May’s Mid Point, Week 21
I am not quite sure how we have gotten to mid May already, nor our crazy temperature fluctuations.. I mean really? Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we were getting a much, much needed rain, and we had a fire in the wood stove each day because it never got to 50 degrees. Today, marvelously sunny, breezy and and unreal 80 degrees! Tuesday is to be 90! WTF!
Needless to say farmers are pulling their hair out. These swings are very hard on the plants, especially the ones that go out so small. I am keeping my eyes on the last batch of tulips left in the ground. As soon as they start to show color they are getting pulled. They will all be out of the garden by Tuesday for sure, if not tomorrow. That space will then be turned over to the chrysanthemums that are going to be grown in crates.
You know how I keep saying flower farming keeps you on your toes? Well here are the first anemones.
Now these are early. Like a month early for the greenhouse, and two months early for the tunnel. I have no idea what is going on. It should take three months from planting to bloom. the greenhouse ones were planted out the end of March. The tunnel ones on the right not until mid April and I thought they were going to be a total loss because of the heat. Five days of temperatures in the eighties and they start to go dormant. It looks as though I will have a handful of anemones at the shed on Friday. The ranunculus? Who the heck knows. the pansies are also starting to bloom, but I was sorta expecting that.
I was going to start the Tuesday flower shed this week but seeing the temperatures, the flowers will just blow wide open so I am going to wait until the 26th to start Tuesdays. Mark your calendars, and I will remind you.
I have to say I think the farm is at its most beautiful right now. The crab apples are blooming, as well as the magnolias, lilacs, narcissus and soon the bluebells and camassia, (what the stink’n voles haven’t destroyed). If you come to get flowers please wander around and enjoy the beauty.
I have a busy week ahead of me. Flipping beds, planting out the last of the sweet peas I”m not growing, potting up the chrysanthemums that was on the list two weeks ago, starting to get the annual beds ready for planting, oh yes, I have plenty to do.
I am going to pass this over to Steve, but before I go, here is last week’s tulips of choice and I was able to get a bunch for myself and OMG! They are stunning! Least I think so.
So until next week. Allie. I dream of flowers, do you?