Fruits of my labor… Spring has Sprung

Spring has sprung ! With it, the first blooms of the season. The hardy and elegant hellebore also called lenton rose, announce Springs arrival along with the pussy willow, forsythia, daffodils, pansies and my first anemone bloom of the season! I am tickled pink now that the fruits of my labor are budding and starting to bloom. While I enjoyed being surrounded by so many seedlings this winter , it is the flower blooms I have been dreaming of! Each year the goals may vary- but this year I especially wanted an abundance of early blooms! Winter has been too long! June thru October the gardens are filled with abundant blooms. This years goal was earlier blooms- I have spent the last 3 months caring for ranunculus and anemones - they are now lush and full and ready to send up buds! Ranunculus is a cool season crop that dislikes warm days. Other cool season crops I am planting include snapdragons, stock, and pansies. There are many cool season crops that reseed and overwinter throughout the gardens. I have also planted sunflowers in my unheated tunnel- again hoping for May blooms!

March is bareroot planting time- the west gardens are assorted , mostly flowering bushes. This year I added 24 hypercium bushes- of course I am looking forward to adding their beautiful berries to bouquets!

My biggest achievement this March was dividing and starting all my dahlias. I have to admit I was not happy when I unpacked the first few boxes. Some of tubers were rather shriveled. Others were perfectly fine. Last fall when packing the tubers I found an extremely shriveled tuber…. I planted it and it grew- all winter in my house! Let’s see if it blooms soon! Gardening is an experiment of which I love to test it’s boundaries! Needless to say, I have more dahlias then I can use - reach out in May and snag some of my extras! I will also be giving away dahlias- I will have a contest this April - share your favorite post or refer someone to me and you will be entered to win a dahlia plant. Help me spread the word and share the story of locally grown flowers, Dahlias like ranunculus multiply like crazy!

Need flowers? Reach out! Bouquets, diy pails or arrangements for any occasion will soon be available! CSA options are still available pick up options in Spencerport, Churchville or here on the farm. Questions please ask. www.westsidegardens4365@gmail.com