Spring Into Summer

Hello from the Farm!  I find myself (sort of) at a pause as we transition into the summer days.  The kids are done with school, the fields are 100% planted, and I am turning beautiful rows of spring gems like anemones and ranunculus over for succession planting of heat loving summer blooms. 

Many people ask- do you get to take a break during the season?  Short answer- not really!  We’ve been at this since February when we started seeds and tended to the over-wintered crops.  The wheels picked up in March as we began succession planting spring crops and prepping beds.  Then came the glorious Tulips, Specialty Narcissus, Anemones, Ranunculus and Peonies!  And thanks to learning the benefit of fall planted crops, we have been harvesting Hardy Annuals like Agrostemma, Orlaya, Bupleurum, Nigella, Larkspur, Dara, Cerinthe, and recently, SNAPDRAGONS! 

I have an amazing team who has worked so hard to bring this all together.  We hit my goal of the fields being 100% planted by Memorial Day weekend.  And things are looking good- probably the best in all of my years as a flower farmer.  I credit this to several things- 1. The soil health is getting where we need it to be; 2. I’ve learned a thing or two over these past six years, 3. TEAMWORK. 

I am ready to enjoy the delicate spring blooms and the transition to the summer heat-loving blooms that just shine in the brilliance of summer.  We planted approximately 900 dahlias last week, and I cannot wait to see them in bloom!  We’re seeding over 400 sunflowers per week, and I’m excited to plant a sunflower field for a special event later this summer. And in July, we will start seeding for the fall plantings that will overwinter for next season.  Never-ending!

Enjoy these early summer days!