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November 1, 2009
Check This Out!
This is our 500 pound cast iron rooster that stands in front of our shop in town in his glorious halloween costume yesterday. He has been adopted by our friends Shirley and Judy and they deck him out for whatever occasion they can think of. Shirley knit his lovely stockings and scarf. Isn't he a hoot?! I don't know what they are cooking up for him for Thanksgiving...
Here he is dressed to welcome a Red Hat Society Group this Spring...
We Picked a Peck Of Chocolate Peppers
Thanks to Google I actually learned that a peck is 8 cups so we actually picked many, many pecks of our adorable Miniature Chocolate Bell Peppers. I LOVE these both for the fun factor and for the fact that they ripen to their chocolate color faster than the larger chocolate bell peppers and they taste DELISH! No silly, they do not taste like chocolate, they taste like a sweet red pepper, but better. We had a bumper crop this year (unlike our Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes that almost all got eaten by deer) so we have the peppers available both in our Edible Chocolate Garden Seed Kit and as individual seed packets. So sorry, but our Chocolate Cherry Tomato seed is only available as a part of the Edible Chocolate Garden Seed Kit for 2010 since we have a limited supply.
The task of getting the seeds out of all of these peppers was one that I worked on whenever I was playing shopkeeper at our little store. We had the basket of peppers there and everyone was astounded at how FUN they were. Many people thought they were fake, some thought that they were tiny miniature pumpkins dipped in chocolate, others asked to taste them. They made everyone smile. Due to our tomato crop failure we have a limited supply of these fun Edible Seed Kits and they make such great gifts they are perfect for the gardener on your list ... plus, we have listed the products that we make here on the farm on sale for November to help inspire chocolate gift giving this season and when you combine that with your newsletter discount they are 20% off, so snag yours now! (more on the sale at the end of the newsletter). Click here to go to the seed kit page on our website.
"How Do I Over Winter My Chocolate Cosmos?"
I get so many emails on how to overwinter Chocolate Cosmos that I have not been able to reply to them all so I hope that those of you who are still waiting will forgive me and I hope that the following that I've copied from a previous newsletter answers your questions ...
Here's the scoop... Chocolate Cosmos are tender perennials (originally from Mexico) and their root systems are tubers, similar to dahlias. They can handle cold to USDA Zone 7 (10 degrees F) however they cannot handle wet winters and the tubers will rot if they do not have excellent drainage. If you are in a zone colder than zone 8 or in a wet area like we are here in the Pacific Northwest you have a couple options:
1. First, cut off any top growth to about 2" above soil level and if you have your plant in the ground, carefully lift the whole rootball with a garden fork and replant in a pot and let go dormant in a garage (or root cellar or other cool but not freezing area). You could also simply store the ball of tubers as you would dahlia tubers, in a box of sawdust or peat moss. Either way, there is no need to water, the tubers will be dormant for the winter. Plant back outside in April. (No, you cannot store them in a heated space or they will not go dormant and will actually start to sprout).
2. If you have your Chocolate Cosmos in a pot and you are in a Zone 7 or 8 but are concerned about wet winters, simply pull the whole pot into the garage or under an eve and let go dormant (yes, you can cut off the top growth to 2" above the soil - they get looking pretty shaggy by this time of the year).
If you still have questions, shoot me an email marie@chocolateflowerfarm.com and I promise I will do my best to get back to you!
I'm Just So Proud of This Product I Have to Show it Off!
It wasn't ready in time to show off in the October Newsletter so here it is... our Pot au Chocolat Body Cream ...ooh-la-la! Like all of our bath and body products it is made from pure, natural ingredients. A lovely gift for a chocolate lover (or for yourself). I love it!
Click here to go to the bath & body products
And of course ... the newsletter discount ...
...which the code for this month is rooster and it is good for 10% off through November. Additionally, we are having a website only promotion on the products that we make ourselves here on the farm and have marked our Seed Kits, Candles and Bath & Body Products off 10% so with your code that makes those items 20% off. It is a great time to shop for the holidays - just tell us when you would like your gifts shipped. Yes, you can share this with your friends and yes the 10% rooster code is good for our gift shop too (print and bring in for the discount or simply tell us the code). For online orders enter the code during checkout.
Cheers!
 WOOF!
Marie, Bill & Naughty Nellie
Chocolate Flower Farm
5040 Saratoga Road
Langley, WA 98260
Phone: 360.221.2464
Email: marie@chocolateflowerfarm.com
Website: www.chocolateflowerfarm.com | 
