Raising Flowers and Horses
September in the Home Garden
The calendar says September. Labor Day is over. My nieces have headed off to college. It’s truly the end of summer. To be honest, this summer felt a bit like an endurance test–drought, long stretches of intense heat, and even a bout of Covid just as I was set to head off for a few days away with my family. If you had asked me in July, I probably would have said this summer will never end. Now that it is actually almost over, I feel a little sad.
Thank You Lightning Bugs
July was a tough month flower-wise. My summer flowers got a slow start. My harvesting knowledge didn’t match the high needs of a very hot, very dry summer, and the total absence of rain has started to feel like a personal insult. Despite these difficulties, the life in the field has been abundant. The pollinators and birds have been thriving. The lightning bugs have brought me a particular joy.
Flower Farming Secret for the Home Garden
Flower farming reminds me of the childhood game of hopscotch. Every turn in hopscotch requires some quick plotting as to where you will put your feet. Every week of farming feels the same. Each time I feel like I’ve gotten a handle on the week’s “issue,” a new one pops up that requires a whole fresh round of problem-solving skills.