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;
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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
October 2024
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