June 03rd, 2018

​  Warm weather, long days & blooms bursting into a riot of deliciously scented colour - it has to be June at Galloway Flowers. I love having a wide choice of flowers to cut again - making up bouquets & wreaths is so much easier. Every one can be unique as each week new flowers reach their best, while others reduce in numbers. This week the Sweet Rocket, Sweet Williams, Dutch Iris & Cornflowers are stunning, Next week the first Sweet Peas in the tunnel & the Foxgloves should begin, & then the roses will be joining the mix later in the month. They might be late this year but definitely worth waiting for.

   We're busier with weddings than ever before this month & we're spotting a trend among our couples for more colour - more requests for blues, lemons with whites & bold brights such as red, yellows, purples. I'm taking this into account when ordering for next year - it may sound early but I've already ordered the Tulips & Narcissi! While this years flowers are vivid in my mind, it's easy to do as I remember which were good performers, loved by Customers - & which were less so... 

  Last Autumn we invested in many new Peony plants as they thrive here. They're such a glamourous flower for early June weddings & bouquets. The first flowers are coming now & there are some beauties, including the one pictured. It'll be some years before these plants produce a large crop & then they'll go on flowering for 35 years plus.

  We sent flowers to the RHS Chelsea show to be included on the Flowers From The Farm display in the Pavilion. Leading Florist Simon Lycett generously made his London workshop space available & the flowers were arranged by a team of FFTF members. The display won a Gold Medal, an almost unheard of achievement for first time exhibitors at Chelsea. There's been lots of poitive media coverage (including the BBC coverage) & it has raised the profile of British grown flowers. 

  We're cutting lots of flowers now & I’ll be bringing these to Kirkcudbright Farmers Market on Sunday 24th June & to Loch Arthur Farm shop on Fridays 15th, 22nd & 29th. Bouquets, wreaths & Flowers to arrange yourself can also be ordered to collect from the Flower Farm.

   Enjoy these long days especially the mornings when it's quiet, fresh & easier to get out of bed. An early morning dawdle in the garden with a cup of tea is such a lovely way to create a positive mood . As they say, remember to smell the roses...
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Jobs for the Cutting Garden in June

• Plant out the Half Hardy plants (such as Dahlia & Cosmos) now the frosts are over.
• Keep cutting flowers to enjoy in your vases - otherwise you'll have to deadhead anyway. It stimulates many of them to produce more blooms - especially Cornflowers, Sweet Peas & Roses.
• There are many gardens open to visitors this month. It's a great opportunity to relax & to pick up ideas. Perhaps you'll discover a new plant or discover how another experienced gardener grows successfully in a 'difficult' spot in their garden. And of course there are often delicious teas, cake & plants for sale. Look at Scotlands Garden Scheme or  National Garden Scheme  for locations & timings.
• OK time to own up. Sometimes I buy plants on impulse & then discover I don't have quite the right spot for them. So they sit in their tiny pots looking sad & sometimes in this dry weather, they die from lack of water, food & love. It's possible you do this too? So this is a good time to save them if you can with a bigger pot or permanent home - or bin them. 
• Birds & Bees appreciate a bird bath of clean, fresh water in Summer as regular drinking & washing places dry up. Easy to do & a delight to watch them splash about in it.
• And for some flowery inspiration, here's a Link to a Stylish Rose filled Summer Wedding 
• Plus I'm often asked; How do I tie a nice bow? Well, it's hard to describe & easy to demonstrate so here's a video from ribbon expert Annabel Lewis of V V Rouleaux on lots of lovely ideas for ribbons, including a really easy bow.

Until next time, 
Rosie Gray
Galloway Flowers ​

Flowers From The Farm display RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018 Gold Medal Winner. Photo Sara Wilman.