Pre-Season Chores

I can't believe how time flies, even in the winter. A lot takes place from December to March in the realm of a flower farmer.  I tell people I work full time during these few months and overtime everyday of the growing season itself.  It is true!

Spreadsheets rule my winter months as I fine tune my seeding and planting plans, decide how many and which varieties of lilies to plant during each week, when to start the calla lilies based on when I need their flowers for bouquets, which sunflowers to plant during each week, what color Celosia I want blooming earlier in the summer and what colors will work best later in the season, and make other growing decisions when I  have the luxury of a little time to think.  Winter is also the time to order supplies.

Spreadsheets rule my winter months!

The other end of the farmer florist spectrum requires winter work as well. Meeting brides, planning wedding flowers, visiting with wedding planners, and developing workshop plans all gets done at this time of year. It is such a wonderful time for dreaming about beautiful flowers and the results of all the work that goes into growing.

As March rolls around, many seeds are started, I am checking the anemone outside in the plastic low tunnels and hardy annuals like Bachelor's Button, Corn Cockle and Larkspur, to ensure they have safely overwintered.  I find myself  increasingly ready for the real year to begin. I always feel an odd mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Is it time yet, or not? When exactly will we experience our last frost? Is it yet safe to plant out some of the less hardy seedlings? Should I hold off on starting the heat-lovers? Sooner or later that starter's gun will sound, and I will happily be off the mark and on my way with this year's flowers. Happy First Day of Spring!

Lilies always popping at Butternut Gardens

Lilies and other June flowers at Butternut Gardens

Lilies are always popping at Butternut Gardens. Can't wait 'til June when all the lilies start. If you want to share in the beauty of flowers all season, why not choose one of my flower subscription services (limited to delivery in Southport, Fairfield, Westport, lower Weston). Then you could have flowers delivered right to your doorstep weekly, biweekly or monthly from Spring to Fall.

Spreading some more Spring Flower Fairy Dust

Pansies - harbingers of spring

In early spring everyone seems to jump on the bandwagon for pansies. You find them for sale everywhere - plant nurseries, grocery stores, building supply companies, farmers markets.  And, why not? They are so darn cheerful. Even though I do not grow them for cuts, it is very hard for me to resist putting a few in the window boxes sitting on my deck railings. So, here to spread some springtime cheer, are pansies. Enjoy!

Phlox - Soft, Fragrant and Beautiful

Phlox at Butternut Gardens

Garden Phlox is not only gorgeous, but also offers one of the nicest, softest scents of summer. A bouquet of phlox will quickly infuse your home with floral fragrance, and you won't regret it for a second! With blooms ranging from lavender to white, light pink to very deep pink, salmon and several bi-color varieties as well, Phlox offers a rich variety of blooms for floral designs and gardens alike. Phlox are long-blooming and have been a garden favorite for over a hundred years.  By growing a number of varieties, I am able to cut Phlox from mid- or late-June on and off through the Fall.

David's Lavender Phlox - one of the best for mildew-resistance

Fleur du Jour - Iris coming in May

Siberian Iris at Butternut Gardens

I love Iris and grow three major types - Dutch Iris, bearded or German Iris, and Siberian Iris. They are gorgeous additions to the late May and early June bouquets and arrangements. Some of the bearded Iris have absolutely amazing fragrance to boot.

Good news - we are inching closer to this year's Iris. - only 85 more days based on first cut date in 2014.

Also, anyone noticing how much more daylight we have these days? Maybe hard to tell with all the snow around here. In any event, we are less than 1 month away from the first day of Spring, or vernal equinox. Kick up your heels, folks!

Butternut Gardens in Reverie Gallery for Weddings

I am thrilled to announce Butternut Gardens has been selected for inclusion in Reverie Gallery, a totally awesome source for wedding inspiration and resources for your perfect wedding. Reverie is a new wedding blog "for the Savvy & Stylish Soon-To-Be-Wed" and is it ever a wonderful addition to the wedding world. Please go on over to http://reveriegallery.com/ for some utterly breathtaking wedding inspiration.  Butternut Gardens is joined by a number of skilled and talented vendors, and Reverie beautifully captures many different styles, so you are certain to pinpoint exactly what you want for your special wedding.

Winter Waiting

Caterpillar tunnels keeping things warm at Butternut Gardens

The caterpillar tunnels are holding up well

under all the snow. Hard to believe that my

biggest fear, when I put up the tunnels, was

that the plastic would blow off. Pretty safe to

say that, for the time being, the poly cover

isn't going anywhere. So, what's under cover?

Ranunculus and Anemone.

Coming soon! I wouldn't be surprised by an

early spring.

Fleur du Jour - Bright Yellow Zinnias in only 4 more months

I feel like all I have doing this winter is staring at spreadsheets, as I plan this upcoming season, and staring at snowflakes. Add in a bit of shoveling to make pathways for the dog, and that just about sums it all up. This is what makes it so hard to believe that in only 4 months I will likely be looking at some amazing rows of zinnias - true summer flowers. One of the hardest things for me to do is to wait to start all of the seeds.  Some seeds, including zinnias, simply do not take very long to get going. Starting seeds too early is counterproductive. There is no benefit to having a seedling waiting unnecessarily for warm enough weather to be planted outside. It is best to be patient (and finish up the paperwork while you still have time to think). Once the season starts, thinking time is all but nonexistent.