Early Spring on the Farm

The calendar announced that it is officially spring last week, yet looking outside at the lingering piles of snow and ice, it is sometimes hard to believe. Spring certainly takes its sweet time in the North and you sometimes have to know where to look to find it. Here on the farm, we have jumped into full spring swing and are surrounded by the hope of a snowless spring to come.

Seed sowing began in February and is ramping up as the days pass. We nestled the first trays of seedlings under lights inside, and when we outgrew that cramped space, we fired up the heater in the hoop house. Benches are now brimming with trays and trays of seedlings.

There are a handful of plants that we don't start from seed, and instead buy young plants that arrive by mail. Lisianthus, mums, scented geranium, and succulents fall into that category. A beautiful array of succulents arrived this week and it was so much fun potting them up and imagining all the bouquets, boutonnieres, and arrangements they would grace this season. 

Thousands of tulips sprung up in early March and continue to stretch upwards with the bright warm sun. Several times a day I circle around them, checking to make sure each variety has made it up and there are no signs of critter munching. Last year we had an army of mice move in and chew on the stems. After a few weeks of trapping, the situation was under control. This year, I'm ready! 

Spring is also the time for propagation, and we have been busy getting new willow, currant, and succulents going. Stem and leaf cuttings will never cease to amaze me -- pop a stem in the soil and a whole new plant is born, so cool! 

photo by JMEG Photography

Wedding photographer pictures take so long to process and it is usually months before I am able to see any. But the wait is certainly worth it! It has been such fun to receive a bunch of 2017 wedding photos in the past few months. Wedding planning for 2018 is in full swing -- lots of emails back and forth, phone calls, cost estimates, and general dreaming about all the color and beauty that will frame the celebration of love for these couples. 

Whatever version of spring you are experiencing, we wish you a Happy Spring!