I maximize my time as a flower farmer by ordering trays of baby seedlings, also called “plugs”. Fall planting is so important. Farmer Bailey is a popular supplier. In the fall, the weather is ideal for cold-season annuals to get established. They will sit and sleep for the winter, hopefully under a warm blanket of snow.
For weeks, I’ve been clearing beds and discarding spent plants to make way for new seedlings. I rake each bed smooth, apply organic fertilizer, and top with a blessing of compost. My local choice for compost is Veteran’s Compost. Thousands of plugs are inserted into the ground using my favorite tool, a Hori Hori.
This little guy almost became two pieces. The camouflage is amazing. Toads and Toad Lily flowers, pictured below, are prevalent in October.
Toad Lily is one of the last flowers to bloom. It’s a perennial that prefers shade. Aster tataricus is another late bloomer, providing a vital pollen source for bees, butterflies, and moths. It always grows taller than me!
It’s comforting to see the seasons change and the cycle of life unfold. Milkweed “wishes” make me smile.
My farmer’s market season ended mid-month. I’m grateful to the volunteers, vendors, and customers who make the markets go. It’s a joy to share flowers with you in real life.
Next up is my annual Holiday Shop with Paperwhites, Amaryllis, and Birch Boxes filled with evergreens.
I’m excited to offer the biggest bulbs available. The bigger the bulb, the bigger the show. Watch for an email notice mid-November. Â
October is filled with beginnings and endings and many beautiful walks in between with Archie.Â
Very nice newsletter Beth. Nice to hear about what is going on over there.
Thank you, Ted!