I’m thrilled to share that the latest episode of The Floret Farm Journal is now available to watch!
November on the farm feels like a watercolor painting. The days are dark and damp and a heavy fog often lingers for most of the morning, but the landscape is still bright, shimmering with golds, oranges, and rusty browns—the last bit of color before everything lets go. There is also a stillness to the month that you can hear; frosty leaves crunch under the weight of our boots, ripe walnuts thump to the ground, and hundreds of swans fly over our fields on their way to the river.
In this month’s episode, the team works on putting the farm to bed, removing all of the plastic from the hoop houses, digging up the dahlias, and cleaning endless amounts of seed. While a lot of tidying is taking place, we are also intentionally leaving as much “mess” as possible to support the wildlife that shares this space with us. Dried seed heads, berry-laden branches, and rotting crabapples will all provide a steady food source throughout the colder months to come. In the greenhouse, the heirloom chrysanthemums put on quite a show—the final hurrah of the flower season and a much-needed dose of beauty.
EPISODE RESOURCES
Dahlia Digging
One of our last fall tasks here on the farm is digging up our dahlias and safely storing them away for the winter. If you’d like to learn how and when to dig up your dahlia tuber clumps, how to divide them so you can multiply your stock each season, and how to successfully store your tubers over the winter, you can sign up for our Dahlia Mini Course here. This video series is free, but registration is required.
Gardening for Wildlife
Fall is when many gardeners clean up their gardens and put them to bed for the winter. Rather than tidy up now, consider leaving the “mess” in place for a little longer. Birds and other critters feast on leftover seed heads, berries, and aging fruit as their food sources become more scarce in the winter months. If you’d like to learn more about supporting wildlife in your garden or on your farm, be sure to read Planting Hedges & Hedgerows to Invite Wildlife.
FEATURED PLANTS & VARIETIES
Chrysanthemums
Mums have gotten a bad rap over the years, but that has been slowly changing thanks to a number of passionate growers who have kept these treasured varieties alive. If you’re looking for plants, be sure to check out our Favorite Plant & Bulb Sources blog post.
If you’d like a tour of the varieties we trialed this season, watch Floret Studio Tour: Heirloom Chrysanthemums. And if you’d like to see many of the varieties we’ve grown over the years, visit the Chrysanthemum Collection in the Floret Library. We’ll be adding many more varieties to it in the coming year.
After you watch the episode, I’d love to hear what resonated with you the most. Please share in the comments section below.
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Cindy Nyberg on
Thank you! The November Farm Journal was so beautiful and I can relate to the beauty, quiet and peacefulness of the fall. Putting the garden to bed is satisfying. You and your team have earned the time to breathe. Like you and your team the Farm Journals are a true gift and inspiration. Never forget how much you bring to all of us. You are appreciated! Hoping for more in the New Year!