endless, but for most of us, they remain undiscovered. We conform to the familiar, the comfortable, and the mundane. So for the most part, our lives are mediocre instead of exciting, thrilling and fulfilling. Let us learn to destroy the branch of fear we cling to and free ourselves to the glory of flight!
Author Unknown
Schmidts Farm & Greenhouse Christmas Tree Lot
Schmidts Farm & Greenhouse Christmas Tree Lot! Come start a new family tradition here at the farm!
It's absolutely stunning here. Decked with fresh cut trees, scores of beautiful handmadeand wreaths, garlands and oodles of twinkling Christmas lights. Place an order for a custom wreath or length of garland and we'll make it just the way you want it.
VIsit the Nativity scence to remind us how beautiful Christmas really is.
Photo opportunities abound, so bring your camera and take your Christmas card photo at our farm!
Rember to visit our beautiful Garden Center 9021 South Redwood Road. It's decked out in holiday cheer, with beautiful ornaments, decor, and great gifts for your entire list.
The Christmas Tree Lot offers freshly cut trees from Oregon . We have trees from table top size to 12'+ feet tall. Delivery is available within 3 miles.
The Christmas Tree Lot opens
Regular hours of operations are:
Monday - Friday
Saturday
Thursday, Dec 10, 2015, 11:00 AM
9000 South 2200 West, West Jordan, UT, United States
DECEMBER 2015
Where did the year go? The Christmas season is here, bringing beautiful poinsettia and Christmas cactus plants. Here are some tips on keeping your holiday plants looking good and healthy!
- Need plenty of bright light
- Keep soil moist
- Keep away from heat vents and the fireplace
- Stay away from cold drafts
Christmas cactus is not a drought tolerant plant. It is a tropical type plant. Therefore it should be watered thoroughly. It’s important to let it dry completely between watering.
- Do not let the plant stand in water. It will rot easily
- Provide medium to bright light
- Keep plant away from heater vents and the fireplace
Take a step outside and look at the flowerbeds. With family and friends coming to visit, bright colors in the flowerbeds create add a festive feeling to your home. Hearty plants that will last the winter season are pansies, ornamental cabbage or kale.
The key to healthy, happy flowers is flower-bed preparation. Use a good compost and mix it thoroughly in to the soil. Level the soil out and plant the plants in a checkerboard pattern. Offset every other roll, this will give a fuller look to your beds. Make sure you water and fertilize regularly. Don’t forget to add the mulch! With a little work you can turn a summer stressed flower-bed into a bright colorful welcome to our home.
Don’t forget the garden in your home this holiday season! Here are a few gift ideas to stuff their stocking with this Christmas!
- Bird feeder and seeds
- Birdhouses
- Wind chimes
- Rain Gauge
- Farmers Almanac
Consider a Schmidt Farm & Greenhouse Gift Card for those hard to buy for folks in your life!
Looking ahead to next year onion sets should be arriving in our store middle of January and fresh bulk seed should be in. Seed potatoes go in during February.
Send us your Holiday pictures of flower-beds, Christmas lights, birds on the feeders, any picture that has to do with the outdoors and gardening.
Thanks all! Wishing you a safe and Merry Christmas.
Schmidt Farm & Greenhouse
How Much Water Does Your Christmas Tree Need?
Water is essential to keep any real Christmas tree lush and fresh, but how much does a tree really drink? Understanding the tree's needs and how to keep it from drying out can ensure you have a beautiful, full, radiant tree for the entire holiday season.
Why Christmas Trees Need Water
Without fresh water, both cut and potted trees will gradually dry out and become brittle, dropping their needles and drooping their branches. A well-watered tree is much more fragrant with that fresh piney scent, and will hold its needles longer. The needles will be more pliable, and the tree will stay full for longer. A well-watered tree is also less of a fire risk, making watering the tree a critical part of Christmas safety.
How Much Water a Tree Needs
The amount of water an individual tree needs depends on several factors, including…
- Size: Larger, fuller trees naturally need more water to reach the tips of every branch, while smaller trees can be watered less frequently.
- Species: Different tree species have different watering needs and thirst levels. The longer a tree's needles, the more water it will generally need.
- Freshness: A fresher tree may be thirsty at first, but needs less water to retain its beauty than a tree that has already begun to dry out.
- Climate: Where the tree is kept will impact its watering needs. If the house is warmer with less humidity, the tree will need more water.
- Location: Trees that are kept near vents or drafts will dry out more quickly and will need greater quantities of water to stay fresh.
Keeping Your Christmas Tree Watered
A Christmas tree can drink several quarts of water in a day, and to keep your tree from getting too thirsty…
- Use a Generous Stand
The tree stand should be able to hold plenty of water – at least a gallon or more. Avoid shallow, small stands that will empty more quickly. Be sure the stand is level and firmly situated so it will not tip, spill or leak. - Cut the Trunk
Before putting the tree into the stand, cut one-half inch or more off the trunk with a straight, level cut. This exposes vessels so the tree can take up water more easily. After the cut is made, the tree should be put in water as quickly as possible. - Don't Whittle the Trunk
Do not carve away at the sides of the trunk believing that will help water uptake. The most vigorous vessels carrying water to the tree are closest to the trunk, and if they are carved away, the tree will remain thirsty. If the tree is too big to fit in the stand without whittling, buy a larger stand rather than forcing the trunk to fit. - Avoid Additives
Old wives' tales advocate adding lemon juice, sugar or other ingredients to the tree's water, but they won't help it stay fresh longer or take up more water. Plain, fresh, clean water is best, and plenty of it. - Keep Pets Away
Curious pets will naturally investigate a Christmas tree, and both cats and dogs may take a drink from a tree stand. This takes water away from the tree and isn't healthy for the pets, so be sure they keep away from the tree's water. - Check Water Levels Frequently
Trees can drink a lot of water, and their drinking needs can change from day to day. Check the water level in the tree's stand at least twice a day – in the morning and evening – or more frequently if possible, topping it off whenever needed. - Cool the Room Off
Help the tree stay fresh and firm by cooling the room off, and it will not lose as much moisture to evaporation or respiration. Close furnace vents near the Christmas tree, and lower the room's temperature for a few degrees at night. - Use LED Lights
LED lights or other low-heat lights are the best choice to keep a Christmas tree moisturized, since warmer lights will heat up the tree and cause water to evaporate more quickly from its needles. Fewer lights or turning the lights on less frequently or for shorter periods can also help.
It's easy to take steps to be sure your Christmas tree is getting enough water, and once you understand the tree's moisture needs, you can enjoy a lush, full, fresh tree all season long.