Late spring…holding my horses

What I love about small scale flower farming is that no two years are the same. Like in any way. So just when you think you have something nailed, the conditions change. So you research and change plans in light of the “new” factors. Easy, right? Well…not exactly.

The biggest shift this season has been our late spring. I bet you still have that heavy winter coat hanging on the hook, right? Me too. I wore a fleece lined hat to Lowes today to pick up pavers. Based on the last few years, our spring has been early. What did I base this year’s seed starting schedule on? Yep - data from the last few years. I’ve got a porch full of seedlings that have needed to be planted out for a few weeks now because I started them so darn early. The wind and the freezing temps have another agenda. So what am I doing to shift? I’m slowing these flower babies down - less water, cooler temps, no additional food, no artificial lights (just sun from the porch). I’m holding my horses and watching the long range forecast like a hawk. Sweet peas, stock, lisianthuus, snapdragons, larkspur all waiting patiently on the porch, just hoping to stretch those roots into some soil.

What else will be different this year, I wonder. Have the rabbit families moved on or are they still my hungry neighbors? Will the spring be super short this year - morphing quickly to hot girl summer in a hot minute? Lot’s of uncertainty but what is certain is that gorgeous, long lasting flowers are on the way. First on deck: peonies, baptisia and bachelors buttons ready to fill your kitchen table with vibrant color and beautiful smells. So stay tuned, leaving the guess work to me and sign up for some fresh flowers right here on the webpage.

A spring bouquet of peonies, sweet peas, cat mint, bachelors buttons and chamomile