Spring in Photos
Greetings!
Every time we think things will slow down, we are proven wrong. With all of our peonies coming on strong, along with the arrival of more hardy annuals, we’ve been harvesting more than ever! At this point in the season we have to start limiting our harvests to only what we are absolutely certain we can sell, otherwise we could easily spend the entire work day harvesting!
The harvests these days are absolutely stunning, and I think that this spring we’re seeing some of the highest quality flowers that we’ve ever grown. Sturdy, long stems and low pest and disease pressure feels like an absolute blessing, but of course, a lot of it is the result of years of work and learning.
Of course, all is not without problems. This year it feels like we’re facing the worst weed pressure we’ve ever experienced. We’ve definitely let more weeds slip away from us in recent years than we would’ve liked, and we’re paying for it now. Over the next couple of weeks, we hope to dedicate a significant amount of time to weeding so that we’re able to prevent the cycle from happening again this season.
Peony season is fleeting! The heatwave last weekend caused the peonies to erupt in bloom, and we spent hours harvesting them every day this week. We have to harvest the buds before they open, as their vase life is incredibly short once in water. We dry store all of our peonies until right before designing with them or sending them to florists. Once in water, the buds open rapidly.
Our friend Irena Stein came to visit the farm this week. Irena is a wonderful photographer, owner of Alma Cocina Latina, and a delightful person to spend time with. She took some fantastic photos, so the rest of the newsletter is dedicated to showcasing her talent. We rarely find the time to take pictures as we work. Photos are always an afterthought in our busy days, so it’s lovely when a talented photographer comes out to see the farm.
We had our first foxglove harvest of the season this week, and we’re looking forward to many more.
Harry, the farm’s wild puppy.
Irena arrived as we were loading the van for deliveries. Tuesday and Thursday mornings are hectic, and we’re always double checking to make sure we haven’t forgotten something (we usually have).
Poppies, delicate and stunning.
Karen and the glorious foxglove.
We’re back at the JFX market on Sunday from 7:00-12:00.
This week’s market stand will feature bouquets, foxglove bunches, nigella bunches, poppy bunches, peony bunches, ranunculus bunches, snapdragon bunches, stock bunches, elderflower, radishes, and turnips.
Take care,
Amelia and the rest of the Two Boots crew
We have lots of baby birds on the farm right now!
Campanula
A fully packed van heading out to Baltimore and D.C.
A trial of field-grown delphinium (we typically grow it only in a high tunnel), with lettuce, snapdragons, and larkspur growing behind it.