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
    • 'Arrange A Vase' Afternoon
    • 'Cut Flowers from Your Garden'
    • 'Make A Hand Tied Bouquet'
  • Wholesale Flowers
  • Contact
    • About
    • Join Our Newsletter
    • Flower Farm Blog
    • Environmental Policy
The Flower Farm Blog
​by Rosie Gray

July News from Galloway Flowers

5/7/2020

0 Comments

 
Sweet Peas Copyright Rosie Gray, www.GallowayFlowers.co.uk
​  Rich scents have been in the air recently – warmth & humidity brings out the best from roses near my back door. Taking a deep breath every time I walk past, it’s glorious. The Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Garden Pinks & now the Sweet Peas combine to create a heady mix of perfumes too as I work.
  
  During lockdown, I delivered bouquets every week & often reminded how scent makes British-grown flowers different from most available. I grow varieties with the best scent, because it’s an important part of the experience. When a Customer (especially a Bride) exclaims ‘wow’ or they’ve never known a bouquet smell like that before, it’s special. I can of course make up unscented bouquets, but it's a rare request. Scent is produced by flowers to attract pollinators & pollination reduces the vase life of a flower. One of the reasons I get up early to cut flowers before the bees find them! 

  It isn’t a requirement for flowers to be labelled with country of origin – so assume if it doesn’t proclaim ‘British’, it isn’t. The Supermarkets know a ‘British’ label is an asset so always display on products if they can. The British flower industry has been growing in recent years, but it’s still small & the supermarkets stock very few.  

  You may be surprised to learn nearly 90% of the flowers sold in the UK are grown overseas. They travel long distances - most from growers in Africa & South America to the auction in Holland, before travelling on to the UK. I’ve even seen Japanese-grown Sweet Peas at the New Covent Garden Flower Market! The international growers select varieties tough enough to survive a long journey without crushing, usually out of water. Long stems, large & prolific flowering varieties are prioritised over scent. Scent is often bred out or suppressed by chemicals to enhance vase life further. The result is a bouquet that's different to a British-grown product.

  You could accuse me of being weather obsessive, but is it any wonder? It never fails to amaze me how fast we go from dust dry soil & saving every bowl of water from the kitchen for the plants, to sodden mud & emptying plant trays of water. Yes, I needed the rain, very much. But the plants have had some, are growing fast again (especially weeds & grass). Now I would like sunshine again please!  

  This is a busy month for seed sowing here – biennials (such as Honesty, Foxgloves & Wallflowers) can be started now for an early show next year. Sow as directed on the packet, when germinated prick out the seedlings & grow on in modules to plant into your borders or cutting beds in early Autumn. This way you get to choose the gorgeous colours rarely seen for sale in Garden Centre Packs.It’s a good time to look out for seed to save on your Hardy Annual flowers now – Poppies, Nigella & Calendula are really easy to collect in a paper bag on a dry day. Sow them in September for free flowers next year!

  As lockdown eases for most of us, we can at last begin planning ahead. Weddings are back, & we’re prepping flowers for several small gatherings in late July & August. These are going to be really special, intimate events as these couples are determined to celebrate after a rollercoaster few months.

  It’s hoped the Kirkcudbright Producers Market will be back in late August & we’re looking forward to it. Social distancing, contactless payments & encouraging pre-orders will feature. It’s always a well organised market so I’m confident all the Producers will rise to the challenge of creating a ‘new normal’ safe for us all.

  Over the last few days, I’ve been reading the (considerable) amount of material available on what is necessary to open the Flower Farm safely to visitors. It’s daunting & our absolute priority is the safety of our visitors & family. It’s clear the successful Tour format of last years ‘Flower Farmers Big Weekend’ cannot go ahead here (if you enjoyed the cake & conversation in my little workshop as the heavens opened on the Saturday, you’ll know why!) 2 Metres social distancing remains in Scotland & is a challenge for us if it rains.

  So, our current thinking is to open for exclusive, pre-booked visits by a ‘household’ group for ‘Morning Coffee & Cake’ or Afternoon Tea’ in August. If the Virus continues to decline, we may open for a Sunday Afternoon ‘Flower Club’ too. In September, we hope to return to the Garden tours for pre-booked groups, plus the ‘Grow Your own Cut Flowers’ & ‘Autumn Glory’ Workshops.

  As details & dates firm up, I’ll send an announcement to Newsletter readers first (as always) & then publicise on social media etc. We look forward to welcoming visitors again & looking for new, nimble ways to do so.

  Talking of new ways – it’s astonishing how quickly many of us are learning new technology isn’t it? So many Zoom experts, experienced online shoppers & I’ve finally got around to figuring out how to set up direct debit payments. The Regular Flower Subscriptions have been so popular in recent months that this was the obvious next step.     

  These Subscriptions are delivered either fortnightly or monthly & make a great gift. Lockdown has increased the number of customers choosing to buy locally grown flowers regularly for themselves too so direct debit is an easy way for them to do it. Let me know if you would like to treat yourself & we can set direct debit up for you quickly & easily. 

  I’ve been taking bouquets to many of my Farmers Market & Loch Arthur ‘Regulars’ during lockdown, as well as new customers. The round now alternates between 2 routes;
  • One Friday I travel from our base near New Galloway to Dalry, Balmaclellan, Parton, Crossmichael, Castle Douglas & on to Dalbeattie, Kirkgunzeon, Crocketford & Corsock.
  • The next Friday, I go from our base near New Galloway to Dalry, Balmaclellan, Parton, Crossmichael, Castle Douglas & on to Rhonehouse, Gelston, Tongland & Kirkcudbright
‘Friday Flowers’ for local delivery or Contactless collection can be ordered online or by telephone 01644 420407. I group deliveries on Fridays as it tends to be the most popular day & means I still have essential time for growing.
  .
  And in other news, the builders returned at last! Our ‘estimated 3 weeks but going on four & a half months’ project is almost complete. How do I describe the joy of being able to fill a kettle from a kitchen tap, to cook in an oven, to have a window rather than a boarded up door? Glamping was wearing a bit thin… And the really exciting news – the Spotted Flycatchers managed to successfully fledge 4 chicks in the main polytunnel.
  
  Sweet Peas are being cut with plenty of buds waiting for sunshine. Bouquets can be ordered online for Friday deliveries. If you wish to order funeral flowers or flowers for collection, telephone 01644 420407 or email. Please leave a message if I don’t pick up – outside working most of the time.

   Enjoy the precious freedom of time outdoors, whether in your garden, one of our lovely open spaces or the Hills – I’ve promised my dogs & myself a trip to the beach this week if the weather improves. (Actually I don’t think they care about the rain - they'll just go crazy to be back in the water.) And remember to take time to smell the Roses, the Mint, the Sweet Peas…

Until next time, 
Rosie Gray
Galloway Flowers
Posy of Summer flowers in lavender blue, white & lemon yellow grown & arranged by Rosie Gray Copyright www.GallowayFlowers.co.uk
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
    • 'Arrange A Vase' Afternoon
    • 'Cut Flowers from Your Garden'
    • 'Make A Hand Tied Bouquet'
  • Wholesale Flowers
  • Contact
    • About
    • Join Our Newsletter
    • Flower Farm Blog
    • Environmental Policy