February 2023 Happenings
Happy February, and happy FIRST birthday to Clever Girl Flowers! On February 8 last year I filed our LLC, which was (and still is) a huge step for me. I’ve loved every minute of this first year and can’t wait to see what the next has in store.
Of course, this time of year is when my “MUST START SEEDS NOW” phase kicks in. I find myself wanting to just throw caution to the wind and start everything - even those that really, really, REALLY cannot be started now with the zone we’re in (looking at you, celosia and dahlia).
I’m holding myself back, though, because I learned a LOT last year. Last year was when I did throw caution to the wind, to see what sticks, what works, what doesn’t. It resulted in way too big tomato seedlings, failed celosia seedlings and a very unbalanced garden, to name a few.
This is also the time when my fall planning really pays off. I have had my garden beds for this season set since October, and have a seed starting schedule that I am following pretty dang close. It’s allowing me to shift things as my schedule needs, and if I’m out of a variety or need something different, I have time to make the swap.
I had a bit of a set back with my planned tulips, however. Unfortunately I won’t have them in time for Valentine’s Day due to my lack of knowledge about forcing. My mind frame on bulbs has been the same as it is for dahlia tubers, which is - DON’T GET THEM WET. Because of this, my tulips for Valentine’s completely dried out and didn’t develop roots, and without roots - there’s no shoots! Good news is I can store the bulbs and plant them in the ground this fall for next year!
Keep reading for some updates and what we have in store this month!
The eucalyptus I started around the end of December was ready to be potted up to the next size. Last year I only had 5 eucalyptus plants, and this year I will hopefully be planting 70!
The first sowing of snapdragons was thinned out last week, which is right in time for the next round being sown this week! Snapdragons are one of my favorites and I should have two full beds of them this year, around 250 plants.
The back forest is Bachelor’s Buttons, which are so whimsical and fun!
Dahlias, dahlias everywhere. I’m waking more up everyday, and about to take a third round of cuttings! The first two rounds are doing well, and hopefully I’ll have lots of solid cuttings to plant come May.
I have LOTS of cool flowers that will be started this month - Canterbury Bells, Clary Sage, Forget Me Nots, Agrostemma, Scabiosa and Laceflower (Ammi) to name a few. I am doing multiple succession sowing of most, so that we can extend blooms times through the season!
One somewhat-big plan I have is to incorporate more native MN plants into the garden, especially in between the dahlia “field” and fire pit area. I’m sowing seeds this month for Joe Pye Weed, Milkweed, ornamental grasses, Rose Mallow, Geum, Black Eyed Susans, Winterberry and Ninebark. These are all beautiful plants that can also be used for bouquets, and draw pollinators to the garden.
Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, thank you for your support!
