Hairy Joints

Morning all,

A great week with lots to do, plenty of orders, a bit of potting, more office fitting and good weather to do it in as well. Can't ask for more. The forecast for the next 10 days doesn't look to scary and every week that slips by means less chance of the appearance of another 'Beast'. Hoping to keep up a steady sales momentum which hopefully will alleviate the cash-flow tension. It's the most challenging part of the year in the office juggling the overdraft limit with a limited income and increasing numbers of bills at this time. Each year we think it will get easier but then someone buys a new office and suddenly any spare cash has disappeared! Brexit preperations haven't helped much either with a few extra early purchases made to make sure we don't get caught out in the middle of the spring and I probably could have picked a better year to lash out on the new plastic-free colour pot labels, but then where would the fun and excitement be if we didn't speculate. If I remember rightly the theory is 'speculate to accumulate', I'm good at the first bit, not so hot on the second. One day.
Just a warning that we may go offline for a few hours over the weekend so the phones and fax may not work on occasions, but the emails should store up in the cloud ready for reconnection. Desperation is building with each passing week to get set up in the new office before we get any busier, otherwise it is just going to get more and more difficult with less time to get it done, I have high hopes of a move late on Saturday or early Sunday but on previous evidence (Mail Chimp etc) my hopes may come to nothing.
It looks like most of you taking stock out there, are selling through pretty well especially for the time of year, we have had lots of repeat orders already, even in the same week! Keep it up, we are very grateful for those early sales.
Must go and have another go at desk construction before it gets too late. Nice to have the uninterrupted evenings to get stuck into these jobs, music on and all the tools out. One of my flexible joints wore out this week and had to be replaced. It was making quite a bit of noise but we were assured it was ok to continue running it. Our friendly wind turbine engineers (Natural Energy) came and fixed it on Wednesday and now we are all quiet again. Luckily keeping the turbine going helped cover some of the repair bill which made me feel a bit better. The turbines have now paid for themselves and their installation (back in 2011) so in theory we are into profit, I wonder where that profit is, the spreadsheet says it's there somewhere.
Hoping that despite advancing years that the rest of my flexible joints hold together.

Availability highlights
Our wild primrose (Primula vulgaris) are also bursting into flower already. We saved the seed from the wood on top of our hill and it was worth the effort. Bronzed and ferny foliage of the Polemonium Heaven Scent looks great and tight flower buds are adding to their appeal. Primula grandiflora Rosea are sprouting up now and flashes of vibrant colour beginning to show. Primula denticulata is not far behind with big fat buds bursting through the compost surface. Spring flowering Pulmonarias are all showing bud now with Opal even opening the odd flower already. The ever popular Erysimums are looking fresh and strong as we approach the spring. I have marked nearly all varieties with bud and colour is close for many, there is the odd open flower on the Super Bowl Mauve looking very smart.
We have a few spring flowering bulbs showing signs of good growth and even the odd bud on a few. Lots more to follow. Euphorbia martinii are looking great with short strong arching stems just about to produce their early spring display. The crop/potting timing and the winter weather seem to have combined perfectly this year to produce a great crop. Our variegated Brunnera variegata have emerged looking strong. The pretty blue 'forget-me-not' flowers will be just around the corner. The green form are close behind and showing tight bud already.
Stonking chunky Lupins on the list this week, having been cut back over winter they are now leaping into strong growth. Digitalis are always evergreen so get off to a head start on many other perennials, we have a good selection of this popular garden plant and they are looking really strong, difficult to believe they stand out in all that cold weather and still look so good. The spring flowering and super scented Viola oderata varieties are flushing up well after their winter haircut. Plenty of flower bud to come and a few already showing.
More spring bulbs are emerging, Muscari Blue Magic looking really strong with plenty of young buds showing. A few of the Dianthus Scent First varieties are carrying flower bud already, full of promise. Early flowering Symphytum Wisley Blue are flushing in the little bit of warmth and bud is evident. Subtle pale blue flowers.
Have a great week from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.