Willow Creek, California, once a logger town boasting more sightings of Bigfoot than tourists, now hosts scads of heat-seeking Humboldtians during the summer months. The sun-drenched mountainous climate offers at least a 10 degree temperature boost (sometimes over 30 degree increase!) over the sea-level coastal towns in Humboldt during the summer, hence the massive influx of vacationers this time of year. It also hard-freezes in the winter, hence the very low incidence of vacationers during that time of year. This climate provides one of our Sun Valley farms, which is nestled in a, well, sunny valley just up the hill from the Trinity River (elevation 640 feet), perfect growing conditions for some of our seasonal crops.
This week, I was fortunate enough to accompany Lane on his Sunday afternoon ritual visit to the Willow Creek farm. I didn't bring my boots, but I did bring my dog Pearl, who was happy to ride in the back seat of Lane's extended cab, four-door truck with Lane's dogs Mae-Mae and Grizzly. The farm is about 40 minutes drive (or 30 minutes riding with Lane!) from our Arcata farm via the curvy SR-299, which takes you past magnificent views of hills, rivers and Redwoods. This route is a far cry from the straight-as-an-arrow I-39, which pierces endless miles of Illinois cornfields, that I used to travel by!
Once the five of us arrived in Willow Creek, which has one main drag dotted with a few restaurants, a gas station and a museum/gift store that sells "Bigfoot stepped on me in Willow Creek, California" t-shirts (I know this because I now own one), we turned towards the river and drove past summer cottages and local farms, several of which are organic and sell at local restaurants and farmer's markets, until we reached our farm gate. The first thing I noticed when we began our plummet down the steep gravelly road leading to the farm was the absolutely breathtaking view. In every direction there was something worth seeing: wildflowers and berries to the left, blue skies, trees, the river, and our crops and to the right - simply beautiful!
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| View of Willow Creek farm from top of the road |
When we got closer to the farm, I was overwhelmed by the amazing scent of rose bushes (from which we harvest rosehips) permeating the air. I don't know if it's because I'm a girl or if it's the same for everyone, but strolling through a mountain valley under blue skies while immersed in the aroma of roses makes me want to run around singing at the top of my lungs. Um, anyway...
I strolled with Lane through Virbunum, Rosehip, Ilex, Photinia, Chinese Lantern and Cotinus crops on this journey to Willow Creek, so there is no way I could share all of the information I learned from Lane in one blog post. Lane is a walking floral encyclopedia, and I think Blogger might have a policy on post length. So, I'm going to break the experience up into a series of posts in order to give you the fullest detail possible on each crop. Since we have a small bit of Cotinus being harvested now, that seems like a good place to start.
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| Lane and Mae-Mae, checking out Cotinus |
Cotinus, known as smokebush by the landscaping trade, simply loves to grow. I don't know how else to put it. From our grower's standpoint, Sun Valley's four acres of "Royal Purple" Cotinus are a dream to grow and maintain, since the crop seems to have an insvisible shield against all kinds of diseases and pests. And its growth rate is nothing short of amazing! Our team trims it down to the ground at the end of its season, and from early spring through September, it reaches about eight feet, which is when its new growth stops.
To illustrate the growth rate... While we were at the farm, Lane showed me pictures he took on previous Sunday expeditions: On April 10th the Cotinus were only sprouts; on May 15th, they had reached six inches. The crops I saw on Sunday were about up to my shoulders in some places (I'm 5'6")! Incredible! I hope I get an opportunity to walk these fields again when the Cotinus is towering over my head!
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| Cotinus Sprouts on April 10, 2011 |
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| Six inch Cotinus on May 15, 2011 |
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| Shoulder-height Cotinus on July 10, 2011 |
There is an exception to this amazing height rule, however: Sleepers. When an individual Cotinus plant has too many stems, which can vary from plant to plant, it eventually becomes unable to to support the growth of each stem. On these plants, new growth on some of the stems stops much earlier in the year. These stems are called Sleepers. Fortunately, they are still pretty tall by the time they stop growing (when you consider vase standards); and the lack of new growth means the stems will not wilt anytime soon; and we're able to start harvesting them as early as right now! (Whew, taking a breath!)
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| It's somewhat difficult to see, but the Sleepers are on the bottom left of this picture. Notice they do not have any new growth at the top. Not sure what new growth looks like? Scroll down... |
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| The small reddish bloom at the top of the plant is the new growth. |
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| Continus with new growth - still growing! |
I was thoroughly impressed with our Cotinus crop, and I will certainly have a new appreciation for it when I use it in arrangements this coming autumn. (By the way, cut the stems and place in tepid water with flower food when you bring cut Cotinus home.) When you're using Cotinus in fall arrangements, remember you're in the presence of a giant!
The avenue of the giant Cotinus was just one small (well, technically large) part of my overall Willow Creek experience. Be on the lookout for upcoming posts on the other fantastic Willow Creek crops: Ilex, Viburnum, Rosehips... So much fascinating information - so much to learn!
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