Author: Allie

It was a busy last week of November, but I got it all done. The cutting garden is all tucked in. Between prepping for Thanksgiving I finished getting the last of the beds composted and leaf mulch on top, the peonies got weeded and handfuls of leaves were put on top, two aisles had wood chips added and I was done by 4. Then the remaining tools were picked up, the garden tidied and the gate was shut. Phew.

The digital seed catalogs are rocking into my in box and I am thinking about what I am going to grow for the 2025 season. I must show restraint in ordering but it is so easy to get carried away as the days continue to get darker earlier and the snow is on the ground but now I only have 10 rows of annuals to work with and three of them will be taken up with dahlias…a half row for chrysanthemums….I have my paper map sorta mapped out…what can I do without? Now that is an interesting question to ponder this winter.

I am very excited about the changes to the donkey paddock next spring. I don’t know if Ursula and Esme will be that excited, but I sure am. Think of it, rows of woody plant material to use for bouquets. It adds such a special element I think…

I missed the pansy sale on Monday cause I was so busy in the garden. Oops. Well I don’t think all is lost because I have seed left over from last year, but I was so looking forward to trying some really cool varieties for next year. I’m sure it was far more important for me to be upside down in the garden anyway than on the computer ordering more seed.

My next big project is clearing out and getting the high tunnel ready for planting out in February. It shouldn’t take long because it isn’t that big a space and seriously nothing has happened in there since June so it is a bit of a wreck. I did drop the sides down before the snow so that at least is good. I just ned a nice sunny day to get in there…

I am going to send the computer over to Steve so he can fix all my mistakes, and he can write the entrance ditty that is so popular.

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

Allie

Well this is my last post for November. It is hard to believe that this time next week it will be December. How does the time fly so quickly? Probably because I am always so busy.

As of this writing I have all but two rows of the annual beds to get prepped for next spring. If I can get my butt in gear with this colder weather, it will happen. I would also like to get some leaf mulch on the peony beds before Thursday, we will see. The forecast isn’t looking fabulous….

So there has been talk here at the farm about expanding the flowers. You know that I have been adding more perennials to reduce the amount of work while slowly cutting back on the number of annuals, don’t worry, there will still be plenty of flowers, I am just thinking of my body for the future. The next step is to add more shrubs for cutting and now crabapples. Once they get planted the amount of work involved will be nothing like planting ten rows of annuals every spring. Three different varieties of shrubs have been ordered and my wish list for crabapples is on deck. Steve and I paced out the space this afternoon and it isn’t nearly as big as my dreams…hmmmm, it will work out, then I have the lilacs I am going to move into the same area….it will be tight…but it will work.

I have ordered the chrysanthemums for next year’s stock. I was cutting flowers up until the beginning of this week. Just enough for my final bouquet for me before I have to resort to buying flowers (egads!) until the tulips come in, which should be mid February. Here is this week’s bouquet. Check out the dried sunflowers. The birds ate all the seeds and left me with these beauties.

Other material used are the branches of the spirea, and the sea oats with the last of the chrysanthemum flowers.

After Thanksgiving, my next task is to get into the high tunnel and get it cleaned up, composted and getting it ready for the cool flowers that go in early March. If it is a sunny day it will get quite warm in there despite there aren’t any ends on it. Late December I will be starting the fancy pansy seeds that I will hopefully purchase tomorrow that have been selected as cut flowers, yup, pansies as spring cut flowers as well as starting the perennials that I have seed for. Not much rest, but enough.

Meanwhile, I am planning for 2025…most importantly, what am I growing and where the hell is it going to go. I am planing for a very floral year so get ready and stay tuned.

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

PS. Steve doesn’t dream of flowers but he is very patient of my dreams and goals.

Needless to say that I have been a very busy flower farmer since I wrote to you last week. But all the critical things are done for the year! Yay!

Last Monday and Tuesday all of the tulips were crates and put in the cooler. Was that a feat and a half that was, the hardest part was getting the planting medium wet. I was one muddy mess by the end of the day, but by Monday evening I had planted 2000 bulbs. Tuesday afternoon went much faster having to only plant 750, and because I got smarter on Tuesday wetting the medium went faster because I used hotter water.

So all of that project took Monday and half of Tuesday. But I’m not done yet. Wednesday the weather gods were cooperating and 2750 tulips were planted outside in the raised beds. That was nearly an all day project.

So with that project done, a huge yay, and thank you to Steve who helped, all of the very early spring is taken care of so if all goes to plan, the first crates of tulips should be pulled from the cooler mid January for tulips to be had mid February.

Not that I am resting yet. Although I am really wishing for rain that we so desperately need, I am taking advantage of the beautiful weather by getting the beds prepped for spring. So far, half of the summer annual beds have been composted and a nice layer of leaf mulch added on top. This week I hope to finish that project up, and if the weather still holds, I will get the perennial beds mulched with composted leaves. Meanwhile I am also watering much of the plant material that was planted late this year since we aren’t having any rain. They say rain on Thursday? I certainly hope so.

As you can see my list is getting smaller, but still have things to do. I am looking at seeds for next year, dahlias and woodies as well. I know, I am cutting back I tell Steve, somehow I don’t think he believes me.

So until next week, I hope you all can get out and enjoy the weather because I certainly am.

Allie. I dream of flowers, do you?

I have been back from our grand adventure for a week plus now and going by my ever growing list of things to accomplish before the snow flies, I feel as though I am making headway. The majority of the garden is cut back now, except the row of chrysanthemums that are essentially done, but every time I think I will cut them down the honey bees are all over it, buzzing contently so for the moment there is still color, but everything else is cut down and composted. Beside the mums being cut down, I just have to put down compost and leaf mulch on the beds…

But this week is designated tulip week. Starting tomorrow, the tulips are going to start to get planted. Yesterday I divided all the tulip varieties in half, 250 for the crates, and the other half for the raised beds. About half of my order substituted so it will be interesting come flowering time. Hopefully they subbed me with some nice varieties. Only time will tell. I figure it will take me about a week to get everything planted. Then, back to the garden to get the beds covered.

The weather has been in my favor thankfully so it has been quite pleasant to be outside doing all my chores. I wish it would rain though. We are about five inches in deficit and it worries me going into winter so dry. The pond is looking mighty low right now. Hopefully we will get a good snowfall, as much as I am not a big snow fan, we do need it for ground protection and ground moisture.

Despite all the garden work, I did manage to make a bouquet for a friend who needed it for a thank you. I think it was the end of the flowers officially, but given the task, I am sure I could create something if needed.

I also managed to get in last weeks #windowframethursday. This is the end of the mums for being cut. The rest are for the bees.

I like this because it truly does say November. It includes forsythia branches and viburnum with berries for fall color, mums, mignonette, miscanthus and cerinthe. As you know, all grown here at the farm.

So that is about it for now. I have to save my energy for this weeks tulip planting.

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

I”m back from a lovely three week vacation, I know, you missed me right? Steve and I had a fantastic time in South Australia, doing an Outback Adventure in an area that we couldn’t do 14 years ago with the road closures because of the rain. The first few photos are of my favorite, Australian flowers. When I was living in Australia I would gather armloads of these and stick them in spaghetti jars, (much like now with the spaghetti jars). Back then one would never see Australian native flower bunches for sale. Thankfully that has changed. I bought a bunch for our hotel room the first week were in Glenelg just cause I could. The staff must have thought I was nuts.

We were able to go to the Adelaide Botanic Garden our second? day in Australia which was wonderful, but even more so because Dale Chihuly, the glass artist, has an exhibit there of his work. I am only posting one photo because it is floral, but the installation was just amazing. The colors and designs and how they fit into the gardens…but enjoy this one.

After a week catching up with friends, doing museums, wine tasting, doing touring, we set off on our adventure. What an adventure it was, a truck converted into a tour bus driving the outback of South Australia seeing the sights. The only sight you get to see is of the Sturt desert pea, that was still blooming in Coober Pedy and is South Australias state flower.

But as you can tell, we are back. Arrived home after a 26+ flight on Wednesday evening. Thursday I cut back and dug all the dahlias, got them in crates and into the cave because it was gong to get cold. Friday got all the rest of the tender stuff I needed to get out of the garden. Saturday I rested and today all the dahlias are safely put to bed in the cooler.

Next week the rest uf the garden gets cut down, netting stored, landscape fabric lifted, folded, labeled and stored. Irrigation then gets lifted, labeled and stored. Then, it will be tulip planting time. Yay. After that? spreading compost and mulching the beds getting ready for spring.

I did an experimental planting of chrysanthemums this year, cause I could. When I had ordered the cuttings I didn’t realize we were going to be away for the month of October, but last Friday, this is what I harvested that hadn’t been affected by the freezes that had occurred when we were away. Looks pretty good I think. Planning to do more next year so all you flower lovers will have more to enjoy.

So enough of me rabbiting on. It is good to be home.

Until next week. Allie. I dream of flowers. Do you?

What? What do you mean? Well, this is the last week that the flower shed will be open until next February, mid February more than likely. Yes, The flower is shutting its wonky doors for the rest of the season. I know, we haven’t had a freeze yet, or even a frost, but Steve and I are off for a well needed vacation. So. If you want flowers, may I suggest stopping by this Tuesday afternoon or Friday?

It will be hard to leave the farm at this time of year, with so much to do, and there is lots to do yet, but I know it will all be waiting for me in some way or another when we return. I have received some of the bulbs that I am forcing so I will get those crated up and into the cooler, others will be planted out into the garden. What rows are done or aren’t producing enough will be cut back, netting pulled irrigation pulled…the rest, well hopefully November will have good weather to get everything else done. The big delivery of tulips doesn’t arrive until we return, which is good.

I got an email from my bulb rep this weekend. This is the fourth year of bad tulip production in Holland. It will be interesting to see what I get. Will I get my entire order?, will they make interesting substitutions? Only time will tell, and I will keep you in suspense until I know.

The garden was looking really good last week, so before I did a big harvest, I asked Steve to send the drone up. So here you go, the September garden from above. It’s interesting how the blue weed buckets and hoses stand out.

I think it’s kinda cool to see from above and not straight on like I normally do. The only intense color you get from this view are the marigolds, amaranth, mahogany splendor and the black plastic.

Next up is last weeks #windowframethursday. I just love these big dahlias in this.

This bouquet also includes yellow marigolds, artemesia, feather celosia, yarrow and tree yellow roses from the garden.

It is funny how flowers resonate. The past few years I have grown the big dinner plate dahlias, you know, the ones that all the floral people and brides want, but I just couldn’t get them to work in bouquets. One, they damage quickly, two, the scale was way off and three, they don’t last nearly as long as the ball shapes do. So I got rid of all of them except this honk’n yellow one. My mistake. I am going to go back to growing a handful of different dinner plates, or slightly smaller just for you flower lovers. They won’t be added to bouquets. You can just buy them by the stem to enjoy. That being said, maybe I need two hand fulls of different dahlia tubers. As soon as I get off of here I am going to purchase some for next year.

You all know that we will be away for most of October. I won’t be taking my laptop, so there won’t be a blog going out until we return. If you want to follow our trip Steve will be posting on instagram @swpope134. I might be posting if it is flower related but Steve will be doing cool trip stuff daily I am sure.

If I don’t see you this week, have a great October, and I will be back in November to regale you with all the flower farm happenings, and there will be plenty I am sure. I also want to thank all of you who have bought flowers throughout the year, and supported me via emails from far away. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. All these flowers are grown from my heart.

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

It is hard to believe that fall has arrived today. The end of the season is within sight. For us at Lottarock it will be a little earlier than the normal time this year, The flower shed closes on Oct 4 so get your beautiful fresh flowers while you can. Only four more open shed days remaining.

Just because the flower shed will be closing doesn’t mean that the farming is ending. After Steve and I take a well needed vacation, the panic will be on to get everything done before winter sets in. My mind is already racing with what will have to get accomplished as soon as we arrive home.

My first big action is tulips. I have already washed fifty two crates that the tulips will be forced in. I did that on our last sunny and warm day last week. I figured if I had to play in water might as well do when the weather is beautiful.

The tulips are to arrive, I hope, the week after we return, which will give me a bit of breathing room to get all of the dahlias dug, cured and stored in the cooler before the tulips go in. After that, tulips are planted in the crates, along with the narcissus and hyacinths. After that, the remaining tulips go into the ground and the time and temperature sensitive jobs are done. Then clean up of the garden can happen. Netting taken off and stored, plants mowed to the ground, weed mat taken up and labeled. Irrigation taken up and labeled. Phew. My goal is to get it all done before Thanksgiving. I am hoping for good weather. If the weather cooperates, then I will get the beds mulched and prepped for the early spring crops.

I had another wagon load of flowers go out on Thursday for a wedding on Friday. It was Hancock centric, the bride grew up in Hancock, the floral creator grew up in Hancock, and the flowers were grown in Hancock. I think that is really cool.

The flowers are still going gang busters and the colors are just getting better. Below is last week’s creation I did for my #windowframethursday. I had plenty of flowers to play with so play I did. I used chicken wire in the vessel to hold the flowers in place.

Remember, only two more weeks of open flower shed. Last one will be Oct 4. After that, no more flowers until mid February if all goes according to plan. And you know how those best laid plans workout sometimes.

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

Let me start with wow, was last week one for my record books. Let’s start with the fun stuff, the weather. I have to say this weather pattern we are in now is absolutely amazing. Beautiful sunny warm days and the nights cooling off so sleeping is just lovely. I do wish it would rain though. I am watering like crazy.

The cutting garden is getting watered just about every day right now, it is so dry, with slight breezes and no humidity so the water just disappears. The remote plants, of which there are many, and even more now with last week’s shopping trip all have to be watered, especially the new plants and the ones that have been dug up and divided. So out comes my remote watering system.

It works like this. I hook up the tractor to the wagon holding the smaller tank. I need to do this before I fill the tank otherwise I can’t budge it to get it hooked up. Then the pump in the large tank gets turned on and I fill the little tank. Once that is full, off I go and drive around to the remote plantings for their watering. On the top of the little tank is a battery operated pump that then pumps the water out of the little tank and out through the hose. (in the foreground of the right photo). I keep a slew of batteries charged because 1 1/2 tanks is one full battery, and to water everything well it is two tanks. If I have to fill the donkey water tank, then it is three tanks of water and another full battery. It is a pretty slick little system, I have to say.

I did flower buckets for a wedding last Friday. Just two buckets of flowers which is about 100 stems, no problem, yellow is the brides favorite color, hmmm, I can do that…Then I was asked if I would do the bridal bouquet and two smaller ones for the girls. I don’t normally do bridal bouquets because of the stress involved, and believe me there is stress. But I agreed because it is my farrier’s mother and a “low key” wedding. Now, do I have enough flowers? I figure another 125 plus stems. Well I did it, and here they are.

The best news is the bride texted me and said she LOVED the flowers. Phew.

I have another big order of flowers going out for a wedding this week coming, Friday actually, but this is just buckets of flowers, color scheme is silver, white and green. Don’t worry, there will still be plenty of flowers for you my flower lovers.

I am starting the weekly reminder now. The last open flower shed will be Oct 4. then we will be closed for the remaining part of the year. I will continue to remind everyone on the blog and in the newsletter. Until then, there will be plenty of flowers for you all to enjoy.

Have a fabulous week all. I will certainly be out in the gardens enjoying is, dragging my hose behind me.

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

Wow, I have to say this first week of September has been stunning. Beautiful temperatures to garden in, even better temperatures for sleeping in, but I digress. The summer flowers are still doing well, but they are missing the summer heat that they love. The colors are so intense, though with the cooler temperatures how can I complain?

Despite all my best intentions to not get the garden any bigger….and I am not, really…I went plant shopping today. I was needing more varieties of hydrangeas, and it is the end of the season sale time soooo I picked up 4 more hydrangeas, one can never have enough at this time of year, and a handful of perennials. A fellow flower farmer is selling her property so I might be getting some of her stock which would be really exciting. Think of the time I would save. Keep your fingers crossed. As you know, my goal as I age is to plant more perennials and fewer annuals which are a lot more work than perennials. Have to think smarter these days.

I placed my supplemental bulb order last week, so besides the tulips, at some point hyacinths and narcissus will be joining the lineup. They should be available early to mid March if I have done my math correctly.

The biggest flower news is that Friday Oct 4 will be last day that the flower shed will be open for the year. I know, I know, a few weeks earlier than normal, but Steve and I will be jetting off on a well deserved and needed holiday hence the shed closing. I will continues to remind you. Only four more weeks of flowers so get them and enjoy them while you can. If all goes to plan, the shed will reopen mid February 2025.

That is about all for now. I have to go put another jumper on, it’s cold out here! I leave you with two photos, a jar of dahlias and last weeks #.

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

It is hard to believe that it is already September, but what a glorious first day it is. I hope it stays this way for a while.

We had another exciting “weather event” early in the week. Last Monday if I remember correctly. We had another hail storm. Not quite as bad for us as the one earlier in the month, but certainly memorable. We had an inch of rain in about 45 minutes, and lots of thunder and lightening. How is that, two hail storm bookending the month of August. All the flowers survived, thankfully. My hostas and ligularia on the other had look like they were hit with a shotgun numerous time. Actually, they were. At the beginning of the month and at the end of the month.

In my sleepless moments I am now planning the ranunculus, anemone, little narcissus and hyacinths in my brain. Do I try a few hundred narcissus to force to go along with the tulips? Do I add hyacinths to the mix? Is the dirty room able to handle all the extra? It would be extra crates every few weeks. Hmmm, will have to have a few more sleepless nights and feedback from all of you. Would you be interested in a larger selection of flowers for those cold dark late winter thru spring days?

It is nice not to have the scorching hot summer days now. I like it and the flowers certainly like it. I am also not having to water as much now which is really nice. My well says thank you.

Most of the flowers are still looking good, as they should. The dahlias I am able to harvest enough to keep you all happy, the peacock orchids are starting up thankfully, the zinnias are still going strong, and the chrysanthemums are setting flower buds. All good for this flower grower.

We were taking the dogs for a walk the other day, and look what was growing out of my compost pile. Talk about determination.

I haven’t got much else to say this week, so you can enjoy the remainder of your holiday weekend. I will leave you with the photo of last weeks #windowframethursday to keep you inspired.

So until next week, Allie. We finally got internet so I am back now to dreaming of flowers. How lucky am I?