Month: September 2022

It is hard to believe that the next post I will do will be in October. Wow. My darling editor is hopefully on his way to Iceland and not still stuck in Greenland. Hurricane Fiona bolloxed this up so this mean that you will have to put up with all my grammatical errors again. I printed the notes that my friend in NY sent me so hopefully I will get this posted on the first try. Fingers crossed.

There are still flowers, they are coming on more slowly now so pay attention to the newsletter for what is happening as far as open hours will go. Remember that Tuesdays are now 2-5, and Fridays are still 9-2. The dahlias are still setting bud, the zinnias are looking good, peacock orchid, amaranth and chrysanthemums are starting to come in, but at this point weather dictates all. When doesn’t weather dictate a flower farmers life, but a hard frost will signal the end.

While I still have beautiful blooms, clean up has begun. The last of the sunflowers were cut down and given to my clean up crew.

So the annuals that are done are cut down and sent to the compost pile. The drip lines are pulled, wrapped up and this year labeled so I know where they go next spring. don’t want a repeat of this spring, and since each of the beds on the left side are all different lengths this is critical. It’s sad to see it all ending, but a relief as well.

The dogs are clammering for their dinner so I will leave it here. Remember any up to date changes will be sent out on the newsletter….and I will be back next week, with my editor.!

Allie

Wow. What a week this has been. My proof reader is far far away, so every mistake you see this week is mine and only mine, I have sent two porcupines to the next level, Sadie and the house has been skunked, Mr Fed-Ex ran over the irrigation pipe but it seems to be fine, I had two dogs that ate WAY too much of what they shouldn’t have and after way too much time at the emergency vet clinic, where we weren’t an emergency enough in their terms so we left and all is done, so. If this post seems rather odd, trust me. It is. Lets just go with stress and lack of sleep.

The flowers are still doing very well. The zinnias, celosia, dahlias and things are all doing well. The cold and sensitive plants like the basil not so much, so using that s as filler is coming to a close. Bummer. That being said, there are still plenty of flowers out there to tickle your fancy,

So, you can see that there are still lots of flowers ad more on the way.

I have been busy collecting seed of many of the bi-annuals and annual seeds for sowing as soon as the beds are cleared and ready to go. Note to self. Be more organized at spring planting time so it all works out in the fall for next springs planting….oh to be so organized.

Jager heard that I was going to be doing some new planting so he thought that he would help by getting the area ready for me… or getting rid of the established rodents for me. Whatever. He was working hard for me I am sure.

I still have plenty of flowers available, if you don’t remember where I am, just look for the sign.

The flower season isn’t over for hopefully another month. (Fingers Crossed), and there are still lots of lovely blooms to choose from and more on the way. I always look forward to seeing you all.

One note to note. Tuesday hours are now from 2-5. It is getting too dark to see the colors well. So to recap the shed hours. Tuesday 2-5, Fridays from 9-2. If you have special orders that can be accommodated (or whatever) with notice it can be done.

So that is all for now, and as you read this you will see how much I need Steve. And if you don’t get this posting, you will really see why I need Steve. May he be having the best time in Greenland, and help you all for reading this.

Until nest week. Allie

Here we are at nearly the middle of September, it still feels like summer some days but the nights are certainly cooling down and the days are certainly getting shorter. I know, I know, the daylight length is getting shorter, not the days. Details. I can tell that it is changing, I am starting to pull the flowers that are done, some are getting a trim in hope that I will have fresh flowers into mid October, some flowers like the dahlias are coming into their own and are looking bold and beautiful.

The mornings are damp, if not wet, with dew which makes flower harvesting challenging before I leave for my other jobs. I need to let them dry before they go into the cooler so they don’t rot and get moldy, and some mornings that can be very difficult. If it is cool I will harvest and leave them in their buckets to hydrate and then put them away when I get home. Some flowers and foliage don’t like being damp and chilly and they will start to pout, but the dahlias just keep on coming in strong.

What else is starting to come in are the chrysanthemums. This is an experiment for me. I am trying to grow some heirloom varieties this year, seeing if I can do it and give you flowers longer in the season, but honestly, I am getting “end of the season” flower burnout. I will see how they do, how much more work they will be and most of all how well they will be received by you my flower people and go from there.

It is good to see them showing color right now. Possibly flowers for Friday. We will see.

Last week’s 2″ of rain was a blessing. That and having fixed the filter on the irrigation system. The water actually flows now. Everything has been reboosted and is so much happier and that is what I want, happy flowers.

Buckets of flowers are still being harvested, I have plenty for you to choose from so you can create your own masterpiece, we can create a masterpiece together or you can just grab and go.

Steve is going to be away the next two weeks on an amazing photoshoot so your visits to the flower farm will be more welcome and necessary so I don’t go crazier? That also being said, he won’t be here to edit me or do the welcome as he has been doing. This will be interesting. I have to learn how to send these posts…

Until next week, (if everything works out on posting the blog). Flower on! Allie

Happy Labor Day weekend all. We all had a relaxing two days at the lake, and are now home, scurrying around checking the gardens, and I will harvesting shortly because they say…we are to get some rain, and not just .1″ or .2″ but it sounds like a two day soaker and I can not be more excited. I never believe what the meteorologist say but I am keeping my fingers crossed. The flowers will just love a beautiful soaking rain as much as I will. Much better than well water, this will give them a delicious wash and boost.

I must say that the flowers are doing quite well despite all the weather or non-weather they have had this year. From the extreme temperatures that really wilted the flower grower last Tuesday, to just the dryness of it all. The mulch certainly helps keeping the moisture in, the drip irrigation is getting the water to where we need it, to the roots, and it works even better now that we cleaned the filter and water is now flowing through the main line. It is amazing how much better the water flows when the filter has been cleaned. I only hope that it was dirty because we have never cleaned it, and not that we are pulling water from so deep we are pulling up silt to plug the filter. I will just think positive thoughts about my well.

I have gone and done it. I know that I shouldn’t have, but I have ordered eight more peony roots to grow on for cut flowers. They are stunners in my book. Technically I shouldn’t harvest their flowers for five years so the plant builds up mass and strength, but I will wait for two years because if I wait for five it would sorta be like why? I should be retiring in another few years. I am very excited about them, the space is being prepped now for their arrival in October, along with everything else that will be arriving in October. It is going to be a VERY busy month. Peony planting, but that is only eight, 5000 tulips, garden cut back, digging up dahlias and getting them ready for storage, taking up the beds and getting them ready for spring and so much more, and more. At least it keeps me out of mischief right?

As you can see, I still have plenty of flowers to chose from. Pick up a pre-made, create your own, or have me create a masterpiece? for you.

If there are flower stems that are too short to sell, or are slightly damaged, I put in the shed door hanging pot. It is really fun because they are all misfits and to try to make something from a bunch of misfits can sometimes be a challenge, but one that I enjoy. So here is Fridays door arrangement. Kinda fun I think. But, my feeling is, it is fun, it makes me happy, I am not entering a contest and it make ME happy.

I am going to go harvest, Steve will make me sound literate, and I will be back next Sunday. Flowers Rock!