Three tall patriotic banners and an American flag fluttered in the breeze near the tall Victorian home. A red, white and blue floral wreath graced the front door.

Large window boxes decorated the side door area with spikes, red geraniums and trailing vicca vine.

A tall seven-foot wooden bottle tree stood at attention at the end of the driveway, holding about 50 amber, green, blue, red, brown and white bottles.

Lavender wisteria blossoms and vines twisted around a pergola entering the side yard. Gray-white lamb’s ear plants lined the driveway and landscaping. Huge white rhododendron bushes highlighted the red brick exterior of the home.

Submitted Photos Bud ’n Bloom Garden Club installed officers for the upcoming year. Pictured are Sally Newell, secretary, Nancy Koehler, co-president and Judy Wilcox, co-president. Treasurer Sue Drag was absent from the photo.

Collections of 10 birdhouses and 15 watering cans decorated the shady area along the fence on the left of the driveway.

From there it was a short drive up Straight Road to Wild Blossom Hollow. Owner and designer, Christy Muck met the ladies in her large showroom, filled with hand-made flower-related items by local artisans for sale.

Large buckets of deep purple and bright yellow Japanese iris graced the counter. Buckets of rose-shaped, yellow, pink, white and peach ranunculus blooms filled the large walk-in cooler. Muck uses all of her flowers to make bouquets for weekly customers and for weddings and special occasions.

Muck shared that her grandparents owned the three-acre farm years ago and her family has now owned the property for the last seven years.

Muck shared a variety of interesting gardening tips throughout the tour of her flower farm across from the showroom.

Early flowers like foxglove and delphiniums are planted as plugs in May and covered with frost cloth. Flowers like zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons and sunflowers can be planted from seeds. She will have two acres of sunflowers planted by machine.

Clematis vines were protected in a tall, wired hoop-like structure. Muck planted 12,000 tulip bulbs and covered them with bird netting to protect them from deer damage. Deer also love lilies and many other flowers. She stated that “nature” ruins 60% of her crop.

The Club ladies observed row after row of mounded, mulch-rich flower beds. Some were newly planted, while others were a year or two old.

Because it’s early in the season, yarrow, lavender, mini-carnations and purple allium are starting to bloom.

Many filler plants such as burgundy smoke bush are planted as fillers. Two covered cold frames housed an assortment of flowers that needed a bit of protection.

In July, bright colored zinnias will be in full color. Dahlias will be glorious in August and September. The tubers have to be pulled up out of the ground every fall and stored indoors.

Each member was given flowers as they departed. Some members purchased bouquets.

From there the group traveled to Greener Gardens on South Roberts Road in Dunkirk. Bright red poppies in a raised box greeted the gardeners.

Owner Jill Purol had her assistant, Suzie, conduct a tour of the premises and to answer questions. Greener Gardens specializes in landscaping supplies and services, mulch, trees, shrubs and perennials. All of their product was clearly labeled and in perfect condition.

A deep-sided creek, with darting polliwogs ran through the property. Covering the banks were iris plants, assorted ground cover and other plantings – making for a tranquil water feature.

A variety of succulents were available for sale. Some of them bloom all season. They proved to be a favorite of the Club and all of them were purchased by the group. Nearby a large circle of hens and chickens succulents were allowed to reproduce and fill the area.

A large variety of perennials and plantings were on display.

From there the ladies held a brief luncheon meeting at Central Station in Dunkirk.

The next meeting will be on July 16 with car-pooling at 9:30, for the Lancaster Garden Walk and a tour of Two Chicks and a Rooster. Lunch will later be enjoyed at 99 Brick Oven Restaurant.