Galloway Flowers
  • Home
    • Where to Buy our Flowers
    • Flowers to arrange yourself
  • Wedding Flowers
    • Bespoke Wedding Flowers
    • Wedding Flowers Packages
    • DIY Wedding Flowers
    • Wedding Flowers Gallery
    • Wedding Flowers Enquiry
    • Booking Process
  • Funeral Flowers
    • Funeral Flowers Enquiry
  • Workshops
    • 'Cut Flowers from Your Garden'
    • 'Make A Hand Tied Bouquet'
    • 'Arrange A Vase' Afternoon
  • Wholesale Flowers
  • Contact
    • About
    • Join Our Newsletter
    • Flower Farm Blog
    • Environmental Policy
The Flower Farm Blog
​by Rosie Gray

August News from Galloway Flowers

8/8/2021

0 Comments

 
Dahlia 'Jomanda copyright www.GallowayFlowers.co.uk
  How welcome the rain was last week when the weather finally broke. I enjoyed cutting flowers that first wet afternoon, wet hair plastered to my head. Yes, weird I know but just so long since we've had a proper soak here in South West Scotland! I could almost hear plants sighing with relief as they lapped it up - I swear some grew visibly in a few days.

  The prolonged sunshine was wonderful & fabulous for all enjoying a holiday here. It was becoming tough for the plants though. And for me - the week it hit the high twenties here, my productivity slumped.

  We're on a private water supply so watch the water level closely. I watched our neighbours taking water to their animals as the burns ran dry, adding hours to their already long days. Watering polytunnel plants & those in pots added extra time for us too. I knew the lack of water was becoming serious when I found a Toad sitting in the dog water bowl by the back door...

  How quickly my daily routine switches from saving precious water from the kitchen for plants, to emptying trays full of rainwater to ensure plants don't drown! The plus of the dry weather was tht the grass doesn't need cutting & weed seeds don't germinate - I suspect both of these will be on rapid catch up now!

  Most outside plants are given a good soak when planted & then usually are fine here. This year, ithe prolonged dry spell slowed growth & flowering, with many showing yellowing on the leaves. Plants can't take up the nutrients they need from dry soil causing yellowing - they'll recover quickly now after the rain & a little seaweed tonic. The Dahlias began flowering really early this year & have taken a break because of the dry. I checked on them this morning & already a new flush of buds have appeared, promising to be back with a bang soon!

  There were plenty of flowers in July as others came on early - the Phlox, Scabious & Rudbeckia are way ahead, the Sweet Peas have been our best ever. Others have finished early such as the Cornflowers - I'll rip them out this afternoon. My careful succession sowings went to pot as all the Nigella came at once - still plenty of seed pods to dry. It's a text book year for demonstrating how critical it is to grow a variety to be able to produce bouquets over a whole season.

  And the weddings have been so enjoyable in the past month. Finally, we could flower up several big marquee weddings as well as some lovely small garden ones, & intimate elopements. The wedding industry employs so many across Dumfries & Galloway - I enjoyed catching up with other suppliers all delighted to be working again. Our Wedding Bookings are now open for 2022. 

  Anyhow, it's finally getting back to normal as I've started driving again. Hurray! After 5 months of being chauffered everywhere by Ken, this was quite a day. I felt as if I regained my independence, freeing so much time for Ken. Yes, I'm sad & resigned to the planned projects left undone for this year. Now I'm ready to move on.
 
  August may be high Summer still, yet planning for 2022 is underway here. I've a list of Perennials to divide (many should have been split in Spring but my broken arm put paid to that), Biennials are growing on slowly but surely, ready to plant out for early Summer. I'll begin sowing the tough Annuals (Ammi, Cornflowers & Larkspur) for overwintering at the end of this month. Others are being left to collect seed from - they look untidy it's true & very worthwhile none the less.

  For a while in early July as Corona Virus figures rose, I thought we might have to cancel the Open Weekend. Over half the tickets were booked already so I decided not to put it on social media, just in case. All is looking better now & we're going ahead!

  At the moment there are 9 tickets for Saturday 14th August & 5 for Sunday 15th. It will be published on social media this afternoon so this is a last priority call to book places. Cake baking will begin, the weather forecast looks OK & we're really looking forward to this big step towards returning to our normal activities. Book Here

  I'm planning to bring flowers to Loch Arthur Farm Shop & Cafe on Friday August 27th & to Kirkcudbright Farmers Market on Sunday 29th August. If you would like to pre-order flowers to collect, send an email.

  'Friday Flowers' are being delivered on Fridays (not 13th August) plus 'Click & Collect' on Fridays & Saturdays.  Order online or by telephone 01644 420407. 

  The week ahead looks like a great growing week - full of sunshine & showers. Just as well as I seem to have plenty of suggested tasks for the month ahead...
Jobs for the Cutting Garden in August;
  • Spring bulbs are appearing in shops & garden centres now. The best varieties sell out quickly. Some such as Hyacinths for Christmas flowering need to be started in September
  • Take cuttings of Pelargoniums, Salvias, Verbena, Pinks & Fuschia to make sure you have more next year - either for you or to give away to an appreciative friend. 
  • Keep cutting flowers to enjoy in your vases - otherwise you'll have to deadhead anyway. It stimulates many of them to produce more blooms - especially Dahlias & Sweet Peas
  • Pinch out Chrysanthemums tips to encourage bushy growth & more flowers
  • Take out the central flower on Dahlia stems to encourage more side flowers with longer stems - the opposite to growing huge flowers for shows. These side flowers are more useful in a vase or bouquet. If you want fewer large flowers, do the opposite - pinch the 2 side flowers & leave the central one
  • Collect flower seed on a dry day. Many perennials such as Astrantia & Aquilegia grow best from fresh seed. Annual seeds can be stored & sown next Spring or in September
  • Trim back lavender plants after flowering to keep them neat & healthy
  • Birds, Butterflies & Bees appreciate a bird bath of clean, fresh water in dry weather as regular drinking & washing places dry up. Easy to do & a delight to watch them up close. Oh & should help to keep toads out of the kitchen...

Until next time, 
Rosie 
Galloway Flowers 
​
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Rosie Gray of Galloway Flowers.  Cut Flower Grower & Florist near Castle Douglas, in South West Scotland. Using 100% Flowers & Foliage grown in British Isles, all year round.
    ​More info

    Picture

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016

    Categories

    All
    Arranging Cut Flowers
    Flower Farm Life
    Flowers For Funerals
    Grow Cut Flowers
    Newsletter
    Seasonal Flowers
    Wedding Flowers

    Picture

    RSS Feed

Love Cut Flowers?

    Join our newsletter today for free flowery inspiration, growing & care tips, offers, news & more! Always hear about workshops & events at the Flower Farm first.

Join Now
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Member
Picture
Galloway Flowers Regional Winners Scottish Wedding Awards 2020
Picture
Picture
Associate Member
Copyright Galloway Flowers 2015 - 2025  All rights reserved
Growing Gorgeous Seasonal Cut Flowers & Foliage  in Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
 Flower Farmer Florist Castle Douglas, Flower Farm Scotland, Wedding Flowers Castle Douglas, Florist Castle Douglas, Funeral Flowers Castle Douglas, Sympathy flowers Castle Douglas, wedding florist Dumfries & Galloway, Wedding florist Kirkcudbright, wedding florist Gatehouse of Fleet, natural funeral flowers Dumfries & Galloway, wild wedding flowers Dumfries & Galloway, wedding flowers Ayr, wedding flowers Ayrshire
​ 
  • Home
    • Where to Buy our Flowers
    • Flowers to arrange yourself
  • Wedding Flowers
    • Bespoke Wedding Flowers
    • Wedding Flowers Packages
    • DIY Wedding Flowers
    • Wedding Flowers Gallery
    • Wedding Flowers Enquiry
    • Booking Process
  • Funeral Flowers
    • Funeral Flowers Enquiry
  • Workshops
    • 'Cut Flowers from Your Garden'
    • 'Make A Hand Tied Bouquet'
    • 'Arrange A Vase' Afternoon
  • Wholesale Flowers
  • Contact
    • About
    • Join Our Newsletter
    • Flower Farm Blog
    • Environmental Policy