What a Week

Today is St Patrick’s day and I am seeing green. Green sprouts are showing up in the goat paddock, green sprouts in the in-ground tulip beds which have me worried and the narcissus are pushing through and emerging. Lots of green happening. I even have my first narcissus blooming up against the house!

This past week we had some lovely May like weather, today we are back to March like weather. Despite the little bit of sun we have had today, I still have the dirty room door is ajar and the fan is running to keep the space cool. On the sunny days we are opening the door completely with the fan going and the shades down to keep the space cool. It is always a bit alarming when my phone goes off and I am away from the house that the dirty room is too warm. I try to plan in advance but not always easy.

I had a meeting on Thursday with my bulb Rep Jon who was touring his New England bulb customers. I think he was impressed with my little mini operation! That made me quite happy as you can imagine. I told him I was madly working on my order for next year and he will have it by the end of the week. So here is a question for you my flower lovers. Do you enjoy having different tulip varieties every week? Would you be OK with having the same varieties for a couple of weeks? I need to decide soon, I have to pay more now for lots of 125 which is what I have been getting to really offer an assortment, but if I get crates of 500, I would only have 10 varieties, 12 at the very most to offer. Please let me know by sending me an email or dropping me a comment.

For everyone who has been dropping off meals I say thank you so much. I am trying to return clean containers as soon as possible with a little thank you posy. Your food is keeping us healthy and and healing.

Thank you posy

On deck this week, besides the regular Tetris tulip shuffle is to start the next batch of cool seeds that will go out into the field when they are ready under low tunnels. This give us lots of early blooms that bridge the gap between the peonies and the summer annuals and I lost a week last week so that is gotta happen tomorrow. Steve hooked up the drip irrigation in the high tunnel for me last Thursday when the weather has so beautiful so that will make things much easier later in the season. I still have to hand water because they are still small, but that is OK. I am being careful. The hellebore plugs arrived and have been potted up and are in the green house and Tuesday I am taking scented geranium cuttings. All being done with one hand. Really true.

This is really cool. This is the same arrangement that I made last Thursday, here it is today after being in the warm house. Just look at those stunning dancing tulips!

That is about it for now. Time to start shutting doors in the dirty room and greenhouse. I leave you with one last photo.

My sling with bling.

I figured if I have to wear the sling for another 4 weeks it might as well be beautiful. Thank you to Courtney Cox who pulled off this magic overnight for me.

Until next week, I dream of flowers. Allie

4 Replies to “What a Week”

  1. Hi Allie,
    You are looking so much better – rested and strong!
    I have been away scuba diving in the Maldives and in the Serengeti on safari for the last month but am back and am hoping the flower shed will be open this Friday (it’s Russ’ birthday). I also have a friend who recently moved to Peterborough (Middle Hancock Road) who loves tulips and I want to introduce her to Lottarock!
    Re: tulips – all your tulips are beautiful so I am happy to have the same varieties for a couple of weeks.
    So, no need to reply if you will be open on Friday – hope to see you then!
    Liz

  2. Allie,
    This is Trim Hahn. I’m wondering if you would be willing to share where you purchase hellebore plugs? I’m trying to fill a hillside in my garden with hellebore.

    I’m currently in London where the hellebores have been blooming since the New Year and Kew is so vibrant with hellebore, spring bulbs and blossoms.
    Glad you are healing well!
    Thanks so much. Trim

    1. Morning Trim, I got the seedlings from 3 Porch Farm down in Georgia. They had some lovely varieties. Good luck. Hope to see you soon.
      Allie

  3. I am happy with all your tulips! It is such a treat to see the bouquets each week. I am new to your subscription and am sure I will be delighted with your decisions for next year!
    Thanks so much.
    Susie

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