I came to Flower Farming as a life-long home Gardener. I loved discovering new flowers, learning how to grow them. My particular interest was always traditional Cottage Garden flowers, many of which are great for cutting.
And I grew a LOT of flowers - how luxurious to cut generous bunches to fill my home & gift to friends… Over the years, I’ve realised gardening for pleasure & flower farming as a business are very different. Of course, charging the right price to cover costs & make an essential profit to pay bills, like any other job, is the first crucial lesson. But the hardest lesson for me might sound obvious; plant in the best available space, where there is a space. Even if the flower/leaf colour screams next to it's neighbours! Yes, colours must work in an arrangement, but when growing, it’s not important. The idea of a Cutting Patch is to CUT flowers! In my planting plans for the year ahead, my love of harmonious sweeps of colour still creeps in… It makes sense where a lot of similar flowers are together (such as my hundreds of Dahlias or Sweet Peas) - cutting is quicker. Otherwise, it's not the best use of space. Probably my unique, weird little lesson about creating a productive cutting patch. At least I know I'm doing it now! Just part of my transition in mindset from home garden to business.
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January is a quiet month at the Flower Farm - after the hectic pace of Christmas, it's a treat to be slow, snuggled up indoors with the log burner going. That sounds rather lazy but I've learned to value the break, nobody can go full tilt forever. 'Burnout' is very real, whatever your work & the past 3 years have been unprecedented here. The long days of Summer will be back soon enough & we want to be ready.
There's plenty to do, of course - the unseen behind-the-scenes work essential for any business. The accounts deadline looms, time with excited wedding couples, & planning what to grow, when & where all season long. I'm not a big goal-setting, 'new year, new you' kind of person but will spend time looking back over the past year. It's helpful to spot trends, to plan next steps in that context. To recognise what worked, where tweaks & additions are necessary & just as important, what to 'stop doing'. As new plant & seed catalogues arrive, it's easy to keep adding 'more' to my growing list - the trouble with being a plantaholic! So many tempting varieties, new colours... But to allow more space for the very good, or to try something new, something must drop off the list too. There simply isn't space or time to do it all. So I've been ruthlessly reviewing flowers I don't use much. Just because 'everybody else grows it' doesn't mean I should. Not everything thrives here. If I don't much like a flower, I rarely include it in bouquets/arrangements. Astrantia for example - I use every single stem produced of the pink, ruby & silvery-white varieties. But there's another white patch, hugely prolific but the flowers always looks grubby, so I never cut it. It's going! Something else can go in the precious sunny metre or so it takes up in a cutting bed. And there are others in my sights too...Cleome are off the list (smelly & spiky), a couple of Roses (can't cope with heavy rain & horribly prone to blackspot). I love Godetia but it produced too little last year, a couple of Dahlia varieties in less favoured colours, a red Achillea that grows faster than any other & I just don't need that much! Some will be moved to the garden for the Bees (I'm not that good at ruthless). Others I'll simply not sow or propagate again. And on those precious dry, even sunny days, the 'to do' list is as long as my arm.The polytunnels & greenhouse await a good wash & tidy to let maximum light in. Seed trays & pots need cleaning & organising ready to use, the compost heaps turning. It's already getting a teeny bit lighter each day, isn't it? So it's tempting to start sowing seeds (social media is full of it) but I recommend caution. Sown this early, seeds struggle for light, becoming thin & stretchy. Seeds sown in early March quickly catch up, even overtake, the early starts. This month, I'll start a few Sweet Peas (most sown in February), Larkspur & Antirrhinum. Everything else can wait. For my vases, it's thin pickings this month, making every stem extra precious. The Hazel Catkins & coloured Cornus stems are lovely - I've a bunch in the kitchen this week. The scented shrubs such as Lonicera Fragrantissima (Winter Honeysuckle) & Daphne fill the garden with heady scents on gentle breeze days. If you planted Narcissi or Hyacinths in bowls, you'll be pleased as you bring them indoors now. But in just a few weeks, the Snowdrops will be carpeting the grass again... The cutting beds look lifeless today but gently pull back the leaves & mulch, there are stirrings beneath! This is a busy month for wedding bookings & if you know a couple planning to tie the knot this year, the wedding pages can be found by following the links from this page. As well as bespoke wedding flowers for couples planning 'the whole shebang', we'll again be supplying 'Bloom Buckets' of mixed flowers for family & friends to arrange themselves. The most popular Summer dates book quickly & I can only take on a few weddings each week. I’ve begun putting together an Events calendar for 2023 & booking is open for the first dates. So far;
Doubtless there'll be more cold weather to come, so enjoy any dry, bright weather if you can, admire the beauty of frosts & snuggle up when it's cold. Dream & plan for the beautiful flowers that will come! Until next time, Rosie Galloway Flowers Jobs for January;
'What good is the warmth of Summer, without the cold of Winter to give it sweetness' John Steinbeck (American Writer) As any Flower Farmer will tell you, there's no such thing as a typical day. It depends on the season, the day of the week & especially the weather!
Sometimes I know EXACTLY what I should be doing but it's too wet, too frozen, too hot, too dry... And yet somehow there's a rhythm to the year. Winter; relishing the quieter weeks after Christmas busyness. Unseen by Customers, the work goes on behind the scenes. Planning what to grow, where, when to start it so I have plenty of blooms throughout the season. Prepping beds, turning compost, pruning roses. Sowing 1st seeds. Talking to wedding couples & getting plans underway. In Spring, activity goes up a notch. Seed sowing, growing on, planting out. Starting Dahlias. Weeding. Cutting & arranging begins for Farmers Markets, flower sales & the first weddings of the year. Summer; LOTS of cutting, early mornings & late evenings. The days are LONG. Plus, sowing seed, taking cuttings, planting out to keep the colour coming. Weddings are an important part of our work so tend to drive the weekly plan, as we cut, arrange & deliver flowers for our couples. Drying flowers for the winter season. Workshops & garden tours. Autumn; cutting continues if the weather is kind, planting bulbs, sowing seeds, planting out, lifting Dahlias for storage... Dried flower wreaths & Christmas prep. Somehow like any business, there's time to talk with Customers & do admin - accounts, invoicing, website, taking photos, social media. Usually after dark before I ever get to this though. So, no two days are the same - & that's just how I like it Instagram Challenge #FlowerFarmerama Hello & Happy New Year to you!
I'm again following the prompts in the Instagram challenge, #Flowerfarmerama challenge, organised this year by FlowersFromTheFarm. So here goes with the Day 1 Challenge... Who am I? I'm Rosie Gray, Flower Farmer & Florist at my business, Galloway Flowers. Based near Castle Douglas in Dumfries & Galloway, South West Scotland, I’m just starting the 8th year growing cut flowers here. I've always been a gardener & growing flowers long before then though. As a child, I was happiest getting grubby in my little patch, sowing seeds, picking flowers for ‘my bouquets’, soaking rose petals in water to make ‘perfume’… Well, the perfume was never a great success but otherwise, I’ve just scaled up a bit over time! Every year we grow thousands of stems, in a dizzying range of varieties. Our main season is from mid-March to October & there’s always something lovely blooming at that time. I look forward to sharing our flowers with you in future days of the challenge. And a photo from last Spring as a reminder the Tulip bulbs are out there in the soil, steadily putting out roots, getting ready for their moment of glory… And because a splash of colour is very welcome on a day with yet another Weather Warning for heavy rain! These short days & long, dark nights really put the pressure on us all to get anything done in a garden, don't they?
And after the relentless wind & rain of November, I'm well behind... still bulbs to plant, mulch to spread & more. I'm rushing round like the White Rabbit concerned 'I'm late!' But there's so much more growing here now for blooms early in the year than a few short years ago, so I know we'll catch up. Since investing in more perennials every year, my workload is more manageable & predictable. It might not look like it just now, but there'll be plenty of flowers in Springtime, there always is... And if you haven't planted Tulips yet either, don't panic - they'll be fine planted well into January. If you're lucky, there'll be reduced packs for you to swoop on in the garden centre for an early burst of colour in the garden or vase. There are even a few Dahlias left in the ground here still - it was too wet to dig them up. I'm taking a chance on the new plants from cuttings & small divided tubers, leaving some in the ground this winter. Covered with mulch & sheet of plastic, it's a calculated risk - if it's a cold winter, I might lose them. But if it's a mild, I fear the slugs under the plastic will do more damage as the soil warms. Please wish me luck! Of course December is a hectic month of Christmas workshops, wreaths, garlands & more as we near the big day. Freshly cut conifer in my workshop smells wonderful, mixed with scents of Cinnamon, Eucalyptus & lashings of hand cream – wreathmaking is a very tough job for fingers! I'm very easy to buy gifts for at Christmas. I'm almost fully booked for wreaths now - just time to make a few after 12th December. Wreaths can be ordered online. I decided not to send wreaths by post around the UK this year due to the Postal Strikes. Although the wreaths last very well, I'm concerned they could take much longer to arrive. I’ve begun putting together an Events calendar for 2023. So far;
These are lean months for flowers & foliage grown in the British Isles, but there's always something lovely for Christmas
While Children count down the sleeps, I’m counting the days to the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Once this landmark date is past, I’ll be looking for every extra minute of daylight in the evenings. There’ll be many long evenings to come poring over seed catalogues by the warm wood burner through December, January & February - but we’ll be on the way. And my last words this month? Sending you very warm wishes to you & yours for the Festive season, a healthy New Year & spectacular Cutting Patch in 2023! Until next time, Rosie Galloway Flowers Jobs for December;
This 'Miniature Garden' of Fungi & Lichen appeared overnight on a fencepost opposite my kitchen window.
I swear it wasn't there yesterday! Isn't it lovely? Sometimes a dawdling dog in the rain helps slow me down & notice the beauty in the details... When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, they say... or if wild winds & rain bring down plenty of autumnal twigs & leaves, make a door wreath! And it's been pretty wild already, hasn't it? So I made this for my workshop door this afternoon from the bits & pieces. I'll add more bracken, seed heads etc to fill it out as the leaves on it fall.
And the rain has slowed down our Autumn jobs - still planting & dividing to do, we'll get there. I've invested in many more Agapanthus plants this Autumn as they do so well here & every stem is used. For now, they're potted up & patiently waiting for their place in the polytunnel. Taking a wander round this afternoon, I concede it all looks a bit grim just now. Fallen leaves, windblown sticks & rather a lot of drab brown colours. Perhaps your garden is similar? The house though is full of colour - ahead of last Thursday's hard Frost, I picked every last Dahlia stem so they could be enjoyed. Some are drying in the airing cupboard for dried flower bouquets, others in vases in the kitchen. There's still beauty to be found outside though - a Crab Apple planted a couple of years ago has fruited well for the first time, the Nerines, Acers & Hesperantha are still bright splashes of colour. And tiny Cyclamen planted by a Gardener whe came before me, peep out from under shrubs - what a bonus! It's becoming more difficult to create our trademark seasonal bouquets of mixed flowers so we're taking a short break from 'Friday Flowers' deiveries until mid-December. Our Regular Subscription Customers will continue to receive flowers & I'll continue making arrangements for Funerals & Parties etc. using flowers from other British growers. Taking a break now gives us time to prepare for Christmas & next years flowers. And yes, now Bonfire Night has passed, the 'Christmas' word is unavoidable. The Wreathmaking workshops are almost fully booked so please don't delay if you hope to come. These are the only dates I'm delivering workshops this year. All will be here at the Flower Farm.
The Christmas Wreath shop is now open for orders online too. Wreaths can be collected, delivered locally or sent by Post across the UK from Wednesday 30th November. I'm waiting for final confirmation from our British growers for availability & pricing, then ordering will open for Christmas flowers too. (And you can, of course, telephone me on 01644 420407 if you prefer talking to a real person rather than ordering online). This week, I'll be planting up our big pots with 'Bulb Lasagnes' - these give several months of colour & a great use of space. Indoors, this is the time 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. Hyacinths & Amaryllis planted now will be ready to flower indoors from January onwards, when a colour hit is especially welcome. Fingers crossed this wet phase of weather will move on. Otherwise I may take root by the side of the wood burner! Until next time, Rosie Galloway Flowers 'To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow' Audrey Hepburn 'Of course I know all their names' I say.
And I do, honestly - it's easy while Dahlias have such an array of flowers. Many colours, shapes & sizes, all easy(ish) to identify. But soon the frost will come & I'll cut the wet, blackened stems down to the ground. Not so easy to be 100% sure which muddy tuber is which when dug up & prepared for storage. I spent a quiet hour yesterday among the Dahlias, checking every plant still has a clearly written label. I replaced any missing ones. A real 'stitch in time' job. If you have a growing collection of Dahlias, you'll be glad you took time for this next Spring. Autumn is definitely here now, no longed for 'Indian Summer' for us this year. We protected Dahlias on several nights with fleece & they survived light frost. But our 7th (can you believe it?) season of growing flowers here has come to an end, our last wedding scheduled for the year delivered on Friday. So now, we'll stop the protection & let Jack Frost win.
Last year, the mild Autumn allowed the Dahlias to bloom into November.It put us under great pressure to lift them when the soil was cold & wet, not ideal for storage. Also, it left little time to prepare for Christmas wreathing - even the dried flowers were barely used, still in boxes in the spare bedroom! So while always sad to see my much-loved Dahlias go, I've learned the lesson.... There are still flowers of course - plenty of Nerines, Hesperantha, Dahlias, Michaelmas Daisies & grasses. I'll cut & use them in bouquets etc. while I can. Just not enough to fill the 'Bloom Buckets' of flowers we've supplied over the year to those wanting to arrange flowers themselves. 'Friday Flowers' will continue this month - please give as much notice as you can of those upcoming birthdays, anniversaries etc to be sure I can supply. Often we think of Autumn as the end of the gardening year, time for 'putting the garden to bed'. For us though, it's very much the beginning of our 2023 season with so much to do. My desk is littered with post it note reminders... New plants to grow, some to grow more of, others to grow less off (sorry Lupins). And all those catalogues to flip through! So tell me, what are you planning to grow in your cutting patch in 2023 - I would love to know! Anything you love & recommend I try? Seeds sown last month are poppping up nicely & on their way for next years flowers in May & June. An email on Friday warns me the bulbs arrive this week - some to plant immediately, Tulips will wait until November to minimise the risk of 'Tulip Fire' a nasty viral disease. Many of last years Ranunculus & Anemones are popping up in the beds where I left them over Summer, reminding me to get more underway indoors. The big job of the month is dividing perennials to increase stock & maintain vigour. As dry Spring weather becomes a pattern, this is an October priority as they re-establish so much better while the soil is moist & warm. For us, this Autumn & Winter is about getting many of our delayed projects back on track. That means putting up the trellis bought 2 years ago for new climbers, revitalising many of the areas in the old nursery & continuing to plant foliage shrubs. And finishing off my workshop renovation, started in Springtime. I'm promised a new window pane (without a large hole) & we plan to repaint the walls. Woohoo! The workshop needs finishing as we'll be hosting Christmas Wreath Making workshops here at the Flower Farm this year - a deadline always helps doesn't it? Groups will be small so please don't delay if you're planning to book. The dates are;
Enjoy the glorious Autumn colours in the coming weeks & do make the most of any sunshine - it really is a beautiful time of year. KIck up the leaves like a five year old, collect conkers for your 'Nature Table' & fill your vases with glorious golden foliage & berries. Until next time, Rosie Galloway Flowers 'To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow' Audrey Hepburn Jobs for the Cutting Garden in October;
Phew! After 2 nights with low temperatures forecast, it's a relief to see our Dahlias unharmed by the cold.
We fleeced them to give an extra layer of protection & this time, it was enough. Temperatures are looking warmer now for a while so fingers crossed, we can enjoy them for a few more weeks. Hopefully there'll be plenty for our wedding couples plus to bring to Kirkcudbright Farmers Market next Sunday. I'm keeping the fleece handy though & a beady eye on the forecast each evening... Jack Frost I'm ready for you! Photo of Dahlia 'Askwith Minnie' just because. As rain blows across the field this morning, I feel the season turning to Autumn. Quickly forgetting how much rain is still needed - was it really only last Wednesday I gave Dahlias a much needed soak with a hose? I'm even wearing socks today, for goodness sake - how many times has that been necessary recently!
While we never had close to the drought & high temperatures experienced in many areas, this year has been challenging. Great for everybody enjoying holidays locally of course, but concerning for all growing flowers, food & grass. I'm mean with additional watering & the difference shows in stem length of certain flowers. The perennial flowers & early planted Annuals such as Sweet Peas performed brilliantly, their roots down deep. Tomatoes are incredible this year. But the Tender Annuals planted out over the Summer (Cosmos for example) have disappointed. While they survived, they didn't thrive as usual. This month is a good time to note what thrived, what I'll grow more of for next year & changes needed. The addition of water efficient soaker hoses worked brilliantly in the tunnels. Next year I'll add some to vulnerable outside plants too. As we see climate change affecting us, we're learning to adapt for future success. It's been a non-stop Summer of fabulous weddings as couples could plan with certainty at last. From large Marquees in the garden, to pretty country churches, village halls & family gardens, we've loved them all! Never have I known so many elopements - proving romance is definitely not dead. Wedding trends I've noticed?
While flower production slows from this month on, there's plenty to do. I'm making a big effort to save our own seed to resow for more free plants. Many come true from seed so it makes good sense - like everything else, seed prices are soaring. Quality of our own seed tends to be good as it's so fresh - gather it when very dry, store somewhere cool & dry, then resow. Germination rates tend to be high especially for the 'tricky' seeds such as Orlaya & Molucella (Bells of Ireland). So why not give it a go? On Sunday September 11th, I'll be hosting a 'Make A Hand Tied Bouquet' afternoon so if you've ever fancied giving this a try, do come along. Just 2 places left this morning. BOOK ONLINE This week it's time to tidy up the greenhouse ready for filling with tender plants again over winter. The fleece is bundled up ready to throw over the Dahlias if an early frost threatens - the earliest I've known was September 13th here. If I can mollycoddle plants through early cold nights, often I can keep them blooming until late October. Last Autumn was exceptionally mild & I sent buckets of Dahlias & Rudbeckia to Glasgow to decorate Kelvingrove for the COP26 dinner. Jack Frost I'm ready for you! Dried flowers are having a renaissance & my spare bedroom is rammed with bright Statice, Achillea & Helichrysum. Serious wreathmaking has begun...Wreaths will be for sale on the website later this month & can be sent by post across the UK. Enjoy September's misty mornings, Spiders webs on the grasses & the leaves as colours begin to change. I couldn't resist adding these brambles to a vase arrangement, but there are plenty in the hedgerows this year for Crumbles & pies. Hurrah for the return of comfort food! Until next time, Rosie Galloway Flowers 'A flowerless room is a souless room, to my way of thinking; but even a solitary little vase of a living flower may redeem it.' Vita Sackville-West 'Some Flowers' Jobs for the Cutting Garden in September;
It's a while since I've had a picture of me on here so as this growing season is coming to a close, here's a little intro. It's a picture from earlier in the year - I didn't get as far as posting it here. Tells you everything about this year!
I'm Rosie & supported by my Partner Ken, we grow Cut flowers near Castle Douglas in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. 2022 is our 7th year since we started the Flower Farm & every year our output increases a bit more! From March to October we cut a wide range of cottage garden flowers, including many unusual varieties. The flowers are used for weddings, funerals & lots of local bouquets. Our Tulips & Narcissi are cut from mid-March to mid-May, finishing as the next wave of flowers are coming in to bud. Soon, it's Ranunculus, Anemones, Aquilegia, Scabious, Cormflowers, Sweet Williams & many more filling our buckets each week. As we go through the seasons, the flowers available changes - Sweet Peas & Dahlias are among the cottage garden favourites to follow. Many of our flowers are deliciously scented, adding a very special 'something' to a bouquet. For more about us & the flowers we grow, take a look at our 'About' page
Happy May Day! The Cuckoo is calling so it's officially 'Spring Time' in my book. I might not be skipping around the maypole wearing a flower crown but am celebrating the welcome return of our flowers. The speed we move from no colour in the cutting beds (just plenty of weeds) to cutting blooms is a miracle. The Narcissi have been so abundant, undamaged by rain, they've lasted exceptionally well. Every year we've added a thousand more bulbs & now there are plenty uncut to enjoy in the garden too. What a luxury! The Tulips are now coming on strong. Every year I vow to stop growing them as they're an extravagance (admittedly, 1200 bulbs probably is). Then they bloom & I'm smitten all over again. They're so popular in Friday Flower bouquets & for Spring weddings, I cannot resist them. The one above is a great example - starting as an egg shaped bud a week ago, now opening wide with a satin sheen. A jugful in the kitchen looks like a flock of Flamingo's flying against the white paintwork. Does any other flower fade so gracefully? I know it won't be long before a carpet of petals lands on the floor but I'll enjoy them till the last elegantly drooping petal... For the very best cut Tulip flowers with long, strong stems I grow them close together in beds, & pull up with the whole bulb. The bulb is discarded, replaced with new stock for next Spring. It's expensive. I know many will repeat flower (some bulblets are always left behind in the bed) so this year, I'm planting many of the discarded bulbs in long grass under fruit trees. Not all will make it & any flowers in future years will be smaller, shorter (& prone to tulip fire disease). But still beautiful. From experience, the Parrot & Lily-flowered Tulips (for example 'Ballerina', 'Ballade', 'Merlot') are particularly good at returning healthily for many years. Space is at a premium undercover just now, with seedlings growing on until it's warm enough to plant out. Dahlias fill the little green polytunnel & the main tunnels are beginning to bloom with early flowers destined for May weddings. Any day now, it'll be a snowstorm in there! The first row of Sweet Peas is planted, & now we've had welcome rain, more will go out this week. It's been cold at night still & I'm cautious - none of the tender plants will be outside until later this month. One frost & so much work can be lost. Earlier this year I moved most of the Peonies to new beds & the first buds are appearing. It'll hurt me to do it but these buds must be removed. This encourages them to put all their energy into re-establishing roots, able to produce many more flowers long term. Peonies are long-lived & if cared for, could easily outlive me. Deferred gratification & all that... Ken will be delighted to take part in 'No Mow May' again this year as mowing is one of his least favourite jobs! We've left large areas uncut now for 7 years & the return of wild flowers (Cowslips, Orchids, Harebells etc.) has been dramatic. Numbers of pollinators has increased too so it's a worthwhile initiative. This month, we'll be absent from the Kirkcudbright Farmers Market - a market date change has caused a clash with a long scheduled wedding. I'll be back in June & until then, flowers can be ordered for collection or delivery on Fridays, A few more events have been added to the Workshop calendar - the next 'Cut Flowers From Your Garden' workshop will be on Sunday July 10th. Short Sunday afternoon sessions to arrange flowers have been added too. While I was at the Farmers Market in March, Ken knocked down the dividing wall in my little workshop - woohoo! This project, delayed 2 years, has doubled the space & so welcome. Yet to be painted but hey, Rome wasn't built in a day either you know... Paint charts are being studied. It's Bluebell season in Galloway, the woods carpeted with gorgeous blue flowers. Hopefully, there'll be sunshine & gentle rain (overnight please) to bring on the fresh growth in all our gardens as we race towards the abundance of early Summer. My favourite time of year, full of promise & the arrival of flowers unseen in such a long time. Take time to enjoy it all! Until next time, Rosie Galloway Flowers 'A flowerless room is a souless room, to my way of thinking; but even a solitary little vase of a living flower may redeem it.' Vita Sackville-West 'Some Flowers' Jobs for the Cutting Garden in May;
Most of the plants grown here at the Flower Farm are grown by ourselves either from seed or cuttings. It keeps our costs low & often is the only way to obtain the best varieties for cut flowers.
Perhaps we want specific colours or tall, strong stems, or extra long vase life. Some varieties are better than others for these traits. This little Delphinium seedling may not look much here when pricked out in mid-March. But soon it'll be producing plenty of tall, frilly flower spikes. Growing from seed is exciting as I never know exactly the colour each plant will be. Every one is an original. I'll select the best & grown on for more stock in years to come. Will 80 be enough? And we're off! The 2022 Seed Sowing & Growing Marathon has begun here. Greenhouse shelves are full of Sweet Peas, other Hardy Annuals are popping up in the propagator & on the heatmat. Undercover space is at a premium already.
I'm sowing Hardy Annuals (such as Cornflowers, Nigella, Phlox, Ammi, Delphinium, Molucella, Rudbeckia) this week.These are tough enough to be put outside when a little bigger, before the last frost. I'll sow another batch of the same next month to keep the flowers coming all Summer. It's so tempting to tip the whole seed packet on compost at once but taking this disciplined approach means flowers keep coming longer. It's often said you know when to sow direct into the ground when weed seeds start popping up. Well, the weeds are doing up in numbers now so I'llit's time to start a few toughies in an outside bed too. Poppies dislike being moved so this is the easiest way to grow them. Lots for the bees & pretty seed pods for me! Hold steady on sowing the less Hardy seeds (such as Cosmos & Sunflowers) until the end of the month though. Our last frost here is usually the end of May so I protect many of the baby seedlings until then. It takes a lot of space but otherwise, one late frost could kill the lot. I'm often asked; 'Seed left over from last year - can I still use it?' Of course you can! How successful it is depends on the type & how well it has been stored. If stored somewhere cool, dark, dry (like a plastic box in the garage) it's got a good chance. In an opened packet on the kitchen windowsill, above the hot radiator - maybe not. But seed is expensive, so what's the worst that'll happen? Maybe the number of seeds germinating is a bit lower, maybe you'll waste a bit of compost. Give it a try now & if nothing has popped up in 4 weeks, there's still time for a fresh packet of seed. Tomato & Lettuce seed lasts years, Parsnips are legendary for being weak - you need fresh seed every season or nothing grows. I've sown seed from opened packets already & have Sweet Peas, Calendula, Nigella from them. Experiment! Defence against Mice has been stepped up. After losing so many Anemone & Ranunculus corms, the next batch planted are defended with great care. Sweet Peas are on the high shelves, Seed trays on the heat mat are covered in wire mesh or plastic propogator lids. Seeds liking darkness to germinate are wrapped in old compost bags or covered by upturned greenhouse trays. Two feral cats on the payroll & I would like to know what they're doing... Enjoying a daily plate of Tesco's best cat food & sitting in the sun mostly, I think. Somewhere I got their training wrong... I'm hoping for a run of dry days so I can divide many of the perennial plants. It's a big job, overdue because last Spring I couldn't do it because of my broken arm. It'll delay flowering this year but rejuvenate plants for the next few years. More plants too! I've been quiet on social media in recent weeks. In part when world news is so overwhelming, my wittering about seed sowing & flowers seems frivolous. I wonder whether to grow Sweet Peas or Beans? No right answer, of course. So believing beauty makes the world a better place, I just keep on keeping on. But also because we've been busy, trying to get ahead & those February Storms slowed us down. Storm Franklin was by far the worst as we lost power for some time. Lightning struck the telephone exchange, knocking out the phone lines to many locally. Each morning after a storm, I walked down the garden with dread expecting to see the tunnels shredded & our greenhouse glass blown out. No major damage, thank goodness - we were lucky. Mothers Day is later this month & we'll be delivering flowers on Friday 25th March only - over half the slots are booked already. On Sunday 27th, Mothers Day, we'll be at Kirkcudbright Farmers Market with plenty of small Posies. Bouquets can be pre-ordered for collection. Again looking ahead - the 'Cut Flowers From Your Garden' workshop on Sunday April 3rd has just 2 places remaining. BOOK HERE And a date for your diary - the 'Flower Farmers Big Weekend' is on Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th August. We plan to open for Garden Tours again & details will follow nearer the time. Spring is springing even if the cold wind doesn't feel like it. The birds are pairing up & there is Toad spawn in the pond. Our first weddings of the year have been delivered (picture above was of a Flower Crown made for our Bride yesterday). The Flower year is now underway & the first of our flowers are going out in bouquets again. I hope the fresh shoots of new growth are appearing in your garden too - it's an exciting time of year as it changes fast! Until next time, Rosie Galloway Flowers Jobs for the Cutting Garden in March;
The days are finally getting longer at both ends & after a quiet January, I feel ready to begin another year of flowers (our 7th) here. Early bulbs are pushing up through the soil & many of the Perennials are appearing too. By late March we'll again be cutting our own grown flowers for bouquets & events. Bring it on!
The highlights in the garden just now are the Scented Shrubs - Daphne, Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera X Purpusii) & Sarcococca. Most of the year these are plain, unassuming shrubs but their scent just now is delicious. It wafts about on gentle breezes. I cut a stem or two to bring into the house or to tuck into bouquets. It's just enough to keep people guessing what it is - any more & it can be overpowering. If you have space for one of these lovely plants in your garden, I recommend them highly. The Hellebores are forming nice fat buds & will be ready to cut soon. They're a fabulous cut flower but require a little care to ensure they don't flop pathetically in the vase. The trick is to leave them until at least one flower on the stem has been pollinated by the bees & a seed pod is beginning to form. I sear them in boiling water too just to give them extra strength - with care they last well. Most of my Hellebores were grown from seed given to me in a tiny envelope nearly 30 years ago by the Great Aunt of a Primary school friend. Over time, I've picked out & increased the better colours - they're still called 'Auntie May's Hellebores' though! The new seasons seeds have arrived & I'm itching to begin sowing! But I know it's too soon & must step away from the seed packets... Seed will germinate given warmth but unless additional lighting is available the seedlings will grow weak, & skinny. Wait a few weeks & seed sown later with better natural light soon overtakes the early starts. If you want to sow something now, Sweet Peas, Antirrhinums & Broad Beans will appreciate the early start. I'll cut the first of our Anemones this week, early as they're last years corms brought into the Greenhouse. My expensive Ranunculus planted in October have been a complete disaster - all eaten by a mouse! Fortunately I only planted half the corms so still time to plant the rest for late May/June flowers. The wedding calendar is filling up nicely in recent weeks - if you know a couple hoping to use our locally grown flowers this year, please suggest they get in touch soon. I take on only a few weddings each week & the popular weeks fill quickly. And today I've made a few events for this year available to book on the website - the first in a very long time. We're looking forward to welcoming visitors again soon.
The last two years have turned so many of our plans upside down (like everybody else, of course). We worked hard to keep this little business afloat & when I look back to 2020, it seems plans for that year are mostly still on the list! Probably not completely true (we did get the second polytunnel up & running) but my workshop hasn't been knocked through & the Old Nursery area remains a complete mess after the Leylandii hedge was removed. It is what it is.Hopefuly these projects will be completed this year & we can get back to what we do best - growing lots of beautiful flowers!. Today was miserably wet & didn't encourage me out for long. It's a good opportunity to snuggle by the fire, read seed & plant catalogues & plan for this years flowers. But I could see the Catkins dancing in the wind, a reminder that Spring is on the way... We look forward to sharing our flowers & Flower Farm life with you in the season ahead, Until next time, Rosie Galloway Flowers Jobs for the Cutting Garden in February;
As I walk around the Cutting beds, the flowers bring back memories of people who gave me those seeds, that cutting, recommended it, perhaps that day out when we bought a plant.
Like old friends really. There's Mrs Jefferies Geraniums, Terry's Fuschia, Auntie May's Hellebores. And so many more. But if I had to choose one flower with special memories, it would be the Aquilegia because I adore them & frankly IMHO, deserve more notice! Grannies Bonnets, Pixie Hats, call them what you will - I came across them first as a cut flower rather accidentally. There used to be WI stall on Salisbury Market (maybe still is) & I would get up early on Saturdays so I had the pick of the wonderful bunches of cottage garden flowers. In May there would be Aquilegias aplenty. The perfect Cottage Garden flower & I wanted them in the country garden I was making! I tried to save seeds as the flowers faded (I know now it wouldn't ever work) & eventually built a collection of plants. Many found their way here to Scotland with me. They're promiscuous seeders, happily hybridising & if allowed, quickly become a weed. But a high quality weed if ever there was. Well, I appreciate how they sparked my interest in cut flower growing. And I often sneak a few stems into early Summer bouquets... 'Where are you?' is one of the most asked questions when we're at the Farmers Markets in Kirkcudbright & Castle Douglas.
So,let me tell you... We're on the 'Hidden Road', off the A713, North of Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway in Scotland. At the moment we're closed for our winter break as the flowers are out of season just now. It didn't look quite like this today! This is our essential quiet time to plan this years growing season, prepare the beds & lots of wedding talk with this years couples. From April to October, flowers can be pre-ordered for local delivery, collection from the Flower Farm or at the regular Farmers Markets in Kirkcudbright & Castle Douglas. In season, flowers can be ordered by phone (01644 420407), the Contact page on our website or the Online Order page. I add pictures on this blog, Instagram & Facebook of the flowers as they come in to season, so this gives an idea of the flowers we grow & when they bloom. There are so many varieties here, changing through the months, it would be impossibe to list. Each season some flowers are dropped to make way for new varieties. Perhaps the colour was less popular with Customers or it didn't perform that well here. This year, I'm running a trial of some of the new Sunflower varieties. (And quite a few new Dahlias...) Hoping to discover new favourites! We're open occasionally in the Summer for Garden tours & workshops - to know when these open for booking, be sure to sign up to the monthly newsletter on the website. Roll on the lengthening days - I'm looking forward to the flowers blooming again! We're back into the routine after a longer than usual break after the New Year.
To be honest we needed it as we were flat out all last 2021 & 2020. Sometimes we all need to stop, think, breath... I've been catching up on wedding enquiries & planning our planting for months of colour. Lots of ideas for 2022 (a holiday break didn't include a no seed buying rule!) & looking forward to getting the flowers underway. Our Galloway-grown flowers will be limited until mid-March when they begin blooming again. Until then I'll bring in limited supplies of flowers from British growers in the South each week for our Regular Flower Subscription customers & Funeral flowers. If you would like to order a bouquet of British-grown flowers delivered locally or for collection on a Friday, please order by previous Friday am. It'll not be long until I can include Hyacinths in bouquets but for now, these scented beauties are cheering up my kitchen windowsill in a pot! For me it's a long list - I love working with others who share my lifelong enthusiasm for our beautiful British flowers, who appreciate their variety, colours, scent, their seasonality.
You have to catch British-grown flowers while you can - every season brings it's own special treats, even winter. Many of these flowers are available for just a few short weeks each year. You know how the very best British-grown Strawberries, Elderflower, Gooseberries or Asparagus burst with flavour? And how the equivalents flown from around the globe all year round, simply don't taste the same? Well, our flowers aren't the same either. The delicate scent of a Narcissi, a Tulip (many are scented), a Rose or a Sweet Pea - I could go on... Each has it's own personality, adding something unique to a bouquet or arrangement. I can tell you the week of the year when most of my bouquets were made when I look through the photo's as the combination of flowers will tell me which flowers were just starting it's season, & which were coming to an end. A strange floral quiz game... So I love sharing this enthusiasm with others who grow them in their gardens (or Grandad/ma did perhaps), or who want them in their homes, wedding bouquets or at the funeral of a loved one, with those Florists & Flower Arrangers who create stunning designs with my flowers, other flower growers & those who simply want to learn more about British flowers at a workshop or garden visit. I always find the learning is two-way & I've met so many wonderful friends through my flowers. Looking forward to meeting with even more in 2022! Well, it might not be very original, but it's true!
The greatest compliment ever given to me is when a Customer trusts me to deliver flowers on their behalf, to decorate their homes or for those important family occasions. Flowers are there for the sad times & the glad times, & I know seeking out our locally grown blooms takes a little more thought than simply clicking on the top Google ad. And when those Customers return for more, it's such a boost to me. It keeps me going on the days when my back aches, my fingers are cold, the midges are eating me alive or I have to get up ridiculously early. So a special thank you to the Bridesmaids & Sisters who become Brides themselves & choose to hold my flowers again on their special day. To the Regular Customers who have enjoyed my flowers often for years, either delivered, collected or bought at the Farmers Market. A lady I met me our very first Farmers Market asked me to take flowers to her mother each month - I'm still doing it all these years later! All our Customers have been so important in the last few years, enabling us to keep going when our usual sales outlets disappeared overnight. Many have become flower friends along the way & spur me to try new plants, new ways to make the most of the flowers. What better compliment or encouragement could there ever be? I'm often asked what prompted me to start the Flower Farm here near Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway.
Well, it was a bit of a long & winding road to be honest. I've always adored flowers, ever since I was a toddler really & especially our beautiful British Cottage Garden Flowers. Flowers were always in my life (I grew up next to a Peony Farm) but unable to see a career in horticulture, I kept it strictly outside work. But I grew flowers always, loved arranging them in a natural way to please me & slowly over time, they started to be noticed. The village flower arrangers wanted them, a few local florists too & so I started selling flowers on a very small scale when I lived in Wiltshire. A health scare gave me the jolt I needed to step it up. Nothing quite like a couple of MRI scans to get you thinking... Slowly a plan formed, we moved to Scotland nearer my partners parents & since 2015, making those plans happen. Growing Cottage Garden flowers in a sustainable way, & sharing their beauty & scent with others is such a special experience. And I'm always trying something new to grow each season, hoping to delight my Customers with them. It's physically tough at times, a huge learning curve & totally worth it. Whatever took me so long? So excited to be a Finalist in the Wedding Florist category of the 9th Scottish Wedding Awards 2022. Thank you so much to everybody who kindly nominated us - it's really appreciated.
Maybe I need a new posh frock? It's a while since I've worn one... The last couple of weeks have been hectic here, digging these Dahlia tubers out of their Summer beds before the cold weather begins.
All are now out of the ground, dried off & stored in a frost free place. It's a big job each year - all the Dahlia Tubers are health checked as we go. Some divide as we clean, others we'll divide in the Spring if necessary. When dried, the tubers are packed away & kept frost free until we start them off again. We started the season with approximately 600 tubers & we try to record as we go how many we have at the end. Some varieties are discarded as not great producers & I'll not grow them them again. A few were unhealthy so discarded. And then there are those I want to propagate so next year I'll have even more of a variety. How many will the total be for 2022? More than ever! I hope my crystal ball is working well so I have the favoured colours for next years weddings... What do you think that'll be? If you aren't a Gardener or a Flower Farmer, you might not be that impressed by this photo today... But this view of one of our compost heaps is pure Gold to me!
Last week, I posted a photo of a load of plant stems being carted off to the compost heap. This is what it turns into a year later. This heap could be riddled & spread on the beds now but I'll probably leave it until Spring. It'll break down just a little bit more & give plants a flying start. Composting is easy to do, improves soil quality & returns nutrients to the soil. It produces stronger, healthier plants, retains moisture & of course produces the best flowers. Over time those strong plants capture more carbon in the soil too. Promise I'll be back to posting the pretties later... |
AuthorRosie 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. Archives
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