I can not believe that this is the last Sunday of February, where the heck has the time gone? Probably with the snow. Boof, gone. Not that I am a great snow lover, but the gardens certainly do enjoy the protection of a good layer of snow. For example, the in-ground tulips are now open beds. Not good. The bed of chrysanthemums that I am trying to winter over are also now totally open. Not good, especially since they are on the edge of hardiness, a real steep edge. I need to get some cover on them sometime this week in case we get some more deep freezes. I wonder if bubble wrap on top of the beds would help? Hmmm.
Inside, spring is going full force. Tulip crates are going bonkers! I have tulips in storage everywhere! These are last Thursday’s haul getting ready for tulip Friday.
This week’s tulips are going to be more Columbus, Bell Song which is a pale pink with a white fringe, Flaming Flag and I think Dallas along with some stragglers from last week. They will all make a stunning bouquet.
The dirty room is full to the brim. On Tuesday I am planning to get the ranunculus transplanted into the crates and get them into the greenhouse, that will open up some space. I am also going to send out the perennial seedlings which will also open up a lot of space. Phew. I know that I will have to cover and uncover them each day when the nights get below freezing which it will because it will still be February and March, but a flower grower will do what a flower grower has to do. Hopefully by the next big seeding, which will be mid March, I will have space to put things.
You you may not know that back in the olden days when I was in Uni I studied both floriculture and landscaping. One of the things that got me into forcing tulips and other spring bulbs is because we used to force them at Woodmans in the cold frames back behind the sweet pea house. In my job in CT, we also forced bulbs for the Easter season. So after taking the course on tulips, my mind got to wandering and remembering and this is what I have managed.
So my goal for next spring is to also offer posy bunches of little flowers for “I am thinking of you gifts”. I mean you can give tulips as well, but these are charming I think. I am excited anyway.
I have been trying to send out the newsletter each Thursday so you all know that the flower shed is open and the hours. Unfortunately, I haven’t figured it all out yet, but fortunately 41 of you did get it. I am working on it and I do apologize but pay attention to this blog and to #flowersatlottarock for my missives on when I will have flowers.
THE FLOWER SHED WILL BE OPEN ON FRIDAYS FROM 10-2!
I leave you with this photo I just took of the flowers on the shelf. A bunch of mismatched tulips that were not good enough for you my flower lovers and a tiny bouquet of the little narcissus with forced forsythia and a sprig of my blooming witch hazel.
Until next week. I dream of flowers, do you? Allie