October News from Galloway Flowers

​   Autumn arrived here this week. First frosts knocked out almost all our Dahlias overnight - a full two weeks later than last year, so I know we've been lucky. It was well forecast so I spent the afternoon before the frost hit cutting dozens of Dahlias so we could enjoy them at the 'Autumn Glory' workshop - I couldn't bear not to! 

  Our fourth growing season here is now coming to an end. It's been a good one overall - not too hot, not too dry, the flowers have bloomed well & we've cut thousands of stems. I'm getting to know this piece of land better & what plants are best suited to certain positions which helps.

  In previous years, Ken & I made great efforts to extend our season by protecting flowers from the cold  & growing late varieties in the polytunnel. This enabled me to continue offering locally grown bouquets (with added flowers from Lincolnshire & Cornwall) right up until Christmas.

  This year, we decided to stop protection from 1st October - & that was the day of that first frost! Although we've flowers here, the variety is reducing. So our local bouquet deliveries will cease until March 2020 (Mothers Day weekend) when our flowers are blooming profusely again.
  I'll still be delighted to prepare flower orders for you for parties, weddings & funerals of course, & will bring additional flowers from British growers in the Scilly Isles, Cornwall & Lincolnshire. Get in touch early for these orders to ensure I have the fresh flowers required as we don't carry stock.

  This allows me to shift focus & time from cutting & delivering bouquets, to planning ahead for next year & our busy Christmas season. The seedlings that will bloom for weddings next May & June are popping up nicely now. Soon they'll be ready to plant out in the beds. I'm tripping over boxes of bulbs so must start planting these! The Ranunculus & Anemones are on my list too for this week, Narcissi will go in the ground next but the Tulips will wait until November. This reduces the risk of the nasty disease 'Tulip Fire'.

  We ran our first evening workshop at new venue The Frothy Bike Cafe in Dumfries last week & really enjoyed sharing Autumn flowers & foliage with the group. The schedule of workshops until the end of the year is now launched & bookings open. 

Upcoming Events;
Dumfries; We'll be meeting for short & very relaxed 'hands on' evening flowery sessions, at the Frothy Cafe on Whitesands. 6.15pm - 7.45pm Email me to reserve your place.

• 5th November 'Flower Hoop using Dried Materials'
• 3rd December 'Christmas!'

Flower Farm, Balmaclellan; 'Springtime Colour in A Pot' Come & plant up a container with a 'lasagne' of bulbs for plenty of colour next Spring. Sunday 3rd November 2pm. Only 3 places left so if you plan to come, let me know soon.

New Galloway & Kirkcudbright; 'Make Your Own Christmas Wreath'  workshops in early December.
 
  We’ll be at Kirkcudbright Food Festival on Sunday 27th October. I'll be bringing our own dried flowers as well as fresh. Also flowers to arrange yourself by the informal bunch or bucket (pre-order by Monday am & collection only) are available on Fridays & Saturdays this month.
 
Your Flowery Inspiration links;

• Beautiful photography by Eva Nemeth & informative blog post by Claire Bowen (Honeysuckle & Hilda) describing how she came to be involved in the Strawberry Hill Flower Festival this summer. Inspired by Sir David Attenborough, all the arrangements were made without floral foam by some of the UK's most creative Florists. The results are simply fabulous & inspiring.

  It's a great month for admiring the autumn colour on the trees, the berries & perhaps drying a few interesting seed heads to fill your vases. Enjoy kicking up the leaves too!

Until next time, 
Rosie Gray
Galloway Flowers