Amador Flower Farm sets closing date

Daylilies may last just a day, but this daylily farm bloomed for three decades.

That flower-filled era is coming to an end Sunday, Sept. 13, when Amador Flower Farm officially closes its nursery, demonstration gardens and vast growing fields.

The closure comes as the owners concentrate on selling their oak-studded Shenandoah Valley property in the middle of Amador wine country. Ken and Jeanne Deaver also own the nearby Deaver Vineyards, which has been affected by the downturn in the California wine market. The Deaver family has been farming in Amador County since the 1850s.

That farming tradition – as well as the close relationships the Deavers built with the gardening community – made the closure announcement very hard.

“After many wonderful years, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to close our doors on September 13th,” said owner Jeanne Deaver in the farm’s official announcement.

Started in the mid 1990s with 300 daylilies, the Amador Flower Farm grew to more than 1,200 varieties and ranked as the West Coast’s largest daylily farm. Admission has always been free.

As a destination nursery about an hour from Sacramento, the farm annually attracted about 10,000 visitors. At the height of bloom season in June, more than a million flowers greeted patrons.

Row after row of daylilies cover about 15 acres in every color and petal combination possible. Framing the views are 300-year-old heritage oaks that also provide convenient shade for wine country picnics. Demonstration gardens show off the versatility of this tough, drought-resistant perennial.

But at age 83, Jeanne Deaver said it was getting tougher to keep up with the farm’s needs. It was time to retire.

“We want to take a moment to thank all of our wonderful customers who have supported Amador Flower Farm throughout the years,” Deaver said in a post on Facebook. “To the families who made the farm part of your traditions and celebrations, the gardeners who came to us for something special to bring home, and everyone who simply came to have a picnic, feed the koi, and enjoy a beautiful day with family … thank you. It has meant more to us than you know.”

The farm is wrapping up its in-person and mail-order business while the staff says goodbye to the nursery’s many longtime customers.

Said Deaver, “We hope you’ll stop by between now and then to say goodbye, take home one last plant or daylily, feed the koi, or to just spend a little time enjoying the beauty and peacefulness of the farm.”

Although the nursery’s selections are pretty picked over, what’s left has been drastically discounted – 60% off plants and gift shop items. All 1-gallon daylilies are priced at $3.

“Thank you for making Amador Flower Farm part of your lives and allowing us to be part of so many memories over the years,” Deaver added. “We truly hope to see you before we go.”