Solaris FarmsTM 2012 Hardy Hemerocallis, Peaonia and Lilium

About Solaris Farms

Welcome to Solaris Farms, a family-owned nursery and AHS Show Garden offering Hemerocallis (daylilies), Paeonia (peonies) and Lilium (true lilies)  Visitors are welcome to look through seedling fields, hybridizing areas and display gardens to get an idea of things to come (dreams).

Set in a century-old Wisconsin farmstead, Solaris Farms specializes in hardy, field grown daylilies cultivated to withstand the climatic rigors of the upper Midwest. Here, we present more than 3000 cultivars of Hemerocallis (daylilies), from exciting new introductions to classic favorites.  Our mission in hybridizing is...better plant, better scapes and better flowers in that order!  Solaris Farms is located in an area of harsh winter climate that experiences greater than normal freeze-thaw cycles, icing and exposure.  With these factors in mind, Solaris Farms is working on programs involving clear vibrant colors and superior northern plant habits.  If you are tired of plants that do not perform or even survive in the north, give us a try-we guarantee your 'hardy' satisfaction!   Great garden plants must not only survive, but be productive as plants!   Our plants do not require special winter attention and have been tested without mulching or extra care.  Southern genetics are used sparingly, or not at all in our hybridizing programs, since hardy genetics can be easily diluted.  The farm is a State of Wisconsin registered and inspected nursery and an official American Hemerocallis Society Display Garden.

Nate, Kim, Emma and Ethan Bremer run the operation with the help of a cast of other characters during peak daylily bloom season.  The farm was once a dairy operation and the old buildings and structures that were a part of that business still stand.  Historical maps show a Native American burial site on the northwestern edge of the property and finding an occasional projectile point is quite possible.  Our brick home is the second residence built on the property and was erected circa 1916.  The first farm house is long since gone and was located at the top of our little hill where the display gardens now grow.  

Nate is a middle school science teacher with a background in conservation and plant science.  The business is a labor of love, rather than one of monetary desire.  Nate, in all likelihood, will dig and label your  mail order..  He has hybridized orchids in the past and now enjoys the many aspects of plant propagation.  Nate also does the daylily and peony hybridizing at Solaris Farms.  Kimberly works as a free-lance marketing specialist throughout the area and enjoys visiting, digging, and assisting customers when time permits.  Emma is the heart and soul of the sales operation, working long hours assisting customers with their orders and getting them ready to leave the farm with outstanding plants.  She attends UW-La Crosse as a Archeology major in the winter months and will likely be leaving us for Peace Core duty within the next year.  Ethan is now attending UW-Platteville as a chemistry/pre-med student.  His interests range wide and far and is responsible for summer digging, maintenance, customer field questions and general problem solving.  Both Ethan and Emma are quite knowledgeable in the areas hardy plant culture, propagation and are always willing to answer questions customers might have.

The daylily business ships plants throughout the spring, summer, and fall months (May 15th to August 15th for daylilies and through mid October for Peonies and Lilium; and operates an ever growing on-site sales operation from mid-July to mid-August.  Farm visits are welcome to walk on customers during this period of time and appointments are appreciated during non-peak bloom times.  Please see our calendar page for business hours and days of open operation if you'd like to visit.  Peony and Lilium orders may be taken throughout the year, but will not be dug until September and October.  In coming years, we will have open hours in the spring/early summer for customers to view tree peonies, intersectional peonies and herbaceous peonies in bloom.

Solaris Farms sells bare root daylily plants that are freshly dug upon request.  Customers are welcome to wander the rows in the fields in July and August to view the daylilies they may want to purchase.  The plants are Wisconsin field tested to ensure hardiness in our area and others of like climate.  Typically, our climate is more severe than almost all of the other midwest states due to winter surface water fluctuations and the large number of days that experience freeze-thaw cycles.  Our area, more often than not, lacks snow cover during early winter and spring and this really tests the durability of plants in Solaris' fields.  With this in mind, northern gardeners will be most pleased with the product we sell-wonderful hardy plants!

Peonies and Lilium are also available and have become part of our specialty. We do not sell pot plants, thus all plants are dug bear root and Peonies only in the fall of the year.   Most customers choose to purchase Peonies well ahead of time and arrange delivery by mail order or pick-up at the farm.  Lilium most often are dug during summer bloom season and sent home bare root with visitors.

Solaris Farms invites you to visit on-line or in person and look forward to cultivating friendships with other avid gardeners… and we encourage you share with us this spirit-nourishing (and sometimes addictive) pleasure.