March Update

March Update

Hi Flowery Gang! 
 
What's been going on this month?  To be honest I've spent a large majority of it closely inspecting plants for signs of flower buds.  Oh and weeding, a sure sign Spring is springing.

A view from above in the big poly, towards the end of the month

 

 There were a few surprises weather wise this month, a few scary frosts and snowfall.  I was worried this would impact the start of flowering or worse still, kill the already formed flower buds.  I had a few dreams where I had to publicly announce that everything had died in a frost.  Sooooo glad I managed to avoid that scenario... so far.  I had a visit from a super rude pheasant in the poly tunnel too, it hid then when I got accidentally near it it screamed, flew at me then ran away.  Maybe not the first time something has done that to me. Outrageous.  I'm just glad I got there before it munched/scratched up everything.  *Touches wood* 

 

Outdoor ranunculus under a bed of snow

Blue skies out to save the ranuncs feat cute bug seeking shelter  

But we got through it...  The first of my long awaited blooms to arrive (after the tall and proud yellow trumpets) were the wonderful Narcissus 'Replete' totally gorgeous and so welcome.  I cut the first bunch and had them for myself in a jug in the house. They smelled like spring, I moved them from room to room letting the Spring waft through our house.  I'll plant a lot more of these for next years early bunches.  The hyacinths followed shortly after. I had Gipsy Queen in the big tunnel which amazingly bloomed at the same time as the white, blue and pink outdoors, I am keeping the side of the tunnel up as much as possible with both sets of doors open if it's not below 0 to let the air in though so it's probably not that much warmer inside...   But bad ventilation plus closely planted ranunculus equals botrytis so open the sides shall stay!!  Yesterday I noticed the orlaya in the tunnel is miles ahead of the outdoor planted and certainly things like snaps and even the Larkspur are shooting ahead now. 

 

Delicious apricot whirls of 'Replete'

 

Gipsy Queen

 

Something very exciting happened around the middle of the month - I noticed flower buds coming through on the ranunculus. Audible gasp.  I nearly died on the spot.  Then along came the anemones - a rich red opened last week, not the white with black centre 'Mistral Bianco Centro Nero' that I had ordered... but still absolutely beautiful.  The rest of the blooms seem to be white so maybe it's just a truly powerful maverick.  I salute you red. 

Queen Red (Elizabethan era)

Very first ranunculus bud - I think this is 'Hanoi' 

It's been an interesting month, the flowers are starting so a small harvest has been going on and I'm sowing seeds non stop plus planting things out, the first of the really, really busy times, yay.  More succession plantings of a lot of hardy annuals (scabious, Larkspur, snapdragons, colibri poppies, stocks, ammi etc) plus a sprinkling of the hardier side of half hardies - more phlox, china asters, carnations, helichrysum.  Plus a lot of things I just want to try, lablab hyacinth bean, love in a puff, new salvias.  A whole mix.  I have my trays clean and ready to start on my real half hardies this week.  Celsosia, didiscus, Cosmos, zinnia, gomphrena, etc.  I've been sitting on my hands with my dahlia tubers, I'll pot up (or crate up as the case may be) in April, undercover.  Some have sprouted already so they might need to get planted sooner rather than earlier.  how exciting is that? Dahlias!!  Aaaaaaaaaaah! 

Dahlia tuber, raring to go
 
I really love being based within Ardardan Estate - It's been great, everyone's so nice (and there is a baaternity ward set up next to me at the moment which is the ultimate best).  While I was out planting achillea then again with roses (yes, more roses), I got chatting to some passing people visiting the shop/tearoom/nursery.  There's lot's of interest in my cut flowers and the idea of growing flowers locally, it's great to feel the community around me.  
Some colour starting to brighten everything up
 
I've been talking with the wonderful team at Ardardan and I'm excited to confirm that you will be able to buy Wylde blooms directly from the shop once my season is underway.  I'll be sending out a weekly email to everyone that has signed up to the newsletter letting you know what is fresh, beautiful and available that week so sign up if you haven't already.

Tulips sending up their fat flower buds

 

Thanks everyone, here's to April!!

 

Jenn Celine xx 

 PS -  I'm a bit of a rambler, I will be switching to have weekly blogs as the season kicks off.  There will be info on which blooms will be available to purchase that week from the wonderful Ardardan Shop. Too many photos and things to talk about for the monthly roundup.  Plus once the flowers start coming thick and fast (touches wood) the monthly post will be a tomb... 

 

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