Month: September 2020

After last weeks bout with several frosts that wiped out numerous gardens in town I still have color in the gardens. The flowers may not be as plentiful as earlier and a lot of that is probably due to that I have just cut out the water. We are now in a critical drought and since the season is really nearly over, I am taking a gamble and have stoped watering. Flowers or well water through the winter. Which wins? Well water through the winter. Rumor has it that we are going to get rain this week. I will believe it when I see it.

I was going to stop flowers this week, but after some pleas from my flower people I will continue until I really do have a freeze. I am glad I was talked into staying open. I have had so much fun talking to you all during the growing season. So. Until you hear otherwise, we are still here with flowers and hope to see many of you.

I got a notice from UPS Friday that my first box of many is going to be delivered on Monday. 21 Peony roots. I have space for them, I have been planning for them. Once they get planted all of the perennials that I have been buying and stashing in will be able to be planted into their permanent beds. That will be a big yay. Six yards of compost have been ordered and delivered. Much of that will go into the vegetable garden boxes for the arrival of the tulips, then the annual bed extensions, then top dressing of all the flower beds. Today I bought an interesting selection of fall asters to be planted in the perennial section, Even though my body has said, whoah, my enthusiasm and excitement is still strong. It is all mind over body anyway. Once the snow flies it will be all over rover until seeds are started again in January.

By the way, I have been neglectful of writing a newsletter many Monday and Thursdays evenings just because of time, and not enough of it, so just assume I will have flowers until I let you know I don’t. Thank you and until next week, Allie

The last few nights have been nail biters! The temps have been cold, too close for comfort for this flower farmer. This morning temperatures registered 31.8f but I seem to have sneaked under the radar. Tonight is going to be another cold one, and if I get through tonight with the predicted low temps I should be good for flowers for another few weeks. Keep your fingers crossed. Please stayed tuned to the newsletter. If I get hit by a killing frost I will let you know.

What did get hit by the cold were the gourds and the pumpkins. Most have been harvested, but the rest are under the ghost blanket, which is an assembly to keep the frost off the pumpkins. It looks like a ghost when you drive in the yard, but whatever it takes. What pumpkin vines that were killed by the frost were fed to some very happy goats, compost was spread on next years beds, and the sweet pea trellises were dissembled and stored untll next spring. The last two Thursdays were very busy on the farm, trying to play catch up and be on top of things next spring. Not always easy.

In the mean time, plant material has been moved. The lilacs and other flowering shrubs have been moved back a few feet, into the stones that I had raked aside. Yup, moving rocks, stones and plants yet again. Hopefully I have gained enough space for the 500 narcissus that will be arriving in October. Garden beds have been redefined, or refined and like spring it is all slowly coming together. Hope so anyway, only another spring will tell.

So. Unless I say otherwise, the flower shed/shack/critter shed will be open for a few more weeks, but if I get slammed tonight by cold temps tonight, I will let you know. Keep your fingers crossed flower people. Stay posted. Allie

Have you noticed that the amount of daylight available for gardening is rapidly decreasing? I still have plenty of time to grow flowers for everyone but the seasons are certainly shifting. The asters are still going strong, as are the zinnias. The crested celosia, the weirdest flower out there for sure, is still looking weird. I love using them in bouquets though because they are just, well weird.

I would love to say that the dahlias are finally kicking ass, but alas no, but they are blooming, slowly, and when you get blooms like this, well, it just leaves me speechless.

Now that the temperatures and light are changing the flowering cabbages are starting to show color, and a few were used in last week’s bouquets. They are interesting to work with that is for sure, and next year I need to start them much later in the season. They ones that are too far gone are being fed to the chickens and they don’t seem to mind.

So I finally had time to sit down and place the official bulb order. The one that I have been asking you all about. Well the deed is done. Too late, no going back now. 500 daffodils, and 900? tulips. All will be stunning and will get us soooo excited about spring. A mere eight or nine months away.

So until next week’s post. And for my local flower people, hope to see you soon. Allie

So here we are. September. The days are getting noticeably shorter, but the amount of flowers available isn’t. Which is good for all of us. The dahlias are eh, but from what I hear in the gardening hood, I am not alone in that and that makes me happy. Not that my dahlias are doing poorly, but that I am not the only one suffering with poor dahlias this year. To make up for it the asters are still going gang busters, as are the zinnias, and the amaranth is just totally out of control! I have started to top them because they are so top heavy they are falling all over the place and I can get down the rows to harvest flowers. The peacock orchids are slow, but they are just a lovely extra at this point. The sunflowers are as happy as can be at the moment. How can you not smile at those happy faces. And the flowers are small so they work in the floral bouquets.

The pumpkins and gourds that got planted way back in June are just about taking over, It is very hard to get to the end of the rows without treading on the vines. Can’t do much about that like I can with the amaranth, I just have to move my big feet more carefully. Some of the pumpkins are huge and to make it fun(?) I have no idea what varieties they are. I was just using up old seed so we will all be surprised when harvest time come. Stay posted for that one.

So until next time, let’s have flowers.