Flower Farm Updates for Spring 2021
April 8, 2021
New things are happening on the flower farm this year and I’d like to use this post to take note of all the updates — for my own record, and for anyone who is interested!
New Plantings
Peony Patch - In late Fall 2020, I planted 120 peony roots sourced from Swedish Touch Peonies. I was happy with the quality of the roots, although many varieties were sent with a smaller # of eyes than I wanted. The whole patch is covered in landscape fabric to keep the weeds down indefinitely. It will take 3 full growing seasons for these plants to mature before we can cut from them.
The photo below (Oct 2020) shows (3) rows of 40 peonies under 10’ landscape fabric. The rocks are so the fabric won’t blow away during the voracious winds we get out there.
Perennial Bulb Garden - Also in late Fall 2020, we planted 1,300 specialty Narcissus, Hyacinth, Allium, and Fritillaria in a new garden section. The area is about 800 SF of space between the main farm fence and Kin Loch’s driveway.
The photo below shows Jesse digging the last trench. The bulbs were all planted with alfalfa pellets. Unfortunately, we didn’t have access to compost in the fall.
Perennials… lots & lots of them - There are two 150-ft long rows that have previously been planted with Elderberry, Roses, Blackberry, etc and they simply couldn’t thrive because of the deer problem. Those plants have been dug up & either moved to our home or sold off.
The new perennial flower additions are: Summer Berries Yarrow, Penstemon, Lysimachia, Butterfly Milkweed, Cinderella Swamp Milkweed, Blue Eryngium, Apple Mint, Fama White Scabiosa, Butterfly Bush, Bleeding Hearts Heliopsis, White Phlox, Pink Phlox, and Pink Veronica.
New Annuals - There are a few new annual flowers I’m trying out, including: Salpiglossis, Cinnamon Basil, Apple of Peru, and a ton of new varieties of juicy pink & red plume/cockscomb celosias and giant zinnias. For a list of flowers I’m no longer growing, read here.
Ordering Plugs - I’ve started ordering some flowers in plug form from Farmer Bailey and Farmer Bailey Perennials, to take the pressure off starting so many plants from seed. The majority of the new perennials, along with all lisianthus, are being sourced from FB.
New Infrastructure
Deer Fence - Just last week we installed an 8-ft tall deer fence from Deerbusters. I chose a Poly Deer Fence Kit. So far, no one has breached the fence nor jumped over it! I still need to install the tension wire all along the top and middle of the fence, but for now, I am happy most of it is done.
New Compost Pile - In the deep back of the flower farm I am starting a new compost pile where all organically-grown flower scraps from the farm, and leftover from wedding designs, will be thrown. It will be bordered by used wooden pallets. I hope during Flower Farm Tours that this will be interesting for people to see and might inspire others to start their own compost pile!
Birdhouses - I intend to install bird houses in three upper corners of the deer fence, to invite more birds onto the farm. Birds act as a natural pest control as they eat larvae and caterpillars. In particular, I will install Wren houses. I’ve seen them on the property, and I’ve come to understand they are good garden birds.
