​Fancy Daffs - I just love 'em! ⁠
  Yes, of course the cheerful yellow Trumpet Daffodils are a welcome sight as we drive around the countryside in the sunshine. And as a bright jugful on the kitchen table in March, they're hard to beat. ⁠
  But these multi-layered, subtle-coloured, Can-Can dancing beauties are something else again, earning a place in bouquets & a special place in the garden.⁠
   Definitely planting more for next Spring...

  Spring is springing all around us now, isn't it?  A flight of Swallows was swooping over the lochan on Friday (VERY early), lambs are racing round on the other side of the wall as I weed & birds are busy in the nest boxes. I love these bright mornings when every day some new plant or flower reappears from it's winter sleep. A few have been lost (strangely all my Achillea 'The Pearl' seem to have been zapped) but I'm surprised by other slightly tender plants that have made it so far. Annual Rudbackia for example - a real bonus as this will give earlier flowers than seed sown a couple of weeks ago.
​
  But I'm not complacent. The weather forecast for the coming week has cold night temperatures, as low as we've had all winter. While no precious tender plants are outside yet, this could damage soft new growth on the perennials (especially the Delphiniums, Lupins & Phlox). Even the Alstroemeria in the polytunnels could be damaged so extra layers of fleece will be out tonight... Is there anything you need to protect?

  I had a bit of a mishap last month & broke my arm. 3 days before Mother's Day, the busiest day in the Florists calendar & I was at DGRI having an operation. That's when I truly appreciated having good friends. Maybelle Thomson (the inhouse Florist at GG's Yard) saved the day by helping make up bouquets. Ken had a crash course in bouquet wrapping & delivered them all to the Mum's as scheduled. Together we got through & crashed in an exhausted heap on the Saturday! The arm's mending well (fortunately it's my left one & I'm right handed), I can wiggle fingers & manage to sow seeds, plant out etc. But I've no strength in it yet & it'll be a while before I can lift much or drive. Very frustrating when there's so much to do!

  I love my early morning 'patrol' around the greenhouses at this time of year.. It's exciting to see which seeds have germinated overnight. Little specks of green confirming a packet of seed was good & these have a chance of making it into a bouquet later this year. The March sown seedlings will need pricking out into their own space soon & their places on the heated benches are quickly filled with the next batch of seed. 

  The Chrysanthemum cuttings ordered over the winter have arrived & potted up to grow on. I hope to discover good varieties to thrive outside here as these would be a great addition to our Autumn bouquets. They have wonderful names, often obviously after somebody - I would love to know more about the people whose names they bear! Who is/was Tom Pearce? Denise Oatridge? Ada Evans? It's easier to remember plant names when they're human...

  We've finally begun to cut our own flowers again now - in the past few weeks Pieris, Hellebores & Forsythia, now Narcissi & the first Tulips. These will be mixed with beautiful Sussex-grown Alstroemeria in the April bouquets. I'm able to arrange the weekly bouquets again now & Ken is helping tie, wrap & deliver them.  

  Slowly, everyday life is beginning - from this week we'll be able to offer 'click & collect' at the gate again. The Kirkcudbright Farmers Market will be back in late April for food businesses only. Fingers crossed, we'll be back at both Kirkcudbright & Castle Douglas Farmers Markets in May.

  The next delivery day will be Friday 9th April & orders can be placed online now. Order online or by telephone 01644 420407

   Enjoy the freedom to get out & about again this month & the beautiful Spring sunshine. It's a joyous, uplifting season & heaven knows, our spirits all deserve a little bit of that!
Jobs for the Cutting Garden in April;

• Sweet Peas sown earlier in the year are ready to ‘harden off’ by gradual exposure to cooler temperatures outside, & then planting in the ground. Plant 2 to an upright, tie in & pinch out the tips for sturdier, bushier plants There's still time to sow more for a late Summer display
• Plant bulbs now for Summer colour. Particular favourites are Lilies (really good in pots), Gladioli & Ranunculus. Divide your bulbs into batches & plant at intervals of a couple of weeks so they spread out over the season. Doing this I'm able to cut the last sweet smelling Acidanthera in early October
• Sow another batch of Hardy Annual seedlings (try some of the new softer Calendula shades such as ‘Pink Surprise’ or ‘Touch of Buff’, Dill, Poppies for a change) this month, either under cover or outside direct in the soil. These flower their socks off, giving you lots to cut but will tire. This second batch will keep blooms coming into late summer & September
• The Half-Hardy Annuals can be sown now too (such as Cosmos) ready for planting out after the last frosts.
• It’s time to get weeding as buttercup, bittercress, nettles & more are germinating in the warmer soil. A few minutes with a hoe on a dry or windy day or pulling as you spot them pays big dividends later – so much easier to remove while small & before they set seed
• Give support to your plants before they need it. The plants might seem tiny now but it’s much easier to put them in place before the lush growth begins to flop
• Don’t give up too soon on shrubs & plants that look dead. After this winter some plants will be slow to begin growing – give them a little longer & you might be surprised. 
• Sow easy veg seeds for super-fresh (& very reasonably priced) salads - Lettuce leaves, Rocket, Beetroot & Spring Onions are all quick to reach picking stage & thrive in pots or a small patch of ground . Broad beans are good sown this month & always taste better than any you'll find in a supermarket

  And the last word this month?
 
‘Where Flowers bloom so does hope'
Lady Bird Johnson, Former First Lady of the United States of America
1912 - 2007

Until next time, 
Rosie 
Galloway Flowers 

Sunshine - what a difference it makes to our mood! Today it's been a pleasure just being outside, checking on progress in the Cutting beds & feeling sun on my face. Not enough to pack away my thermals for the year but it's moving in the right direction & days are noticeably stretching. And the first Daffodils are flowering, yippee!

  Suddenly it's as though the race is on. It's early yet but I still feel as if I'm falling behind, so much to do. The recent dry spell has been a gift as I've been able to prep many of the beds already - weeded, composted & fed. As we follow organic methods we work to create good, healthy soil & this preparation is vital to keep plants producing high volumes of stems each year. 

  I've split quite a few of the established perennials as although it will reduce stems this year, it keeps them healthy & is a cheap way to increase overall numbers of plants. I'm being ruthless with some of the ones I don't like much - some of the Michaelmas Daisies are fairly dull so being reduced in number overall, others I'll move & use as a foliage in Summer rather than wait for them to flower. 

  Seed sowing has begun, slowly. I start Summer annuals off this month (such as Nigella, Rudbeckia, Cornflowers) but there's no rush. I want a small number of plants to keep flowering for months, rather than a huge volume in July & then nothing. It's always tempting to sow a whole packet of seed at once but really, it works better to divide it into batches. So some will be sown in April & May too.

  I must watch the seeds carefully as they develop - some are covered as they need dark to germinate, some need light. Some are outside in the cold, others on the heated bench. Watering needs to be watched too. They mustn't dry out & die, or get too wet & 'damp off'. Fussy little things, & it makes plug plants seem such good value!

  This past month we've felt at times as if we've gone backwards - the Tree Surgeons came for 3 days to take down a couple of large dying trees & a section of Leylandii hedge. What a difference! So much space & light which is wonderful - but oh, what a mess it looks just now. You don't make omelettes without breaking eggs they say... It'll be good in time.

  Our display of bulbs is going to be even more spectacular than usual this year - last May I ordered extra Tulips, Crocus & Iris Reticulata, hoping to run the 'Bulb Lasagne' Workshop again in November. Of course, that didn't happen so there'll be quite a display - the bees are loving the Crocus.

  This months work is dominated by Mothers Day on Sunday 14th. This year I've been stunned by how far ahead Customers are planning - & I'm grateful. It's our busiest weekend of the year (apart from big weddings) & this year even more so as Customers aren't allowed to collect flowers from us - all has to be delivered. We'll be delivering on Friday & Saturday, & Ken has been enlisted as an extra driver. As I write, we've almost sold out. The wrapping paper has been folded, the ribbons cut, tonight we'll write message tags & we're as prepared as possible. I may deserve a glass of something nice next Saturday night...

  And if you've forgotten to order flowers, don't panic. There's still time to order Gift Vouchers for flowers later in the season or a 'Regular Flower Subscription', where I deliver a fresh bunch of flowers every 2 weeks or monthly.

  The figures for Corona Virus are improving fast in Scotland, though still serious. We're hopeful 'non-essential' shops (which includes us) will reopen in late April & maybe we'll be able to restart Flower Farm visits in late May or June. Ken & I have both had our jabs, much earlier than expected so feel as if we're getting closer. The Kirkcudbright Farmers Market will be back in late March for food businesses only - hoping we'll be back soon too. I understand an update on the restrictions in Scotland will be announced on Tuesday so fingers crossed.

  After Mothers Day, the next delivery day will be Friday 19th March & orders can be placed online now. Order online or by telephone 01644 420407

  Every year is different in the garden, there's always something new to try. We're looking forward to sharing our flowers & seeing everybody again very soon,
Jobs for the Cutting Garden in March;

• Sow Hardy Annual seedlings this month, either under cover or later in the month, direct outside. Nigella, Cornflowers, Calendula & Larkspur are tried & tested favourites to supply you with masses of stems to cut
• As the Snowdrop & Aconite flowers fade, it’s a good time to dig up & divide the clumps if they’re becoming large. Replant in small bundles. This is a good time to buy them ‘in the green’ if you want to create a new beautiful carpet of flowers every February.
• Perennial plants such as Astrantia, Phlox & Lupins benefit from being divided every few years – it keeps them healthy & flowering well. Cut the original plant into pieces. Replant what you need & give away any spares to friends. It’s a great way to boost the variety in your garden with swaps!
• Pot up your dahlia tubers & place in a space protected from frost. Some of the large flowered varieties need an early start or they only begin blooming in September. Dahlia are great value plants – prolific stems to cut in a wide range of colours & shapes. They grow surprisingly well in pots too
• It’s a good time to plant summer bulbs from mid-month onwards. Plant a few each month to keep a succession of these deliciously perfumed blooms coming. Gladioli, Freesia & Acidanthera are my favourites.
• Plant out in the garden any forced bulbs from indoors after flowering finishes such as Hyacinths & Narcissi.    
• Trim back Hydrangeas before new growth appears – as a guide trim to about a third of last seasons growth

  And the last word this month?
 
‘Where Flowers bloom so does hope'
Lady Bird Johnson, Former First Lady of the United States of America
1912 - 2007

Until next time, 
Rosie 
Galloway Flowers 

Your Flower Links for March;

• A joyous wedding I loved preparing last August in a Thornhill garden for Louise & Stewart.  Louise chose the 'Bouquets, Buttonholes & Buckets' option - I prepped the bouquets, buttonholes & hair flowers. Family & guests used buckets of our brightly coloured Galloway-grown flowers to make table arrangements etc. Thank you to photographer LJ Horton  https://whimsicalwonderlandweddings.com/scotland-garden-wedding/
• Regular Flower Subscriptions - Changing with the seasons, every delivery is different & 100% grown in the British Isles, all year round

​We were so excited to see our flowers make an appearance on @whimsicalwonderlandweddings Blog in February. ⁠
These gorgeous photos by @ljhortonphotography of Louise & Stewart's garden wedding in August 2020 at Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway.⁠ Joyous bright colours of high Summer in the bouquets & table flowers, in a stylish stretch tent on a hillside. ⁠
Louise chose our 'Bouquets, Buttonholes & Buckets' option for her wedding flowers.  I made the Bouquet, Buttonholes & Hair Flowers, plus supplied Buckets of Summer Flowers, which Louise & the family used to make arrangements to decorate the tables.
 See more at https://whimsicalwonderlandweddings.com/scotland-garden-wedding⁠

photography by LJHortonphotography

  February is often the coldest month of the year, & still too early for most seed sowing. Mind you, January was cold enough, wasn't it? I can't remember a year when I've spent so much time indoors.         Normally, I wrap up well & find something useful to do outside. But this year, so many jobs were impossible - the ground & compost were too frozen, even to weed. Frustrating, but on the plus side, my accounts are unusually up to date. Hopefully the cold might knock back the slug population a bit too - Fingers crossed on that one...

  It's been a good excuse to spend time daydreaming about warmer days, planning what to plant where, to flower when. It's pointless growing a mass of flowers for a few short weeks - if a surplus, they end up on the compost heap & take ages to deadhead plants too. So planning a succession of colours to flower from mid-March to October takes days (& in my case a lot of sticky notes). I need to think about the weddings already booked, farmers markets, events yet unknown, bouquets required & make the best guesses I can.  

  We use about an acre for growing flowers but it's never enough! This year we want to improve productivity further by making extra beds in some of the spare, unused corners. Often these are slightly more tricky spots (& ignored up until now for that reason). Perhaps slightly shady, close to trees or the sticky, stony soil near the bottom walls. 'Right Plant, Right Place' is the mantra for getting the best from these spots - there are plants that'll be happy there, I just need to choose carefully. There's plenty more space here to expand further but I want to fill up all the existing area first. It avoids unnecessary walking back & forth. It'll save time when cutting too as it'll be easier to track flowering stage of all the plants each week.
  
  The other thing about spending time indoors is - time to indulge my guilty internet shopping secret. The results of my (sometimes Chardonnay-Fuelled) late nights online are beginning to arrive. No, not clothes, shoes, amazing buys on ebay or whatever guilty pleasures you may have - but more plants.

  I've invested the price of a very nice weekend away on Alstroemeria plants for the new polytunnel, & they arrived last week. Of course they're an investment - how could you doubt it? I've been trialling a few varieties over the past few years & loved their long stems. They're such good producers over many months, last ages in the vase, so I need more for weekly bouquets. I'm sure Ken will enjoy looking at them far more than a weekend away...

  And well, you knew I had a Dahlia habit didn't you? I admit to losing count how many are going to arrive in the next few weeks, they're just irresistible. I need a spreadsheet to track them alone. A few special ones will be started this week to increase stock from cuttings quickly & cheaply, the rest (including our stored stock) will wait until the end of the month. Dahlias can't be planted outside until after the last frosts here, so take too much space if I start earlier. 

  So now you know why I need yet more beds!

  Our flowers are still a few weeks off (apart from Snowdrops, Catkins & Pussy Willow) so I'm bringing in flowers from growers further south each week for our Friday bouquet deliveries. The selection is increasing every week - I love opening the boxes when they arrive to see what treats we have. This week we'll have the first Parrot Tulips, to add with the Hyacinths, Narcissi & Pussy Willow. We're lucky to have these British-grown flowers so early - as they come to an end, our own Tulips & Narcissi are just beginning. We all need a little bit of Springtime just now...

  We're delivering more of our 'Flower Therapy' Selections each week as lockdown continues. These are ordered for/by flower lovers  who enjoy arranging flowers themselves, perhaps mixing with their garden foliage. A different selection of flowers each week, with a little foliage, all stems prepped, conditioned & ready to arrange. And unlike other 'Letterbox' flower deliveries, these are 100% grown in the British Isles, all year round. These can be ordered through the usual flower delivery page

  At present, we're allowed to deliver contactlessly but not to offer Click & Collect. Valentine's Day is next week - I'll be delivering on Friday 12th & Saturday 13th February. Just thought I would mention it in case anybody you know needs a nudge about ordering flowers for next weekend.
  Mothers Day is coming up fast & similarly, I'll be delivering on Friday 12th & Saturday 13th March.
Order online or by telephone 01644 420407

  As well as planning the planting, I've continued working on the Events Calendar. We're both still waiting for our jabs (Ken's parents have had theirs so that's a huge relief) - this is the key to be able to open bookings. One date for your calendar is the Big Flower Farmers Weekend will be Friday 13th -Sunday 15th August. We intend to open again over the weekend along with many other Flowers From The Farm Members around the UK. As soon as it's safe to do so, we'll be welcoming visitors to the Flower Farm again.
 
  The weather should begin to improve this month, & it's a good opportunity to get outside, breath fresh air deeply & listen to the birds singing their hearts out as they defend territories. Just taking a turn outside on a bright day lifts spirits as the bulbs are shooting up fast now.

We're beginning our sixth season growing flowers here now. We'll be trialling new varieties (such as new Dahlias, Chrysanthemums & of course those Alstroemeria) & lots of old favourites too. It's going to be a 'blooming marvellous' display!

  We're looking forward to sharing our flowers & seeing everybody again very soon,
Jobs for the Cutting Garden in February;

• Valentine's Day (February 14th) is the day I start sowing my main batch of Sweet Peas to flower in July onwards
• Larkspur needs cold to stimulate germination so this is a good time to sow another batch outside. It's such a lovely filler flower for bouquets & dries beautifully too.
• Prune late flowering Clematis & Honeysuckle this month. Leave your Early Clematis though until after flowering - otherwise you'll be trimming off all the flower buds!
• Still time to plant bare root roses & shrubs, The big rose companies often have reductions in February/March so could be worth checking out 
• Folklore tells us birds find their mates on Valentine's Day so it's a good time to put up a few extra nesting boxes for your garden visitors. This gives them time to discover a new des res before the breeding season begins
• Clean up dead leaves & stems around Lupins & Delphiniums. Slugs hide from hungry birds in debris blown by the wind & trash tender new growth as soon as it emerges, delaying flowers.

  And the last word this month?
 
‘Where Flowers bloom so does hope'
Lady Bird Johnson, Former First Lady of the United States of America
1912 - 2007

Until next time, 
Rosie 
Galloway Flowers 

Your Flower Links for February;

• A pretty, flowery Summer wedding in Wiltshire, full of British-grown flowers. Just joyous to see the sunshine & lots of ideas for  microweddings https://whimsicalwonderlandweddings.com/pythouse-wedding/
• Regular Flower Subscriptions - Changing with the seasons, every delivery is different & 100% grown in the British Isles, all year round