Hi Matt, Do you already have experience starting from seed? If so, start these plants as you normally prefer and the keep potting them up until they are in the size container you want for your centerpiece. By July they will be full and in bloom with no forcing necessary. If you don't have experience starting seeds, then you'll need a little more information from us ... I'm not sure how to answer your question #3, since I don't know what size your peat pots are. a 5" pot is *slightly* larger than I'd use for direct from its germination tray, but it's not too big. however, I'd make sure those babies had a good root system before you put them in the final pot, otherwise the soil won't hold any water and they'll probably get stressed trying to establish themselves. It'll be for more than 2 weeks after germination. personally, I don't start anything in peat pots anymore unless they don't transplant well (like nasturtium, for instance!), but you have to go with what you personally have had success with. 5" isn't too small for the root systems exactly... it will be by august and september, but if you're timing it so the plants look fresh and proportinate to the pot for july, then it'll be ok. i know it's a galvanized pot, but consider whether having those pots in your gh, getting watered, in the elements, etc. will discolor the pots. they may not be too pretty for a centerpiece after a few months of that. I don't have a good suggestion though, unless you can find a plastic or fiber pot to use as a liner (ie, grow in the other pot, then on that weekend pop the whole thing into the decorative pot. I have 4.5" square pots, so I know they exist, but I can't say the same for 5" square pots. so some extra tips: nasturtiums prefer nutrient poor soil to flower well, otherwise you'll get more leaves than flowers. what type of chrysanthemums were you planning on growing? unless you're good at timing blooms, I'd go with plants that continuously flower, otherwise the mums could bloom at the wrong time. for your favors, skip the pansies and violas. they'll look awful by a MD July with the heat. trust me, i'm here too. substitute impatiens, vinca, begonia or geranium. geranium are really easy from seed and grow faster than the others. petunias are great, but kind of sticky. 3" pots are pretty small, so start the plants a little later than most guides would say.

Hi Carrie, I think you could probably get calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica or albomaculata) to bloom for you in time for your wedding, but it would be cutting it a little close. According to my records from last season I planted calla bulbs on April 20th and coincidentally I harvested my first stem on exactly June 6th, 2008. I think you could push them to bloom a week or so sooner if you planted them a little earlier, maybe April 1st, and then covered them with a cold frame or small plastic hoop tunnel to warm the soil up to at least 55 degrees to get them growing. They are also commonly grown in pots, so if you have some room indoors you should be able to get them blooming earlier in a warm house. If you really wanted to try to grow callas outdoors in time for your wedding it would be a good idea to try and find a gardener or botanical garden near you that leaves callas in the ground over winter and keeps good records. Ask them what day their first calla bloomed and on what date you could expect to cut enough for your wedding given that you plant them on April 1st. - Steve Here is a link that might be useful: Pacific Callas

Some brides are interested in growing their wedding flowers. Some purchase flowers from a flower farm and do their own arranging. Some prefer to have a flower farm do the arrangements. And, many purchase from a florist who is supplied by local flower farms. Wildflowers are perennial plants. Seeds for these are planted in the fall. Some of the wildflowers featured in the link to wildflowers in Upstate New York are either considered invasive or protected. One example: Loosetrife. Many are in bloom well before Labor Day. I'm going to assume you are interested in the wildflower look as opposed to actual wildflowers. Some brides feel zinnias, scabiosa, rudbeckia, daisies, larkspur and foxglove fall into this category. The seeds for these are available from Johnny Seeds in Maine. One can order online or from the catalog. The catalog contains helpful information as far as planting and spacing. If you need flowers to supplement yours, a flower farm sells blooms by the stem at the Dupont Square Market in Washington D.C. Wishing you all the best. Here is a link that might be useful: Wildflowers in Upstate New York

You guys are so nice! I've been lucky. Jan and Cathy both know there is still alot of work to do! Like weed control! We are studying doing the wedding thing --- building a barn and doing weddings in the gardens. Currently trying to add to our property for next year -- I'll let you know how those negotiations turn out. It will be a while. The U-pick flower idea is still a tough sell in the midwest. It would have definitely been easier with a U-pick strawbery patch or pumpkins. Adding some wholesale to florists will be a big help this year. And I'm working hard to make sure everything on the property screams "Flowers". So more annuals than ever --tucked in every corner of the perennial bed. Just finished up having a new logo designed --- should have a new sign by the end of June. It's always something. I should update the thread one of these days --- if you guys are still interested. Good luck to each and every one of you. It is the best life I could ever dream of --sunburn and frost-bite included and all in the same week!!!!! Welcome to the midwest! Cathy