Author: Allie

The One Eyed Blogger

I am essentially typing this blog with one eye so pardon the typos. Hopefully Steve will clean them up for me.

It has been a whirlwind two weeks regarding the ole eyeball, Rushing here and there, but last Thursday I had vitrectomy surgery. So far things are good post surgery. I can see light, colors and shapes, mostly blobs but I think the most important right now is the light part. Recovery is going to be long, six to eight weeks. Ugh. At least after next Thursday I can lift more than 15 pounds. No gardening for a while, so it will be what it will be. Hopefully we will have a long indian summer so I will be able to get things done. At least the critical things like getting the dahlias dug and the tulips planted. My mantra now is patience, and don’t be stupid, Kerwin.

But to the most important thing that you want to know. The flowers, especially the dahlias are looking stupendous.

You know how I feel about dahlias. The are the swan song of the season. The most beautiful colors, shapes and forms, nothing is more beautiful. Except the tulips that enter in the season with their colors and forms. What better floral bookends can there possibly be?

Now I don’t want to give the chrysanthemums the short end of the floral stick because they are stunning in their own way, and may I just say that they are budding up beautifully. It is just the dahlias have a much bigger wow factor. They each have their own season though and that is what makes flower farming so interesting. Each major crop really has its own season.

The flower shed will continue with its summer hours for a few weeks more, then I think we will switch to late summer fall hours which will just be Fridays. This has nothing to do with my eye, it’s just that the flower variety will be a lot less and the daylight will be a lot less. I will let you know when that happens don’t worry. The weather looks as though we are going to be frost free for a few more weeks, fingers crossed, so there will still be plenty of flowers for you to enjoy.

I am going to stop here. Going a bit crossed eye. Just remember to tell me, patience, and don’t be stupid, Kerwin.

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

Happy September! Just can’t believe it.

I find it so hard to believe that we are in September but boy does it feel like it and sound like it. The swamp maples are starting to change color, the golds are becoming more prominent, the dahlias are going full tilt and the chrysanthemums are looking quite good.

The chrysanthemums are daylight sensitive so as the days get shorter, and they certainly are, the flower buds develop. Kinda like pointsettias, they also need short day length to redden the bracts.

I am already going through next year’s grow list, or what not to grow list precisely. On the chopping block, cosmos, I love them but… they are a pain. If I do grow them they will be started and planted out later and maybe fewer. Another one. Marigolds. I love them, and they do well, but as soon as the evenings start to cool and the morning dew gets going they turn to trash. That frees up some space for more perennials, not much, but some. I will probably plant more dusty miller, various basils and scented geraniums for filler/greens but out with the mahogany splendor. As much as I love its form and color it just doesn’t condition well. Period.

I get my best flower thinking time sitting on the tractor outside the garden, looking over the garden and making notes. And the view from there is spectacular as well, especially at the end of a long day in the garden. Since I never take time to sit in the gardens to enjoy them i find sitting in the tractor seat just as fine.

While I think of it, there is a slim possibility the flower shed will be closed or late on Tuesday but I wont know until it happens. I am just giving a heads up. I plan to be here, but I could be late.

Do come by the flower shed, the flowers are spectacular, if I must say so, and sit on the tractor seat for the view and relax. So until next week..

Allie. I dream of flowers, do you?

The Last Sunday of August

It is hard to believe that August is over after tomorrow. I wonder how that happened, but as I look out into the gardens I can certainly believe it. The late summer flowers are going crazy, as are the crickets.

The zinnias, celosia are also adding their bursts of vivid color and the chrysanthemums are budding up, hard to believe I know.

For those of you not in the know, I am going to give a quick little update here. On Tuesday Aug 18 I noticed something was off with my vision, so I called my optometrist who quickly made an appt for me at the local Medical Eye Center in Peterborough. Like an immediate appointment. Steve drove me directly to the office were I was immediately seen. Detached retina and tear. They immediately sent me to their office in Manchester where a gas bubble was injected in to push the retina back in place. I then had to spend the next eight days like this.

Then last Wednesday I had a laser treatment, very interesting as well, to stitch the retina back into place. So now, I can have my head upright in it’s normal position, but if I am resting, I need to have it sideways. All my remaining summer sports are done for the year. No swimming, no nothing. Rest is required. That means that no weeding, but I can harvest and create, so my world is still good. In three weeks I go back for a check up. The gas they injected should dissipate in another six weeks? Fingers crossed. It is also interesting, like looking through a big water bubble. Anyway, as long as I am mindful and don’t do anything stupid, I should be good to go and not require surgery.

So. Now back to flowers. Which are looking fantastic if I must say so. I mean just look at these.

I had a floral commission for this past Saturday for an amazing birthday celebration. These are just some of the many table flowers…

Then I was asked to make a posey as a gift to the same birthday girl..

To round out your viewing pleasure? The last photo is of the twiggery, looking up the hill.

I am going to send this off to Steve now for some massive spelling checks. I will be back next week to welcome in September. Yikes!

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

Now the Calendar says August…

It says August on the calendar, August 15th to be precise, but I swear it feels like mid September. Coolish days, low humidity and nighttime temperatures? Seriously? Low 50’s top high 40’s! Not that I am complaining one bit, but it does get me thinking about what is in our future weather-wise.

The flowers aren’t complaining. They are looking fantastic. I am noticing the marigolds are starting to liking these night temperatures and the dewey mornings, they are starting to go off, at least the foliage is, but who needs the foliage once the flower is cut, most of it is taken off anyway, so now all of it is removed. As long as the flowers look good I say.

The dahlias are coming in quite nicely. I’m not harvesting bucketfuls yet, but there are plenty to go around for everyone to have their share.

One of my flower people and I were talking the other day about how the colors are changing, we are now going into the jewel tones in the flower world, so I mentioned the 24 Japanese seasons. In a quick synopsis: the Japanese recognize 24 seasons, each about 15 days long noting subtle changes in the weather and agriculture.

I, as a flower farmer, notice it in what flowers are coming in and out of season. I am sure you remembers me saying that the iris are ready, and will be gone soon, or the roses are in season, but will be gone soon. The changes are very small, but if you spend enough time in the gardens, or at the flower shed you will also see it by what I have available. Some are short lived seasons, some are longer but they all have their season. And that is what makes locally grown flowers so magnificent because the truly speak of the season and of the time.

If you were to compare an arrangement from say May, to now, the container and mechanics are the same, but the flowers are completely different.

The May photo is not the one I wanted, but you get the gist. Every 15 day season is different. If I was to do another photo at the end of the month, you will see how different it would be.

But, I did take a lot of photos of Fridays arrangement, from all angles…

Sadie is telling me it’s time to do chores so she can have dinner so I will pass this off to Steve.

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

The Days of August…

To be honest, I am starting to feel a little weary. August does that. It could be last week’s heat and humidity that slammed me, or just August. I’m certainly not bored, just weary. The gardens aren’t weary though. They are still going strong, as they should be.

Speaking of dahlias….they are on their way to your homes…

I didn’t note the variety names when I took the photos, but here they come!

Speaking of coming…I received notification from UPS that the 60 iris (10 of six varieties) that I ordered will be delivered tomorrow. No, I am not ready for them, but I will put them in the cooler for a week or two until I am. I am in the throes of ripping out plants that are not earning their space, grouping things together, moving things completely because of the voles… you know how it goes. Gardens are not static.

Rain, it is always a topic here. How much did we get this week? How dry is it? and so forth, I thought I would give you last Thursday’s drought map.

As you might remember, Steve and I are off to Austin TX for a whiskey class so the flower shed will be CLOSED on Tuesday. I will not be taking my laptop with me so I will not be able to send out a reminder that we will be closed. We WILL BE OPEN ON FRIDAY though, but again, I won’t be able to send a reminder unless I send it out at 11:00 Thursday night. That will depend on my energy level. I will try to post something on Instagram but no promise.

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

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?

The last Sunday of July! GASP

I just don’t know where the time has flown to, but can you believe that I have been supplying flowers for already for six months? We started with tulips mid February, more or less, and here we are nearly at the end of July. Don’t worry though. There are still three months of flowers to go. Yay for all flower lovers.

I have a half row of back breaking de compacting the row between the peonies to go. I will be glad when that is done for sure. I have to do some measuring this week because the question is, can I feasibly fit a row of peonies between the existing rows. Back when I was recovering from shoulder surgery I planted a bunch of peonies, sorta doubling up the rows, and this just isn’t working. Period. So, if I can fit a row easily between, so everything has space to grow well and the grower can easily get between the rows, I can move many of the peonies now. If not, I will have to wait until the dahlias are dug so I can move them into the short dahlia row. Personally, I would love to get it done now, but it all depends on wether I can get a row in between. I will let you know. I will also be looking at rehoming some peonies so if you are interested, by all means let me know.

I have done the first row of string to hold up the dahlias. I am encouraging them to grow to meet the string and go beyond. Some are setting flower buds, many are struggling because they have been a food group for the voles. Damn voles. They have also taken out the liatris this year. Ugh. So this fall, fingers crossed, when I make some room I will be planting them somewhere else in the garden. Hopefully away from the hungry little basards.

The flowers are coming out of the garden fast and furious.

For all of you asking, Steve’s knee is doing better. TG. Thank you for sending good vibes. He is still icing but he did two dog walks this weekend, so no more couch time Olivia. If Steve walks, you walk. That goes for Jager as well.

Enough about Steve. What is up in the flower world. The summer annuals are here. Cosmos, Zinnias, coreopsis, the celosia, oh the celosia, alas no dahlias yet. I will let you know, don’t worry. We have flowers with color, flowers with texture, flowers with character…sorta like the flower farmer.

I finish off with a welcome baby FlagLeaf Hank bouquet.

Oh, I need a bit of tech support. If anyone out there can help me out I would greatly appreciate it. Won’t take long, promise. I just need to get rid of the spammers who are signing up for the blog and newsletter. I’ve done what I can I think, but I am a bit lost. I never said I was good at tech, but I can grow flowers….Anyway, off to Steve.

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

Do I Have Flowers!

They say that a good flower farmer should never have flowers in their fields. They should all be sold and the fields should just be green with buds. As you can see, I slightly disagree. Yes, I do keep the annuals cut so most of the time there is nothing to see, but the perennials I sell by the order and I leave the rest for the pollinators, and boy is the garden full of pollinators and birds. All good in my book, and hopefully yours.

I think I had mentioned that one of my projects was to broadfork the aisles between the peonies because the drainage was poor. What a project this has become. I started on Friday, and in four hours all I got done was one aisle and it just about killed me. And the broadfork.

Each try was at least 4 stabs, more like 6-8 stabs into the earth, rocking the fork back and forth to loosen up the soil. Then I had rocks that had to be dug out. Hard to believe I know. Beside the broadfork, I was also using a shovel and a spud bar to try to get the rocks out and out of the way. Some I will have to roll under the fence so I can pick them up with the tractor because I know better than to try to lift them.

I will say that I am very proud of this accomplishment. I am not looking forward to the next row, but that is for this week. Then I will sow a cover crop of tillage radish and hopefully it will get a toehold this time and will be able to open up more spaces. Only time will tell.

I think the compaction is from when Garth ran his digger back and forth for a week de-rocking and smoothing it out so I could make a garden. No heavy machinery has been on the garden since and I only broadfork now in the raised beds I should be good once I finish.

I have been so busy this week I haven’t even had time to do any flower arrangements for my #windowsillthursdays or my #intentionaltuesdays. A sad state of affairs in my flower arranging world but being busy with flower sales is good.

I have almost finished emptying out the tunnel of the ranunculus and anemone, almost, then I have to replace the irrigation in the tunnel then I will put the chrysanthemums that are growing in crates in the tunnel. I am giving myself a deadline of July 31 to get that all done. Meanwhile, I have a bunch of perennials that need to be cut down before they take over and hopefully get a second flush of blooms.

The gardens are looking beautiful right now so please swing by and see them. I know I certainly enjoy the break to stand up, take a break and talk flowers.

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

A busy Week in July

It’s interesting, some weeks the flower farm is busy with flower orders going out, and some weeks I get a lot on my list done. This last week was the first. I had three special orders going out, two were for tables after memorial services, a special arrangement, a big wholesale order for an event and two other orders.

The little daisy like flowers in the left on are a new coreopsis I am growing this year. I just love the colors and airyness. They are from seed I got from a grower in VT at the flower conference I went to in January. I have four varieties and they are all really cool. They are also with a variety of self sown rudbeckia and queens annes lace.

The bouquet on the right has malope, snapdragons, fillipendula, campanula, yarrow, veronica and blushing lanterns.

Speaking of self sown rudbeckia, when I was harvesting for the above arrangements I saw this beauty. I am going to flag the plant because I think these flowers are just beautiful.

I haven’t planted rudbeckia for about two years now, I just let them reseed. this year I have a beautiful patch of them and then this one. Amazing what happens when you must let nature takes its course.

What did I do on the farm this last week? I got a lot of harvesting done, I cleaned out the cooler, pinched the chrysanthemums that are growing in the crates, I cut down all the cool annuals in the tunnel and started pulling the first batch of ranunculus corms to save for next year. All very important but small jobs that I could fit in.

This weeks is fertilize the annuals, get the stakes in the dahlias, work on the weeds, and that is just some of the flower stuff. Then I have the rest of life stuff that also has to get done cause Steve’s knee is out yet again. It does seem to be slowly improving, or maybe that is just my wishful thinking and manifesting it. Olivia has done something to her right shoulder, in comisseration with Steve so she is off the the vet tomorrow. Oh the joys.

I have one last photo, of bits and bobs flower arrangement.

I am going to give this to Steve to proofread while I do the goats and chickens. Have a lovely week, and until next week, Allie. I dream of flowers, do you?

Three Days Away

After a horribly hot and humid week we decamped to the lake for the long weekend and boy was it needed. As I said to one of my flower people, I will be out of the office until Sunday night and will not be looking at my emails. It worked. I had three beautiful days away, kayaking, swimming, reading…Now I am back full of something or other.

I haven’t walked the gardens yet, that will happen when we go out to the barn, but I am sure they will be fine. The watering system should have done the job, and I am sure the voles have been busy dining, the weeds growing and everything else, but that is for later, if not tomorrow.

You all will be proud of me. At least Steve is proud of me. I was tempted to order 6 trays of 32 perennial plugs for the garden. After stewing about it for a day, I decided that even though I am leaning towards more perennials and woodies I really don’t want to make a huge investment on 216 perennial plugs. If I did that then a row at least would have to go from the annuals, and really, am I ready for that? I am still reducing the farming when I am 70, that is what I have promised Steve. I still have some time to change my mind…but if I add them, I will have to find some more wholesale accounts.

The flower shed schedule is back to normal now until August. Tuesdays from 2-5 and Fridays from 9-2:00 unless you have a special order.

The dahlias have been fed and have had their pinch. This week the plan is to get the stakes in so they will be able strung up when they are ready, i.e. tall enough. The cosmos are starting to bloom as is the celosia, marigolds and hopefully the zinnias, so the summer flower bunches aren’t far behind. Remember to ask for the flower food with the summer flowers. It keeps the water cleaner, or add a couple drops of bleach to the water to kill the bacteria. Believe me, it does make a difference.

I have no photos this week. It was too hot to do anything but get the essential flower stuff done. I will be much better about it this week and hopefully the following weeks. I haven’t even done any flowers for me this week!

I will pass this off to Steve. Thank you for reading this weekly missive. I do enjoy writing it and sharing my trials and tribulations as a aging flower farmer.

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