February 2026 News from Galloway Flowers

Photo credit Ken Leslie Photography

  I'm looking for the positives this wet February afternoon. I love Hazel catkins wiggling in a breeze, my Snowdrops are wonderfully long stemmed & my water butts are brimming with rainwater ready for planting out time... 
  I see Spring slowly arriving - buds on Daffodils & the birds are definitely pairing up. I found two Newts lounging about on my doorstep in the rain overnight so they're on the move. I've not spotted any Frog or Toad spawn yet - Have you?

   But oh, it's been such a frustrating few weeks hasn't it. I'm itching to get ahead outside, yet it seems to have been too wet, too cold, too windy to work outside consistently, Just snatched hours when I can move a few deckchairs around on the Titanic - or that's how it feels! (And I know here in Galloway we've had much less of a deluge than other areas...) My cutting beds remain unweeded, compost isn't riddled. let alone spread. The polytunnels are still unwashed - other than by the generous downpours!
  So I've spent unexpected time indoors watching the Winter Olympics instead & am even beginning to understand how Curling matches are scored (I think...is that another positive? Maybe it's good to rest?) 
 
  Having a plan is key for me to feel progress is still being made. I've a list for dry days & another for wet so I can get on with something most days. This last week I've been in the potting shed pricking out seedlings sown last Autumn. Now I'm getting ready to ramp up sowing this week. Sometimes it's too easy to focus on what I CAN'T do, & overlook what I can.

  And on the really wet days, I've been catching up with the wedmin. Valentines Day is a popular day for the romantics to pop the question, & so begin their wedding plans. If you know a couple planning to tie the knot, feel free to point them at my Wedding Pages  on my website. The most popular Summer dates book quickly & I take on only a few wedding dates each week. We offer options to suit all budgets - from full service, bespoke occasions to 'bloom buckets' of mixed flowers for DIY Weddings. Most popular choices are somewhere in between. Couples choose their package of bouquets & buttonholes to be made up by myself, & order buckets of flowers to decorate the venue tables etc.
 
 What Can I Cut in February?
  At last there are flowers!
The first Hellebores are ready to cut now & I adore them. Those luscious plummy pink shades, the delicate greenish whites. And the frills, the speckles...so beautiful! I've pressed a few too this week as they can keep colour well. The scented shrubs such as Daphne, Winter Honeysuckle, Witch Hazel & Viburnums are great to cut just now. 
  I've been cutting colourful Willow, Cornus, Hazel & Alder Catkins, & Pussy Willow, the first stems of the year I have in quantity. Lots of buds on the Primulas & Narcissi too - they'll not be long.
  This week I bought some gorgeous double Tulips from Lincolnshire & a few Cornish Daffodils to boost my own for events. The colours really shone out together in the workshop. It doesn't take much to lift February spirits with bold colour & need not be expensive.

Upcoming Events 2026
  We'll be hosting Flower Workshops here at the Flower Farm again this year. As always, there'll be a generous supply of fresh flowers & of course, tea & cake!. Groups will be small (maximum 4 adults) so please don't delay if you're planning to book. (Plan an Escape from the endless World Cup tv coverage perhaps...)
The dates are;

• 'Cut Flowers from Your Garden' Sunday 12th April (3 places left)
• 'Making a Hand Tied Bouquet' Sundays 14th June, 19th July & 16th August
• 'Arrange a Vase' Sundays 21st June, 9th & 30th August

Jobs for February

• Sow another batch of Sweet Peas (indoors) in deep pots & protect from Mice!
• Sow Hardy Annuals such as Nigella, Cornflowers, Larkspur. Not too many at once as a mouse or slug can destroy seedlings in a single night. Sow another batch in mid-March to keep the flowers coming
• If you grow veg too, it's time to sow Chillies & Peppers. I'm giving Aubergines another try - a variety claimed to fruit early. So we'll see...
• Prune Willows & Cornus to encourage long wands for next Winter
• Prune late flowering Clematis (such as Tangutica). Leave the early flowering types (such as Montana & 'Nelly Moser') or you'll have no flowers this Summer
• Roses can be pruned. I'm cautious & don't do this until late in the month or even early March. We can get hard weather here yet & it can damage stems further. It means my flowers are later (1st peak in July)
• Inspired by abundant carpets of Snowdrops? This is the time to order them 'in the green' to plant for your own display for years to come

How To Buy Our Flowers;

• Deliveries or collections  Our fresh bouquet season has closed until Mother's Day. Deliveries will be on Friday 13th March. Orders are open now - we will sell out so time to drop hints if necessary!
• We arrange flowers for funerals, parties & events using 100% British-grown flowers all year round - pre-order essential
• Regular Flower Subscriptions. Book for the 2026 season – choose the dates, & we’ll cut fresh for local delivery or collection Order Online
• Florists Wholesale. In 2026, we're opening up the opportunity for more Florists to buy our flowers regularly & increase delivery options Message for details.
• Weddings - the order book is open & filling!

   And you can, of course, telephone me on 01644 420407 or email if you prefer talking to a real person rather than ordering flowers online. Much of my work is 'bespoke' for House flowers, parties & funerals so doesn't really fit the neat boxes necessary for online ordering. 

  Days are lengthening fast now. As soon as it stops raining (it will, eventually, surely) our gardens will change colour to the 'yellow months' full of Daffodils. Until then, keep warm, splash in a few puddles in your wellies perhaps, & look for the glimmers of Spring... 

Until next time,
Rosie
Galloway Flowers
 
“February is the shortest month, so if you're having a miserable month, try to schedule it for February'
Lemony Snickett.”