Monday 30 June 2014

Hairy Show

Good morning all.

What a hectic week. The fabulous drugs provided by casualty last weekend worked a treat on my back, I got to the National Plant Show and survived in a fully vertical position the whole time. Thanks have to go to heroic niece Emily who did all the van driving (the drugs meant I was off that role) and a lot of the stand building as well as attending with me selling the hairy pot ideas over both days. We both had a great time seeing lots of old, new and potential customers in a positive, relaxed, buoyant and plant promoting atmosphere. Voice was a bit hoarse by the end of two days but very well worth the trip. Really pleased with the stand appearance, just perfect for what we wanted to achieve and we did get a recommendation from the stand judges at the awards which was nice. Although what we do isn’t everyone’s cup of tea it is always great to see when someone really connects and they get as excited as us about looking at plant production and sales in a different way. The samples of the new 2015 perennial labels we had on show with their bamboo skewer, extra practicality and depth of information with bar and QR coding were a nice illustration of how we continually look at improving our product as we forge a new way forward. Big thanks also to Susan and Brian for reviving us each evening with delicious sustenance, great comfort and company, it was like a mini holiday in the country, in fact I suspect that was the summer holiday. Luckily the drugs kept me off the home brewed cider on offer, otherwise the days might have been much harder!

I will attach a bit of the first info available about the new labels for 2015, just in case you didn’t see us at the show. Still sending out plenty of plants which is great, the weather is being kind so far and the bit of rain we had will keep things moist in the gardens and hopefully keep things moving.

Keep it up there are plenty of plants to go!

Availability

The Lobelia Fan range are so strong and bushy they could burst and flower spikes are thrusting too!

Verbascum Primrose Path, a stunning short pale yellow variety, has just started to show flower colour, a great plant. Beautiful pale yellow flowers of the Eucomis autumnalis are opening, short and chunky a really eye catcher.

A few new additions for this summer are a range of hardy fuchsia’s which are wonderfully bushy and budding up nic ely now and there are also new dahlia’s who’s dark foliage and bushy habit look great, flowering just around the corner.

Talking of dark foliage, Ajuga Black Scallop is new on our list this year with really very dark tight foliage, a stunner. Another new one this summer is Veronica Spode Blue, a dinky short variety with an endless show of pale blue flowers. We have a small range of good looking chunky Agapanthus we are producing for the first time.

Coreopsis Sunray and Corey Yellow have plenty of bud nestling in fresh green foliage. The feathery foliage of Coreopsis Zagreb is also now supporting bright yellow colour. Summer Penstemons growing well and looking verdant.

Lots of Hemerocallis varieties are just beginning to bud up as summer approaches.

The shorter Verbena bonariensis Lollipop are strong, shooty, and showing bud. Bushy V. bonariensis are also available again. New Leucanthemum varieties to us (Lacrosse and Banana Creme) are showing their first signs of flowering, as are the pretty pale yellow Broadway Lights.

Summer is on its way with the first buds appearing on some Crocosmia.

The Helenium Waldraut and Moerheim Beauty are in stunning colour and strong stemmed although quite tall.

The traditional Dianthus, the garden pinks, are also in bud, the new ‘Scent First’ (SF) series are compact and as the name suggests fantastically scented with some lovely colour combinations. Some of the slightly larger classic varieties Doris and Hayter White are also strongly in bud.

Catananche are coming into strong bud now, their delightful papery blue flowers just a moment away, although selling throughfast. We have a batch of the pretty white form as well this year which are also in bud. Just a few left now. Oxalis Iron Cross are carrying their red buds and flowers above its pretty two tone foliage.

Summer campanula’s are in bud (carpatica blue, white and posharskyana).

Achillea Summer Pastels and Paprika with plenty of bud and some colour. A new batch of the lovely compact Desert Eve series are just producing their first buds again.

Edibles

We are having a play with a couple of new strawberry lines to us, Toscana (very dark pink flowers) and Roman (pretty pale pink and now a few very tasty fruit), both have long flowering and fruiting seasons. Quality control in despatch means any ripe fruit is taken care of to prevent red juice contamination of the van!

Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries

Tuesday 24 June 2014

Good morning all.

Apologies for a slightly late list this week. A few challenges his weekend after a back twinge or two ended up with me left in casualty this morning, feeling a bit fraudulent, tired and sore. Disturbing all those busy people with such a silly compliant was a bit embarrassing but I was in a bit of trouble. Anyway to cut a long story short, they were sympathetic and brilliant and now I’m back here and nearly vertical again. My back still hurts but after a good dose of diazepam I don’t care! I may be a bit flippant this week, so apologies now, especially for anyone I meet at the National Plant Show on Tuesday and Wednesday. I have to blame it on the drugs.
The stand for the show is luckily all sorted and should look ok I think, catalogues knitted and some samples of the new 2015 labels ready to show. The bamboo skewers are not quite right, I’ve got some of the right length and some the right shape but the sample proper new design doesn’t get here for a bit. It will still give a good idea what we are up to. I will post some images as soon as I get a minute in case you don’t make it to Stoneleigh (or I don’t).
Hopefully the world cup isn’t affecting trade too much. I did hear a reporter saying how the England players couldn’t afford to lose against Uruguay and I did worry that they may become destitute if the result went the wrong way. Somehow I think they will be ok. Otherwise I have seen some great matches with unusually some very sporting behaviour. Love the new high tech improvements, goal line camera technology and especially the shaving foam lines the referees are using. Sometimes the simple ideas are the best.

Availability
Verbascum Primrose Path, a stunning short yellow variety, has just started to show flower stems, a great plant.
A few new additions for this summer are a range of hardy fuchsia’s which are wonderfully bushy and budding up nicely now and there are a couple of new dahlia’s who’s dark foliage and bushy habit look great, flowering just around t he corner. There is also a small range of Agapanthus we are producing which are now showing strong growth.
Astilbe varieties are now showing beautiful colour, looking fresh bushy, feathery & vigorous, at the top of their game. Coreopsis Sunray and Corey Yellow have plenty of bud nestling in fresh green foliage. The feathery foliage of Zagreb is also now supporting early buds.
Summer Penstemons growing well and looking verdant. Lots of Hemerocallis varieties are just beginning to bud up as summer approaches. The shorter Verbena bonariensis Lollipop are strong, shooty, and showing bud. Bushy V. bonariensis are also available again. New Leucanthemum varieties to us (Lacrosse and Banana Creme) are showing their first signs of flowering, as are the pretty pale yellow Broadway Lights and white Snowcap.The traditional Dianthus, the garden pinks, are also in bud, the new ‘Scent First’ (SF) series are compact and as the name suggests fantastically scented with some lovely colour combinations. Some of the slightly larger classic varieties Doris and Hayter White are also strongly in bud.
Catananche are coming into strong bud now, their delightful papery blue flowers just a moment away, although selling through fast. We have a batch of the pretty white form as well this year which are also in bud. Just a few left now.
The more unusual Oxalis triangularis are up and displaying their vibrant purple foliage with the f irst pink flower buds appearing and now the red buds of Iron Cross are poking through its two tone foliage too.
Another unusual plant is Limonium (Sea Lavender) is throwing up its subtle flower shoots above its rosettes of flat leaves.
Summer campanula’s are in bud (carpatica blue, white and posharskyana). Lythrums now starting to show colour on strong stems, although not many left. Achillea Cerise Queen and Summer Pastels with plenty of bud and some colour. A new batch of the compact Desert Eve series are just producing their first buds again.

Edibles
We are having a play with a couple of new strawberry lines to us, Toscana (very dark pink flowers) and Roman (pretty pale pink and now a few very tasty fruit), both have long flowering and fruiting seasons. Quality control in despatch means any ripe fruit is taken care of to prevent red juice contamination of the van!

Have a good one from all at Kirton Farm

Monday 16 June 2014

Hairy Cider Sampling

Good morning all.

Very busy week, for a change. Lots of orders and young plants starting to arrive for next year’s output. In the back of my mind I always imagine a short break between this year’s sales and next year’s production when we can pause for breath. Unfortunately that gap doesn’t actually exist and we don’t really get a relaxing break in activity until the potting is more or less finished in September. Not complaining really, a good run in sales is always very welcome.

The ongoing label design is progressing nicely so we should have some test samples at the National Plant Show in a couple of weeks. As this will be our first trade show for a few years I was determined to be well organised and put aside last Sunday as my catalogue production day. All the computer preparation and updating was done and card, paper and string in stock, just the printing and weaving to do! Having got all the chores out of the way early I was relaxed and ready to roll. Print the first page and the printer stops. Spent a couple of hours trying to trick it into starting up again (the spare isn’t able to do double sided printing so was no use) without success. Sadly a relaxing Sunday turned into something else and my trust in all things IT evaporated again. I ordered the replacement consumables which came on Tuesday, meanwhile on Monday the printer started up again for Caroline’s computer followed by mine later in the day! Anyway most of the printing is now done so a bit of a relief there. Bit nervous about going to a new show, not quite sure what to expect and it’s a long way from home, especially after I’ve been confined here for so long.

I am actually getting to escape this afternoon for a 25th anniversary party at an old friend’s orchard. Home brew cider, live music and a hog roast as well as lots of happy faces, can’t wait. Good job there are no important football games on tonight. Back for Caroline’s dads Fathers Day lunch on Sunday should be a relaxing recovery day should any excesses occur the night before! See, there is more to life than playing with plants.

Availability

Verbascum Primrose Path, a stunning short yellow variety, has just started to show flower stems, a great plant.
A few new additions for this summer are a range of hardy fuchsia’s which are wonderfully bushy and budding up nicely now and there are a couple of new dahlia’s who’s dark foliage and bushy habit look great, flowering just around the corner.
There is also a small range of Agapanthus we are producing which are now showing strong growth.
Astilbe varieties are now showing beautiful colour, looking fresh bushy, feathery and vigorous, at the top of their game.
Coreopsis Sunray and Corey Yellow have plenty of bud nestling in fresh green foliage. The feathery foliage of Zagreb is also now supporting early buds.
Lots of Hemerocallis varieties are just beginning to bud up as summer approaches.
The shorter Verbena bonariensis Lollipop are strong and shooty, and showing bud. V. bonariensis also available again.
New Leucanthemum varieties to us (Lacrosse and Banana Creme) are showing their first signs of flowering, as are the pretty pale yellow Broadway Lights and white Snowcap.
The traditional Dianthus, the garden pinks, are also in bud, the new ‘Scent First’ (SF) series are compact and as the name suggests fantastically scented with some lovely colour combinations. Some of the slightly larger classic varieties Doris and Hayter White are also strongly in bud.
Catananche are coming into strong bud now, their delightful papery blue flowers just a moment away, although selling through fast. We have a batch of the pretty white form as well this year which are also in bud.
The more unusual Oxalis triangularis are up and displaying their vibrant purple foliage with the first pink flower buds appearing, and now the red buds of Iron Cross are poking through its two tone foliage too.
Another unusual plant is Limonium (Sea Lavender) is throwing up strong flower shoots above its rosettes of flat leaves.
Platycodon Blue is very strong this year with first buds appearing. A great, deep blue stunner. Summer campanula’s are in bud (carpatica blue, white and posharskyana).
Lythrums now starting to show colour on strong stems, although not many left.
Achillea Cerise Queen and Summer Pastels with plenty of bud and some colour. Edibles
We are having a play with a couple of new strawberry lines to us, Toscana and Roman, both with strongly coloured red/pink flowers and long flowering and fruiting seasons. They are just starting to flower and fruit now and looking great. Tuck in.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries

Monday 9 June 2014

Brilliant Mary, Mungo and Midge

Good morning all.
A good soaking here this morning stopped the garden drying out too much! Power tripped out again during the lightning but soon restored. Makes you feel a bit vulnerable at times, the irrigation controller needed resetting and the rather sensitive trips on the water pumps checking. It’s a good job we are on site 7 days a week.
Another very busy week, lots of orders and a visit from a new bank manager (good timing, just when we had no time for much of a polish up). I received an image of the new bamboo skewer sample made for our potential new labels yesterday, looking great. The first label designs should be seen early next week so we will get a good idea of how it could all come together. You can never tell with designers, will they come up with something shockingly good or shockingly inappropriate? Naturally I am anticipating the former. I suspect the shocking bit will actually be the cost. Assuming it comes together we will have a sample to show off at the National Plant Show later in June.
Swallows fledged today, now flapping about the yard with mum and dad, just three in the first brood, but I suspect they will lay again soon. House Martins still pitching up and not even settled in yet, although they tend to go for just the one brood.
Hat Fitz and Cara on tour, ‘outback country blues’ this week’s favourites. Just brilliant, get out there and see some live music. www.hatfitz.net/ There is apparently more to life than nurseries, just not much time or money left to do it. Can’t remember their names very well at the moment so Mary, Mungo & Midge works as an alternative for me.

Availability
Astilbe varieties are now showing beautiful colour, looking fresh bushy, feathery & vigorous, at the top of their game. Coreopsis Sunfire, Sunray and Corey Yellow have plenty of bud nestling in fresh green foliage. The feathery foliage of Zagreb is also now supporting early buds.
Lots of Hemerocallis varieties are just beginning to bud up as summer approaches.
Plenty of colour and loads of bud on all of the bushy Salvia varieties this week, great pot full’s of colour. The shorter Sensation series all look brilliant, although very few of the white form left now. The dark stemmed taller Caradonna variety is very dramatic and becoming increasingly popular with trendy garden designers.
Another trendy one is the Echinacea which are all now in bud, although not a huge number left. Get them while they’re hot! While we are on the trendy train, the shorter Verbena bonariensis Lollipop are strong and shooty, not far off flower.
Strong, short, fresh stock of Digitalis Dalmation are just starting on flower production, ideal just now.
Fresh stock too of the Digitalis mertonensis, purpurea Sutton’s Apricot and p. Alba. Just ask if you would like them in flower. New Leucanthemum varieties to us (Lacrosse and Banana Creme) are showing their first signs of flowering, as are the pretty pale yellow Broadway Lights and white Snowcap.
A couple of new additions for this summer are a range of hardy fuchsia’s which are wonderfully bushy and budding up nicely now and there are a couple of new dahlia’s who’s dark foliage and bushy habit look great, flowering just around the corner. Verbascum Primrose Path, a stunning short yellow variety, has just started to show flower stems, a great plant.
Achillea’s are showing their first colour, including the new delightful compact Desert Eve series.
The traditional Dianthus, the garden pinks, are also in bud, the new ‘Scent First’ (SF) series are compact and as the name suggests fantastically scented with some lovely colour combinations. Some of the slightly larger classic varieties Doris and Hayter White are also strongly in bud.
Catananche are coming into strong bud now, their delightful papery blue flowers just a moment away. We have a few of the pretty white form as well this year which are also in bud.
The more unusual Oxalis triangularis are up and displaying their vibrant purple foliage with the f irst pink flower buds appearing, and now the red buds of Iron Cross are poking through its two tone foliage too.
Another unusual plant is Limonium (Sea Lavender) is throwing up strong flower shoots above its rosettes of flat leaves.Platycodon Blue is very strong this year with first buds appearing. A great, deep blue stunner.
Still plenty of buds and the odd open flower appearing on the Centaurea dealbata, stonking plants ready to roll. Erigeron Azure Beauty has buds opening. The short Sea Breeze varieties looking verdant with bonkers numbers of buds.
New batches of bushy Lupins, fabulous, Delphs and Hollyhocks (Alcea) also raring to go but won’t hang around long.

Edibles
We are having a play with a couple of new strawberry lines to us, Toscana and Roman, both with strongly coloured red/pink flowers and long flowering and fruiting seasons. They are just starting to flower now and looking great.

Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries

Monday 2 June 2014

Kirton Hairy Flowering

Good morning all.

Very busy week again, partly down to the shortage of days. Luckily Caroline’s birthday celebrations went well despite a lack of a strategic plan from my end. A meal out with friends, music (and me), lots of cake, cards and presents hit the mark. Big thanks to all those who rescued me!

Not much room for news this week with so much stock coming on song, but just enough to report that the new perennial label designs for 2015 are coming along brilliantly. A new design of bamboo skewer is being discussed which will slot through the bespoke, specifically bar-coded, recycled plastic label, giving it much improved stick-in-ability. The design also uses less plastic and looks like being so flexible it will allow us to top up the range producing small quantities of matching home printed labels. Can’t wait. We should have a sample to show off at the National Plant Show in later in June.

Availability
Early colour and loads of bud on all of the bushy Salvia varieties this week, great pot full’s of colour. The shorter Sensation series all look brilliant, although not many of the white form left now. The dark stemmed Caradonna variety is very dramatic and becoming increasingly popular with trendy garden designers.
Strong, short, fresh stock of Digitalis Dalmation are just starting on flower production, ideal just now.
Fresh stock too of the Digitalis mertonensis, purpurea Sutton’s Apricot and p. Alba. Just ask if you would like them in flower. New Leucanthemum varieties to us (Lacrosse and Banana Creme) are showing their first signs of flowering, as are the pretty pale yellow Broadway Lights and white Snowcap.
A couple of new additions for this summer are a range of hardy fuchsia’s which are budding nicely now and a couple of new dahlia’s who’s dark foliage and bushy habit look great.
Achillea’s are just showing their first buds, including the new delightful compact Desert Eve series of which the pale yellow and terracotta are now showing first colour.
The traditional Dianthus, the garden pinks, are also in bud, the new ‘Scent First’ (SF) series are compact and as the name suggests fantastically scented with some lovely colour combinations. By far the most popular variety has been ‘Slap & Tickle’, way above ‘Romance’, ‘Candy Floss’ and ‘Coconut Sundae’. Is there a message there?
Catananche are coming into strong bud now, their delightful papery blue flowers just a moment away. We have a few of the white form as well this year which is also in bud.
Astilbe varieties are now in bud, looking fresh bushy and vigorous.
Coreopsis Sunfire, Sunray and Corey Yellow have plenty of bud nestling in fresh green foliage. The feathery foliage of Zagreb is also now supporting early buds.
The obedient plant, Physostegia Crystal Peak, is thick and green with bud appearing at the top.
The more unusual Oxalis triangularis are up and displaying their vibrant purple foliage with the first pink flower buds appearing, and now the red buds of Iron Cross are poking through its two tone foliage too.
Another unusual plant is Limonium (Sea Lavender) which, for the first time for us, is throwing up strong flower shoots above its rosettes of flat leaves.
Strong and dramatic are the tall flower spikes of the Thalictrum diptocarpum, an impressive show of early summer vigour.
The classic Alchemilla mollis are showing their first flowers of subtle yellow.
Still plenty of buds and the odd open flower appearing on the Centaurea dealbata, stonking plants ready to roll.
Erigeron Azure Beauty and Pink Jewel have their first buds appearing. The shorter Sea Breeze varieties are poised too, looking verdant with bonkers numbers of flower buds.
Hemerocallis varieties are just beginning to bud up as summer approaches.
New batches of fresh bushy Lupins are looking fabulous, Delphs and Hollyhocks (Alcea) also raring to go but won’t hang around long.
The stunning clear pink flowers of Geranium sang. Striatum are opening together with the striking white form.
Edibles
We are having a play with a couple of new strawberry lines to us, Toscana and Roman, both with strongly coloured red/pink flowers and long flowering and fruiting seasons. They are just starting to flower now and looking great.
Some of the pretty Thymes and Lavender are in starting to flower now and the Basils are getting going as temperatures rise.

Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries