In Too Deep
Or maybe not. Time will tell.
But, let’s start from the beginning.
I dream big and reality rarely comes into play. At least that’s what my husband will tell you.
A little bit is never enough. If I’m going to do something, why just do a baby step when I can take a giant step?!?!
If you ask anyone who has started a flower farm, they will tell you to start with 4 or so varieties of flowers and then add a few more every year. I had every intention of heeding that advice. I really did. But, my good intentions are long out the window and we are now on a crazy train. Honestly, it didn’t seem that scary until I put it all in writing for this blog post. Eight different types of zinnias really just counts as one variety of flowers, right?
The field isn’t even dug up yet, but if all goes according to play in 2-3 weeks it will be home to:
8 varieties of zinnias
8 varieties of dahlias
4 mixes of different shapes/colors of dahlias
12 varieties of celosia
5 varieties of snapdragons
4 varieties of strawflowers
1 variety of asters
1 variety of stock flowers
1 variety of Daucus/Queen Anne’s Lace
Calendula
Frosted explosion grass and various filler shrubs
whole bunch of sunflowers
And that’s just the annuals. I know. I may be in too deep.
Zinnia, dahlia, and celosia photos credit: Floret Farms from their Floret Originals seed varieties.
Snapdragon photos credit: Johnny’s Selected Seeds
For perennials, 270+ peony plants are settled in and poking up and 1100 daffodils are starting to emerge. At least that’s something that’s “done.” In June we’ll starting the perennial rows with:
Showy Tick Trefoil
Purple Coneflower
Sneezeweed
Mountain Mint
Wild Mint
Blue Sage
6 varieties of Asters
Showy Tick Trefoil, Purple Coneflower, Sneezeweed, and Blue Sage Photos Credit: Prairie Moon Nursery
And then, in late summer/early falls I plan to direct seed Blue Wild Indigo, Yellow Baptisia, Black-Eyed Susan, Brown-Eyed Susan, Yarrow, Echinop, Rattlesnake Master, Swamp Milkweed, Dense Blazing Star 4 varieties of Lilies, more Daffodils, some Tulips and who knows whatever else will tickle my fancy to my list of perennials.
Blue Wild Indigo, Yarrow, Swamp Milkweed, and Dense Blazing Star Photos Credit: Prairie Moon Nursery
I may be in too deep. Or maybe not.
I know I would never recommend this ambitious of a plan to anyone. That then begs the question, why do I do this to myself? Again, my husband will tell you I just do too much and he’s right. (did I tell you I have a full time plus job as a contract negotiator for a large global company?). By October I’ll be tired, but I do hope my planning and plotting will be key to getting everything successfully in the ground:
I’m starting my seedlings in waves so they won’t all be ready at once.
I’ve invested in plugs so I don’t need to start everything from seed myself.
If the perennials take that’s a whole bunch of planting that won’t need to happen in the future as, by definition, they’ll come back year after year.
Though I don’t want to, for the first couple of years I will be using weed fabric in my annual beds to help with weed control.
I love collecting seeds in the fall which will help with expenses and planning in the future.
Maybe I’m in too deep or maybe I’m not.
Go big or go home they say so big we go.
Happy growing! Cheers!
Sonya
P.S. The photos above obviously are not mine or of my particular flowers, but they are photos from the sources where I acquired my seeds. Each of them are my go to for purposes of sourcing seeds and particularly Prairie Moon Nursery for my native perennial seeds.
