Hope — An established flower farm on Barnestown Road is in the midst of yet another busy season, while a new farm is sprouting on Howe Hill Road.

Wayne and Lorraine Smith have been operating Hobbs Farm and Greenery on Barnestown Road since 1998, but for the past six years the couple has become known as the largest producers of scented geraniums in the United States, Lorraine Smith said.

In addition, the couple also sells a wide variety of vegetables and fruits from a farm cart in front of Wayne's snowmobile and motorcycle repair shop. They also have recently begun to grow gladiolus, planting 700 bulbs this season.

Smith said no one else she is aware of grows and sells the variety of geraniums that Hobbs Farm does. Many customers are delighted to come across the farm because, she said, they tell them these particular varieties of geraniums are hard to find.

"We switched to geraniums [about six years ago] because it was a lot easier to do. Not much bothers geraniums," Smith said.

The Smiths annually grow 160 different varieties of scented geraniums or pelargoniums. They have rose, old-fashioned rose and attar of rose varieties, in addition to lemon, oak, and apple, to name a few. Specialty tulip, miniature and dwarf geraniums can also be found at the farm.

The farm owners see many repeat customers and each year have seen more and more orders. They have sold the plants to customers all across the United States, including Hawaii and many orders from Alaska. The plants are common with people who live in the southern United States and in California, she said.

"Because it's so hot, geraniums do excellent there," Smith said.

People tend to use the plants in their gardens, but some also seek them out for cooking, she said.

Not far from Hobbs Farm another flower farm has taken root this season — Tina's Cut Flowers.

Earlier this year, farm owners Tina Marriner and Robert Pearse planted about 2,700 sunflowers as a test garden in front of their Howe Hill Road home. The flowers are currently in all stages of bloom and are available for customers to pick themselves or buy from the stand.

Marriner said the test gardens went well this year and the couple plans to plant between 10,000 to 15,000 sunflowers next season.

Hobbs Farm is open to the public, but does not have regular hours so customers are encouraged to call first, 763-4606. More information can be found online at hobbsfarm.com.

More information about Tina's Cut Flowers can be found on Facebook.

The Camden Herald reporter Kim Lincoln can be reached at 236-8511 or by email at klincoln@courierpublicationsllc.com.