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