Spring!
Make it stand out
A view from the top of the Greenhouse looking across the newly planted and first blooms on our hanging baskets!
"Spring is the time of plans and projects." - Leo Tolstoy
Spring comes early in the greenhouses! When the sun is out, it feels like mid-August, and on non-sunny days, we rely on the furnaces to keep our plants warm. Either way, being out in the greenhouses surrounded by tiny green seedings, the first hints of colorful flower buds, the hope of a new growing season, and the expectation that warmer days are coming is so exhilarating!
Many of you know, so I will speak to it just for a moment…. This winter and early Spring have not been what we anticipated during this year of huge transition. Life has a way of making sudden changes without our stamp of approval or even knowledge. It began in January with a pretty horrible car accident. We are very thankful to be alive, and we realized that vehicles, (in our case, our work van) can eventually be replaced, and life will go on. Before injuries were completely healed, there was a pretty significant surgery for Kathy, and then we were both gifted with our first round of COVID. OH BOY! COVID can be the “Gift that keeps on giving” as it has been in our case… long COVID is no fun and has certainly put a big wrinkle into our Spring work.
What’s happening this time of year in the greenhouses?
Flowers, flowers, flowers!
Each week, beginning in early February, we receive a shipment of tiny plants called “plugs” or “liners”. They come to us in need of a larger home asap. It is a “Game on” situation upon the receipt of each week’s order. We should back up to September, because that is when the process of ordering begins. Many plans, discussions, and changes happen in August and September when we start choosing which plants, colors, types, etc, we are going to grow for your enjoyment for the following Spring/Summer. (Hint! If you would like us to grow something special for you or have a favorite flower you would be interested in seeing in the Spring, mid-summer is the time to put in your requests!)
Petunia Plugs
Bedding Petunia flower plugs… Can’t wait to see this color bloom!
Our plant plugs arrive on a schedule, which we base on the length of growing time needed to be mostly fully flowered and beautiful for the exact time in the Spring they would be ready for purchase and planting in your flower gardens or displayed on your deck or patio. (We put a lot of thought and care into getting all the details just right for you.) There are many levels of continued care needed during the many weeks before you get the joy of coming on Mother’s Day Weekend to see all the blooms. Our recipe for success always begins with a good mix of soil, proper nutrients, and just the right amount of water and temperature management. By now, you might be saying Wow! There are a lot of moving pieces and parts! You are correct! Trust us when we say the joy of knowing the flowers we grow make you happy is so rewarding.
Make it stand out
Brian moving freshly planted trays of Petunias
We receive a total of 7 shipments, beginning with Geraniums, Fuschia’s, Dahlia’s, and as we move through the weeks, annuals such as marigolds, dianthus, cosmos, zinnea’s, towards the end of the shipments the perennials come along as well as herbs etc: It has been so fun this year working in our new Greenhouse space, which has afforded us so much more room! We are both very thankful for this opportunity and knowledge of being able to have a wider variety of plants for you. If you haven’t already realized, it is each of you that is first and foremost on our minds this time of year. Many of you we think of by name and remember chats about which flowers you love and enjoy, and it is with excitement that we work long hours to ensure that when you show up at the “Flower House” this spring, what you are expecting and wishing for will be waiting for you. It brings us such joy to see your smiles and happiness as you enter the flower house and get transported into a world of beauty.
Stay tuned for our next blog post, which will be all about our Greenhouse Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and peppers and what happens in our High Tunnels this time of year as we are right around the corner to early Spring planting!
It is such a joy to share a bit of our lives with you!
Farm on!
Brian and Kathy
