Diane's Greenhouse Blog

It’s been such a hot summer this year.  Some plants won’t even set blooms, if it’s above 90 degrees for an extended period of time.

I’ve been getting all of my orders ready for next year.  It’s a great thing to look forward to.  That’s the fun and easy part.  The harder part is ordering enough pots, trays and soil for everything.  Some times we just don’t know what size container we will plant things in, so I have to order plenty of all sizes.  I went to a trade show last week, and ordered all of the containers, soil and some fun things.  On Tuesday, I will go to a trade show and order all of the ceramic pots.  You are all probably thinking how hard life must be, that I have to do all of that shopping.  — I’m loving it!!!

Next weekend, for labor day, Haley and myself are headed to Wisconsin to see my family.  It’s always a good time.  Jimmy will be watching over the greenhouse.  We’re so lucky to have such a responsible child.  It’s his last year at home – he’s a senior, and I’m not looking forward to the day he leaves.

I wish everybody a great week and enjoy labor day weekend.

It’s been way too long since I last wrote.  The spring went so fast and so has summer.

We had a great spring season.  The weather was a challenge-as always.  You never know what to expect.  We had very warm weather in April-so everybody was planting.  Then came the week of Mother’s Day.  Cold and windchills of 27 degrees.  There were many reports of damaged plants.  Some plants recovered and others did not.  Of course, the gardening plants took it the hardest.  The vegetables and fruit trees are still on the upswing for sales.

People are still working on their landscapes this time of year.  Customers can drop off pictures and measurements and I will work up a plan.  Either the customer can plant or I will arrange for a landscaper to help.

We took a family trip a couple of weeks ago.  We flew to Texas to visit Angie, Jared and a new grandson Joe.  The plane ride is not my favorite, but only 2 hours and we are there.  It’s worth the agony.  I enjoyed seeing my brother David and his wife Linda, and their children.  My mom and her husband Dave also made the trip.  It was a long drive for them.

At the greenhouse now, we are watering the plants everyday.  It takes three of us.  We each water for 2 hours.  It’s also a matter of keeping the plants groomed and dead headed.  I look forward to the days of cool mornings and warm afternoons.  Than the work really begins.  All plants will have to be cut off and moved to the back for overwintering.  It’s a big job.

I’m going to try to do a better job of writing on here-so check back more often.  And to my brother David-HI!

I cannot believe a month has passed since I last wrote.  We have been very busy.  We’re moving plants, unpacking retail for displays, and planting more plants.

People are really getting anxious to plant.  It’s a great time of year.

Now is the time for mushroom compost.  Add this great compost to all existing flower beds, new flower beds and the garden.  It’s a great fertilizer for the season and adds many benefits to your soil.

So today, we almost finished displaying retail.  We “cleared” out the first greenhouse of plants that needed to go outside.  Than tomorrow we will plant some more, to fill up the spaces we cleared out.  We also have more plants to clear out.

The wind has been hard to work in – it wears us out!  I hope everybody has a great day.

We have been working hard at the greenhouse.  We’ve planted thousands of annuals and hundreds of perennials.  We uncovered the overwinter pile of trees and shrubs and put them all in place.  It was a very tiring day and just so happened to be the warmest day of the season.  We have to move many plants outside on Monday.  I’m glad the kids don’t have school – we can get some good help from them.  We have a tough week ahead of us, trying to keep ahead of the calendar.   The flowers in the baskets are to the edge of the container.  They still don’t show color, but they are really growing in this sunshine.  Happy Easter to everybody – we are taking off to visit our new grandson.

It’s amazing to see how much work we get done in the greenhouse week to week.  I posted pictures on facebook showing what we’ve been working on.  We move plants around===often.  We are always making room for new plants to get started.  So tonight we moved the perennials out of the greenhouse and into the whitehouse.  So we can start planting up 11,000 annuals tomorrow.  It was very warm in the greenhouse today.  And I’m very sore from moving plants.  The baskets are just starting to show some growth-but it will be a while before they show some color.  The best part of this job–is looking forward to tomorrow–there is always something new to do.

It’s been a busy week in the greenhouse.  I have the most amazing employees.  They have planted 5000 perennials and 150 roses.  All Perennials are seeded and some are already coming up.  We also have 1000 baskets planted and hung.  The heaters have been running almost nonstop all week because of lack of sunshine.  It looks like the roads aren’t going to dry up any time soon, do to another front coming through next weekend.

Most of us working in the greenhouse, have to go through a “sore” period of our bodies adjusting to the hard work.  This year is no different.  I look forward to the nights when it doesn’t hurt so bad anymore!

The new perennial book is almost on it’s way to the printers.  It’s a great looking book again this year – love it!!

I will try to post pics on facebook of things happening in the greenhouse from week to week.