Signs of the Flower Season Beginning
Spring. The most mentally unstable season of all in my opinion. One day is sunny and 70, the next it is 30 degrees and snowing. The weather whiplash drives me a little crazy but it means that we’re getting closer to one thing here in Michigan: locally grown flower season.
Seed starting is in full Swing
We’re three weeks into spring and the first signs of the flower season have appeared. It’s currently April, which means a lot of flower seeds have started inside and the rack of flower seedlings is getting full. For our summer flowers, I usually do 2-3 plantings or successions as some say to make sure there is a continuous flush of quality flowers. The first succession is the largest and majority of it is started inside from march through late april. After our last frost, the flower seedlings that were started inside will be transplanted to the garden where they continue to grow into beautiful flowers by mid-July.
flower seedlings growing under lights inside
Flowers in all stages of growth
Not everything is happening indoors, outside things are growing too. Out in the garden is a row of flowers growing that were planted last fall. They root and rest underneath the snow all winter, and as the temps rise so do the flowers. They continue to grow and will bloom in June. The flowers growing in the garden consist of dianthus, larkspur, campanula, rudbeckia, delphinium, and dara.
The bulk of flowers grown here are planted directly into the ground in the garden in the back of our lot, but I also have many raised beds too. I usually save the raised beds for the more expensive and tedious crops I grow. Ranunculus and Anemone are two of those flowers that need good drainage and a little more care. In Michigan, growing these flowers can be hard and can take many years to figure it out. Especially because what may work for one grower, may not work for someone else. It’s a lot of trial and error but when it works out, you are gifted some of the most beautiful blooms that spring can bring. Seeing ranunculus and anemone poke through the soil is always a relief and brings anticipation for the flower season ahead.
Tulips are on the way
Green tulip leaves growing in a raised bed is a sure sign that flowers are on their way. Last fall, about a thousand tulip bulbs were planted and have now worked their way through the soil and will bloom later this month. Tulips are some of my favorite flowers because they are beautiful, long lasting, and they are usually the first flowers to bloom for us, kicking off the flower season with an explosion of color. Most of our tulips are grown for our tulip subscribers, but any extras we may have are sold at the flower stand for Mother’s Day, and to local florists. The tulips we grow are not your average tulips. They are big and just total stunners. Tulips on the kitchen table bring so much joy to my home, and I hope they do to yours as well.
tulips growing in our raised beds
Believing in the blooms
Last fall I planted a patch of specialty daffodils like Pink Champagne, White Explosion, and Ice King. These are currently budding up, and I cannot wait to see them make their appearance soon. Along with daffodils, I planted my first ever peony roots. I am not expecting to have a lot of blooms this year as they are still such young plants, but in the next few years they will really put on a show.
Spring and the beginning of the flower season happens because of planning and planting done over seven months ago. The famous quote by Audrey Hepburn, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow” holds so much truth. To plant a tulip bulb that you won’t see bloom until the following year requires so much hope and trust. It's believing that after all the dark and cold Michigan days we experience, the tulips will still burst through the soil adding color back to our gardens and kitchen tables once again.
Stay tuned, local flower season is coming.