Wow, we sure have had some hot, un-spring like weather lately. I remember saying not that long ago that it was such a cool spring we were running about two week late in the season. No more, we blew that out of the water two weeks ago. One cannot predict Mother nature, nor should one try if one wants to keep their sanity. One just learn to roll with it the best one can. And I am trying. Really I am.
To mitigate the extreme temperature, I have hung frost cloth from the rafters of the greenhouse to break the intensity of the sun and it is sorta working but when the temps outside are in the nineties, it is truly hard to keep the greenhouse cool. I water early, harvest early, but I am sad to say the the ranunculus that I have waited so long for are looking peeked, kinda like the flower farmer. I am hoping to harvest a bit longer, but only the temperatures will tell. I do have some planted in the ground, verses the crates that are looking better, maybe because they are in the ground and maybe because they were planted later in the year. Hard to tell, but they are so stink’n beautiful, and they look so beautiful paired with the tulips. The anemones seem to be fairing with the heat better which is good.
Speaking of tulips, I still have many beautiful varieties available. Some stunning French singles, bodacious doubles, bi-colors and more. I am only conditioning what I think I can sell on the open flower days and I try to have an interesting selection available for your choosing. These are flowers that opened on Tuesday during open flower day. Almost a week later and they are still looking beautiful. And my house is not cool, believe me.
Then I have these tulips that I don’t know if they can get more beautiful.
This week is the big push to get a lot of of the summer annuals in the ground. Steve is going to hook up the irrigation for me, so that will help tremendously. I only have three flower days a week to devote the the gardens, so I try to get as much done as possible without doing myself in. Not always easy to pace oneself with deadlines, but I am trying to be smarter with my body.
What flowers are on deck next? I would say that by Memorial day I will have peonies, and some of the cool annuals such as agrostema, orlaya, Icelandic poppies and other flowers, but that depends on Mother Nature.
I know that I have had some new people sign up for the newsletter and blog, so I just want to give you a warm welcome and give you a quick overall of Flowers at Lottarock. The flower shed is open on Tuesday afternoons from 3-6 and Friday mornings from 9-2. There is always room for new members. Members? sorta, but not really. For $100 you get a simple debit card, and the flowers you choose are deducted from your balance. Your card can always be topped up whenever you want. The cards are good for two years. I hope to have flowers available from Mid February through to mid October. The flowers can be purchased by the stem, or I can make a bouquet for you. I look forward to seeing you so my flowers will bring you as much joy as they do for me.
And last but not least. Because we are crazy here at Lottarock Farm and because we don’t have enough on our plates…Let me introduce you all to Whiskey and Bear. Our newest additions.
Until next week. Allie