May? or March

May? or March

I sit here writing this again huddled by the fire. Raining, which I am not complaining about, but 50 degrees? Good lord, these weather swings are challenging, for the plants and for the flower farmers.

Despite everything Mother Nature has tossed us this month as far as temperature swings, a lot is happening on the farm. I am beginning to harvest some of the perennials which I find exciting, very exciting. As much as I love tulips, I am looking forward to having new and ever changing flowers to work with now. If you didn’t make it to the farm last week you would have seen the first of the bearded iris, geum, centaurea, and anemones, yes, anemones. The crop that I didn’t think I would see a flower out of this year because of the late planting time. I see no flower buds on the ranunculus yet, but they are looking good, which makes me hopeful.

The chrysanthemums have been planted out in their crates and are nestled in the beds the tulips were in. I think I chose the second hottest day last week to get them planted but I was determined to get them done. I thought I had taken a photo of my great effort to share but apparently not. Yesterday I got most of rows three and four planted out. I feel the rest of the seedlings need a little bit more growth to be planted out yet so they will wait. This week I will then plan on getting the dahlias planted out.

My never ending drama with the stink’n voles continues. More plants have been wiped out, argh, so before I plant the dahlias I am going to do Liz Thomas’s tulips dip. I am going to soak each dahlia tuber in castor oil, soap and water solution before planting. It worked beautifully for tulips and I figure why not for dahlias. Yes, it will slow down planting but at least, I hope, it will prevent them from being an expensive vole food.

I have another floral design class on Tuesday so since I now have more flowers than the lovely tulips I thought I better practice. Not that anyone from class is seeing them unless they follow me on Instagram, but I still need to do some practice. I find the bouquets the most challenging but I think I am getting better.

This one I gifted to a very deserving person and they were very grateful. I mean, how many flowers can I have in my house? I don’t have that many rooms!

This arrangement I created on Friday during open flower shed. I gifted it to myself in both the time to create it and that I kept it for me. That and I had finished the task of getting the five new mockoranges planted out in the twiggery. It is a true gift.

The flower sheds summer hours are now here. They are… Tuesdays 2-5 and Fridays 9-2:00, any other time by appointment please.

Now. Here is my thinking, last year I was doing an intentional Tuesday with flowers, where I would create an arrangement, but be intentional about it. I would like to open it up this year that on Tuesdays, you can join me. Letting me know in advance if you would like to join me would be great, just so I have enough flowers harvested and conditioned. You would bring your vase, and the cost would just be the flowers that you use. It is a good time to be stress free, breath deeply and be creative. I hope that some of you will join me this summer.

The robin in the tool shed has hatched her eggs and doesn’t seem to be stressed this year so all is good. Maybe we will see the babies fledge on an open shed day!

I am going to pass this off to Steve so he will amuse you (and me roll my eyes).

Until next week, Allie. I dream of flowers, do you?