Whenever I image the growing year, I picture spring being our busiest season; summer our most exhausting and fall, as this gentle slide towards the finish line. For some funny reason I have it all worked out in my head that once we pass the autumn equinox, its smooth sailing to winter.
But as fall arrives I abruptly realize how badly my mind has been playing tricks on me. Maybe it’s some sort of coping mechanism, to keep my head in the game, or maybe I just don’t want to admit that fall is when some extra effort is needed more than ever. Whatever the case, autumn here on our little farm is always a busy time full of cleaning up, looking ahead and preparing for the next season to come.
As a flower grower I often feel like I live with one foot in the present and the other in the future. Right now our little crew is digging into fall clean up mode so that we’ll have beds and hoop houses ready for planting all of the spring flowering crops. Lisianthus and celosia are being pulled out to make way for ranunculus and anemones. Iceland poppies and sweet peas have been sown and are already sprouting in their pots. They will get tucked into the hoop houses next month to overwinter for an extra early spring flush. Out in the field the storm ravaged annuals are getting tilled in to make way for new perennial and shrub plantings.
After many years of working out of our dark, unheated garage, we’re finally taking the plunge and upgrading the space. Big new windows and French doors are going in along with heat, hot water, insulation and new lighting. Progress has been steady and hopefully before cold weather strikes, it’ll be all buttoned up and ready for us to officially move in.
Last weekend we hosted our final workshop of 2015. What an amazing year it has been, with so many incredible growers, designers and dreamers visiting the farm. We’ve had attendees come from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, England, Korea, Mexico, Canada and all over the United States this year. It has been an amazing experience to learn and grow with so many incredible souls.
The team and I are putting the finishing touches on next year’s class offerings. If you’re interested, be sure you’re signed up for the e-newsletter HERE. We’ll be announcing our annual scholarships and 2016 workshop dates later next week.
I’m on the homestretch with the book! Only a few more short(ish) pieces of text and another two photoshoots and we should have it wrapped up with a bow. The final manuscript is due in just under a month and the photos shortly after. Everyone asks me if it’s as hard to write this book as I expected. Honestly, this has been the biggest, most challenging project I’ve ever taken on. I knew it would be going in though and it’s a true labor of love. My hope is that it will be just want you need to grow and arrange even more beautiful flowers.
Lastly, I wanted to share with you some of my favorite bulbs that can be tucked into the ground next month for an abundant spring show. Over the next three days I’ll share my favorite varieties and also raffle off some goody bags filled with bulbs to a few lucky readers.
So, be sure to pop back over tomorrow for the scoop and a chance to win!
teresa on
I was wondering if you heat your greenhouse for the Ranunculus?