Hi Flower Friend,

I thought I was ahead this year.

Really, I did.

The annual fields were supposed to be cleaned up, tucked in, and prepped for their long winter nap before the cool air arrived.

That was the plan.

But then, like a rerun of a sitcom I should’ve seen coming, the flowers decided they weren’t done yet.

Warm weather stuck around, the blooms kept blooming, and before I knew it, the forecast showed rain (which, to be clear, I will never turn down) followed immediately by the cool temperatures I’d been trying to get ready for.

So here I am, feeling like I blinked and went from “ahead” to “behind.”

That’s farming in a nutshell: you plan, the weather chuckles, and you pivot.

Speaking of pivoting, I’m bracing for the big arrival: thousands of tulip bulbs.

They’re coming a little later than expected because the ship from the Netherlands had “mechanical issues” (which sounds suspiciously like the boat version of “my Wi-Fi’s down”) and won’t depart until the 15th.

But once it sets sail, turnaround should be quick.

And just to keep things interesting, my peony roots are arriving around the same time.

Now, Steve and I have a friendly disagreement about peonies.

We already have over 60 plants.

I ordered 20 more last spring.

Then, a few last-minute varieties became available and I, being a model of restraint, bought another 10.

Steve insists we have enough. I insist “enough” is not a concept that applies to peonies.

If I could, I’d turn the whole farm into a peony sanctuary. They’re just so lush and unapologetically beautiful.

Those of you who’ve been to the farm know our peonies are planted in the perennial bed by the roadside.

We once thought that was charming — like a public art display.

Except… flower farming doesn’t work like that.

We harvest before the blooms open to give you the longest vase life. Which means anyone driving by just sees brown, crispy foliage for weeks after peony season.

So this fall, we’re moving all 60+ peony roots to the back perennial field, before the new 30 arrive.

Oh, and did I mention the 100 iris bulbs that are also scheduled to show up around the same time?

Perfect.

It’ll be like a botanical boot camp.

But you know what keeps me going?

The thought of next season’s beauty — the first peony buds, the tulip rows in bloom, the iris unfurling their petals in spring.

It’ll all be worth it.

Now, for my fellow ranunculus growers:

A customer who bought corms recently asked me when exactly to start them.

Great question, because timing matters. The included guide provides general information, but if this is your first time growing, it can be tricky.

Here in Cape May, I’ll begin soaking my corms this week. After soaking, they need about two weeks of pre-sprouting before planting. You can presprout them in any tray as long as they’re placed above a thin layer of potting soil and then covered completely with the soil.

That timing usually lines up with the sweet spot, warm enough for roots to settle in, but not so warm that the plants start growing too much foliage too early.

If you’re in a colder zone (where temps dip below 25°F for long periods), wait until late winter to start.

Ranunculus love a good chill, but they draw the line at frostbite.

A quick thank you!

To everyone who chimed in about my recent merch/logo quandary .. thank you!

You all had some great thoughts, and as promised, I’m sharing the poll results.

Not surprisingly, since most of my subscribers are female, the more feminine designs took the lead. But what did surprise me was how many of you voted for the more masculine design – more people than I expected.

I’m still working through design ideas but you’ll be the first to see the big reveal!

And since you didn’t ask…
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Yes, I binged the latest season of Love is Blind.

I went in planning to “just watch one episode” and ended up staying up way too late yelling at my screen. Between the drama, the dropouts, and the chaos, I had to double check that I hadn’t accidentally switched to Real Housewives. At this point, Love is Blind might as well be called Love is Messy.

Until next time,