Summer Solstice

It’s the summer solstice today, an astrological day I don’t much like thinking about because it begins the long quiet slide back into dark days.  What a pessimistic way to take it! Let me try again: We are right in the middle of the sunniest stretch of the year, let the wild rumpus continue!  

I’m really proud of everything Lalania and I have accomplished so far this season. We often do farm walks to list out everything that needs to be done, what we think is going well and where there are concerns.  I keep hearing myself say over and over “We are in really good shape!”

This is of course, just in time for the first Japanese beetle to arrive (this morning) and our first high-90’s heatwave (starting tomorrow).  The heat will make us slow and the weeds will start to take over. The difference being that now with experience, I know this is a part of the game and it will pass.  There will always be a pest of the year (2022 Japanese Beetles, 2023 Thrips and Tarnish Bugs, 2024 Slugs). There will always be a crop that underperforms (2023 Ball Dahlias, 2024 Anemones).  And there will be another one that is THRIVING! 2022 was great for Dahlias, 2023 was the year of the Tomato foliage and Zinnias. I can’t wait to see who is crowned Queen this year.

 We are waiting until the heat wave passes to put our last large succession of 2024 plant babies in the field.  We will give ourselves a few short weeks to pat ourselves on the back and acclimate to the summer heat before diving back into fall event floristry and planting for next season!