Firmly Rooted

Outdoors

Firmly Rooted By Tori Carver

It’s officially Autumn, my favorite time of year. The cool evenings and crisp days mean I can finally pull out my sweaters, scarves, and boots. In my opinion, nothing beats being curled up on the couch with a cup of warm apple cider, soup simmering on the stove, and a fire slowly burning while watching Anne of Green Gables for the hundredth time. But as relaxing as that may sound, it’s also time to consider spring flowers.

Have I mentioned flower farming never really ends? If I haven’t, let me memorialize it here: Flower farming never ends…there may be slow times, but never an “off” season. If you are an avid home gardener, the same is true for you as well. We must always plan for the next season. If you have followed me on social media for any length of time or read my previous articles in The Laurel you know that tulips were my first love. I have been gardening since I was in my late teens/early twenties and tulips have always been a mainstay in my flower garden.

If you are new to gardening and specifically to tulips or daffodils, they need to be planted in the Fall, so now is the time!! In our area, that means anywhere from mid-October to Thanksgiving depending upon the variety. Without getting too much into the weeds, tulips require anywhere from 12 to 19 weeks of cooling time to properly bloom (the time varies upon variety). Proper cooling occurs when the soil temperature is 55 degrees or lower. So the earlier you plant in our Zone, the better. Here are a few pointers for the home gardener if you are interested in growing tulips: 1. Plant tulips 4 to 6 inches deep in large groupings for a stunning effect (I plant in trenches because of the volume of tulips I plant) 2. Plant tulip bulbs very close together (a inch or so apart) 3. If you have trouble with moles or voles make a “basket” with wire mesh (smaller than chicken wire) and plant the entire “basket” in the ground 4. Plant double what you think you want because you’ll want to cut some to bring inside to enjoy If you are planting daffodils, follow the same instructions as above, but space them 2-3 inches apart because they naturalize and need room to make more baby bulbs. Moles don’t bother them so don’t worry about the mesh basket either. If you are interested in planting biennials like foxglove or sweet William, now is the perfect time to get them started as well as many other spring annuals that prefer cool weather like snapdragons, feverfew, strawflower, and so many others. It’s also the best time to plant perennials like sedum, phlox, salvia, and peonies. If you are interested in specialty tulips like I grow (parrot, double, and fringed) and specialty daffodils (don’t forget the daffodils) check out my website at www.firmlyrootedflowerfarm.com for a wonderful curated collection. If you are unable to purchase from me, I strongly encourage you to seek out other flower farms and purchase from them instead of big bulb companies or big box stores. When you purchase bulbs from a flower farmer, you are encouraging and supporting a dream.

Victoria (Tori) Carver is a flower farmer. From the thousand bulbs and plants that she puts in the ground each year she creates lovely bouquets. Many enjoy her flowers in their home each week. She has established a subscription program for her customers or a honor-system bouquet sales for random purchases. Tori and her husband and children make their home in Clayton, where they are a treasured part of the community. If you are interested in Firmly Rooted Flower Farm please reach out by email to firmlyrootedflowerfarm@gmail.com or phone 706-490-0041. You will also enjoy their website at www.firmlyrootedflowerfarm.com

The Arts Paper Roses & God’s Grace

Featured Artist - Betty Cabe

Bby Tracy McCoy etty Cabe is an artist. What is on her art table today? Quilling. This ages old art, thought to date back to the 15th century, is believed to have been created by French and Italian nuns. The definition of Quilling is the art or craft of making decorative designs out of thin strips of rolled paper. While that sounds simple enough, there are at least 15 different types of quilling. In this article we’ll talk with Betty about how she got started, what types of quilling she does and where you can see more of her work. I always like to start at the beginning. Betty Cabe grew up on a farm in Macon County. Her father was a farmer and like most they lived modestly. “When I was growing up, if we wanted it, we had to find a way to make it,” she said when we spoke recently. “So, I’ve been making things all my life.” Betty is among other things, a textile artist. She has made clothing, quilts, wall hangings, and embroidery art. She has made corn-shuck dolls, painted gourds and dabbled with paintings on canvas. She loved sharing her art with young people to inspire them to create so when she had the opportunity to volunteer at the Macon County Fair, she jumped at it. This was something she enjoyed year after year. Betty has done

multiple art exhibits with her textile art including one called Preserving Our Heritage One Piece At a Time. Betty was involved in an accident that left her with some after effects that still linger today. This accident changed her life and could have left her unable to do her art, but she is cut from a different cloth. A farm girl with a determined spirit that won’t allow her to quit. It was quite a journey to get to where she is today, still facing some limitations but working around them. While some of the things she enjoyed are not possible, she found another that she could do. “Creating beautiful things makes me happy. I searched for something that I could do that was different.” She applied for a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council to get started in her new venture. She was awarded that grant and she was able to buy all of the supplies she needed to start Quilling, including two books that taught her so much. Betty has certainly put that money to good use. She has mastered quilling. “I love nature and color, so I began creating images with flowers and leaves in

bright, bold colors,” Betty said. “Then I began trying other things like quilt patterns, birds and even a duck. Then I got the idea to take a photo and use it, adding quilling to it. I had a photo of my grandson (Clint) helping a friend (John) plant corn. Then, I took a photo of my son Warren’s corn field and quilled over the corn. It turned out very good,” she added. Betty has an enthusiasm that you can hear in her voice. In a sense, quilling has helped replace some of the joy that the accident took from her. She gives God all the glory for it all. “God has given me something else to do,” she said. Her art has even evolved into multi-dimensional pieces such as quilling over gourds and eggs and then sealing them. “Who knew that strips of paper could create such beautiful art. Rolled up strips of paper and glue are the basis of it,” she said. Somehow I think there is a lot more to it than that. I’d venture to say that the eye of the artist and her hands are what creates such lovely pieces. Janice Cummings of Creative Framing introduced us to Betty, and I am very glad she did. The Macon County Library located at 149 Siler Farm Road, in Franklin will host a Quilling Exhibit showcasing Betty’s art during the month of October. A reception in Betty’s honor will be held on October the 8th from 2pm – 4pm. I hope you get a chance to see her work. She told me that she would consider doing commissions if anyone has something special they would like. Betty’s is a story of hope. No matter what you are facing you can still find joy, even if you find it in paper roses!