FLORIDA HARVEST
Sizzle Lance Leaf caladiums thrive in a window box.
To this day, the UF/IFAS research center in Balm, in Hillsborough County, has a specialty program for the research of caladium varieties and disease prevention. Happiness Farms is proud to help fund that research. Paul Phypers is credited with developing the rare and colorful Galaxy—one of the 50 varieties of caladiums that are commercially available today—and is exclusive to Happiness Farms. Family-owned and operated, the farm offers group tours for 15 or more (call to schedule), a gift shop, and growers act as tour guides during the town’s annual Caladium Festival. “We plant our large yard with thousands of beautiful caladium bulbs for the guests to walk through to get inspiration for their own plantings,” notes Phypers Daum. FCM
ROUNDUP
Caladium Festival of Lake Placid July 23 to 25, 2021 caladiumfestival.org (Event includes bulb and plant sales, entertainment, food booths, a car show on July 24 and bus tours to the caladium fields with a tour guide who is a grower.)
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PHOTO BY KATHY HARRELL
Happiness Farms 704 County Road 621 E. Lake Placid, Florida 863-465-2313, happinessfarms.com
