So winter is almost here, and right now it is officially stick season. It is cold and gloomy. We are cutting the perennial foliage down, mulching the cleaned flower beds, and putting away hoses and drip lines. Our cover crops are growing slowly. 
For the first time ever we have an almost weed-free perennial field at the farm. This is thanks to the great assistance I had this summer. I dreamed of this years ago when I visited Third Branch Flower Farm. All of the planting beds were either mounded with bark chip or had landscape plastic down. Both of these practices combat weeds.
So next Spring will be much easier a fruit full I hope.
In general I am wrapping things up: having the field plowed, winterizing the greenhouses, getting rid of old broken pots & trays, and organizing now to make spring much easier.
My decorative beds around the house need tons of weeding, dividing, and mulching. We will work on this till we can’t.
This fall we put in 70 more peony bare roots which we wont see blooms from for a few years.
This time of year is reflective…thinking about changes for 2014. Thinking about farms that inspire us and dreams to make happen. Next week we go to the ASCFG conference in Rhode Island to visit Robin Hollow Farm and get tips and trends from old and new flower growers. Mostly its wonderful to hang out with people who understand the crazy life of growing flowers: fighting with nature for minimal profit. Hanging out with people who love what they do making the world a better place one flower at a time.
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