Galloway Flowers - One Year On

  Many closest to us were surprised by our plan to grow cut flowers in Scotland. All the usual doubts were expressed - 'you can't grow roses in Scotland', 'it rains all the time', 'it'll be so cold'. Even though I had been growing & selling flowers on a small scale before, few probably thought we could make it a business.
   And yes, the winter of 2015/16 was very wet (remember Storm Frank?) For a couple of hours a branch blocked the burn, pushing water through the polytunnel like a river. But it subsided as fast as it came. The house wasn't affected. Compared to many flooded here in South West Scotland that winter, we were very lucky. 
  One year on, some days all I see is the endless list of jobs on my 'to do' list, longer than a neanderthals arm. It can be overwhelming - there's so much to do. But we've made a good start.
  We are growing flowers, & selling them too. We have wedding bookings for 2017 already. After much hard work by Ken,  our family & myself, it's good to look back to see the progress. 
​

October 2015

  Did you ever read the classic children's book 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett? Well, if you did, you would recognise how we felt last October.
  The former plant nursery had been left for many years, becoming overgrown. The greenhouse & buildings were in a sad (partly dangerous) state. But there was clearly a garden underneath, with a few good plants soldiering on beneath the brambles & nettles. So we set to.
  My brother Richard worked hard in the early weeks to clear undergrowth from sheds. We were surprised & delighted to discover they could be renovated. He cleared a network of previously invisible but sound concrete paths too. A real asset in wet weather. Ken set to repairing the wood & glass in the old greenhouse so tender plants could be inside before cold frosts. And I planted bulbs & Sweet Williams so we would have flowers for the Spring of 2016 & organised the precious plants brought with us as best I could.
  The winter rain seemed to go on for ever. Frustratingly, preparing new plant beds was delayed.  On the plus side, it gave us time to build a website, install some deer fencing & come up with a plan to grow the business. After all, growing flowers is one thing & we were confident about doing that. But there's no use growing the most beautiful flowers in the world if there's no market or demand to buy them.
​

Old nursery & greenhouse area October 2015
Pictures courtesy Richard Gray

---

October 2016

  Now, we can look back on the 'soft launch' season of Galloway Flowers this summer. And yes, I think it's been a good start.
  We now have a sound, large greenhouse (with another 3 small ones given to us to go up soon) & polytunnel. Not the smartest you'll ever see but enough to provide plant protection. These enable us to extend the growing season in Spring & Autumn. There are sheds for storage, potting up & prepping the flowers ready for sale - more space than I knew I needed (until I had it, & of course, it's filled up rapidly.)
​  Most importantly, we have a growing garden full of thriving, blooming plants. We've proved beyond doubt, quality cut flowers can be grown in Scotland. We just have to choose the varieties that like it. Even the new roses bloomed well.
  The website is live (though still very simple) & sales have been made. Enough to encourage us to continue the seed sowing & planting so we can grow many more flowers in 2017. Our regular presence at Kirkcudbright Farmers Market & Loch Arthur Farm shop have introduced us & our flowers to many wonderful people. We've loved creating wedding & funeral flowers, special bouquets & Christmas wreaths over the year. We appreciate too the advice, encouragement & kindness received from so many. 

October 2017?

Watch this space!
  We've reviewed the plants that thrived & the flowers our customers particularly loved - we plan to grow much more of these next year. We noticed too which plants didn't thrive outside (such as Zinnias, not surprisingly) & will try these in the polytunnel next time.
​ And of course, we'll be experimenting with many more varieties as we extend the space under cultivation. My head has been stuck in the bulb & seed catalogues for weeks as I draw up 'wish lists' of varieties. If there are any particular favourites you would love us to try, do let me know in the comments box below.