Why I grow my own flowers
Many years ago, one of my favorite things to do on a Saturday morning was to visit a nursery looking at the multitude of plants they had for sale. A favorite was owned by a couple just down the road from us. It was not the typical large scale homogenized nursery, it had more of a homegrown charm about it. My girls would wander the grounds, play with the resident dog, walk in the stream and look at the birds in the aviary. It was here that I would find the lovely plants and flowers that other nurseries didn’t offer. I was always on the hunt for something more, something different. I was very saddened when they decided to close. They had approached me about taking over their nursery but I declined. Feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities of a young family and newly acquired property I didn’t feel I could take on the added responsibility. I still regret that decision.
About 5 years ago I decided that I would try my hand at growing cut flowers and sell them to the public and DIY brides. It took about 2 years for me to realize that just wasn’t my calling. My flower beds and the property suffered from neglect due to the demand of the cut flowers and that was the opposite of what I wanted.
Enter my newfound skill of growing flowers from seed. Not just annuals, but biennials and perennials as well. I have a plethora of choices to chose from, flowers and flowering plants that are difficult if not impossible to find in the nurseries at a fraction of the cost.
There have been many successes and a handful of failures. I am still trying to uncover germination secrets for some of the more persnickety seeds.
The cost is incomparable. I have been on a budget my entire life and spending large sums on plants and flowers at the nursery has made progress slow for me in the past. Granted, an investment is needed in acquiring the “tools of the trade” but these costs are not insurmountable. The largest one being some type of growing space. My dreams of a lovely greenhouse are still on the distant horizon so I grow in a DIY poly tunnel that, while not attractive, is very efficient. A heat mat or propogator is invaluable in getting precious seeds to germinate. Without one, the tiny seeds will sulk and not perform.
Being passionate about the cottage garden style, I like a lot of color and a lot of flowers in the garden. Various shapes, sizes and heights come into play for intermingling with roses, shrubs and garden art. By growing my own flowers I have access to varieties and colors that simply don’t exist at the nurseries.
I am also able to time the flow of color change as the seasons progress through the use of annuals and biennials. This is never a guarantee as climate change is a new reality in our lives, but for the most part it works out. Perennials, flowering shrubs and bushes play a critical role and are the reliable backbones in the garden.
The hardy annuals that I started last August are tucked in the “seed hut”. The biennials and perennials that were planted out in the autumn are resting, waiting for the soil to warm. I will be sowing my annuals over the next 6 weeks or so. Timing them just right so they are in bloom when it is their time to shine.
Thank you for reading this little blog. It means the world to me.
Wishing you the best of everything.
x Susan