Are you a clematis enthusiast? If so, look no further than Chalk Hill Farm, located in Healdsburg, in Northern California. Off the beaten path, this 120 acre farm (open by appointment only) is growing clematis in the open air and sunshine of Alexander Valley, unlike most clematis farms, who grow these beautiful flowers in greenhouses.
Chalk Hill sells clematis as cut flowers between the growing season of May through October, shipping them oh-so-carefully to flower markets and floral designers throughout the country. You can purchase these flowers locally through the Flower Mart in San Francisco or special florists, such as Bloomers in San Francisco.
My favorite thing about Chalk Hill Farm is its founder and very hands-on owner, Kaye Heafey, a fellow Garden Conservancy West Coast Council member, all-around garden lover and inspirational friend. She has developed her business from scratch beginning in 1995 with a vision, passion, heart, intellectual curiosity and entrepreneurial nimbleness that you can only appreciate once you see her in her element – the farm. And what a “farm” she has created!
Kaye Heafey, founder & owner of Chalk Hill Farm
She has learned from all of experimentation and has adapted her farm over the years to not only grow spectacular varieties of clematis in a novel way, but has added honey, vinegar, olive oil, unusual plants such as green roses and Lily of the Valley to Chalk Hill’s offerings.
Green Roses
Happy and busy bees!
Kaye was kind enough to invite a group of us to see Chalk Hill Farm over the weekend. We were all blown away by the scale of what Kaye has built and inspired by the beauty that surrounded us at every turn. Kaye must be exhausted from all of our questions!
Congratulations on your successful venture, Kaye and thank you for an incredible morning at Chalk Hill Farm!
