June News from Galloway Flowers

Flower Girl Posy

 So Summer 2024 begins - & it's truly bursting with colour, all at once. All the Summer flowers are racing ahead & theirs plenty to cut to enjoy in our homes.

  While May might have seemed wet & a bit chilly, it was great growing weather. Look at the grass as proof of that! We've followed a 'No Mow May' plan for many years & this year the grass has grown so long, I can barely see the Orchids below. I think 'No Mow June & July' is going to go by the wayside this year as it'll soon fall over & impossible to cut.

  The downside of great growing weather though, is it's been great for growing snails & slugs too. I've been dithering about Ducks again to help deal with them amongst the plants. Trouble is, it would probably end badly for the Ducks... Patience needed & all the new birds fledging just now will catch up with them all soon.

  And of course, Summer for us means lots of weddings. May was our busiest ever & now we're planning frothy June weddings & beyond. The 2025 Calendar is open for bookings & already beginning to fill.
  Weddings used to be on Saturdays so I knew most weekends were going to be taken up between May & late September. But now weddings are happening on all days of the week & I'm enjoying the flexibility. to plan other activities too The little Posy above was made for a Flower Girl on Thursday who wanted 'Pink, Pink & more Pink!' I think that filled the brief...

 As the weather has been so warm (the weather people tell me this - It didn't always feel it), the flowers are way ahead of usual. Lupins & Peonies are well into their stride now, Roses are colouring up & I cut my first Sweet Pea this morning.  I think about 3 weeks ahead of usual - how about you?

  I'm planting out Dahlias this week. This is a bit late - I left them as it was so wet in early May, I thought they might just sit in cold, wet soil & rot. About a quarter in so far (just over a hundred) but until all the stored boxes are emptied, it's difficult to judge. Most of come through Winter storage well this year.

  The 'Arranging A Vase' workshop in June is fully booked, another date is open on Sundays 11th August & 8th September. A 'Make A Hand Tied Bouquet' afternoon is scheduled for Sunday 23rd June - 3 places available at present.

  I'm looking forward to the new Roses planted over Winter to bloom  - to encourage them to build strong roots, I'll resist cutting them this year.

What can I begin to grow this month? 

•  I've already mentioned Dahlias, it's not too late
• Seeds sown now will germinate fast. If you have any leftover seeds from this Spring, sow this week. You'll have cheerful flowers  in September when other flowers are looking tired
• You might want to look at bulb catalogues while this years Spring flowers are fresh in your mind. Which were your favourites that you simply MUST have next year? I've ordered mine already
• From mid-month, begin to sow for next Spring. Sweet Williams, Foxgloves & Wallflowers need time to develop into strong plants to survive winter cold

What Can I Cut This Month?
  It's so abundant & lush just now, we can enjoy big full vases. Foxgloves are among my favourites this week - so tall & twisting into curves in the vase. Lupins, Delphinium, Astrantia & of course, Peonies. How could I forget the Prima Ballerinas of the June garden? 
  Sweet Pea will soon be cut by the bucket. Sweet William - so long lasting & in bright jewel colours that mix beautifully with the pinks & blues.
​  And Alchemilla - it might be common, some even regard it as a weed but i think it gives the essential June froth. Because it's so easy, we can cut it generously too!.
  This week 3rd to 9th of June is British Flowers Week when all our beautiful locally grown flowers are celebrated.
Upcoming Events
Workshop Dates for 2024 are;

• 'Make A Hand Tied Bouquet' on Sunday 23rd June
• 'Arrange A Vase' Afternoons' in August & September

All the Workshops will be here at the Flower Farm. 
How To Buy Our Flowers;

• Weekly deliveries or collections  Always 100% British-grown, & our own Galloway Grown flowers are increasing in numbers every week
• Flowers will be available across a wide area through the Galloway Food Hub later in June
• Flowers to arrange yourself - available to order. 'Bloom Buckets' of mixed flowers or by the bunch. Collection only. These are perfect for weddings, parties, church flower arrangers etc.

   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. 

Jobs for June:

• If your garden is like mine, it's going to be busy weeding. Such rapid growth last month & providing cover for all those Snails & Slugs...
• Sow another batch of Hardy Annual seedlings such as Sunflowers for September colour
• Plant out  Half-Hardy Annuals (such as Cosmos)now danger of Frosts is past
• Tie in Sweet Peas as they grow tall & once they begin blooming, cut. The more you cut, the more flowers come!

  June is a fabulous month for being outside in the garden. So enjoy pottering, maybe visit an open garden for inspiration & (very important) make time to smell the Roses!

Until next time, 
Rosie 
Galloway Flowers