Author: Allie

So here we are at nearly mid June. Where has the time gone? I have been selling flowers now for five amazing months and although the flower journey is only about half way through, I keep getting the question, for how long will I have flowers? And the plan is until the killing freeze sometime in October so don’t wish my floral life away. I will have plenty of flowers for plenty of time yet.

The peonies are still happening, and I have harvested plenty that are in the cooler waiting for you. I have some that are still tight buds so….I would say peonies will be available for a few weeks yet. Meanwhile, the ranunculus that I planted directly in the high tunnel are going really well. The ones that got us until now that I had planted in the crates are done for the season, but the ones in the high tunnel are looking really, really good. On the other hand, the anemones that had been doing so well have decided that they have had enough for the season. I might get a few more stems, but it is time for them to take a rest until next spring. But, that is the beauty of flower growing locally. There is truly a flower season to understand and enjoy. Yes, I can get the flowers to come in a bit earlier by using a tunnel, and yes, I can hold them a bit longer with the cooler, but the flowers and the weather really dictate what happens on the flower farm as far as availability, and that is what makes it exciting.

Speaking of exciting, look at what i found this morning as I was checking how the irrigation was working.

The first sweet pea of the season! What a surprise that was. That was like walking into the barn one morning and finding twin baby goats!

So what do I have on offer this week coming. Peonies for sure, orlaya, stock, the best I have ever grown by the way. I don’t have much stock but I will make sure I will next year for sure. Icelandic poppies, ranunculus, and I will just have to wait and see what else happens.

The gardens are almost all planted now. I have a few gaps to fill, another sowing of sunflowers to be seeded and some just about ready to be planted out along with the last sowing of cosmos. The dahlias are starting to emerge….and I am still as busy as ever.

As always, I look forward to seeing you all, you certainly make all this worthwhile. Your joy with my flowers makes this so worthwhile.

If you haven’t sent a “hi” return email back to me so I know that you are receiving these blogs and you are on the mailing list please do so. Many of you have email me back and that is great but I haven’t heard form many of you so I am just hoping that this isn’t going into your spam box. Returning just a ‘hi ‘shows the email server that you want these missives and not to put me in the spam or promotions folder.

So. Until next week. Think flowers. Allie

Here we are already in June. Am I excited? Am I overwhelmed? Am I exhausted? Yes, to all of the above. The good news is that now that June is here, just about everything is in the ground. I have another sowing of the late blooming cosmos to seed yet, and a few more sowings of sunflowers to do, but the main push, to get all of the summer annuals in the ground is complete as well as getting all the dahlias planted. Now, I have no idea how many I planted, just a lot. But really who can say no to purchasing dahlia tubers in the winter months of January when one so wants their vibrant and intense color of summer. Shopping cart full. Guilty.

Jager has been hard at work trying to get the destructive rodents. He has been working so hard he has rubbed off his eyebrows and now has big scars. Silly dog. Gotta love him though, but to be honest, clawless Mikey is a far better hunter. Thank you Joyce.

The peonies are slowly trickling in. I should be able to harvest a lot this week with the warmer temperatures. A couple shot open this weekend while we were at the lake so they will just add beauty and color to the gardens. I can even view some while I am typing this. They are so beautiful. If I harvest them at the correct stage, I can hold them for weeks so you all will have an extended peony season, versus what you would normally get if you were to pick them out of your garden. Yay for my amazing flower cooler!

One of the best things about being a small flower grower is that I can grow some of the really unusual things that might not be seen at a regular flower shop or even a farmers market. The Fox Tail lilies are sending up their shoots and I have even one showing color. These are perfect as one stem in a wine bottle, they are that stunning, so you need to keep stopping by. The campanula I started by seed this spring are showing some beautiful buds, the shrubs and vines are making very interesting filler, and I am having a blast making bouquets. I can be creative and I am loving that. That being said, I will have bouquets available on open flower shed days and you will still be able to buy by the stem so you can create your own masterpiece.

Any yes, I still have tulips and they are still on sale. They are still looking absolutely stunning, and will have beautiful bouquets with the oncoming peonies and the other flowers that are rocking in.

What else do I have to say? Hmmm, not much, but hope to see you all at the flower shed soon.

Oh yeah, and if you can, could you just send me a simple “Hi” return so I know that you have received this. Some of the blogs and newsletters are going into the spam boxes, and just saying Hi back to me lets me know that you are good to go. Many thanks.

Until next week. Allie

HAPPY LONG WEEKEND. Yes, it is practically the end of May, only two more days left. Hard to believe that we are almost, almost half way through the year. But first, we are going to celebrate. What, you might ask? We are having a tulip sale. Yup, I have had enough of tulips. You must remember that I have been doing tulips in one fashion or another since December so, a tulip sale is in order. I want them all gone, and I still have some absolutely stunning varieties, doubles, fringed doubles, singles and just about every color you could want. For every dozen you buy, they will be $10.00 a doz. If you want less than a dozen it will be a dollar a stem. Either way it is a true bargain. Yup and easy math for me. And bring all your friends, Tuesdays tulip sale is open to everyone.

So. When you come to the flower shed on Friday, I will have peonies, ranunculus, Icelandic poppies and, fingers crossed, the beginning of the cool annuals.

I have planted half the annual flowers, and this week the dahlias are going in the ground. More sowing of sunflowers, and some serious housekeeping in the dirty room. We have set a peanut butter bucket in the greenhouse to hopefully catch the damn rodents that are eating my ranunculus corms. At this rate, I won’t have any left to overwinter for next year. Honestly, if it isn’t one thing, it’s another.

The sun has almost left the garden so I must get out and water. Until next week. Allie

Wow, we sure have had some hot, un-spring like weather lately. I remember saying not that long ago that it was such a cool spring we were running about two week late in the season. No more, we blew that out of the water two weeks ago. One cannot predict Mother nature, nor should one try if one wants to keep their sanity. One just learn to roll with it the best one can. And I am trying. Really I am.

To mitigate the extreme temperature, I have hung frost cloth from the rafters of the greenhouse to break the intensity of the sun and it is sorta working but when the temps outside are in the nineties, it is truly hard to keep the greenhouse cool. I water early, harvest early, but I am sad to say the the ranunculus that I have waited so long for are looking peeked, kinda like the flower farmer. I am hoping to harvest a bit longer, but only the temperatures will tell. I do have some planted in the ground, verses the crates that are looking better, maybe because they are in the ground and maybe because they were planted later in the year. Hard to tell, but they are so stink’n beautiful, and they look so beautiful paired with the tulips. The anemones seem to be fairing with the heat better which is good.

Speaking of tulips, I still have many beautiful varieties available. Some stunning French singles, bodacious doubles, bi-colors and more. I am only conditioning what I think I can sell on the open flower days and I try to have an interesting selection available for your choosing. These are flowers that opened on Tuesday during open flower day. Almost a week later and they are still looking beautiful. And my house is not cool, believe me.

Then I have these tulips that I don’t know if they can get more beautiful.

This week is the big push to get a lot of of the summer annuals in the ground. Steve is going to hook up the irrigation for me, so that will help tremendously. I only have three flower days a week to devote the the gardens, so I try to get as much done as possible without doing myself in. Not always easy to pace oneself with deadlines, but I am trying to be smarter with my body.

What flowers are on deck next? I would say that by Memorial day I will have peonies, and some of the cool annuals such as agrostema, orlaya, Icelandic poppies and other flowers, but that depends on Mother Nature.

I know that I have had some new people sign up for the newsletter and blog, so I just want to give you a warm welcome and give you a quick overall of Flowers at Lottarock. The flower shed is open on Tuesday afternoons from 3-6 and Friday mornings from 9-2. There is always room for new members. Members? sorta, but not really. For $100 you get a simple debit card, and the flowers you choose are deducted from your balance. Your card can always be topped up whenever you want. The cards are good for two years. I hope to have flowers available from Mid February through to mid October. The flowers can be purchased by the stem, or I can make a bouquet for you. I look forward to seeing you so my flowers will bring you as much joy as they do for me.

And last but not least. Because we are crazy here at Lottarock Farm and because we don’t have enough on our plates…Let me introduce you all to Whiskey and Bear. Our newest additions.

Until next week. Allie

Here I was lamenting how cold spring was and bam! Summer. Oh, it isn’t pretty. I mean it is stunningly beautiful, but the cool flowers are not happy. Not one bit. I have pulled all the tulips and they are safely enjoying the AC in the bulb room, all tucked in for open flower shed days. There are lots of amazing varieties to be had, from french tulips to stunning doubles to just out of this world colors.

Because if this heat, for the moment I will be having open shed days underneath the garage. All you will have to do is follow the sign and the driveway. That space is alot cooler than the flower shed is and I am doing everything I can to keep the flowers looking beautiful for you. I guess for the moment we will be the flower garage.

The heat is causing other problems as well. The ranunculus and anemones that were starting to look sooooo good, don’t like this heat at all. I have tacked of some light frost cloth to try to break the greenhouse getting so extremely hot, but with the ambient air at 85 degrees, it ain’t much, but it is some. Keep your fingers crossed that they will keep going and not decide to start to go dormant. On the other hand, the plants in the high tunnel are now going gang busters with the heat so go figure. A plant and growing technique for every season.

I am behind in the sowing and the transplanting. I have been holding down the fort while Steve is away and just lets say that there aren’t enough hours in the day. Or there are enough hours, but I am good for only a portion of them. Up at 5:30, in the garden by 5:45 trying to beat the heat and collapsing by 9:30 and still not getting everything done. Oh well. It will all eventually get done. Or not. The good news is that the first of the Icelandic poppies are starting to bloom and they don’t seem to mind the heat so the flowers continue.

With the tulips all pulled I have let the dogs into the garden for rodent patrol, besides now tilling up the beds and aerating them, I have a very tired and dirty garden dog.

And I leave you with this weeks bouquet, with Mikey in repose. What a life.

Until next week. Allie

What a week! What a Day! But first. Happy Mothers Day to all, non mothers included because you too are important and vital to households giving love and support as well. I am a mother to all the critters on the farm, so therefor, I also celebrate. Even having a mimosa to celebrate my mother and my mother in laws life. Cheers ladies.

The tulips are rocking in fast and furious. If it is sunny and warm I am harvesting tulips, narcissus and anemone three times a day. If it is cloudy and cool, I can get away with just one harvest. Last Thursday I got in a minor panic. The bulb room hadn’t been set up with its new cooling system and I had tulips coming on like mad so my darling Steve hooked up the new aircon and we are good to go. And just in the nick of time because I needed the cooling space. Bless him. I knew I married him for something. Need I say, that the cooler is filling up nicely and smells like an intense florist shop. Yumm.

The tulips and narcissus are going strong, as are the anemones. The frittilaria are now being allowed to go to seed. The ranunculus are starting to come in as are the allium and leucojium (otherwise known as Giant Snowflake). Certainly in a week there will be more flowers in the offering. All dependent on Mother Nature of course, but exciting none of the less.

Yes, the anemone have little greenfly. Yes, they will stay there. They are doing no harm to the flower, the numbers are low and I prefer not to use any insecticides, even insecticidal soap because first they will ruin the flower faster than ever, and second, I really don’t want to use anything because of the ecosystem I am building here. If they are really bad I won’t sell them, If you want a perfect flower then you may not want to buy them, but those are our choices.

So I made a snap call last night to open the flower shed for Mothers Day, and thank you to everyone who came out. I had lots of lovely tulips and flowers to offer and it was such a beautiful day to travel to the farm.

The plants in the high tunnel, greenhouse and the garden are all looking good. Requiring a lot of water because of the wind whipping all the moisture out of everything but they are getting bigger. I can even see them from a few feet away now. Onward and upwards they say.

It looks like, for the time being because I have so many flowers, that the flower sheds hours will now include Tuesday afternoons from 3 to 6 as well as Fridays from 9 to 2. It might be a bit chaotic, but you are probably used to that by now with me. I look forward to seeing you.

I leave you with the photo of this weeks bouquet. Not my photo, but Steve’s.

Till next week. Allie

Holy Moly, here we are at May 1. I don’t know whether to be in a panic or excited. Doesn’t matter, it is the first of May, and things are a rock’n at Lottarock. Where do I begin? The anemones are requiring a daily harvest, the ranunculus are so close, oh so close to being harvestable and available, the narcissus are going gang busters and the tulips? Ah yes, there will be tulips available at the flower shed this Friday, especially if the rest of the week are days like this. OMG, what a day this is.

This mornings harvest. ‘Scuse the “model” holding them. But just look at those flowers!

In answer to your burning questions, yes, the spring flowers are rocking in here at Lottarock. I have been busy watering every day the wind is just whipping the moisture out of everything, my face and lips included. Where is my Burt’s Bees? People might look at me quizically when I say it is dry, but it is, trust me.

The summers annuals seeding is progressing nicely. This seasons perennials have been planted out, the older perennials are starting to look good, like something is happening anyway. The peonies, the next big exciting thing here at the farm, once we move on past the early spring flowers, are putting on some good growth. My days are busy, but that is good. It is keeping me out of mischief.

At this point I am going to keep the flower shed hours open just on Fridays from 9-2. But that is all up for change ’cause I can, and if I am overwhelmed with flowers, I might open on Tuesday afternoons, but that will have to wait and see.

I am leaving you with a photo of last week’s posey. Let’s see, anemones, fritillaria, narcissus, andromeda and pine. My next challenge is to make a bouquet a week, photograph it well (like Francis Palmer, have you see her work?) and record it for you. That way I am hopefully improving two skills. Flower composing and photography.

So. Until next week, may the weather be balmy with a slight breeze to keep the black flies away and some lovely evening showers to help the flowers grow. Allie

So here we go, round two is coming up. What does that mean? Well, we are all done with the forced tulips, I, or we have taken a week’s deep breath, and now we are beginning the next round, the in ground tulips. Just to let you know, they are just as stressful as the forced ones but in a different way. Now I am truly contending with Mother Nature, and she can be fickle.

The good news is, it looks as though I will have tulips available for Friday, but please pay attention to the newsletter on Thursday night. I WILL have some beautiful narcissus available so you don’t have to raid your garden for a beautiful bouquet. There are anemones, yes still with short stems but they look beautiful in a little bud vase, the frittilarria are now standing up straight and, if they are listening to my whisperings, they should be close to harvest.

There is something about little flowers. You have to stop and look at their beauty, or to be more eloquent, to pause to enjoy their beauty. They are not a stand up and look at me, and I will have plenty of those, but a small vase of these on your desk, by your bed, or maybe a favorite place, in the loo, where a lot of pause happens.

So what have I done on the “week off”? Well, I supplied flowers for a bridal shower, and also for the fundraiser of Music on Norway Pond. That was a lot of flowers, and I was harvesting and conditioning them about every hour trying to hurry them up. Let me just say that breathing warm air over them in impatience DOESN’T work. In the end it all worked out.

Meanwhile back at the flower farm, the sweet peas that I wasn’t going to grow are now planted in the garden. Steve, bless him, helped me, or let me help him, put up the sweet pea fence and planted commenced on Friday. I also go the second round of cool crops planted next to them.

So It goes like this, first sow the seeds. Upon germination, move the seed tray to under the lights until big enough to transplant into larger soil blocks. Leave the seed tray dirty room until big enough, or warm enough to be hardened off in the greenhouse. Then when that space gets to full, they get more hardened off outside the greenhouse waiting for planting in the garden beds and the greenhouse space is filled again. It should be set to music, the seedling shuffle.

I leave you with this, the next HUGE seeding starts this week, the perennials need to be planted out, the donkeys are having their teeth floated, which I think means they get ground down, and flowers will probably be harvested two or three times a day because it is that time of year. None of this is a complaint, by the way, just the way it is.

Until next week. Allie

Welcome to the flower shed.

Here we are, a beautiful spring day, if you like cold wind from the west and snow showers all day, but it is spring, and the flowers and I can’t be stopped. Slowed maybe, but not stopped.

Hurrah! The last of the forced tulips are done and sold. I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for supporting Flowers at Lottarock for our tulip forcing endeavor. Yes, it was a huge learning curve, yes, the variety was limited, but next spring will be bigger and better I promise. I I will work on the stem topple. Even though the stems give away, for some reason, the flowers still looked amazing for a week either cut shorter, or just left as is in the bouquet it is very frustrating to have happen.

Now I am waiting for the field grown tulips to catch up. I have to supply flowers for two events this next weekend….so unless we got some really warm and really sunny days….I may not be open on Friday, but one never knows with Mother Nature. So wait for Thursday’s newsletter and I will let you know.

This is where we are at the moment….

If a flower farm has lots of flowers blooming in their field, they don’t have enough sales. Most flowers need to be harvested before they open. Once they are open, they are normally visited by pollinators, and the flowers can start to make seed and ten they start to die off. So the flowers need to be harvested when they are normally just showing color, that way they will last much longer for you, my flower lovers.

Seeding is progressing, the space shuffle is commencing, but I will be honest, it is awfully nice to be able to walk into the dirty room and not have to worry about where you are going, or the dogs tearing about and the tulips getting wrecked. They are out of there for the year. Phew and Yay!

So I leave you with this…the tulips are coming, as are the narcissus, the anemones are being harvested and the ranunculus are starting to throw visible buds, and I am a happy flower farmer.

Until next week. Allie

Welcome to the Flower shed!

It is amazing how some weeks it seems as though I have tons to report, and other weeks not quite as much. So much of it is weather dependent but…I do have things to report.

This week will be the last of the forced tulips! For me that is exciting because I will, hopefully, in the following week be able to offer something different. The in ground tulips are growing right along, especially with that good dose of rain we had the last few days. Now with some heat I am hoping to be able to start seeing flower buds and the wonderful variety starts. Variety is the spice of the flower grower’s life.
This flower grower anyway.

The narcissus are budding up quite nicely, and before we know it there will be beautiful mixed arrangements for offer. That’s right. Mixed flowers. The ranunculus are s-l-o-w-l-y budding, but the anemone are starting to get decent length stems, the narcissus are looking really good, I have some lovely flowering branches, so there is much to look forward to here at the flower shed in the next few weeks.

The high tunnel is full to the brim, the sweet peas that I wasn’t going to grow are out in the greenhouse getting ready for their first pinch, and the perennials have been moved outdoors because I needed room in the greenhouse. From this time of year until everything is planted out in June, it is a constant shuffle of plants from one space to another, but by some miracle it all seems to work.

For the time being, the shed hours will stay at Friday, from 9-2. As always, stayed tuned to the newsletter to find if there are any changes.

Remember this,
April showers, bring April flowers. Until next time. Allie