Hairy pasties

Morning all,

Holiday time again for all those lucky enough to be at home and not still beavering away at work. Looks like very pleasant weather for the weekend, nicely settled and dry and not too hot, perfect weather for me anyway. Plans for a day off evaporated this week with by far the busiest pre-August bank holiday sales week ever. We were full time in despatch until late Thursday afternoon so only a tiny bit of potting got done, plans for Monday off have been shelved for a few of us and the Saturday team will be in too, trying to catch up a bit. I suspect next week will be quieter but to be honest this year has been so erratic and unpredictable I haven't a clue what Tuesday morning will bring.

Deliveries next week may be a little later in the week than usual due to some driver availability issues here, early in the week, but assuming we aren't quite so busy it should work out ok. Keeping our third slightly older 3.5t van rather than selling it for not a lot, has worked out really well with all the running about we have had to do in the last few months. It takes a lot of the stress out of the transport planning when you have a bit of flexibility in the system which makes life a bit more comfortable. Because all three are fairly new they all currently get through any emission charge zones without cost which is another bonus and I'm looking forward to the delivery of our new 7.5t van in the winter so we can clean up our act there too. NBIS (Nursery Business Improvement Scheme) meeting this week was our first on site group meeting for a year and very refreshing. It is so good to get off site and be inspired by what other businesses are up to and great mental therapy too. There is nothing like having to admit your mistakes in front of a group of understanding folk and to have a good laugh about it, even if the consequences of your slip ups are still there when you get home. It is also great to hear of everyone else's issues and successes just to help put things in perspective. Pub lunch was a treat too!

We had a bit of a holiday treat yesterday with the delivery of half a dozen frozen cornish pasties from our favourite maker in Hayle. Their arrival triggered happy memories of holidays past and the many trips to collect our days walking sustenance. I remember one year early on when I was asked what size I would like and I went for a 'large' which turned out to be a family roast size and despite my extreme hunger and best efforts I had to give up half way through. Not only that but I could face another pasty the entire holiday!

Take care out there.

Availability list highlights

Oxalis Iron Cross with two tone leaves and red/pink flowers. A fresh short bushy batch in bud and ready to go. Anemone varieties coming into bud and flower. The repeat flowering Hemerocallis Big Time Happy is flushing again with bud and flower, looking strong and pretty. Summer is still in sight with the Armeria's still with flowers coming.

Nice chunky and bushy Verbena rigida coming into bud. Fresh batches of Salvia Sensation and Marvel series are looking good, buds about to appear if not there already. A couple of Campanulas are still flowering nicely on strong plants. Posharskyana and Clockwise are the best. Still have some strong hardy fuchsia looking smart and colourful. The dainty and upright white flowered Hawkshead look fab.

Asters are coming along with bud now appearing on Lady in Blue and Starlight. More to come over the next few weeks.We have some colourful foliage plants in stock. Silver leaved Stachys and Artemesia, purple leaved Heuchera, plus a couple with paler marbled foliage. Euphorbia are there in a range of colours too and the stripy golden grass Carex Evergold. We have some really strong and colourful Ajugas to watch out for. The variegated foliage of Pulmonaria Opal and Mageste are very smart, ready to build up a head of steam for their spring flower display.

Osteospermum Tresco Purple are still selling well with flowers and buds opening. Our two forms of Erodium have lots of tiny open flowers all over the plant surface with plenty of bud to follow. Fresh batches of bushy dwarf Bran Series Chrysanthemum coming on with bud appearing. The last batch of Lobelia Starship Dark Leafed Scarlet still looking good, loads of bud on fresh attractive foliage.

Take care out there, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries