June News from Galloway Flowers

   Last week I was asked 'what are you doing with your flowers?'' A good question - it's peak wedding season & usually a sea of white & pale pink! In June, I'm often heard muttering like White Rabbit 'I'm late, I'm late...' This year, 'Delay' is my goal.
 
  We replaced some flowers with later blooming Dahlias – we’ll need flowers for weddings postponed to September & October. We've sown seeds late, we’ve pinched hard, some favourites haven’t been sown at all. We ‘Chelsea chopped’ perennials for later blooms. Dry weather slowed growth too so is helping. It’s a lot of juggling & keeping fingers crossed the mix will be about right throughout the season. The world might have come to a standstill but flowers don’t – just deadheading unused flowers takes time! The bees are having a great time on the blooms as I’m not so quick to cut as usual. Hopefully, they’ll reward me later with a share of their honey…

  The ‘Sweets’ are coming into bloom  – Sweet Rocket, Sweet William & soon Sweet Peas. All with this name because of their fragrance. The buds are on the Sweet Peas & Roses – we need a return to warmer night time temperatures to get them going, so should be later this month. The big polytunnel has my ‘Fancy Carrots’ growing high – Ammi & Orlaya must be available if the last scheduled July wedding does go ahead. The new polytunnel is planted up with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Chillis & more so space isn’t being wasted . We’ll be eating healthily this summer.
  
  Both British Flowers Week (June 15th – 21st) & the ‘Flowers from the Farm’ Big Weekend in August are going to be virtual, like many other planned events.

  We haven’t made a decision on whether to open the Flower Farm yet in August. I’m putting plans in place to restart workshops & garden tours from September but who knows? As lockdown eases, we’re beginning to look ahead positively but the priority is safety. It’s a fast changing picture.

  We’ll continue offering ‘Friday Flowers’ for local delivery & contactless collection from the Flower Farm gate & we’re increasing our Regular Flower Subscription deliveries/collections. We’ve been bringing Peonies from Lincolnshire growers in recent weeks to give added luxury to these bouquets – I grow some but never enough. The subscription flowers are delivered fortnightly or monthly & make a great lasting gift. I’ve noticed an increase in Clients ordering these for themselves this year too – the result of spending increased time at home perhaps.
 
  And as soon as the Sweet Peas are cut, the Honesty box will be out too – I’ll post availability on social media. After all, you don’t always want a bouquet, a small posy is a great ‘flower fix’ for you or ‘thank you’ gift! Bouquets can be ordered online If you wish to order funeral flowers or something else, telephone 01644 420407 or email. Please leave a message if I don’t pick up – outside working most of the time.

  It’s a bird creche here this week – so many nests. There are Spotted Flycatchers in the Polytunnel, numerous Blackbird, Thrush, Wren & other small birds nesting in the shrubs & hedges. Most exciting of all, there were Tawny Owl chicks in the Owlbox again. A very welcome sight & all valued members of our pest control squad!

  Now we’ve had some rain, it’s easier to plant out in your own flower patch. Bulbs for late summer can be planted (Gladioli & Acidanthera are favourites of mine for August & September). And as Garden Centres reopen, you’ll be able to buy bedding packs to top up your borders – just be sure if you want flowers to cut, you buy taller varieties. So many are shortened versions…

  I hope you’re able to enjoy time outdoors, the long light days & the scents of summer flowers this month. It’s a lovely month for flowers & we’re spoilt for choice to fill our vases in the house.
 
Until next time, 
Rosie Gray
Galloway Flowers