Well, the Spring weather that we've come to expect has definitely arrived.  Lots of rain and even hail, so I hope your gardens didn't receive too much damage from the weekend weather.

Looks like the Bradner Flower Show was a big success.  I can see the Hall from our property, and there were tons of cars all weekend long.  Congratulations to all the folks that work so hard to make this annual event a huge success!

Lots of growth in the Greenhouse, and within the next few weeks, you will see lots of herb starter plants coming.  Just waiting until they get just a bit taller.

I am also growing Quinoa and Kale for sale this year.  The Quinoa was a big success last year, and lots of people enjoyed growing and harvesting their own from my starter plants.  They will be out in the stand shortly as well. :)

Also right now, I have a lot of Dahlia tubers for sale ( each cluster is $3.00 ).  Currently I have 5 different varieties available, with pictures on the front so you can see what they looked like last year in my own field.  Easy to grow, and lovely to enjoy!

This is the most popular variety that I had for cut flowers last year, and I have tons of tubers to sell!

The theft and vandalism issue has only gotten worse here - but I will not back down.  I have been documenting the events, and starting today, there will be camera surveillance done 24/7.  I really wish it wouldn't have had to come to this, because I would like to believe the best in people, but in order for me to continue and have some piece of mind, I needed to have this put in.
For those of you, that are good and honest and lovely people, I know you will not be offended by this surveillance......and I thank you for your continued support of my little farm business.

This is an amazing system, as it will see both driveways, to right across the street in colour during the day, and infrared vision at night.  Remote Guard is the company name, and they are wonderful to deal with, if you too need to have a surveillance system in place.

So thanks again to all you wonderful people who visit me here!  I look forward to offering you all so many more fun things coming soon!

Best wishes

Cheers!

Mandy

Yakashiro Farm & Gardens

28875 Haverman Road

Abbotsford, BC

in Beautiful Bradner, BC

Cell# 604-556-1330

Hello Everyone!

Well that beautiful February weather definitely teased us a little too much.  I can't complain too much, as I was able to get a lot of work done on the farm that I normally wouldn't be able to do until now, so I do feel somewhat ahead of the game.

With that early great weather though, the daffodils are already finished on my field, just a few lonely bunches left.  I do wish people would be honest when they come to my stand and take bunches of flowers without paying - not sure what the logic is in this 'theft', but I do wish it would stop.  It really puts a damper on my good spirits with all this farm work.  If anyone has any ideas on how I can stop this, please let me know! :)

The Annual Bradner Flower Show is coming up quickly at Bradner Community Hall, April 10, 11, and 12th.  Look for the signs everywhere on where to find it!  It's always fascinating to see the many different varieties of daffodils.  Enjoy your visit!  My daffodils will be finished by the Flower Show, but I'm excited to see that my Sweet Williams are getting close - hopefully they'll be ready for the show too!

Things are sprouting in the greenhouse - lots of herbs and veggies coming in the late Spring and Summer.  I'm also trying quite a few different varieties of flowers, some annual, some perennial for your gardens - so keep checking in.  

More of my perennials and flowering shrubs are out at the Stand for you to purchase, and I have many more in the back field, already potted - if you're looking for anything specific, let me know, as I have built a great relationship with another grower in Langley, and can get my hands on quite a bit of great stuff!

I am in the middle of grafting a few varieties of Apple Trees, which will be for sale in the Fall.  I am excited for this adventure, and just attended the AGM for the BC Fruit Growers Association on the weekend in Saanich.  So much knowledge among these folks - lots of info absorbed that day!

First day of Spring has already passed - so I wish you all a great Spring, and may you have many flowers to brighten each day!

Cheers!
Mandy

Yakashiro Farm & Gardens

28875 Haverman Road

Abbotsford, BC

in Beautiful Bradner, B.C.

Cell# 604-556-1330

Good Sunny Morning Everyone!

I almost feel bad saying that, but it's so nice to wake up to a sunny day, rather than cloudy and rainy.

Our youngest daughter lives in Toronto ( going to school and working ), and it's downright COLD there - I can't even imagine waking up to that for months at a time - we really do have it good here in Southern B.C.  Stay warm Nikki! XO

Crocuses have been up for a while here, Forsythia is in almost full bloom, and it's definitely daffodil season - even though it's about a month early.  I've even seen quite a few blossoming Cherry Trees. - this is crazy!  TOO EARLY! 

Dutch Master Daffodil

One of the first varieties to start in Spring!

It was a great weekend at the Stand - what a nice way to start the year officially!  Thanks to everyone that stopped in.

I still have lots of daffodils and about 10 bunches of pussywillows left, so come get your 'Spring' items soon.  With this crazy wonderful weather, before you know it, the daffodils will be finished again!

Looking forward to seeing and chatting with you all soon!

Cheers!

Mandy

Yakashiro Farm & Gardens

28875 Haverman Road

Abbotsford, B.C.  V4X 2P3

in Beautiful Bradner, BC

Cell# 604-556-1330

2015 Season Officially Starts this Friday!!

Okay!
Spring has Sprung a month early in beautiful B.C. ( Well the southern most part of BC anyways! )

Grand Re-opening of the big Stand is this coming Friday, February 27th, 2015 !  Yikes! Can you believe it?  I've actually had sales of fresh cut daffodils and pussywillows for a couple of weeks already!  It's still February!!!!!

I've been busy potting a bunch of flowering shrubs and perennials, and picking daffodils already!  Cleaning up the Stand inside, and restocking with jams, pickles & relishes!

Even though it's some time before any vegetables will be ready - I do have some garlic and buttercup squash that have overwintered beautifully - they will also be available starting Friday.

It's a great time to plant and transplant your trees and shrubs - make sure you come see the great pricing I have on some more mature items!  Lilacs, Rhododendrons, Snowball Trees, and even some Hellebores & Bearded Iris' are coming up already!


Hope to see you soon!

Cheers!
Mandy
Yakashiro Farm & Gardens
28875 Haverman Road,
Abbotsford, B.C.   in Beautiful Bradner, B.C.
Cell# 604-556-1330

Well, the time is approaching quickly.

I will be closing the Stand on Remembrance Day, and from now until then it will be open from 9am to 5pm, every day.

So this is your final warning to stock up on Garlic, Squash, Pickles and Jams!

I will be opening again in March, close to the same weekend as the Bradner Flower Show.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your business!  It has been the most amazing year!  This was only my second full year in business, and I feel that it has been much more successful than the first year!

Some great ideas are already in play for next year, so as we get closer to that time, I will start blogging again and let you know what's happening and when!

So, again, thank you for your business - and I look forward to growing some fabulous food and flowers for you next year!

Cheers!
Mandy
Yakashiro Farm & Gardens
28875 Haverman Road,
Abbotsford, BC  V4X 2P3  in Beautiful Bradner!
Cell# 604-556-1330
myakashiro@shaw.ca

Hello Everyone!

I apologize for not blogging, I actually forgot! Ooops!  I've been so busy Fall Cleaning outside and in the greenhouse, and in the barn, that I totally lost track of time.

This has been a crazy couple of weeks of weather, BUT, in between rain storms and incredible winds I'm actually getting a lot accomplished: managed to dig out ALL the Dahlia and Gladiola bulbs ( thanks in big part to my father-in-law Tom!!  Thanks Dad!! ).  We have them drying in the barn right now, with a lovely fan blowing on them - hahhaha - will probably put them all into storage in a week or so, for the Winter.  They all doubled in size, so I'll have lots of bulbs for sale come Spring! Yayy!!  I also managed to transplant 4 holly trees, and planted 60 cedar hedging trees on Tuesday - trying to make a type of barrier between our property, and next door ( with my neighbour's blessing! ).

I have decided to keep the Stand open until the middle of November or so, as I still have a lot of Garlic & Squash to sell - so if you need to stock up, come soon.  I also have quite a few perennials left, potted, so come soon to plant now for Spring colour!

We had an amazingly productive field this year, with a bounty of everything - I want you to know that I'm not just selling it all here on the farm, or selling to Lepp Farm Market, and Hamilton Farms - I have made a point in also donating to the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, and the Food Bank here in Abbotsford.  We are so fortunate to have this amazing property to grow fabulous food on, so I want to give back to the community somehow, and this is how I do it. :)

Pumpkins are at a premium, and I only have about 30 left, but still lots of Gourds and minis - I have reduced their prices to clear them out, so come take a look if you haven't already got yours for Halloween!

I'm writing this blog today, after hearing about the tragedy in Ottawa yesterday.  Our youngest daughter is living and going to school in Toronto right now, and phoned me today, and she is feeling very uneasy about living in such a large city.  We talked for a while, and I hope that she will feel more sure soon, but I totally understand where she's coming from.  Our country, and our world changed yesterday.  I guess what I want to say is..........make someone happy today, and tomorrow, and every day going forward - a simple thing like a smile, and a "good morning", or buy someone you don't know in the drive through a coffee.  You don't know what others are going through, and maybe a random act of kindness will change their day, and their outlook.  Just a thought.  I hope next time I'm at Tim Horton's driving through to get a coffee, you're in the car behind me, and I buy YOU a coffee!

Thanks again for your business!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Cheers!
Mandy
Yakashiro Farm & Gardens
28875 Haverman Road,  Abbotsford, BC  V4X2P3
in Beautiful Bradner!
Cell# 604-556-1330
myakashiro@shaw.ca

The rains are coming!  The rains are coming!

We've had the most amazing Fall again this year, but that is about to change.  Now is the perfect time to put in the last minute flowering shrubs for next year's Spring Colour!  The ground is still warm, and with all the rain about to hit us, you won't have to water at all.   I have Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas, Lilacs 3 - 5 gallon sizes for only $10.00 each.  I have 5 gallon or bigger Vine Maples for only $20.00 each.  Lots of 1 gallon sized perennials: Echinacea, Shasta Daisy, Crocosmia, Ornamental grasses, Lily of the Valley and more for only $2.00 each.   

With Thanksgiving this coming weekend, I would like to take this opportunity to Thank each and every one of you for your business.  I have surpassed my expectations for 'Year Two', and now really look forward to next year.  Already in the planning stages of what to grow next year - hahahhaa!

Fall is my favourite time of year, with all the warm colours now erupting from our plants - it just makes me happy to see the plants change into Autumn Beauty, and ready themselves for Winter.

This is one of my all time favourite plants.  It's called Virginia Creeper.  Not as invasive as an Ivy, but loves to climb and spread.......but in the Fall, you get this deep, rich red and burgundy!  I have this growing on the side of my house where the garage is.  I just love it!  If you need something fabulous to cover an old barn, or any building you might like to hide, this will do it, and then you too can enjoy the beautiful colours it brings in Fall!

With Fall, also comes a bounty of vegetables, like these fabulous Tomatoes!  I have tons, so if you're thinking of making salsa, or canning tomatoes for the Winter, let me know and I'll put some aside for you!  Maybe just a really amazing Tomatoe Salad with fresh basil and GOOD mozzarella with a drizzle of balsamic glaze?  Or how about a BLT, every day for lunch! YUM!

I was looking through Pinterest the other day and found this amazing quote......thought I would share it with you:

Why try and explain miracles to your kids, when you can just have them plant a garden. - Robert Brault

I love this quote!  It is so true - gardening is the most rewarding, and sometimes frustrating thing!  I knew in my heart that because I enjoyed gardening so much, that doing it as a side business would work for me.  Yes, it is challenging at times, and exhausting, but I love it!  Watching things grow from little tiny seeds, is an absolute miracle!

It's not too late to pick up a pumpkin or two for your Thanksgiving Table!  Come soon for the best selection!  I monogrammed the mini white pumpkins instead of name tags for our Thanksgiving Table, then all the guests can take them home afterward!  I have lots of mini whites left - it's not too late! :)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  May God Bless you and your family!

Mandy
Yakashiro Farm & Gardens
28875 Haverman Road,
Abbotsford, BC   in Beautiful Bradner
Cell# 604-556-1330
myakashiro@shaw.ca