Last Shot

Final bouquet of dahlias before the were done in by frost a couple of days ago. I'm about to go dig up the tubers for their winter hibernation. And plant a load of spring bulbs.

Gah, I really think dahlias might be my favorite of them all. So perfectly gorgeous.

Exceptions

Well, most of the annuals are out or are well on their way, but not the dahlias, of course. They are going strong, coming into their own. I got them planted later than I would have liked, so many of the plants are still covered in buds, just ready to break into full bloom. And the globe amaranth are still looking pretty lovely too. 

I think this might be my favorite bouquet of the whole season. Totally in love with the orange and brick red with the lavender-pink. So in love that I think this specific combination along with some similarly hued friends will be seen together in the garden next year.

I've got to get the dahlias labeled now so that I'll know who's who when I dig up the tubers to store for the winter. I made the mistake of throwing them all in a bucket last year, then added a couple new varieties this spring and planted them all in one bed, and some of the colors are definitely fighting each other in their current proximity. They're also too tall for the locale and I didn't stake them soon enough, so they're looking kind of unruly. So based on color, they'll be making their way to different spots in the garden next year and will be joined by some analogous and complimentary companions of different species. 
In case it's not obvious, I spent part of the day with my nose in a really good garden design book. Finally getting to that much needed planning, and learning a lot in the process. Optimistic next year's garden is going to be my best effort ever. 
But there's a couple seasons in the interim and I've been making some exciting plans for the indoor months. Stay tuned, details coming!

Last Hoorah

It's been a bit dreary, chilly, and fall-like the last couple of days and I'm rather loving it. We had a fantastic weekend, this one just past, that included great friends, great food and drink, and an amazing exhibition opening. 

I cut some blooms to have around over the weekend, some of the last of the summer crop. The golden rod and the unsuccessfully identified other yellow wildflower were foraged from the edge of the woods bordering the community garden. 

Retrospective

A few bouquets from throughout the inaugural season. 

I am about to embark on a monumental clean-up of my community garden space. Some things are pretty well spent as fall is nigh, while what is still trying to bloom is fighting a loosing battle with weeds. This is thanks in part to my neglect, but also to hefty doses of unpasteurized manure that have been spread on the plots every spring for years, I've been told. A weed control strategy beyond a hoe and a strong back will definitely be part of my plan for next year if I grow there again.

Post clean-up, I have an assortment of lettuce, arugula, and two varieties of baby cabbage seed on order to go in the ground. 

Alright then...

to work!

Time Flies

Above nor below are pictures from Colorado. In the interim between the last post and this one, I resigned from my "day" job in retail, went to the doctor about 50,000 times, to the ER once, had a great birthday weekend in Chicago with friends, turned a year older, almost had surgery, then at the last minute followed a hunch or intuition or whatever and sought confirmation, which I received, that I had in fact healed myself, therefore requiring no further intervention from the medical community. Hopefully for a very long time. I got my fill of intervention. 
Above is celosia.  

So with all that going on, staying caught up on life has been a bit of a challenge. Blogging no exception. But I'm back here now and I sincerely hope to be around a lot more often. 

Celosia again, too short for arranging, drying. Let the seed saving begin! 

I am really excited that I can be fully devoted to Unknown Blackbird Flowers for the remainder of the season. There's a ton of work I both have to and would very much like to get done yet this year. I hope to do better at recording efforts here. And life in general too. 
Ageratum. Right before we left for Chicago a storm came through and knocked most of the plants helter skelter. I didn't have the chance to stake them up until we returned, so in the meantime, a bunch of bent stems. The moral of this whole story? When life gives you bent-stemmed ageratum, make a wild, tangly, lovely bouquet. 
Colorado pics tomorrow. Oops, make that later today.

Hello, Goodbye

Frantic is what I've been lately. Trying to get it all in the ground. But grateful for this sunny plot I was lucky to get my hands on in the community garden. True full sun is currently at a premium in the yard, so this affords me the space for a good (hopefully) crop of sun-loving annuals. The seedlings are all the ones grown for me by Joseph of Swainway Urban Farm and they are all gorgeous. Healthy and sturdy as can be. Cosmos, phlox, snap dragons, celosia, and amaranth, near to far.


The next trip of the summer is upon us. We leave for Colorado first thing in the morning. Back in a week or so with lots of Rocky Mountain memories.   

Drumroll Please...

I will be selling bouquets at the Easton Farmers Market this summer! Hooray! The market will be Thursdays from 4-7pm. It begins June 7th and runs through August 30th. My first day there will most likely be June 28th (*update* first day will be July 12) and I plan to be there almost every week through the end of the season. Still ironing out details, but I'm very excited for the opportunity!

I decided to play around with what was available last week and came up with these numbers. I am fairly sure that I want to offer mostly vased arrangements, and I'm all about vintage, thrifted and repurposed as far as the containers go.

Peonies + cedar to me is less odd mix of opposing seasons and more early summer up north. Just to clarify.

Checking In

Busy as a bee. Working, rounding up perennials of all shapes and sizes and getting them in the ground, household chores and projects. All good. Oh, and I've been playing with the design of this little blog a bit too.  

I brought in a sprig of this lovely Climbing Purple Splash rose last weekend (above) to see how it does in a vase. It was serving along with a couple other specimens as the dining table centerpiece until, on night one, kitty went table surfing and munched on the petals for a little midnight snack. Should have known, she's exhibited a fondness for them in the past. I'm sure they do have an interesting texture. Anywho, here it is in situ.

Exciting bit of news regarding Unknown Blackbird Flowers, coming soon!

April Showers, and Hopefully Coming Up, May Flowers

Planting, planting, planting. That's what I've been up to. In between rains. These sweet peas went into the  ground about two weeks ago. Soaked overnight to help speed up germination. 

And look what I spied yesterday! And more popping up today. Hooray!

Putting these itty bitty little seeds in the ground has kind of felt like a gamble, so it's quite a relief to see things sprouting.

I am grateful to have someone helping me to hedge my direct-sowing bets. I contacted Joseph Swain of Swainway Urban Farm last month to see if he would be offering any annual flowers along with his certified organic veggie and herb seedlings. He replied his flower offerings would be limited, but that he'd be willing to help by starting some seeds for me. Though it's now approaching Ohio's frost free date, I do feel better knowing that in a few weeks I should have trays of seedlings in neat little rows to plant out that have had a chance to get going free from interference by meddling squirrels, flash-flooding rains, or freak late-season freezing temps.

More perennials from Oakland Nursery. And a delivery is on it's way for tomorrow from Bluestone Perennials.

Love azaleas. First one to go in the garden. Nearing the end of it's bloom time, it was a fabulous deal at Oakland. 

Parting shot of viola + moss by the front step.

Scioto Gardens

Well, husband and I had plans to be very productive in the yard and garden this past weekend, but the weather had other ideas. It was rainy and windy and chilly and just no good. But on Sunday, we did make the trip up to Delaware (,OH) to visit Scioto Gardens. I came across this lovely nursery searching the web for Ohio plant producers using organic or as-close-to-organic-as-possible practices. 

All plants are grown outside for maximum hardiness, and no greenhouse means energy savings too. Also note the nice big rain barrel at the back of the barn. 

 They focus on plants that are native to the region,

 with some other sorts of specimens thrown in for fun.

This was our haul: hydrangea, liatris, phlox, bee balm, male fern, japanese painted fern, and larkspur. All good for cutting.

The wind really kicked up while we wandering around making selections and then it started raining a bit. Yucky.

Before the weather turned for the worse, a sweet kitty visited us while we were walking around, but I was too busy petting him or her to take his or her picture, however we were parked right next to this napping fellow or lady, so I couldn't leave without taking the opportunity to snap at least one fuzzy portrait.

The drive up and back on Olentangy River Road/315 was very pretty despite the weather. As the name suggests, the route runs immediately adjacent to the river. Lots of old farm houses and associated buildings interspersed with ritzy new subdivisions. I fell in love with this property for several reasons. One, amazing architectural detail. A true Victorian. Wish the carved doors were visible in this photo. Two, dilapidated and decayed condition. Couple one and two and I immediately become obsessed with the infinite potential. Three, just to the right of the house out of view was a pretty expansive open field complete with a greenhouse. A proper spot for a flower farm.
Husband said "no dice".
It's a beautiful, but slightly windy and chilly day today. I should be out working the dirt, planting the recent purchases, etc. not interneting. So, I'm off.

Learning to Fly

The title of my first post here is in reference to two great songs that relate the spirit of Unknown Blackbird. Moving forward, living the dreams, but clinging to the sweetest memories. I'm very excited to begin making this little spot on the internet truly my own, my virtual home. 

I thought I'd start off with some snaps from the front garden of some early bloomers. We had a very warm March, and things really got growing. We've had some low thirties at night recently, but no harm done, and luckily we are almost out of the woods as far as frost goes. Above, icelandic poppies. On Saturday there was one, then yesterday another, and today three bright faces. 

The buds on the dwarf korean lilacs are just on the verge of opening. There are no old-fashioned lilac bushes in the yard (yet), but I must say I was impressed last year with just how sweet-smelling, not to mention pretty, these guys are. And I have to admit they have a tidier habit than their cousins the rest of the year.

And finally my poor columbine, stripped of every last leaf by some unknown critter a couple of weeks ago. I know I need to cut it back and give it the chance to recover, but it just seemed a shame to waste all those pretty buds.

In other garden news, right now we are in the process of distributing a ginormous pile of compost from Price Farms Organics to all the existing garden beds. I'm also working to find sources for organically grown annuals and perennials in order to get planting as soon as possible. Hopefully there will be a new compost bin and a rain barrel in the near future too. I am still figuring out the details surrounding Unknown Blackbird Flowers as a business. I am very excited to just get growing. Once the blooms arrive, I know I'll have a better idea how everything else will follow from there.