It’s warming up out here. Back to that time of year when it’s risky to run across the farm with your mouth open. The wingers with stingers have all burst forth from their pupae and are looking for a nesting site. In this newborn phase, our local wasps are much more inclined to linger and land. They aren’t going from hither to thither with great purpose and clear intent, but rather seem to be almost confusedly flitting about in great numbers, constantly buzzing my tower. Like a drunk guy on Bourbon street that keeps stumbling in elliptical orbit into and out of your personal space, stumbling away, then back again. Probably harmless and confused, but still annoying, with a hint of danger. Drunk guy and wasp, both buzzing.

Also responding to the warmth are the flowering bushes and trees. Some of our spirea are covered in white blooms. Others have yet to flower. The snowball viburnums are budding up, but remain in an early green state. The uniquely lovely paper bush has been gracing us with its bell-like flowers, whose fragrance is just as unique and lovely as its appearance. I don’t know why, but the scent of these flowers transports me to an elementary school book fair back in 1984, where I found a scented eraser for a nickel and it smelled similar to this. A totally lost memory until I first smelled this bush 5 years ago. It’s a nice memory. I loved that eraser.

The daffodils are peppered throughout the landscape and amongst the first red fingers of the soon to be peony bushes. Loved by many, but perhaps the most underrated of all spring flowers, the daffodils are a favorite of ours. Their fragrance really elevates the experience of walking into the flower coolers right now.

The peach and plum trees with their pink and white flowers are almost done blooming already. I spent a nice Saturday evening amongst them, taking in their beauty and muttering the occasional thank you as I basked in bird song, the last rays of sun, and the first evening of perfect temps in quite some time. The strong winds had just died and the relative stillness was so punctuated and appreciated.

The hellebores have been glorious this year. Some of the crew joined us for a beer and an evening stroll through them last Friday after a long week and it was a real pleasure for all.

Projects are humming along and life’s twists and turns are keeping us on our toes out here. We all keep digging deeper each time we get knocked back. It's always intense how strong spring comes on for us. We bring seasonal people in to help and it's quiet for a minute and seems like we’ve got nothing for folks to do and we worry that they’re bored, then…WHAM…hellebores, mums, poppies, ranunculus, subscriptions, weather, the plant sale, the farm store, etc…. A year’s worth of work packed into 3 months. You can see folks jolted by it a bit. We’re supporting each other though. It’s a beautiful spring and we’re finding our way through it as best we can.

Last Saturday, I was driving some metal posts for a new tunnel the mum team asked for, when Naw Dee Poe flagged me down a bit eagerly. I followed her to the studio, whereupon she and Marry, laughing, pointed into a large rubber trash can we use for gathering compost. I was taken aback to find my old buddy at the bottom, sprinkled in flowers, baring its teeth. Sweet little thing. I carried the can across the farm to some thick growth, so the opossum could find protective cover and gently laid it on its side. I’m pretty sure it's back in the barn now. I think I saw its tail underneath the floorboards yesterday.

The hellebore plant sale was more enthusiastically met than we anticipated.  We love them so much and it seems many of y’all do too.  We received lots of messages from folks who missed it and would still like to order, so we are trying to work things out on this end to get some more inventory together so we can get plants to all those who are interested. We’ve actually just added some inventory to our site, and are scrambling to see if we can get even more together too.  We’ll let you know the details as soon as we figure if we can get a new sale together!  Our first mum orders of the year went out to farmers and gardeners this week!  If you’re new here and are a grower who wants some deep Fall flowering plants, perfect for cut flowers, we have the best heirloom chrysanthemums you could possibly hope for.  We’ve been trialing every variety on the market for over a decade and are only selling the cream of the crop and sparing you years worth of growing duds.  All long stems, strong stems, productive and beautiful varieties, so if you’re looking to extend your flower season, take a peak at these beauties.

We’re opening the Farm Store next Thursday the 20th!  I know a few of you have been driving up and down the road here hoping to get in these last few months, well now you finally can.  Mandy’s been late night shopping for new inventory all month and will be spending this weekend and next week setting it up and getting it all cute-ified for your shopping pleasure.  This weekend, our very own Kali Jones (who’s responsible for all your flower orders and subscriptions) will have her art featured at Comer Coffee.  She’s being a bit coy about what it consists of, but she’s been hard at it for quite some time now and it sounds to be mixed media, big, bold, sculpture-esque pieces inspired from her years of doing set design and stage props for musical performances.  It’ll be up for 3 weeks, so if you can’t make it this week, come by when our store opens up, grab a latte and a donut, a brainful of inspiration, and soak in the Comer vibes.Have a great weekend!!

Steve