When it get along to growing peonies in Alaska , North Pole Peonies was there at the very beginning .
Ron and Marji Illingworth begin with about 100 plants in 2003 and with some uncertainty about whether peonies were a viable harvest in interior Alaska ’s abbreviated growing time of year . Seventeen years after , they have 12,000 plants , sell their blooms worldwide and are fundamental figures in the state ’s peony industry . They have been leaders in the Alaska Peony Growers Association , mentor new agriculturist and helped with research on growing and shipping issue .
Since the Illingworths planted their first paeony , the number of growers in Alaska has grown from a handful to more than 100 .
Chris Beks , the Illingworths ’ Word - in - police force and operations coach of North Pole Peonies , say peony were no sure thing when the farm get going . Peonies take three to five years to develop marketable bloom , so it required a jump of religious belief to make the investment funds of clip and money .
“ People might not say it now but I guess they were pretty skeptical that this was going to work , ” Beks say .
The Illingworths had experience with grow vegetables at their minuscule farm near North Pole , Alaska , just outside Fairbanks and near Eielson Air Force Base . They sell their produce at the local farmers ’ market .
They were also prof at the University of Alaska , Fairbanks ; Ron in English and Marji in former puerility breeding . It was there they learned about the hypothesis of growing peonies .
A fellow prof , horticulturist Patricia Holloway , was doing inquiry on produce peonies . interaction with growers and buyers from outside Alaska made Holloway think that the country might be dead posit to grow peony . The efflorescence were quick for harvest time in July and August , a time when the respite of the earth ’s annual supply of peonies had been foot and sold . It also coincided with the summer wedding season , which the self-aggrandizing , showy blooms seem tailor - made for . And the flowers are relatively lightweight and perfect for exportation via breeze .
Holloway paint a picture that the Illingworths give peonies a effort . They were among about a dozen cultivator involved .
Beks , a native of the Netherlands , said his in - laws think his inheritance made him a natural to grow blossom .
“ They said , ‘ Hey Chris , you ’re Dutch , you know about growing heyday , ’ ” he said . “ Almost everybody in the Netherlands has a brother , cousin , uncle or somebody that works in the flower diligence . But I had never done it myself . ”
Beks and his wife , Elizabeth , before long got onboard and became partner in the business . It ’s their second job – Chris is an instructional purpose specialiser at the University of Alaska , Fairbanks ; Elizabeth is a science teacher in the local school .
It take until 2009 for it to be clear that peonies were a go .
“ That ’s was when the ( floral ) designers enjoin , ‘ Wow , these peony , they ’re bully . Have you got more ? ’ ” he enunciate . “ That was when we realized we had something really alone here . ”
The Illingworths drop the vegetables that they had go along to originate and focused altogether on peonies . The farm grew as it added more peonies every time of year . With 12,000 plants now , Beks said the direction is now on quality rather than quantity .
“ We ’re focused on growing at the top end and have our plant life grow the big and well possible , ” he said .
Beks said the farm has been a longtime athletic supporter of the American Grown recording label . North Pole Peonies had the Certified American Grown recording label as part of a raiser ’ carbon monoxide gas - op and it late incur individual enfranchisement .
“ We ’re majestic to be growing flowers in the United States , ” he said . “ The U.S. peak industry is attain a comeback , slowly but surely . Even though we only grow flowers a few calendar month out of the year , we want to show that this is how we should do it and not rely on imports . ”
For more information : American Grown Flowers916.441.1701[email protected]www.americangrownflowers.org
