Hairy Strypes

Morning all
Not the best of summer weather, bit damp and a distinct lack of the yellow stuff. We have a slight lull between flowering crops at the moment after record summer sales and some slow growth in the following crops. Still at least we are not as affected by the dull August as the local arable farmers. After a good start to the harvest it has all come to a grinding halt in the damp and crops are now being lost or at best downgraded as the grain begins to germinate in the ears. On top of a big drop in the prices as the world grain markets falter it looks like becoming a tricky year. Sods law always seems to make an appearance at times like this and sure enough late on Friday, just before the bank holiday weekend, a crucial part breaks and with Saturday being the first day for cutting for ages and no carriers available to get the part to the farm before Wednesday, the call goes out for an emergency driver. So that was my Saturday sorted, a 10hr round trip to the East Coast, perfect timing as I had planned most of the day off anyway.
That rounded off a week stuffed with exciting stuff. Last Sunday we had a great day at Avebury, a bit longer in the tea rooms and pub than planned but who’s complaining about that? Got soaked within 2 minutes at The Sanctuary our first stop and things looked dodgy but after a restorative tea and cake the rain slowed and we got round everything in reasonable comfort suitably educated, entertained and watered. Back in the same direction to Marlborough on Tuesday evening to a tiny independent record store who had The Strypes performing a short set to promote their new CD (Little Victories) in the coffee shop next door. Just brilliant, refreshing, vibrant, noisy and youthful. Got a copy signed and excitedly told them that we both thought they were as exciting live as the Police we had seen back in 79 before they became superstars. Only then realising their parents might not have even been born then! New cd on here all the time, getting better and better with each listen.
Big step this week with successful application for a new fuel card. Doesn’t sound much but it is quite difficult to get a new account in an industry that has struggled financially over the last few years. Our existing supplier had been taking advantage of this situation by adding more and more extra charges to our account so it was nice to land ourselves a much better deal. Should help contain costs a bit next season as the living wage kicks in. Having said that we had to replace the card reader this week as the model we had became ‘noncompliant’. A suspicion of clever in-built obsolescence in these expensive bits of kit? Very handy I know but we don’t really use it enough to not notice the monthly bill!
Must go, holiday treat today with a ticket to see Southampton play Norwich this afternoon. Well it seems like a treat at the moment, fingers crossed.

Availability highlights
The small yellow Kniphofia Little Maid looks very chunky and strong with buds now shooting through.
Aster frikartii Flora’s Delight, mildew resistant and slightly more purple than the ever popular blue Aster Monch and looking good. There is a new flush of Oxalis triangularis growth and flower, looking neat and cheerful but only a few left now The very popular straight form of Verbena bonariensis is just unmanageable when it gets towards flowering in our smaller pots so we keep them short and bushy, losing out on the colour in the pot but producing wonderfully strong plants ready to plant out.
Helleborus are coming back on stream now as they gather their strength for their great winter display.
Absolutely stonking Ajugas in different foliage colours and forms. Fantastic ground cover and bursting with vigour. Lovely fresh growth on the Lamium Beacon Silver, more really attractive and effective ground cover. The short neat Geum Koi is still going strong with bud and colour.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries