Welcome August! Week 32
So here we are in August, the thick of summer for this flower farmer, and the flowers are coming in thick as well! Just check these out.
My flowers over-floweth! My most exciting news is I pick my first dahlia on Friday! I have a fair few buds coming on so I would say by the middle of August there will be many dahlias to be had. I am enjoying the first one. Miss Brandy I think she is. Don’t worry, you will be getting some soon.
During last week’s very beneficial rain I finished cleaning out the tunnel, making way for the chrysanthemum crates. You know my goal was to get the crates in by Aug 1 and I know its hard to believe but I accomplished that feat. Crates go in, checked for slugs, re-did the irrigation, or should I say replaced the irrigation but it is all set and they are looking good, I think. They need a feed but I can do that this week. I was also able to harvest a few handfuls of flowers which was a bit of a gift.
Now that they are in place I can put the netting back over them so the stems stay straight. I also need to and another layer of netting on the mums in the field, they are growing so fast. I haven’t checked for flower buds yet, but with the days getting shorter the flower bud initiation should be happening shortly.
Last night I ordered the last of the woodies that I want to grow here at the farm. I know, I know but really these are the last. I have no more space unless, like Steve and many of you say, I open up more space, but no. This is it for the woodies. Eight smoke bush quart pots, two varieties, a pink bloom and a red bloom, not that I am growing them for the blooms, more the foliage but I am very excited to add them.
Now I just need to top up my perennials, replacing some that the stink’n voles have eaten, and yes they are going in a different spot and I am pulling some out that are not good sellers and replacing them with what I hopefully think will be.
My biggest news, well, to me anyway is I finished broadforking the aisles between the peonies. Was that a job. Tomorrow getting the buckwheat down and work on getting the perennial rows sorted out before the new perennials, that I haven’t ordered yet by the way, arrive.
I am making note for you, but the week of August 10-13 the flower shed will be closed. I could possibly be open on Friday the 14th? but we don’t return form Austin until late Thursday night so I just don’t know. I will remind you for sure, but just starting to let you know now. All the more important to pay attention to the newsletter and instagram. Steve and I are getting away for a few days, learning about whiskey.
Speaking of Steve, I am going to pass this off to him for his editing and prologue, and I am going to hook up the water.
So until next week, Allie. I dream of flowers, do you?