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Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 11 Let's talk a bit more about these peonies. If you know peonies, you know that they are the best low-high maintenance plants. While they are low maintenance because they are hardy and come back every year, they are high maintenance when in the fi elds. Every peony plant is weeded by hand several times a year. Red Twig Farms removes the secondary buds from every plant a few weeks prior to harvest. is helps send all the energy to creating larger buds. RTF employees harvest each bloom by hand while it's in the "marshmallow" stage—meaning it's a closed bud but bounces back when squeezed. e team strips the bottom leaves off of each stem, and, then, into the coolers they go! is all happens in a time frame of 14 to 21 days, depending on the weather. RTF harvests two times a day—early morning and evening (never in the heat of the day). The farm now ships fresh peonies to all 50 states! Pre-orders start January 1 each year, until the crops are sold out. While peonies have always been the stars at RTF, the farm's tulip division is continuing to grow. Red Twig Farms is in the second year of its "Stranger to Stranger Tulip Campaign," where customers can buy bouquets that will be donated, to spread hope, joy and kindness. e bouquets are magic; they fi nd those who need them the most. e bouquets have gone to random park benches, schools, fi rst responders, hospitals, Meals on Wheels, grocery store workers and so many others. e bouquets have stickers on them asking those who fi nd them to let RTF know where. e team is usually in tears by the end of the day because the stories are so touching. e McCulloughs started this campaign in 2020, just as everything was shutting down. ey brought it back in 2022 and are committed to making it an annual event. In 2020, more than 1,000 tulip bouquets were donated, and for 2022, they have, so far, donated more than 1,200 bouquets. Tulips are also available for purchase outside of the campaign. Once tulip and peony seasons are over, it's time to prep for branches and wreaths. Each October, the RTF team heads out to harvest branches of dogwood, willow and winterberry for holiday designs. ese branches are also harvested by hand, the leaves are removed and the branches are bundled. e branches span all colors and textures, from straight to curly. RTF ships the branches all over the USA, to wholesalers, garden centers, designers and consumers. Pre-orders start July 1. Is it time for a break after branch harvest? Well, no. It's then holiday season, which means holiday wreaths. Red Twig Farms' holiday wreaths are handmade on metal frames using fresh evergreen cuttings. Each year, RTF creates a "Holiday Wreath Collective," which typically comprises fi ve or six designs. Pre-orders start July 1. Last but not least is RTF's Nursery Division. Red Twig Farms off ers tulip bulbs, Dahlia tubers, peony bareroots and peony plants for consumers' home gardening/ landscaping projects. Wholesale pricing is available, as well. RTF off ers these products two times a year, for both spring and fall plantings. Want to learn still more about Red Twig Farms? Follow our Story on Instagram @redtwig farms and @bloommechanics. Better yet, connect with us via e-mail at redtwig farmsohio@gmail.com. We'd love to meet you!

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