Hairy Impact

Morning all,

What a lovely morning and all looks set fair for a bright and springy weekend. It’s a bit breezy down here but that is good news for the turbines which are having a good run with two months on the trot above estimate, making back some of the lost output with the previous rather slack months. This week proved as challenging on the van front as expected although we did benefit from a few unexpected bonuses. The big van did get going on Monday, the replacement water hose for the transit came in a day early and the comedy van repair was only in the hundreds and not as feared a lot more. Naturally this was balanced out with a cracked windscreen, two new tyres and a broken wing mirror, but we finished the week off on a high, the new van is ready, just got to pop round the corner to Lincoln to pick it up!
Potting is well under way with a weekend crew in trying to keep on top of the growing list of spring jobs to get done and orders are flying out which is a relief. We are at that money juggling stage of the year, just reaching the peak stress point on the winter cash-flow. Hopefully at the end of March the payments coming in reach a pace that matches up with the rate the money is vacating the bank account in the opposite direction. Can be a bit tense but it looks manageable this year, so fingers crossed for no more surprise bills over the next month!
Last weekend I managed to complete our Green Impact assessment and submitted it just a couple of days before the deadline, although I see they have extended that a couple of weeks to try and get a few more completed sets of entries in. Just got to wait and hear when our audit will be which I am assured will be a fun, groovy and positive experience. To be honest I’m not too worried about it as entering the scheme has rejuvenated our overall sustainability efforts which is all we really wanted anyway.
Must go, the potters are one short on the machine this afternoon and for once I am needed.

Availability highlights
Growth is bursting forth, spring is in the air and the sap is rising.
The snakes head lily (Fritillaria) are produced their first few flowers, looking great with plenty to come as spring rolls on Polemonium Heavenly Scent are looking great, attractive burnished foliage and with the first flower shoots and bud showing. Don’t hang about on this one, they aren’t available for very long, but we have our spring crop of Lathyrus verus in bud and showing some colour. A really charming little plant that deserves a wider audience for its spring flush of blooms.
Dicentra spectabalis in both forms have burst through, their flower buds and colour already showing well. Really chunky Lupins and Delphiniums are looking great, full of vigour and promise. Allium Purple Rain is showing early short bud now, three in a pot and looking fine.
The ever popular Erysimum Bowles Mauve are already showing bud and the odd splash of colour. Bud also present on Apricot Twist, Pastel Patchwork and the lovely Red Jep. Pulsatilla have shot up in the last couple of weeks with masses of bud now showing, and colour showing. Brunnera are fattening up quickly and looking cracking, the delightful forget-me-not blue flowers are appearing now.
The short orange varieties of Geum Cooky and Koi are flushing into growth nicely, and have flower shoots and buds too. The spring flowering Euphorbia are coming into their own now, lovely plants just watch out for the irritating milky sap. The Pulmonaria are coming on well with bud and delightful pale blue flowers on the Opal, Mageste and EB Anderson all looking smart with bud and colour showing well.
Vibrant green and lush foliage of Doronicum Little Leo is bursting forth and the sunshine yellow flowers are now appearing. Just a few Narcissus WP Milner left in bud with a few of their petit pale yellow flowers showing off nicely. A real spring beauty. Narcissus Thalia is a late bloomer and the buds of the pretty white flowers are now showing Some of the Aquilegia varieties are thrusting up their flower buds, they won’t be around long. A lovely flush of bud on the Heuchera Firefly looking strong.
The dainty Foam Flower (Tiarella) has burst into growth with their first flush of buds well on show.
Spring must be here, most of the Hostas have all suddenly shot out of the compost. A lovely range, with Sea Thunder and Winsome the earliest to unravel their first leaves, most of the others are still at the ‘candle’ stage but looking chunky and full of promise.
Have a good week from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.