Hairy brain fog

Morning all,

Still pretty busy if not quite as busy as we would have liked. It does look like there was wide spread over optimism on the likely volume of plant sales through the early summer which hasn't quite worked out, so there are quite a few people slightly disappointed. We are still looking at steady sales supported by our really nice range of stock in bud and flower which will be maturing over the next few weeks, so not feeling to downhearted here.

We are still regularly selling some really good volumes onto sites still stocking hairy pots, which is very encouraging. I know in the summer they take a bit more looking after, but I am sure it shows the increasing appetite for more sustainably grown and presented stock, so don't miss out on catching that environmental wave and keep those orders for hairy pots rolling in! Not a great weather forecast for the coming weekend, but by no means a washout, and there is that football match coming up which could boost everyone's mood, The success of the vaccines, lockdown easing and sporting excitement should be a nice boost to the feel-good factor which has to be good news.

Old age continues to blight an aging nurseryman which is really frustrating when I have so much to do. It has got to the point where I am having to be dressed in the morning by Caroline, as I can no longer reach far enough to get anything onto or past my feet. A back spasm last Sunday started it, and just as I was recovering some movement on Monday I tripped up the step of the office which wrenched my back further as I tried to save face planting into the door! Consequently I've had a very doped up week, with the brain almost completely out of action, but the pills and stretching are working and I am at least moving about again. Hoping to dress myself again very soon, which Caroline is also looking forward to.

Availability list highlights

Lavender Spear Blue, very bushy with loads of bud and the odd flash of colour, just perfect for those smelly lavender sales. New hardy Gerbera range in 4 lovely colours, just fab, real impulse plants and flower for ages. Limited numbers this year. Compact Achillea Milly Rock range has loads of bud, with colour. Dainty Lewisia Elise in flower already. Flowers all summer in a range of pastel colours.

Must be summer because the first of the Crocosmia are showing bud (Emberglow). Get them while stocks last. The other colours will follow on quickly. Tiarella wherrii (Foam Flower) is in flower with its short spikes of tiny creamy blooms. The compact Monarda Balmy range are just beginning to show flashes of colour, strong bushy plants with loads of bud. A popular summer star are the Platycodon which are on the list again and both varieties already in bud.

Two Oxalis varieties up and flowering, Iron Cross with two tone leaves and red/pink flowers and triangularis with its deep purple foliage and contrasting pretty pale pink flowers. Both impressive. All the Hemerocallis varieties are producing flower stems and bud, now with the odd opening flower.

Osteospermum Tresco Purple has been selling like hot cakes. We have several batches potted and bud is well on show. A late potted batch of Gallery range Lupins are showing great chunky growth and are producing flower bud. Lovely crop of Catananche with flower stems extending and tight bud showing. Papery blue flowers to come soon. Most of the Lobelia's are coming into bud, the odd flash of colour and attractive foliage to back up the buds.

Lots of bud and some colour on our ranges of compact Leaucanthemums, Salvia nemerosa and Coreopsis. Summer favourites the Gaura are all coming into bud and flowers opening on many, a nice range of colours bushy plants. Our Dianthus have been in bud a while now and the first flowers are now opening. All varieties are really well scented. Compact Campanula's (carpatica, Clockwise and posharskyana) are colouring up, about to show off their summer displays. Our two forms of Erodium have lots of tiny open flowers dotted over the plant surface with plenty of bud to follow.

We have a nice batch of the stunning little black Viola Molly Sanderson in flower, compact and looking good. Still loads of bud on the Scabious range, which flower for such a long time, although numbers are quite tight. We are trialling a range of patio Verbena this summer which are showing loads of colour, great if you want to make a colourful impact in your plant display, but numbers are limited as this was only a trial.

Other colourful impact plants on trial this summer are stunning compact Helianthus (very dwarf Sunflower!) and the Helichrysum Nevada range with its impressive display of bright papery flowers. Nice range of the scented Phlox Sweet Summer series just coming into bud, Multiple stemmed and looking good. 

Take care out there, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries