End of April and we thought the spring was warming up... and then!! Its blooming chilly! All the crops are waiting for a watering - really need rain. Some crops have slowed right up due to chilly night and many are waiting in the wings for rain before they are ready to crop.
At the Home of British Blooms its Tulip Festival week - historically the time of the Tulip Parade where coach loads packed with thousands of people would visit South Lincolnshire to tour the area and wonder at the sights, Tulip fields and of course Parade. Nowadays we have flower festivals in every church and more cake than you can eat!
From the fridge...
LOTS OF TULIPS ON THE BULB!
Tineke Van de Meer, Yellow Flight, Verandi and Jan Signette all On the Bulb
Cut Tulips this week
- Red Mascara - limited
- Creme Fraiche - Vanilla
- Charmeur - Lovely coral pink with variegated leaves BONUS!
- Verandi Orange
- Jan Signette Bi Colour
- Yellow Flight
- Saigon Purple
- Tineke Van de Meer Mid Pink
- Update - White
- Mixed Rainbow and Pastel bundles
NEW!! Standard Scented STOCKS will be coming along next week - smaller columns and selection of colours - sold by the box and bundles.
Solomons seal - plenty and such a useful stem of foliage as well as the dainty white bells.
Ranunculus - the warm Easter flushed this crop so now it is tapering off. No promises on colour specifics this week. Grower is trying to get as many as possible for your wedding orders.
Cottage Peonies - always before the early peonies these cute posy gems have a useful foliage and blousy red/ burgundy blooms. Only just started and limited.
Iris - Yellow and Blue - plenty of blue, Yellow limited. Will continue until November.
Alstro - both Cornish and Norfolk are in good supply
Foliages .... always a challenge this time of year!! Eucalyptus needs to be cut back April/May to ensure good growth ready for September. Little bit of Cornish Eucalyptus Parvi available...
We still have Cornish Viburnum Tinus and Pittosporum, you are getting through it at pace - recommend ordering early if you need volume. Wild Garden greens continue and the mix is now including Choisya and Orange Blossom as well as Lonicera and more.
COMING SOON from the fields...
Sweet Williams are waiting for rain ....almost ready, probably next week.
Peonies - 10 days to 2 weeks now it's cooled off. First varieties are the coral and Red Charm.
"Nature is just enough; but men and women must comprehend and accept her suggestions"
Antoinette Brown Blackwell
I love this quote - it echos "do the best with what you have where you are!!" That which I repeat daily :) This is what using British is like - it challenges us as designers to be more creative!!