It's hard to believe we're already bidding farewell to November's Holiday Prep theme. I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with love and joy, surrounded by those who matter most. Unfortunately, two members of our household caught the seasonal bug, leaving me exhausted this week. Fingers crossed I stay healthy! As we move into a new month, I'm excited to delve into a topic I truly adore—bare root roses!

 

We just launched our 2025 Bare Root Rose Collection Preview on our website TODAY. Yes, it's that time of year again! Here at our farm, my team has been working tirelessly all year to prepare our new collection just for you. Right now, they're being harvested, and soon we'll be hard at work cleaning, sorting, grading, tagging, and storing them in our coolers, all ready for the shipping season. It's a labor of love, and we take so much pride in ensuring that you receive the healthiest, most viable bare root roses possible.

 

Whether you're just starting out with bare root roses or you're a seasoned pro, the next two months, we'll cover everything you need to know to have success with your bare root roses. So grab a cup of your favorite beverage, settle in, and let's explore the wonderful world of bare root roses together! You'll be amazed at how easy and rewarding it can be to nurture these beauties in your garden.

 

So what exactly is a bare root rose? A bare root rose is a dormant rose plant sold without soil or a container around its roots. At first glance, a bare root rose might resemble a lifeless stick, devoid of leaves or blooms, but it's merely resting during its winter slumber. Bare root roses are available seasonally during winter and early spring (depending on your growing zone) and must be planted before warmer weather arrives, allowing them to naturally emerge from dormancy in their new home. Most commercially available bare root roses in the U.S. come from California, Arizona, and Texas, and are harvested in the fall of their first or second year. After harvesting, the soil is shaken from the roots, and the roses are graded, watered, and stored in a moist, cold environment to simulate dormancy.

 

Planting bare-root roses comes with lots of great perks, making them a popular pick for gardeners and flower farmers alike. They're usually more budget-friendly than potted roses, which is great if you're planting a lot or adding to your collection. Plus, you get access to a wider range of varieties, including some rare and unique options, so you can really tailor your garden to your taste. Since they're planted during dormancy, these roses focus on building strong roots early on, which means healthier, more vigorous growth down the line. Without the soil and pots, they're lighter and easier to handle or ship, making the whole planting process a breeze. And because they're sold dormant, you can plant them at just the right time for the best start and flourishing growth.

 

The next two months my newsletter will be focused on doing a deep dive into all thing bare root roses. Like grafted vs. own root, rose types, how to plant, what are rose grades and so much more. I'm going to cover it all because I want 2025 be the year of the ROSE for you!

 

For this week's action step, I encourage you to take a sneak peek at our 2025 Bare Root Rose Collection, now featured on our website and the catalogs & rose lists from your your favorite local nurseries! It's the perfect time to begin your research and craft a wishlist of your must haves. You can also check out the Help Center on our website filled with articles about all things bare root roses. I'd really love to hear from you too. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter to submit your bare root rose questions for me to answer so I can help YOU can grow the most amazing roses in 2025!

THE LIST: THINGS I'M LOVING THIS WEEK

• My grandmother often jested that if she couldn't EAT it, READ it, or PLANT it, she didn't want it! I miss her terribly around the holidays. As I grow older I'm a little more Charlie Brown about it all during this season of excess and materialism, I increasingly appreciate her wisdom as I shop for holiday gifts this year.
• Eat it: I love chocolate and local Sacramento based chocolatier Ginger Elizabeth never disappoints. You can't go wrong with any of their chocolates and the Raspberry ROSE Jam is like a party for your breakfast toast.
• Read it: If you're looking to expand your knowledge of zinnias, Tiffany Jones's BOOK on zinnia breeding is a must-have. Together with my friends Kori Hargraves from Dawn Creek Farm and Erin Benzakein from Floret, she has sparked a renaissance in the zinnia breeding world. I'm thrilled to learn from all of them. The Zinnia Breeder's Handbook would make a wonderful holiday gift for the gardener!
• Plant it: Attention zinnia enthusiasts! Mark your calendars: Blomma Flower Farm's premium zinnia SEEDS will be available for purchase on January 30, 2025. With limited quantities and exceptional quality, these seeds are a must-have.
• Plant it: We have a LIMITED stock of pre-cooled tulip bulbs remaining, making them the perfect Christmas gift ready to be planted!