Lonely and Hairy

Hi,

Ok it's late on a Friday again and still rushing about getting lists together after another hectic day with some extra heat added to spice it up even more. Feeling a bit guilty as we switched on the air con unit after the office began to cook in the afternoon sun. We parked the office under a nice big beech hedge which overhangs nicely, keeping us in the shade until late in the day, but no amount of window opening and blind dangling can cope once i n fun sun when temperatures are this high. Now I've sat down and cooled off a bit I can try and cobble together some news as well as update the plant lists. Although the figures say we are slowing up a bit it is still bonkers busy, especially this past week when a culmination of events left us a bit short. The previous week we lost the big van to MOT preparations and had to whizz about in two smaller vans which was quite a juggle to fit in all the deliveries. Last week it was a shortage of bodies that caused a panic. We are only a small nursery and don't have that many staff so it's really fun when on a Monday we are 6 people down with only one making it back in during the week, plus another off  for a day and a half later. Several of those off were drivers, so having all the vans back on the road this week didn't help that much. Anyway we got to the end of the week, we are still here and everyone is fit and well so looking forward to next week and getting a bit more done.

Exciting news this week was the taking on of two new ladies in the microprop lab. Staffing in the lab had dwindled a bit over the last four months and we needed to catch up again. They managed to get to the end of the week without their brains bursting with all the new skills they are learning, so fingers crossed they pitch up again on Monday.

We are about to join the modern internet gang with high speed fibre being fitted in a couple weeks. The man came to check out the kit on the pole today and he was very excited for us, Being a rural site our 'normal' speed is 5 or 6 meg  so he reckons we might notice the difference. We were quite happy with 5 or 6, because a couple of miles away down on the farm, they struggle to get 1. I think I'm meant to start downloading movies and box sets etc, perhaps I'd better employ someone to watch them all for me. Another upgrade will be a new phone system in a month, so we can go all Voip. That will be new internet and new phones, what could possibly go wrong? If you don't hear from us for a bit you will know why.

Availability highlights

Erigeron kerv. Stallone are back on and in bud too. Plenty of stock available  so don't hold back. The ever popular compact Verbena Lollipop are showing bud, no colour yet but not far off. Our summer crop of Oxalis are up and running. Both are in bud and looking perky. Iron Cross has dramatic green and black foliage under deep pink flowers while triangularis is equally showy with its purple leaves under pretty pale pink flowers.

Salvia Hot Lips is now in bud with the odd flower open. The full red and white petal display is now showing. The pretty pastel mixed colour flowers of Lewisia Elise are showing well with plenty more bud to follow. 

Rhodanthemum Casa open daisy flower. They will go on all summer long producing so many delightful blooms. Twinkly white flowers of our compact Calmintha Marvelette are beginning to open and looking great. Lots of fab Salvia nemerosa varieties now back on line with most in bud and showing a flash of colour.

Our range of Hemerocallis (Daylilies) are rushing into bud now. The dark colours of Black Prince, Crimson Pirate and Summer Wine are always popular but the jolly yellow of the repeat flowering Big Time Happy must be worth a look too!

The delicate looking foam flower (Tiarella wherryi) are in bud and flower. Not as bold as some plants but puts on a delightful show and looking fab at the moment. We have four short Campanula currently in bud. Carpatica White and Blue with their domed habit and large single cupped flowers are neat and chunky with masses of bud. Another is the prolific scrambler posharskyana with its smaller lilac blue bell flowers, and a new one for us, Clockwise is another scrambler but neater growth habit and pretty violet-blue flowers.

Dianthus Scent First varieties are back on line. Buds are thrusting through on all varieties and the first flowers opening. A bit more warmth in the air will amplify those sweet scents too.

We have gone to town on Scabiosa this season, Lots potted ready for summer flowering, Butterfly Blue and Mariposa Blue are budding up nicely now in good numbers, these beauties will keep flowering all summer. Summer must be here, the Gaura's are coming on line with early bud already in evidence. I have a few summer flowering plants trialling at the moment, with a range of Diasica's, Nemesia and Euryops  all in full flower. They are all promising to flower their heads off all summer long and they've got off to a great start. I haven't got many as it's just a taster. So if you fancy a few just tick the list. Viola Etain and Rebecca are doing their thing, plenty pretty buds and flowers all raring to go. 

Have a great week from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries.