Even as I write this and white stuff is falling from the sky, I know that spring is coming. How do I know this? The stone walls and the rock are reappearing, we have finally gotten rid of all the snow and ice on the driveway, hello mud in the parking area! And as soon as a bit more snow melts this week I am going to be harvesting the Mt Aso Willows.
Not a great shot, they are far more beautiful when the sun is shining, but these pussy willows have the most beautiful silver and pink buds and they will be harvested this week! Something new and different for bouquets and bunches.
This afternoon I hauled out all of the perennial and cool annuals that are ready to the greenhouse for hardening off. Now every evening and morning will be spent taking off and putting on the frost cloth that will protect them from the bitter cold temps…The only seedlings that didn’t go out are the eucalyptus and the dahlia seedlings that are looking as though I should put them up into something bigger. Add that to the list.
The ranunculus look like they are getting ready to sprout, yay and phew. Timing might be al little off but they will happen.
I got a notice from my sales rep that the tulip order sheet will be posted this week. Eeks! I am only halfway through the forced crates and they want me to think about next year already!
Another sign of spring here at the farm? My witch hazels are starting to show color and bloom and anyone coming to get flowers you can be sure that I will be pointing this out to you repeatedly. When the witch hazels bloom it is just so damn exciting. And yes, they bloom when there is snow on the ground and when the temperatures are still winter like.
Another sign of spring? The row markers in the cutting garden have emerged, and if that isn’t exciting I don’t know what is.
What exciting things do I have on deck this week? Pulling more tulip crates, some seeding, watching the snow melt, doing about hourly laps around the property looking for signs of spring, harvesting the pussy willow and enjoying the warmer temperatures. All very important work if you ask me.
I leave you with last week’s #windowframethursday photo…Tulips, grape hyacinths and parsley that had gotten out of control in the dirty room. I think it makes a very nice frilly filler.
So until next week…Oh I forgot. Floret has done an amazing three part video on YouTube called the Beautiful Pursuit. If you have the time, watch it. Thirty international flower growers are interviewed about why they grow flowers and so much more. If you google “The Beautiful Pursuit” it will take you right there. I found it fascinating, and hopefully you will to.
So again, until next week, Allie. I dream of flowers, do you?