Did you know I send my handmade Christmas Wreaths UK wide each year? ⁠
In recent years they've brought a festive look to doors from Cornwall to Aberdeen & many doors in between.⁠
  So if you're looking for a special, original & thoughtful gift this December, this could be your answer! ⁠
Each wreath is made to order using a selection of fresh foliage. Much of the foliage is grown by us here in Galloway. ⁠
  Before I make the wreath, I'll ask your preferred trimmings including ribbon colour (or no ribbon at all) for a unique finish. When complete, I box the wreath with care & send it on it's way. ⁠

• You can choose the delivery week commencing late November.⁠
• No floral foam is used in the wreath. ⁠
• And if you let me know your personal message, I'll enclose it on a card with the wreath.⁠

Orders are now open online https://www.gallowayflowers.co.uk/buychristmaswreaths.html

The flower season here is over...
 
  Last night’s frost was harder than anything experienced before this Autumn, finishing off the few flowers still blooming. I cut our last few Giant Dahlias from the Polytunnel on Thursday for a party - not bad for November. Today the plants are blackened, lying flat on the soil. The colourful, brilliant leaves on the Maples lie in a bright red skirt below. All very final. 

  So it might not be a very November photo above but believe me, those Delphiniums are a nicer sight than blackened Dahlias! A Flower Farm in Galloway in November doesn't look like a 'Country Living' photoshoot, I'm afraid. But it's still a busy time as we put foundations for next year’s flowers in place.

  Most of the Dahlias are lifted (well, about 150 still to go) which is a comfort to know. I was lucky last year, most of our tubers survived the cold temperatures (though Voles ate more than their fair share as they sheltered beneath the black plastic sheets). But many British flower farmers lost hundreds of tubers in last Decembers cold snap. Replacing is a costly business (& aren't all easy to find) so I'm super cautious this year. Each tuber needs cleaning, then dried & stored away in a frost-free place. Then in March I'll bring them out ready for next year's display. It's very satisfying to see how a small tuber multiplies over time to make new plants if I'm lucky.

   Roses deserve attention too this week to make sure they continue blooming strongly next year. The new Shrub Roses have got very tall (that rain in August). I'll reduce their height by about a third. This protects them from fierce winds. 'Windrock' causes considerable root damage. I'll gently firm them in at the base & give a generous dollop of good compost too. The hard pruning can wait until February/March.

  Tulips have arrived & can be planted now. In recent years, 'Tulip Fire' virus is becoming a problem in British gardens. In 2021 the Virus affected several hundred of my bulbs. It's ugly, deforming the flowers & stems. When it appears, destroy the bulb as it spreads fast to the others. Overnight along a row - like fire in fact! None of the affected stems could be sold & I considered whether to stop growing them. Trouble is, when you buy a bulb, you don't know if it has the virus. Last year I reduced the numbers grown & planted all in large pots & buckets. They flowered spectacularly with no Virus at all. This year, I'm trying the pots again & keeping my fingers crossed...  

 Usually, we arrange our last weddings at the end of September as the flowers begin to reduce about then. This year, I arranged flowers I had dried for weddings too, the last in early November. There are still dried flowers, grasses, seedheads remaining & I'll bunch them for sale in the next few weeks. Perfect as Posies for Christmas gifts or for your own craft projects.

Christmas is coming up fast now so here's an update on what we're planning;

Make A Christmas Wreath' workshops are scheduled for the following dates;

• Sunday 26th November 2pm 1 place
• Saturday 2nd December 2pm 1 place
• Sunday 3rd December 10.30am 1 place 
• Sunday 3rd December 2pm - extra date just added. 4 places

The workshops will be here at the Flower Farm with a maximum of 4 attending. Booking Online Here

The Wreath shop is open for pre-orders now. All my wreaths are handmade, without floral foam, from foliage grown here or elsewhere in the British Isles. Wreaths can be collected, delivered locally or sent UK wide by post.

Christmas Flowers & Foliage

• I'll be arranging bouquets for delivery or collection just before Christmas. All British Isles grown, as always. Order Online
• Garlands & House flowers - get in touch to book soon please as availability is becoming limited in the week before Christmas Contact
• Narcissi from the Isles of Scilly. My first delivery arrives in late November & continue into the New Year. Order a single bunch or two for collection, or hundreds of stems if you wish. A little bit of Springtime optimism to brighten up your (or a friends) day.

And you can, of course, telephone me on 01644 420407 if you prefer talking to a real person rather than ordering online!

Jobs for November:

• It's perfect timing to plant up a large pot with a ‘Bulb Lasagne'. Layers of bulbs give several months of colour & a wonderful use of space. I've noticed the Deer leave Hyacinths & Daffodils untouched so these can be planted up even where they'll be unprotected. Tulips - no chance, the Deer love 'em!
• Indoors, this is the week to plant up Narcissi 'Paperwhite' bulbs in pots if you want them flowering indoors for Christmas. It takes about 6-8 weeks for them to reach maturity. Plant more every few weeks to keep the scent coming in the dark days of January.
• Hyacinths & Amaryllis planted now will be ready to flower indoors from January onwards, when a colour hit is especially welcome.
• Rake up the leaves now most have fallen for the best compost there is. Add to your general heap or keep separate to make the most wonderful leaf mould. Leave it to break down naturally & let the magic happen...

It's a wet week ahead so be organised to make the best of any dry breaks. Rake up those leaves, plant bulbs & when out on a walk, kick up the leaves & gathering your cones ready for the wreathing season to come.

Until next time, 
Rosie 
Galloway Flowers

And the last word this month?
'All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today;
Indian Proverb

​  Hiding away from the blustery wind of Storm Babet was a perfect opportunity to use some of the dried 'Stuff' I've stashed away over Summer.⁠
​  All British grown (most here) & dried naturally by myself over recent months. ⁠ No dyes, no bleaches, just Mother Nature's own colours!
To commission a wreath for your own home or as a gift, contact me Various colours available

  For Megan on her special day in September, a Bridal Bouquet in peaches, pinks & ivory with a touch of green.
​Romantic & softly toned Dahlias, plus Garden Roses, Honeysuckle & more for a delicate scent too. ⁠ All grown at the Flower Farm near Castle Douglas, South West Scotland, except for the sprinkle of white Gypsophila & a few stems of peachy Hypericum from the Fens.

​  With Summer officially over, I feel extra lucky the coming week brings the warmest, sunniest days we've enjoyed here for a while! Very welcome it is too, especially as this is a busy 3 wedding week ahead for us.

  But Autumn feels close despite the sunshine. Abundant hedgerow Blackberries, Hips & Haws, laden Apple trees & already golden tips on the Bracken & Beech. The misty mornings have a distinct cool feel, with Swallows lining up on the wires. I know their time with us is nearly over for another year...

  And for us, there's a sense of relief the flower season is coming to a close. We've plenty of flowers of course, many such as the Roses are giving a second flush of flowers. The Sweet Peas didn't like the cool weather in August but are having a resurgence. And the Dahlias are pumping out blooms by the bucket.

  But it's no secret it's been a difficult year for growers. Beginning with heavy losses after hard winter weather, I started on the back foot. Unsure which plants might bounce back (many did) or if I should just take the hit & start from scratch. Most of our Grasses & many Agapanthus (previously Hardy for years) were lost & really missed in July & August. With hindsight, I should have replaced earlier, as only now are the grasses abundant. But I learn... every year is different.

  Weeds - what a year for them! Partly a generous application of farmhouse manure brought in seeds galore & they thrived in wet July weather. I must get on top of them this month if possible to stop the seeding. What is it they say about 'One years seeding & Seven years weeding'? And some I suspect...

  While still fresh in my mind, I'm reflecting on the successes this year, in our growing conditions. Some flowers were popular with Customers, always remarked on, so I'll grow more. Others rarely were noticed or weren't productive so probably not be grown again. I've started ordering seeds & bulbs for next year so important to do this before I forget, seduced by the gorgeous photos in the catalogues.

  As the 2024 wedding calendar begins to fill, I note colours to grow more of - especially orange! Easy in some months (Spring Tulips for example, & August/September for Dahlias, Rudbeckia & Helenium) But June & July are going to require a bit more thought. So far I'm considering more Calendula, Alstroemeria, Geums & some more peachy/apricot Roses. Any of your orange favourites to suggest for those months?

  September is Mother Nature's time for sowing seed so I'm following her example. Both Perennials & Hardy Annuals can be sown this month, to form strong plants for a quick start in Springtime. Seed is expensive & I hate to say it, not always reliable! Several packets this year turned out not to be what had been promised. Very frustrating after nurturing in compost, giving space & time!

  So on dry days, I gather plenty of seed from our plants. I'll sow some into modules now & save the rest to sow in Spring. Lots of the easy ones such as Nigella, Calendula, Cerinthe, Viola & Ammi are worth trying. F1 Hybrid seed doesn't come 'true' but can still produce good flowers. I've been keeping Antirrhinum seeds for several years & while not the same pink as I started with, produce pretty stems at a very reasonable price! 

  As the fresh flower season begins to slow, Autumn bounty beckons. I've been steadily cutting & drying spare flowers so there's a wide variety to mix together for Autumn wreaths, bouquets etc.

• A 'Make A Dried Flower Wreath' workshop has been scheduled for Sunday 8th October & can be booked online
• My stash of dried flowers is being bunched up ready for sale. At the Farmers Market in Kirkcudbright last week these just flew out of the buckets! Similar wraps of mixed flowers will be sold through our website later this month & the Glenkens Food Hub (next order date opens on Friday 8th September for delivery on Friday 15th.) The Glenkens Food Hub delivers to  collection points in Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart, Gatehouse, Moniaive, Low Auldgirth, Dalry & Kirkcudbright
• We've 3 dried Flower weddings booked for this Autumn too. Message me if you would like a dried flower wedding!

  And as the Schools are back now, I'll risk mentioning Christmas. 'Make A Christmas Wreath' workshops are scheduled for the following dates;

• Friday 24th November 10.30am
• Saturday 25th November 2pm
• Sunday 26th November 2pm
• Saturday 2nd December 2pm
• Sunday 3rd December 10.30am

 The workshops will be here at the Flower Farm with a maximum of 4 attending. Booking Online here https://www.gallowayflowers.co.uk/christmaswreathworkshops-dumfries-galloway.html

  On a beautiful day like this it seems unimaginable that meteorological Summer has gone. The earliest frost I've experienced here was on September 13th. So after this busy wedding week, I'll be clearing the greenhouses ready to bring in tender plants. The horticultural fleece is on standby to protect my Dahlias. I find that if I can protect Dahlias through the first cold shock, usually warm weather returns & I can cut flowers for several more weeks. Here's hoping this year follows the pattern.

 Looking Ahead...

• 'Friday Flowers' & Regular Flower Subscription deliveries continue - order online or by telephone 01644 420407 for bouquets full of fresh, locally grown flowers. As our flowers slow, I'll bring flowers from growers further South - always 100% British, all year round. To do this, please give as much advance notice as you can to ensure flowers are available for those upcoming birthdays, anniversaries etc.
• The next 'Cut Flowers from Your Garden' workshop is on Sunday 14th April 2024
• 'Make A Dried Flower Wreath' is on Sunday 8th October
• Christmas Workshops booking open now

Jobs for September;

• Sow Hardy Annual seeds this week for an early start next year. Cornflowers, Ammi, Calendula & Nigella are my early season 'must have's'. All are easy, producing plenty of stems & worth growing  
• If you grow Dahlias & other tender plants, get the horticultural fleece ready, in case of an early frost
• Hyacinths for Christmas flowers need planting by about 25th of this month. My Blog post on how to grow bulbs in water is here Be sure to buy 'Prepared' bulbs or they'll not flower on time

For now, I'm hoping for a glorious 'Indian Summer' - just what's needed for working in the garden. Thinking ahead, I might just gather a few more grasses, leaves & cones to dry for wreaths though...

Until next time, 
Rosie Gray
Galloway Flowers

And the last word this month?
'All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today;
Indian Proverb

Rene (Mother of the Bride)
​

Tayla (the beautiful Bride)

​
​Thank you so much Tayla & photographer Rene for permission to share this gorgeous photo with you. I loved making this for you!
And delighted a  Red Squirrel made an appearance too... ⁠

​  And so another season of Dahlias began again in July - woohoo!⁠
I began cutting a few white stems early in the month but this was the first real colour pop.⁠
  Most of the plants are still fairly short because of the long dry spell. After recent rain, they'll soon catch up & be pumping out the blooms until October.⁠
And yes, I'm growing rather a lot again this year in a wide range of shapes & colours.
From huge frilly confections to the tiniest buttons (just perfect for buttonholes & bud vases).
I grow more Dahlias here at the Flower Farm than any other plant group. They really are the most varied & exciting group of plants imho.⁠
Our Dahlias will be appearing in many Galloway celebrations, bouquets & events in the coming months. ⁠

  High Summer at last... long days & much needed rain! So many plants had been holding back, waiting for a good soak. Now I'm cutting flowers by the bucket in so many colours & varieties, I'm spoilt for choice - a luxurious abundance!

  The prolonged dry period (while wonderful for working outside) was adding so much length to our day. Too dry for seedlings to be planted out, it was easier to keep them alive by watering them in their baby trays. As a result, some are now a bit leggy, needing a nutritional boost. But at least they've survived. They'll catch up quickly & continue flowering later.

  For us, May & June passed in a floral blur. We were busy flowering up events & hosting workshops as well as growing flowers for the rest of the season. At times, it seemed as if Sundays, Mondays & Tuesdays were 'Sow, Plant, Water'. Wednesdays through to Saturday 'Cut, Arrange, Deliver'. All on rinse & repeat. Hugely enjoyable if hectic. Our time is never quite that neatly organised but it gives a gist of a Flower Farmers life.

  Inevitably, the dry weather has resulted in winners & losers. The Perennials (like the Delphiniums above) have been winners. Flowering their socks off without additional water, filling vases when other varieties disappointed or were late.These Delphiniums were cut just before a Storm broke. I knew they would be knocked flat by the forecast wind & rain. So I cut them quickly & put them away to dry.
 
  And the Roses in June - never have they been so good as they basked in the dry sunshine. Most have finished their first flush.Now trimmed, fed & fingers crossed, many will give a repeat show. I don't grow that many Roses, but the heady scent was so wonderful. If I knew June would be like that every year, I could be persuaded to grow more. (Actually, I might already have ordered a few for planting in November.)

  On the other hand, the first batch Sweet Peas didn't like the high temperatures, shooting too tall & flowering fast in the polytunnel. Of course, the second batch outside, aren't keen on the cooler night time temperatures in the coming weeks either. It's like looking after Goldilocks! But we've had plenty for the weddings, & I'm sure the glut quantities will be here soon. 
 
  Dahlias are leaping ahead now. I cut the first few stems this week. Soon they'll be appearing in the weekly 'Friday Flowers'. Lots of trusted favourites plus new varieties this year in a full range of colours. Dahlias still have a bit of a reputation for bold, clashy colours, maybe even considered a bit naff by some. Many of the new varieties are soft, subtle beauties, just perfect for weddings. I grow a wide range & they mix & match so well with other flowers.

  Our 'Country bunches' of mixed seasonal flowers are now available to order via the Glenkens Food Hub. Along with a wide selection of locally produced products, flowers can be collected from the Food Hub locations. These are; Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart, Gatehouse, Moniaive, Low Auldgirth & Dalry.

  In other news, the Spotted Flycatchers have fledged in the main polytunnel. We're being dive bombed by Swallows nesting in the tool shed. And Ken has a new obsession - a moth trap! We knew there were many different Moths here as I find them in the polytunnel asleep on flowers. Such wonderful names & so difficult to identify accurately.
 
The fashion for dried flowers continues growing & I've been building our stocks again. The Guest EnSuite is already a 'no go' zone again as it's used to store them, I'll be sharing the dried materials in Wreath workshops this year. Scheduled for Sunday 20th August & Sunday 24th September. Let me know if you would be interested & I'll send details. I'll add to the website & social media as soon as I get a moment.

 Looking Ahead...

• 'Friday Flowers' & Regular Flower Subscription deliveries are back - order online or by telephone 01644 420407 for bouquets full of fresh, locally grown flowers
• We return to Kirkcudbright Farmers Market on Sunday 23rd July - there'll be plenty of our Galloway-grown flowers
• The next 'Cut Flowers from Your Garden' workshop is on Wednesday 23rd August
• 'Dried Flower Wreaths' - Sunday 20th August & Sunday 24th September Message Me

Jobs for July;

• Sow Biennial seeds this week for welcome colour in May & June next year. Wallflowers, Sweet Williams & Foxgloves are easy, producing plenty of stems. Well worth a try.  
• Deadhead faded blooms to keep the display going. Of course, if you're cutting flowers to fill your vases, you'll be deadheading at the same time
• By mid-month some of the early flowering Perennials will be looking tired. Cut the flowered stems low, remove any dying or tatty foliage. Give a boost with a watering canful of diluted seaweed liquid. Within weeks, new fresh leaves will appear & often another flush of flower. This is good for Delphinium, Alchemilla, Lupins, Centaurea & Hardy Geranium.
• Tie in wayward stems before they get knocked down by strong wind

Enjoy these precious sunny days in your garden, taking time to smell the Roses, the Mint, the Sweet Peas..Why not snip a few flowers & bring the outside in? And if it does rain a little, well, I'll be taking a few hours to watch the Wimbledon Tennis...

Until next time, 
Rosie 
Galloway Flowers 
  
And the last word this month?
'And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down.
Without the rain, there would be no rainbow'
G.K. Chesterton, (British Author)​​