BeeLeaf Blooms

Some of my favorite flowers this year were lupins. They were really late to bloom - like all the plants this season. Initially, they were hit really hard by the slug army but bounced back and bloomed late August. This lupin was a lovely apricot colour and would have been just as beautiful in a pink bouquet as it was in this yellow sunflower mix. . #womenwhofarm #flowerfarmer #zone3farming #zone3gardening #grownnotflown #growninalberta #womanownedbusiness #sustainablefarming #sustainableflowerfarming #knowyourfarmer

Welcome winter! . Our fields are finally under snow. We managed to plant a few thousand tulips and a few garlic bulbs before the snow and cold set in. I wish I could say we accomplished all our fall tasks but due to my broken arm we were forced to prioritize. . Of course, I did not manage to get the perennial beds weeded one last time, but I am trialing an additional method of weed suppression. As I have mentioned before, smooth bromegrass is my number one weed here, so in an... attempt to reduce the plant's vigour next season, I covered my spent narcissus beds and many perennial beds with fabric a few weeks ago. The fabric was pulled off today and the beds were mowed/weedwhacked. We removed the plant crowns down to about 1-2 inches with the weedwhacker. Research has shown decreases in bromegrass production if defoliation occurs near the end of the growing season - so here's hoping . I am not under any illusions that the grass won't be back next season, I am just hoping to find a way to decrease its vigour over time allowing my perennials to fill out and thrive. And maybe, just maybe, reduce my weeding time. . Bouquet is from the summer when anemones, dahlias and calendula collided in time. . Stay warm and happy . . #womenwhofarm #foothillsflowers #growninthefoothills #grownnotflown #growninalberta #sustainablefarming #sustainableflowerfarming #zone3farming #zone3gardening #flowerfarmer See more

October 2nd bouquet. I have to post this bouquet so I remember this amazing, long fall. We have never had flowers this late before nor such a mild fall! Most of the blooms are naturally going to seed and each day I wake, I think it is the last - but here they are. . I don't have enough blooms to make and sell bouquets. These last gifts are just that - gifts. . #grownnotflown #growninalberta #flowerfarmer #farmtovase #farmtotable #knowyourfarmer

We had another frost here last night and so it is finally time to cut the remaining flowers and stems and get ready for winter. This marks the end to a very challenging growing season! . All the remaining plant stock will be composted in place - I often just "chop and drop". We will be pulling off any landscape fabric and adding leaves to the beds. Lots and lots of leaves. There is basically only one cure for our clay soil and that is to add carbon. We add carbon in the form ...of fallen leaves in the fall and we add lots of them . . Pictured here is the last of the dahlias and lisianthus cut from the field yesterday. . #grownnotflown #growninalberta #yycflowers #albertafarmer #zone3farming #zone3gardening See more

I made this bouquet yesterday. I didn't love it and was actually about to take it apart and start over. It felt like something was missing. . I walked into the kitchen to step away from the bouquet. Sometimes stepping away gives me clarity. Looking at it again with fresh eyes lets me see the flowers in a new light. On my walk away I stubbed and broke my toe. . Yes, I now have an arm broken in two spots and a broken toe!!!... . Apparently, I am supposed to sit down. Just sit. . If you need me, I will be on the couch. . #grownnotflown #fieldtovase ##couchfarmer #oilfieldshospital See more