Morning all,

Another good week, a further step towards rescuing the season, phew. Perfect timing too as we hosted the bank manager this week for a quick review of how things were going. If he had pitched up 3 weeks ago he might have had a lovely nursery on his hands with a rather full stock quota, but the rally on the weather and sales front has meant that the belief that there is a market out there has returned and we might not have another monster compost heap this year. He was pleasantly surprised at how well we had coped and how we had managed to keep costs down in the long quiet spell although that does have a knock-on effect on suppliers and staff which can’t be ignored. Hopefully the weather stays with us and we can keep this recovery going a few weeks longer as we are still behind last year which was shockingly bad itself. Once I have finished inspiring myself here with the joys of nursery life I am off to have fun unblocking the gent’s loo. Joy oh joy.

Started now to eat the stock as well as sell it. Times are still tough. Had a fab salad with the usual suspects plus chopped wild rocket leaves and whole chive flower heads. Having chewed on a few bits of chive flowers previously for the combination of sweetness and pow I was surprised how subtly they went down, a definite punch but not overpowering. For flower taste impact though, just try the tiny yellow ones that come later on the rocket, the sweetness hit is astonishing for something so weeny. No wonder it is called sweet rocket as well as wild.

Did the Waitrose shop early yesterday. It was a bit busier than usual and I unusually had to endure a bit of human interaction. The chap ahead of me got into the trolley lift down to the car park and pushed the button, I was a little way behind but I either stood outside and watched the doors slowly shut while standing outside, effectively rejecting any possibility of interaction or I rushed in delaying the descent but offering a gesture of comradeship. I opted for the later, although I suspect it ended up being an invasion of personal space (nutter on the bus scenario, especially as I was sporting the unshaven and ‘need a haircut bed-head’ look), it rather threw the chap already in there. We avoided eye contact and waited while a random beeping played and the lift went nowhere. Do I say anything about him leaning on the lift buttons or do I wait until he realises. In the end I had to mention it and a quiet decent followed. I had hoped he would head for the Porsche but sadly not.

Availability

Strong Aquilegias looking full of life and vigour, stonking flower spikes showing bud and colour, the best we have ever grown. More Geraniums are showing flower buds as the weather warms. G sanguinium, G.s. striatum and Gravetye showing buds. Pretty pink flowers of Erodium ‘Bishops Form’ are already showing with loads to follow although only a few left.

Knautia are budding up with those deep magenta flowers about to burst.

Dainty but striking red flowers of Heuchera Ruby Bells and Firefly look delightful.

Very strong plants of Centaurea dealbata are producing buds. A perennial cornflower with a magenta punch.

Ajuga’s looking at their best with fresh foliage and flowering under way. Burgundy Glow looks particularly stunning.

The border bulbs are looking strong, buds are showing on the Alliums and bud & some colour showing on the Camassia’s. The glorious hardy perennial Gladiolus byzantinus buds are appearing.

Salvia’s are all beginning to bud up, still lovely chunky plants with that promise of colour round the corner.

Verbascums phoeniceum hybids and the white form V.p. Album are showing their first flower shoots and looking chunky.

Veronica gentianoides throwing up strong flower shoots now, full of vigour prior to showing its delightful pale blue flowers.

We produced a new range of Phlox for this spring as a trial and have been very impressed with their strength and vigour. The Flame series is a more compact strain with improved disease resistance and available in a wide colour range. We only have low numbers for this year but will have more in 2014.

Eco news

Our new design of backing board is now being sent out. It looks the same on the visible bit above the box edge, but a cleverer design should make them easier to install and uses less card to make them. The reduction in material volume keeps costs down and further reduces waste.

Turbine output looking good again as the breeze picks up, we are above estimate for May and if the forecast is right we should get above estimate for 2013 which will be encouraging as we wondered if initial estimates had been a bit over optimistic. We won’t really know that for sure for another ten years or so! That still doesn’t stop me reading the meter 3 or 4 times a day. What an exciting life I lead.

Availability List availability!

Need a fresh list? You can download a copy from www.kirtonfarm.co.uk/assets/perennialsherbs.pdf

Have a good week, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries