Crop 325 September July Issue Issue of Flowering Shrub Farm Monthly All Picture Newsletters; January February March April May 1 to 15 May 16 to 31 June 1 to 7 June 8 to 14 June 15 to 21 June 22 to 30 July August September October November December Subscribe to this picture-newsletter (more information and links at bottom of page) for more information about these pictures. Click on the picture and it may open a larger version with more detail. Last edited 09/29/2011

In September we water, fertilise, train espalier, remove weeds that have seeds that stick to our clothing (many weeds attract beneficial insects so we leave those), take inventory pictures of roses and lilacs (with a sign in the picture that indicates how many of the variety mentioned on the sign we have for sale as of a date also on the sign), paint our buildings and build raised beds filled with mulch where we will store roses, fruit trees and hibiscus in winter.

Devils Horn Weed, so named because its descriptive of the seed and referred to that way by some older residents in our area sets seed after producing these tiny yellow flowers that are attractive to honeybees. The seeds stick to our clothing in such numbers there is little else to do except throw them away. So when we start seeing these flowers its time to cut them back to the base or pull them out.

Purple asters bloom!

Each month I try to have at least one picture showing the training of fruit spurs on espalier trained fruit trees. If you subscribe to the newsletter I send an email that has comments about all these pictures. If you dont subscribe you still get to see the pictures. Click on the picture for a larger image. Email me if you want to subscribe.

Part of my business is buying and selling used equipment that we use in the nursery. This may include generators, chippers and more. Of course, if I only have one, its not for sale.

We have two apartments that we rent out that help us pay the taxes, surrounded by the activity and plants of our sustainable nursery www.floweringshrubfarm.com/apartmen.htm

I take inventory pictures of plants that bloom in September.

The sign has a green dot that shows how many plants we have available for sale in 7 gallon pots as of the date on a pink label.

At first the sign is made by hand with a sharpie marker. Later I have it professionally printed by Horticultural Printers.

We build pot-in-pot beds to store roses, hibiscus and fruit trees in winter with their roots mulched.

I take a picture of each crop of plants we are growing. We wont sell them until they bloom. The sign will show the date we started this crop, the crop number, the variety name, a description of the flower and the date the plant was first introduced.

In the first year after being potted all plants are cut back and trained. We want Lilacs and roses to have multiple stems and to overshadow the soil in their pots to keep it cool and weed free.

As plants grow larger we move them further apart and water them by drip line usually starting in the second year. Blueberry bushes are brought to the plant sale in their second year.

Espalier are for sale any time after they are first potted. Many people want to train them themselves. Others purchase after I have cut them back and a bunch wait until they are fully trained. The price of each espalier trained tree is determined by the pot size they are in. As of 2011 7 gallon is $30 (green dot), 15 gallon is $50 (yellow dot), 25 gallon is $100 (red dot).

Roses, Lilacs and Hibiscus (Rose of Sharon) aren't sold until after they have flowered. When a Lilac flowers in the field I label it either with the name or a description of the flower and mark the sign with the quantity without a colored dot. I usually take a closeup of the flower at that time as well.

The following March we transplant those that are labeled into 7 gallon pots, and transport to the plant sale. When they flower again at the plant sale the sign will be relabeled with a green dot so you can see that they are available for sale. No colored dot? Not for sale yet.

In summer roses are removed from pot-in-pot winter storage and placed in the paths between. Several of each variety are taken to the plant sale. The center row are espalier trained fruit trees.

We train all espalier to belgian fence, step over or horizontal T.

The cats chase mice away that might otherwise eat bark.

About the ALL-PICTURE-NEWSLETTER by andyvancleve

Flowering Shrub Farm Monthly All Picture Newsletters; January February March April May 6 to 16 May 20 to 31 June 4 to 7 June 8 to 9 June 11 to 13 June 16 to 25 July August September October November December

Potential Customers subscribe. Each month I send them the latest email link to the newsletter, information as to what is blooming and sometimes an update telling them when I am open.

When they see something they like they come buy it in bloom.

We grow plants to sell at our plant sale. Read my notes on the zone hardiness numbers I use. Do we do mail order? Check my picture-newsletter Want to purchase? email me.