Author: Allie

I am sure you are wondering what happened to the Peony time. Well, it is still here, but just. This past weeks heat wave hasn’t done them any favors. I go out in the morning and harvest what I can, get them into water and with the heat, by evening I harvest them again. I am keeping them cool in the flower fridge, but outside, oh my they are going by fast. But in answer to your question, yes, I will still have peonies for this coming week.

But more exciting than peonies, and you might ask what is more exciting than peonies, are the sweet peas. I love sweet peas. They remind me of my grandmother. With today’s breeding and selection sweet peas have come a long way. I hope that I have chosen varieties you will like. But then, how can one go wrong with the beautiful fragrant flowers.

So this past week has been a week of watering. Deep soaking watering, and most of the plants are doing well. I can’t say I am terribly pleased with how the lisianthus are doing. They are notoriously difficult crop to grow, and this year is no exception. If I didn’t love them so much for their stunning, long lasting blooms I probably wouldn’t bother. I can’t say what the crop will be, or when, but we will struggle together. The lisisanthus and I. Could be a poem.

I think I have the new garden space mostly laid out and at least covered with bark mulch, and in my mind where things will go. I know, it is all up to change, but for the most part I think it’s good. I wish it would rain so I can get a cover crop sown, but at the moment that is going to have to wait. Can’t see feeding the birds expensive seed if I have no way of keeping it watered waiting for it to germinate. On deck to plant is the next crop of sunflowers and the pumpkins and gourds. Then I think I will be done with planting until fall. I think. I always have to leave room open for options. I am still planting perennials in the holding beds for the big fall planting but that doesn’t count.

So. Until next time. Allie

I feel as though I have been a chook running around with my head cut off this past week. Phew! I have finally gotten the last of the narcissus transplanted into their new beds. Was that a chore and a half, but it is all done. Until this fall’s shipment of bulbs arrives and I have to get them all planted, but that isn’t until October so I will be good for a few months yet. The last of the annual seedlings have been planted, another great task hurdle done, and now that the narcissus have been moved I can finally start getting the sunflower seedlings planted.

Steve has helped me get the barn poo cleaned out from the goat stalls into beds and we have covered all that with wood chip. As I was spreading more chip, and I even roped a friend into driving the tractor for me while we visited, I decided that this new area will be the perfect place to plant the pumpkins and gourds. Those seeds have been started and hopefully will be planted out by this time next week. Hopefully. That word can mean so much optimism. The netting has been put in place so the seedlings and plants will grow straight stems, but artfully curving stems are all the flower arranging rage now so hopefully that will also help.

The peonies are starting to come in fully now. Yay.

So this is a bouquet that I made out of left overs from last Friday’s open garden gate. I think it is still looking good despite a bit of trauma.

So we are nearing the end of the spring flowers. And honestly, it is very sad to see them go, but there is so much more in the upcoming weeks that will be just exciting. So I will say good bye to the spring bulbs, and hello, the beginning of summer flowers.

Check your mailbox for the newsletter for what is available on the open garden gate days.

Until next weeks blog, Allie

Here we are at June 7 and I am still planting flowers in the cutting garden. All the flowers that had fried to a crispy toast have been removed and replanted. Some replacements I had on deck, some are new ones that hadn’t been planted yet. Although I have tried to keep the beds planted in blocks to make harvesting easier, and it looks way cooler, it is now a bit haphazard. Oh well, they are all growing well now. I probably have another, let me think, four or five flats of 806’s which translates to 6×8=48×5=240 plants that yet have to go into the ground. All this week. Maybe Tuesday.

Meanwhile, bed construction still continues. I have most of the area flagged out, and we are shaping the spaces slowly. Hot work, but with Steve on the tractor and me shoveling it really does go faster than with just me. Tidier as well. Hopefully by July all the beds will be filled and if we ever get some decent rain, cover crops sown. If not, it will just be with what we have. Cardboard, wood chip and a dusting of compost. I also have the last fifty narcissus bulbs to get shifted this week because the sunflowers are beginning to go in and I need the space for them.

At the moment we seem to be going into a short lull. The ranuncs and anemones are nearing the end, sad, they were stunning, and the peonies are just hanging on to their tight buds with all their might. I have a few singles, but the bigger wow ones are taking their sweet time.

Listening to a podcast this afternoon after a short respite up at the lake cottage, a farming flower couple were excited because they were taking their first vacation together after seven years of starting their flower farm. Oh to be so young. My body wouldn’t last to those rigors anymore. Hopefully after this year the biggest push will be over, and then it will just be normal hard work.

Until next time, Allie

Wow, what a week it has been! I feel as though I have spent all my waking hours trying to keep water up to all the plants, it has been so hot. The shrubs, the perennials that are in the holding beds, and my poor little seedlings that were doing so well and that I was so happy with have been scorched to death from the intense heat and wind that we had this week. I would estimate that I lost about 40 percent of the new seedlings that I had planted just last week. The intense heat, the small root system that hadn’t had a chance to take hold, and the wind, my poor babies just roasted, I can’t even blame Sadie this time. Just Mother Nature, and oh she can be soooo cruel at times.

Enough of my whinging. Things have been going well here are Lottarock Farm. I have been slowly spreading bark mulch and compost on my new space, figuring our what is going to go where, working out the paths and trying to take my time so I get it right the first time. Getting too old to be rearranging all this every year. I think I have the space now designated for the little spring bulbs, the narcissus, the perennials and the peonies. Might as well get it all in now, because time goes way too fast.

So if you didn’t know, we are called Lottarock Farm because we have way too many rocks, not little rocks, but honking big rocks, bigger than VW beetles! While I might have a lot of rocks, I am quite shy on soil, so in order to prepare these future flower beds I am doing a few soil building experiments. Beds are being spread with bark mulch which I have from the tree clearing and topped with compost. Other beds have compost covered with bark mulch, and other beds yet with cardboard, bark mulch and compost, and last barn poo, cardboard, (to keep the dogs out of it) and bark mulch. It will be interesting to see what happens. It will all eventually become soil, but which will be the fastest. This is all part of my “No Till” experiment. With No Till, I am keeping all the nutrients in place and not damaging the soil structure so the plants have the best possible environment to establish themselves and thrive. At least that’s the idea. We’ll see how it goes. The most important thing is that I get that little bit of soil covered. I had plans of sowing everything with a cover crop but with it being so dry I just think I would be feeding the birds with the seed since every drop of water is very precious here at the farm. That is another story.

So between hauling water non-stop and building beds for next year’s flowers I have been pouring over the bulb catalogs to see what fabulous spring flowers I can tempt you with.

So you are asking what is up on deck for the future flowers here are the Rock? Well the peonies are starting in. I need some heat, but not wicked heat because we want those beautiful blooms to last and some natural rain would go a long way. For the flowers and my body. Also many of the perennials and bi-annuals are starting to happen so I guess all I can say at this point is stay tuned to the newsletter which will give you all the details. I leave you this to tempt you.

Until next time, Allie

Phew! What a week this has been. I think I finally have the new space figured out. But wait! I haven’t shown you the final grooming of said new space. Here it is, taken from the drone. What looks like a lot of space shrinks down when beds, paths and tractor ways go in, but here it is for you all to see.

Today was mostly spent planting out the flower beds. Whether I have enough space when it is all said and done it yet to be seen. This is what happened today.

I know, there are a lot of open holes yet, but look at what still has to go in!

In the meantime, we are creating new beds that will be planted this fall at the earliest. I need a bed or two for the spring bulbs, a bed for the peonies, one or two for the perennials. Then the shrubs that got planted the other day along the left side and back that will be used for cutting and adding to the bouquets. Lilac, flowering quince, physocarpus, oh that space will all be filled up soon. Then I will save some space off to the right behind the little shed for the pumpkins and gourds. Yes. it is a happenin’ place. A full happenin’, happy, beautiful space.

I have gotten a lot of lovely comments with photos of the flowers that you are taking home and making arrangements with or just taking beautiful photos of the flowers. Soon, I hope to be able to post them here so everyone can enjoy them. Especially my friends in Europe who can only enjoy them virtually.

We are at the tail end of the magnificent tulips, what a show they delivered. The anemones are still going strong and here is a lovely photo, not of the farmer, holding a bunch of rainbow colored ranunculas.

Until, next week. Allie

Well we are half way through May, phew, what a time we are having. I have been harvesting armloads of absolutely amazing tulips. Bicolored tulips, doubles, double fringed, a flower arranger’s dream. The ranucnulus are starting to come in fast and furious, the anemones are still going strong, the alliums are showing buds as well as the early peonies. Like I said, a flower lover’s dream.

I will never be a garden club flower arranger because I am not very good about following rules, but this bouquet was made from all flowers frown here at Flowers-at-Lottarock. There are a variety of tulips, ranunculas, narcissus, and then some beautiful magnolia, bleeding heart and spirea added because they were looking good in the garden at the time.

You to can make an amazing bouquet with an assortment of flowers from the farm, then just fill in with a couple of things from the garden and viola! In fact many of you are sending along pictures of the flowers that you have gotten and arranged. I love seeing this and am trying to figure out how to post them so they can be shared with everyone that is a member. All I need is a youngster to teach me what to do. So take those flower pictures, and send them along to my email allie@flowers-at-lottarock.com and I will try to figure out how to post them for you all to see. I think that this will be beautiful. Also important because many of those early tulips were sold before I got to see them open, and I think that would be fun as well.

The arrangements don’t have to be elaborate, even a stem in a vase will be lovely. It isn’t a competition, just I think you all would like to see what you are all creating. And as long as it makes you smile and happy, then I am happy. I leave you with this photo of my simple window sill posy.

To finish off, it looks as though we will have open flower gate on Tuesday afternoon this week. Like I said, I am harvesting bucketloads of beautiful flower stems. So stay tuned for the newsletter Monday night. Gasp, that is tomorrow! Hope to see you all soon, and your pictures of your created beauty. Allison

I have been flat out this week working in the gardens and ruminating about how all my new space is going to be filled. I have time still because the fine tuning needs to take place, but trying to wrap my head around the space and how to most efficiently fill it is challenging. When everything is raked out Steve will send up the drone so you can get a really good look at the space.

But how am I going to fill that space. High tunnel for season extension? Don’t think so much now, but I could change my mind yet again. I will need beds for spring bulbs that will need to be permanent, perennial and peony beds that will also need to be permanent, more annual beds and then the shrub borders. That new space is going to be filling up really fast that is for sure.

Meanwhile besides daydreaming of things to come, the immediate needs to be taken care of. The irrigation is finally hooked up and running. Haven’t needed it yet but if we don’t get some rain I will need to and we will be ready. Thank you to my darling Steve for helping me with that.

Then Friday arrives, and many of you made it to the farm gate open hours just after disaster struck.

I was going to be efficient and water the shrubs that had gotten transplanted into a new space between customers but as I was hauling my 65 gal water tank, the tongue of the trailer completely buckled, dropping the tank tap first into the driveway. All 600 some pounds of water had to be dumped out to get the tank out.

Anyway, by the time the first people came you could at least drive into the driveway. By later in the afternoon, I not only had a new trailer, but I was able to get the shrubs watered. Just in time for Saturday’s snow.

On the flower front the tulips are really starting to come in, the ranunculas are finally showing color, the amazing anemones are still going strong, and maybe the alliums? Time and the weather will determine.

Until next week, Allison

We had our first flower gate opening on Friday, May Day of course, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled. Many of you came out to give encouraging words, and better, become members and get flowers. It was supposed to be a cloudy and rain soaked day, but by the time we had opened Friday afternoon, the sun had come out. So had the black flies, but that is a given.

Besides being really excited about opening day, Garth was here with two excavators, creating havoc in order for me to plant more flowers and create more beauty. So, we went from looking like this Thursday night last…

To this. Quite the project. Garth has buried tons, no thousands of rocks, some the size of a Fiat or VW Beetle. No. Really. We aren’t called Lottarock for for our sand deposits.

Next week, when the big toy has been removed and it has been all smoothed out, you will see the after. It is really amazing this transformation here at Lottarock Farm.

But let’s get to the important part; The flowers. I will have a busy day or two in the dirty room transplanting hundreds of flower seedlings into cell pacs, and still do more seeding. I have to figure out the irrigation to get water to said flowers when they get transplanted out into the beds. First year learning curve.

The flowers themselves are really popping. Especially with the past few days of rain and now heat. I have harvested a bunch more beautiful narcissus, more anemone, and wait, wait, the ranunculus and the tulips are starting to show color which means, drum roll please, I will have them available for Friday. Here is a slight selection of the narcissus that will be, or were available

So, to finish up, the newsletter will give you the times that we will be open, and that will be posted the night before. At the moment I don’t foresee more than just Fridays, but who knows? But! I will let you know as soon as I know.

So for those of you who haven’t been here before, and I will say it again in the newsletter, we are at 76 Stoddard Rd in Hancock, and we will have a sign like this to direct you in.

Hope to see you all soon. Allie

What a crazy week this last week has been. Seeding and transplanting in the greenhouse, making garden beds ready for flowers when the time comes to plant them out and the biggest achievement, cleaning out the tool shed because that is where you all will be coming to select your flowers when the time comes.

So here is a before photo that Steve took of the tool shed. It was a catch all for just about everything. It still has to be a tool shed, but we also store the donkeys’ feed and hay in there, plus the mower, plus everything one needs for gardening and farming. Lets just say that this project was a two day project and will be at least two trips to the dump on Wednesday.

What a mess. Mess, yes, but I knew where just about everything was. Now that it is all organized, by Steve, I hope I will be able to quickly find things. It certainly does look better though and now we will be able to walk through it. And, I have an open bench to use as a floral workstation.

Back to flowers. Mother nature seems to be confused this April. We are having more winter like weather now in April that we did in March. And snow is in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning. Any of the daffodils that are at the gooseneck stage are going to be cut tonight. I just can’t take the chance that the snow will not flatten them. So keep you eyes open for a newsletter to let you know if I have enough for anyone on Tuesday.

The Anemones are slowly flowering, and the ranunculas are starting to bud. They aren’t showing color yet and if we get some nice days soon that might happen. The tulips are looking good and strong, and The sweet peas are looking very cold.

Here is this morning’s bouquet, and just think, soon, you to might have a bouquet to grace your table. That is if the weather cooperates and you have purchased your card (subscription).

Keep your eyes open for the newsletter. ‘Til next time. Allison

It seems as though this last weekend has been a day of snow, and day of mad working in the garden. I might have over done it a bit today. But since yesterday’s three inches of snow, I had a lot of make up time to do.

The flowers are coming in slowly. Honestly? I shouldn’t be surprised. It is still the middle of April and we are still getting “farmer’s snow” and for those of you who don’t know what farmer’s snow it is the last, or eventually last bits of snow that have nitrogen in it that is beneficial for the gardens. Enough. But then, I shouldn’t complain, look at what I have picked just before the last snow. I didn’t want them to get crushed by the heavy wet snow so I did what any gardener would have done. I picked them for inside. They are lovely.

So speaking of said flowers, one might ask, why on earth would I buy daffodils from Flowers at Lottarock when I have them blooming in my own garden? And the answer is, you can have the best of both worlds. You can still have beautiful flowers in your garden to enjoy from your kitchen window or when you are out patrolling for signs of spring, or… you can use your subscriptions and buy beautiful, preconditioned flowers to grace your kitchen or living room and still have plenty in the garden.

The Anemones are s-l-o-w-l-y coming in…when I was shutting down the greenhouse I think I might have seen a flower bud on the ranuculas. Dare I say Holy Crap! This is exciting. More than I can tell you.

So stay posted. If you are interested in getting farm fresh flowers that are locally and sustainably grown, please sign up on the blog and the newsletter. The blog hosts think I am a dud because no-one new has signed up. I just think it is because I have already entered you all because I think you love flowers. But soon, I would like it if you just signed up and show me that you re interested. I know my friends that are far far away just want to see what this crazy girl is doing and that is fine, but if you are interested, please sign up for the blog and the newsletter. That way my web host won’t think I am such a loser.

So stay tuned for the newsletter. The flowers at this stage which will be coming out are posies, and small bunches, and as soon as I have enough I will put out a note in the newsletter letting you know what is up.

I thank you all, and until next week, or the next newsletter. Allison