And the Heat is On

This weekend it’s not the weather, that is for sure. But the flower heat is on! The flowers are being harvested several times a day now they are coming on so fast. I have to get them early for perfection and vase life but it does make things a little crazy around here. So crazy in fact, that I am going to train Steve tomorrow on the finer art of harvesting so he can do the 11 and 2 o’clock row walking and harvesting, and I will do the 7am and 5pm row walk and harvesting. Such fun.

The heat of last week has finished off the ranunculus in the greenhouse. It is a shame because they had really just come into their own and were looking really good, but despite my efforts to keep them cool, they will be done by the end of the week. Lucky for us I have a second planting in the tunnel that are starting to come on, so fingers crossed I will have those for another week or two. The forecast looks to be in our favor. Fingers crossed. I will let the ones in the greenhouse begin their dormancy after the harvest is complete, then they will be stored for next year.

The anemones are still going strong and the Icelandic poppies are just starting. Another crop that needs to be harvested multiple times during the day to get them at peak condition. I am also harvesting the stock, what a divine aroma they have, like cloves, and one stem to a bouquet is all that is needed. The Clarkias are all budding up beautifully and they too will joining the offerings soon. Like I said, things are heating up.

Outside of the every other week of sunflower sowings and plantings, everything is in the ground. Oops, I forgot one thing, but that will be in the ground on Tuesday afternoon. The pumpkins and gourds will be sown this week…I have cuttings to take some of the heirloom chrysanthemums, oh, and I have to plant the chrysanthemums, right. Not done yet.

So last week I think I said I would show you drone shots of the flower farm. Here you go.

So the photo on the left is the gardens that you see when you come and pick up your flowers, the flower shed being on the right. The right hand photo is back behind the house and garage which is added growing space, where the tulips are grown in ground, the cool flowers are grown and a handful of veggies.

Farm overview

This photo is the kit and kaboodle. Growing beds, house, back gardens, barn, orchard, and see all those rocks? That is why we are called Flowers at Lottarock. Because I have a LOT of rocks.

I just find these photos so interesting. Even I really had no idea of the scope of this little flower farm. The farm might be small, but I would say we are mighty.

As usual, I like to leave you with a few flower pics to inspire you.

So, until next week, dream flowers. I do, and so should you. Allie