Month: March 2023

Here we are at week 13. We are past the spring equinox and my how things have changed in just a week. It seems as though the plants are really starting to put on some growth. I know that you probably aren’t seeing the difference, but when you look at these photos, you can actually see green things now. Yes! Those little green specks in a post a few weeks back that you needed to see with a magnifying glass or have a really good imagination can easily see seen with the naked eye. Progress I say!

See. No magnifying glasses necessary.

The ranunculus in the greenhouse are three times this size! Estimated bloom date? For the greenhouse ones, Early May? High tunnel ones? GOK.

Another exciting thing happening is Shelly’s experiment. Shelly, who doesn’t have much sun at her house, asked if I could grow her a crate of tulips that she could put in the yard, almost in full bloom to give her joy, and impress all her friends with her gardening prowess. It was a last minute ask, but I planted up a crate of the last 3 or 4 bulbs that would have messed up my rows. Well, today Steve and I hauled it into the greenhouse….and Shelly, you might have solved my scheduling problem. We will see, I am taking notes, and when the start to show color you can have the crate to put in your garden.

If Shelly’s experiment works, fingers crossed, It just might bridge the little gap between the forced tulips and the in-ground tulips. We will all just have to wait and see.

Like a mad woman, or maybe just slightly crazy, I have been making a list of plants that I need to get this year to round out my garden for available cuts to put in my bouquets and offerings. I am trying to be practical, but ya know…. not always possible, but, that being said, I really like what I have ordered. Hope I have space for everything. The month of May will be very telling here at Lottarock.

Where there is no snow, the daffodils and narcissus are emerging, it sill still be a while before they will be on the offering list, but but when they come…They are always so beautiful, cherry and fragrant. A win on all sides. Can hardly wait.

Meanwhile, seeding continues. The Icelandic poppies will get planted out this week along with the second batch of stock. Everything else I have seeded is waiting for the snow to melt so I can get the beds prepped and planted. My goal for being able to be in the main garden? April 15th. These things can’t be rushed I know but I am slightly running out of space….

So I will leave you with a photo of some of the tulip offerings that will be available on Friday. What will I choose? Hmmm. Will you will just have to wait and see.

Until next week, your flower girl. Allie

Spring is always longingly waited for, but after this week of 38″ of snow, I am so waiting for tomorrow’s arrival. It will be warm? and spring ushers in at 5 something tomorrow night. Yeah!

I know that last week I said I would not have a post because I will be in tulip land. Well, the storm took care of that. We got slammed, and have only just finished digging out what was most necessary. All the tulips, ranunculus, anemone and cool flowers came through fine. Not to be said about our chicken run. As Steve says, this will be the year of re-building. And once the snow melts, that will be first on the list.

But enough of my woes. Let’s talk flowers. The sweet peas have geminated, another sign of spring. I tried an experiment this year and I didn’t soak the seeds which I have been doing for years, but fellow flower people said it wasn’t necessary, so what the heck. Well. Success. So batch one is germinated, and batch two will be sown maybe this week. The next batch of cool flowers is ready to be planted into the high tunnel to keep the others company. As usual, space is rapidly filling up.

The scented geranium cuttings are now off the heat and hopefully adjusting to the temperatures I keep the dirty room at because of the tulips.

Speaking of tulips, I hope you aren’t getting tired of them. My bulb rep might be stopping by on Wednesday. This will be interesting. I am probably the smallest tulip grower he will see in his career, but what I might lack in volume, I make up for in enthusiasm, wouldn’t you agree? In my sleepless moments early this morning…I am thinking how I can bridge the possible gap in tulip production. I think I have it figured out….now we just have to see if it works. Keep your fingers crossed. And, the last two very lonely crates in the cooler will be pulled tomorrow. That means that I have now hauled 34 crates into the dirty room. Yay arm and back muscles.

But seriously, looking at this week’s odd leftovers in the kitchen, aren’t they worth it! i sure think so.

I feel so lucky to have flowers almost every day of the year in my life, and that I have grown them all at Lottarock Farm, and I think all of you for going on this adventure with me.

Until next week. Happy Spring. Allie

All I can say is that I am very glad I have lots of little green things and tulips growing happily because it will be awhile before the snow melts. More snow! Seriously. Just when I think that spring is on our doorstep, good Ole’ Mother Nature decides that another 18″ of heavy wet snow is just what we need. NOT!

Despite the looming snow, things really are happening here at the farm. The tulips are growing very nicely and thank you to you all for enjoying them.

The ranunculus in the greenhouse are growing nicely, and the second batch have finally been planted in the high tunnel.

Along with the second batch of ranunculus that have been planted, the anemone have also been planted out and the first batch of seedling in the high tunnel have joined them. Half the tunnel is full and I still have more to go in, oh dear…space. My constant issue.

The white sheets on the side are the remay, or what I refer to as the plant’s pajamas that I cover the hoops with every evening to keep the seedlings warm, or really warmer.

As you can see, things are a happening here at the farm. My days go like this. Uncover the plants, water seedlings and tulips in dirty room. Check water in greenhouse and tunnel and, if necessary, water. Seed and or transplant, move what needs to get moved. Check temperature and if necessary vent…turn on fans….then around 4:00 reverse the process. Turn off fans, close doors, cover plants and repeat this process daily. I certainly getting my steps in.

As I was closing up this afternoon I was stunned. Look at this.

I will finish this up here. I have to go out and tuck the plants in for the night. There will be no blog next week. We will be in Tulip land and I am sure I will come home with flower stories to regale you with. I leave you with last Thursday’s #windowsillthursday photo.

Until next time. Allie

Here we are in week ten, and time is just zipping by. It was a crazy week, it seems as though most of it was spent shoveling snow instead of working with flowers but Ole Mother Nature is having fun playing with us, and we have to roll with the punches she gives us.

The tulips are at least keeping on schedule. If you can believe this, after tomorrow’s crate pull, I will have only six crates of tulips left in the bulb room! Wow! Don’t worry, this does not mean the end of the tulips is near. Oh no….It takes about four weeks from when they get pulled into the dirty room until they bloom, soooo, there are still going to be plenty of tulips. I would say until June? Because once the forced ones are done, the ground tulips will be coming into flower. That is just an estimated guess. By then the peonies will be rocking on and the tulips will just be a vision of a spring gone.

If Ole Man Winter can stay away for a week I can finally get the high tunnel planted. I have lots of sprouted ranunculus that are ready to go into the ground as well as the first batch of stock, with many more cool flowers to be following in a week or two. The next big seeding is also going to happen this week. More cool flowers and sweet peas! I just love sweet peas. Once I get them seeded into the trays the space will be filled up again. The last of the ranunculus corms will be soaked once the sprouted ones are planted out and these won’t be sprouted. At least I don’t think so. I have to watch my timing. It’s three months from planting to flowering, and they baulk at being hot. Will we be hot in three months time? Only time will tell.

I will leave you here. I have to put the pajamas around the babies in the greenhouse. Until next week. Allie

How can you not love that tulip?

Allie