'List Season' for Flower Farmers

  For a flower farmer, the year rolls through many seasons....
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter obviously but there are more subtle distinctions to focus & priorities.⁠ There's seed sowing, propagation & planting season. (Actually Spring & Autumn primarily)⁠ The wedding season.⁠
  Autumn season of mists & mellow fruitfulness. Or the 'muddy season' as I think of October & November. Dahlia lifting & storing plus planting out new stock for next year.⁠
  Festive season, of course - with the delicious blend of pine, scented candles & hand cream in the workshop.⁠ ⁠
  And these quiet days of January & February, I think of as 'List Season', (I think I got that phrase from Miriam Osler & it sums it up well). There are some tasks outside, farewell flowers & wedding consultations to do. The Tax return of course. ⁠ ⁠
  But mostly this is about planning & making lists.⁠ ⁠ I'm poring over my notes from past years - what did I grow, what thrived & was highly productive? What was not? Which flowers & colours were most desired by Customers, every stem precious - & what was left uncut? What requests have been made by this years wedding couples? ⁠ ⁠
  From this, I begin the process of deciding what to grow more of, less of or just the same. What can I fit in? An acre may sound like a lot of flowers but it's easily filled.⁠ ⁠
​  I'm designing bouquets & arrangements in my head - what goes with what, what's out at the same time, spotting the gaps to fill. ⁠ ⁠ And making lists. Lots of lists. Seeds, tubers, bulbs, new plants to buy or propagate from my stock. ⁠ ⁠
  The Armchair shopping is well underway...⁠