Founded in 1970 by Paul and Elisabeth Cates, in the past decades Cates Family Farm has grown from an enterprise which raised exclusively gladiolus to one which produces high-quality garden annuals and perennials as well, between the months of May and October, and a catalog of mostly heirloom gladiolus bulbs available early each spring.
The farm is nestled along the shore of China Lake in East Vassalboro, Maine. We raise flowers, of course, but also raise beef cattle, and grow and harvest hay and lumber. Truly a family enterprise, we now have three generations of the Cates family working together (with some fantastic help!) on the farm
This website tends to only be updated each winter, but we’ll also post sporadically on our Facebook and Instagram pages throughout the year. You can follow us there — click the links in the footer below to give us a visit!