Local flower and nursery stock growers opened their farm gates this spring, giving visiting customers a firsthand view of how they raise flowers and other nursery stock in the field and greenhouse.
"Marion County is home to some of the most splendid flower and nursery stock farms in the world," says Mary Stewart, OSU Extension Agriculture Marketing faculty. "While most of the 330 nurseries and greenhouses in Marion County are wholesale operations and export stock out of the state and country, 23 are currently retail nurseries and sell flowers, bulbs and plants directly to the public as agritourism farms and independent garden centers located on farmland."
Visitors to these agritourism destinations fill their trunks and truck beds with a variety of plant treasures – from ornamental, shade and fruiting trees to annuals and perennials to fresh cut flowers, peony bulbs, iris rhizomes, dahlia tubers and vegetable starts.
Marion County is the top nursery stock-producing county in Oregon. At the last measurement in 2010, annual sales topped $174 million. "And that number has gone way up since 2012," says officials at the Oregon Association of Nurseries.
According to Stewart, visitors also benefit from the experience of stepping onto a working farm, greenhouse or independent garden center. "Our society is four generations removed from the farm, and visiting an agricultural operation connects people with today’s farming practices and growers. The public’s understanding of farmers and how they do their job is critical if we are to keep these farm families in farming."
Agritourism activity is somewhat seasonal. Greenhouse operations like Egan Gardens kick off the agritourism spring season with sales of colorful baskets and annuals. In May and June, special festivals beckon visitors to walk demonstration gardens of German Bearded Iris at Schreiner’s Iris Gardens and fields of breathtaking peonies at Adelman’s Peony Gardens. While the iris and peony festivals finished in June, sales of their rhizomes and bulbs continue year ‘round. The good news for gardeners is most nurseries--like Sebright Gardens--provide plant shopping attraction daily until temperatures dip in the fall.
For additional information about agritourism, please contact Mary Stewart at agritourism@oregonstate.edu.
For help finding local flower farms and nurseries, visit: http://plantsomethingoregon.com, or http://www.travelsalem.com/Things-to-Do/Farms-and-Markets or http://oregonfarmloop.com/
