On Tuesday it will be the summer solstice and summer will have officially arrived, and I can almost say, almost, say that the summer flowers aren’t far behind. Hard to believe that soon we will be halfway through the year, and flowers will still be available until October 15th. Well that really depends on Mother Nature, and seeing that I am rugged up in a heavy wool jumper who knows what she will have in store for us. But, wait until you see what I have in store for you this week coming. Have I got some beauties.
The peonies are almost done being harvested but have no fear, I have them all stored safely in the cooler so before each flower shed day I will have new ones available that will be recut and conditioned for you. So here is the question. Are you ready? Is it crazy for me to want to plant more peonies? I have the space. I feel as though I need more varieties, not that the ones I have are boring by any stretch, but I would like to mix it up some more. Am I crazy? What do you all think? If I get more this fall, I won’t be able to really harvest from them for 2 years and I will be…don’t go there Kerwin. It’s flowers. How can I say no to flowers? I am thinking about adding iris this fall as well. Not tons, just a few varieties, just to add more floral interest for you all.
All the dahlias are planted and all but a few are sprouted so those rows the irrigation is now on. The two flats of sunflowers that I was hardening off before planting the chimpmunks enjoyed, so only about half of those were planted out today. More will go in by the end of this week, then one or two more sunflower sowings and everything will be planted. Now is time to start seeding next years perennials and bi-annuals so they will be ready for next year. More foxglove, astrantia, campanula, geum. Hmmmm, I might be running out of space soon…
I am changing the open flower shed hours. Tuesdays will now be from 2-6 and Fridays will stay the same at 9-2. I think that this will be easier for everyone to remember, including me. I was having the hardest time with Tuesdays hours in my mind. I hope that this change will make it easier for you to come and visit, and for me to remember. I am generally here anyway so why not?
As always, I look forward to seeing you. I miss you when you don’t come to visit. It’s a floral social fix for me as well…sounds corny, but true. Your enthusiasm for what I do makes it so much more. In so many ways.
So. Until next week. Allie
