There were a few projects we tackled last summer that were not expected to produce much success early on. The most surprising success was the roadside stand with little flower posies.
Success of roadside stand– Evan built it because we knew we would need it eventually, and he wanted the practice. Neighbors would occasionally ask what we were selling, and I was itching to get something going.
My flowers were a natural choice, as they were one of the few growing successes we had last summer. I waited in anticipation for the first flowers to bloom, and once they started, I started to assemble posies.
It was only a few bouquets each week to start, but at peak season, I was producing 10 to 12 larger bouquets. Pairing color and texture was a fun challenge for me, and encouraged me to start researching more.
More zinnias, they’re my favorite– As the season ended, I geared up to grow more. Starting with my current garden, I worked to save seeds for the following season. I knew off the bat that I wanted to grow more zinnias, as the variety of color and strength of stem makes them a really awesome cut flower choice. All winter, I poured over websites and catalogs, trying to decide which varieties to include, and trying not to go overboard.
Researching more flowers- amaranth, cosmos, greenery– I also knew it was foolish to invest in only one flower variety, so I started research. Based on our zone, and the traits I was looking for in my flowers, I bought seeds for amaranth and cosmos. Both plants offer a variety in color and height, plus promise the hardiness needed for a cut bouquet. The greenery is still something I am working on, though I will be trying some hardy herbs this year, and continuing to research other possibilities.
Moving the location and cutting ground– With a few new varieties of vegetables to add to the garden this year, I had to find a new location for the flower garden. An existing iris bed was expanded, twice, to accommodate my flowers for this year. As we are still in the transitional stage with this flower bed, I have an odd mix of perennials and annuals as a test to see if the soil and light is the right mix for my flowers.
Watching and waiting– The hardest part of gardening is the year-long cycle of hurry up and wait. As we reach the end of June, we are just watching, watering, weeding (sometimes), and waiting. Wondering if there is enough sun exposure. Hoping that it rains enough, or trying to get watering done efficiently. Keeping the weeds at bay so they don’t choke out the plants.
