Summer Flower CSA Bouquets

I had intended to post the bouquets each week during the season but running the flower farm, teaching nature dye workshops and enjoying visits from family and friends kept me sidetracked without much time in front of the computer. :-) I learned so much and continue to learn more and more—adjusting to natures cycles, tending the soil, and nurturing the plants. Seeing what was in bloom each week has informed my seeding and planting plan with goals of extending some crops with succession planting and getting some started a little sooner to see if we can’t enjoy their blooms earlier in the season.

June 20 - Week 26

Clematis recta is a free standing shrub rather than a climbing plant with starry white flowers.
Digitalis grandiflora (Foxglove) with its soft, pale yellow flower spires that are spotted brown on the inside.
Delphinium dwarf stars with their large spires of bushy flower blooms ranging from deep dark blues to light mauves and whites. The perennial plant is over 5’ tall which is considered a dwarf!!
Papaver Hummingbird and Icelandic (Poppies) are sparkling blooms that seems to float in the air. They have a mild fragrance, crinkly petals and yellow stamens. My vase life tests are showing 3-5 days so let me know how long they last for you.
Paeony Mrs. F D Rosevelt and Coral Charm (peony) in its marshmallow state that will open to a lush fragrant double white blooms with a touch of pink.
Lathyrus odoratus (sweet peas) in multiple varieties—elegante, nimbus and merlot. These vines with their curling tendrils are almost 6’ tall and the sweet fragrance fills the hoop house in the mornings.
Larkspur cannes in a mix of colors which is the annual variety of delphinium. The larkspur was planted mid March and has thinner stems and airy leaves, each flowers looks like it was star kissed.
Matthiola incana (stock) with its plume of sweet smelling apricot flowers which turned more like a bubble gum pink in the cooler.

June 27 - Week 27

Paeony Coral Charm (peony) that will open to a lush fragrant coral bloom with a yellow center.
Digitalis grandiflora (foxglove) with its soft, pale yellow flower spires that are spotted brown on the inside.
Delphinium dwarf stars with their large spires of bushy flower blooms ranging from deep dark blues to light mauves and whites. The perennial plant is over 5’ tall which is considered a dwarf!!
Scabiosa (pincusion) in its pod form that looks like a star moon.
Astrantia (great masterwort) is a charming perennial with branched hearts of pincushion flowers forming a star shape.
Blupereum griffithii is a multi branching green filler flower with tiny yellow flowers at the ends.
Lathyrus odoratus (sweet peas) in multiple varieties—elegante, nimbus and merlot—into the bouquets to be pulled out to make a little posie. These vines with their curling tendrils are almost 6’ tall and the sweet fragrance fills the hoop house in the mornings.

July 5 – Week 28

Delphinium dwarf stars with their large spires of bushy flower blooms ranging from deep dark blues to light mauves and whites. The perennial plant is over 5’ tall which is considered a dwarf!!
Asclepias syriaca (Western milkweed) which plays a critical role in the monarch butterflies life cycle.
Holodiscus discolor (Oceanspray) which has delicate clusters of white flowers cascading from the branches.
Origanum rotundifolium (Kent's beauty oregano) which is a stunning little plant with round leaves veined with silver. Later in the season large hop-like bracts emerge on growing tips
Scabiosa fama (pincushion) with intense purple blue or white flowers held atop long swaying upright stems.
Blupereum griffithii is a multi branching green filler flower with tiny yellow flowers at the ends.
Lysimachia (Gooseneck loosestrife) because its slender arching spikes of white flowers have a graceful crook that makes them like a goose neck!
Menthe (mint) is a beautiful green filler and smells so good!

July 11 - Week 29

Scabiosa fama (pincushion) with intense purple blue or white flowers held atop long swaying upright stems.
Astrantia (great masterwort) is a charming perennial with branched hearts of pincushion flowers forming a star shape.
Lysimachia (Gooseneck loosestrife) because its slender arching spikes of white flowers have a graceful crook that makes them like a goose neck!
Holodiscus discolor (Oceanspray) which has delicate clusters of white flowers cascading from the branches.
Nigella (Love in the mist) in a beautiful red pod form.
Clematis recta is a free standing shrub rather than a climbing plant with starry white flowers.
Larkspur cannes in a mix of colors which is the annual variety of delphinium. The larkspur was planted mid March and has thinner stems and airy leaves, each flowers looks like it was star kissed.
Matthiola incana (stock) with its plume of sweet smelling apricot flowers which turned more like a bubble gum pink in the cooler.
Thlaspi arvense (Cress pennycress) is a flowering plant in the cabbage family. The bright, clean apple-green stems are well branched and loaded with round, textural seed pods.
Hydrangea from my mom’s cutting garden. I have hydrangeas growing in my full sun flower farm but these are shade loving varieties she grows in Portland.

July 18 - Week 30

Scabiosa fama (pincushion) with intense purple blue or white flowers held atop long swaying upright stems.
Lysimachia (gooseneck loosestrife) because its slender arching spikes of white flowers have a graceful crook that makes them like a goose neck!
Menthe (mint) is a beautiful green filler and smells so good!
Helianthus Vincent’s choice (sunflower) is a single stem sunflower with overlapping gold petals that form a sturdy flower head.
Echinacea (coneflower) is an herbaceous flowering plant that is medicinal encouraging the immune system and reducing symptoms of colds and flus.
Thlaspi arvense (cress pennycress) is a flowering plant in the cabbage family. The bright, clean apple-green stems are well branched and loaded with round, textural seed pods.
Antirrhinum Madame Butterfly white (snapdragon) is a graceful beauty with a unique range of tall, double-azalea like flowers that create extra full flower spikes.
Daucus carota dara (wild carrot) these beautiful 3” umbels open in a deep red slowly fading to pink and sometimes white.
Cosmos bipinnatus velouette is one of my new farm favorites with its deep mahogany flowers with delicate white striping.

July 25 – Week 31

Scabiosa fama (pincushion) with intense purple blue or white flowers held atop long swaying upright stems.
Clematis recta is a free standing shrub rather than a climbing plant with starry white flowers.
Menthe (mint) is a beautiful green filler and smells so good!
Helianthus Vincent’s choice (sunflower) is a single stem sunflower with overlapping gold petals that form a sturdy flower head.
Echinacea (coneflower) is an herbaceous flowering plant that is medicinal encouraging the immune system and reducing symptoms of colds and flus.
Antirrhinum Madame Butterfly white (snapdragon) is a graceful beauty with a unique range of tall, double-azalea like flowers that create extra full flower spikes.
Daucus carota dara (wild carrot) these beautiful 3” umbels open in a deep red slowly fading to pink and sometimes white.
Cosmos bipinnatus velouette is one of my new farm favorites with its deep mahogany flowers with delicate white striping.
Physocarpus diablo (Ninebark) is a stunning broadleaf, deciduous flowering shrub with deep purple foliage.
Eustoma A-B-C white (Lisianthus) is an elegant rose-like flower that can really take the heat.
Asclepias incarnata (milkweed ice ballet) is a marvelous long-blooming, bright white milkweed with clear white flowers and dark green foliage which is a food source for Monarch butterflies. After growing this for two years I finally saw my first Monarch in the flowers yesterday! :-)
Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon) is the variety native to the pacific northwest. It is in my herb garden and grew to a towering size and was perfect for the bouquets.
Origanum majorana (marjoram) is a wonderful cooking herb. Like the tarragon it is in my herb garden and grew to a towering size and was perfect for the bouquets.

August 1 – Week 32

Dahlia Creme de cognac and Mr. Optimist are the first to bloom of the season!
Helianthus Vincent’s choice (sunflower) is a single stem sunflower with overlapping gold petals that form a sturdy flower head.
Helianthus Black Magic (sunflower) is a multi branching sunflower with dark gold to black brown petals on a sturdy stem.
Echinacea (coneflower) is an herbaceous flowering plant that is medicinal encouraging the immune system and reducing symptoms of colds and flus.
Antirrhinum Madame Butterfly cherry bronze (snapdragon) is a graceful beauty with a unique range of tall, double-azalea like flowers that create extra full flower spikes.
Daucus carota dara (wild carrot) these beautiful 3” umbels open in a deep red slowly fading to pink and sometimes white.
Cosmos bipinnatus velouette is one of my new farm favorites with its deep mahogany flowers with delicate white striping.
Eustoma A-B-C white (Lisianthus) is an elegant rose-like flower that can really take the heat.
Ammi majus (Queen Anne’s lace) has white lace like flower structures and is part of the carrot family.
Menthe (mint) is a beautiful green filler and smells so good!
Rubia tinctorum (madder) is a natural dye plant with small yellow flowers and the roots are used to create a range of colors from red to orange to pink. It is in the bedstraw family and needs to be grown from 2-3 years before you can harvest the roots for dye.

August 8 – Week 33

Dahlia Creme de cognac, Mr. Optimist, Sam Hopkins and Seniors Hope are all starting to come into bloom.
Helianthus Vincent’s Choice (sunflower) is a single stem sunflower with overlapping gold petals that form a sturdy flower head.
Helianthus Black Magic (sunflower) is a multi branching sunflower with dark gold to black brown petals on a sturdy stem.
Antirrhinum Madame Butterfly cherry bronze (snapdragon) is a graceful beauty with a unique range of tall, double-azalea like flowers that create extra full flower spikes.
Daucus carota Dara (chocolate wild carrot) these beautiful 3” umbels open in a deep red slowly fading to pink and sometimes white.
Rudbeckia hirta sahara (black eyed susan) are a mix of large, mostly double, velvety flowers in a blend of dusty rose, milk chocolate, copper, pale lemon and rich merlot. They are a wonderful new additional to the Black Eyed Susan family, offering a romantic, moody twist on an old garden staple.
Cosmos bipinnatus velouette is one of my new farm favorites with its deep mahogany flowers with delicate white striping.
Eustoma A-B-C white (lisianthus) is an elegant rose-like flower that can really take the heat.
Menthe (mint) is a beautiful green filler with its fluffy white spiky flowers and smells so good!
Lysimachia (Gooseneck loosestrife) got its common name because of its slender arching spikes of white flowers have a graceful crook that makes them like a goose neck!

August 16 – Week 34

Dahlia Creme de cognac, Mr. Optimist, Sam Hopkins and Seniors Hope.
Helianthus Vincent’s Choice (sunflower) is a single stem sunflower with overlapping gold petals that form a sturdy flower head.
Antirrhinum Madame Butterfly cherry bronze (snapdragon) is a graceful beauty with a unique range of tall, double-azalea like flowers that create extra full flower spikes.
Daucus carota Dara (chocolate wild carrot) these beautiful 3” umbels open in a deep red slowly fading to pink and sometimes white.
Rudbeckia hirta sahara (black eyed susan) are a mix of large, mostly double, velvety flowers in a blend of dusty rose, milk chocolate, copper, pale lemon and rich merlot. They are a wonderful new additional to the Black Eyed Susan family, offering a romantic, moody twist on an old garden staple.
Cosmos bipinnatus velouette is one of my new farm favorites with its deep mahogany flowers with delicate white striping.
Menthe (mint) is a beautiful green filler with its fluffy white spiky flowers and smells so good!
Monarda punctata (spotted bee balm) have a beautiful creamy purply pink spotted tubular flowers with a lovely thyme scent and has been used in teas and for other medicinal purposes.

August 21 – Week 35

Dahlia Creme de cognac, Mr. Optimist, Sam Hopkins and Seniors Hope.
Helianthus Vincent’s Choice (sunflower) is a single stem sunflower with overlapping gold petals that form a sturdy flower head.
Antirrhinum Madame Butterfly cherry bronze (snapdragon) is a graceful beauty with a unique range of tall, double-azalea like flowers that create extra full flower spikes.
Rudbeckia hirta sahara (black eyed susan) are a mix of large, mostly double, velvety flowers in a blend of dusty rose, milk chocolate, copper, pale lemon and rich merlot. They are a wonderful new additional to the Black Eyed Susan family, offering a romantic, moody twist on an old garden staple.
Menthe (mint) is a beautiful green filler with its fluffy white spiky flowers and smells so good.
Eustoma A-B-C white (lisianthus) is an elegant rose-like flower that can really take the heat.

August 30 – Week 36

Dahlia Creme de cognac, Mr. Optimist, Sam Hopkins, Seniors Hope and the first Cafe au lait.
Helianthus Holiday and Black Magic (sunflower) which are branching sunflowers in either golden yellow or deep dark brown orange.
Antirrhinum Madame Butterfly cherry bronze (snapdragon) is a graceful beauty with a unique range of tall, double-azalea like flowers that create extra full flower spikes.
Phlox paniculate (david white) is a free flowering phlox with a wonderful fragrance and our hummingbird moths love them.
Veronica white wands crisp white wands create a magical freshness in the bouquet.
Ocimum basilicum (purple basil) is an aromatic herb with deep purple leaves and it is makes a lovely dye.
Monarda didyma raspberry wine (bee balm) has rounded clusters of raspberry colored buds open to 2" long tubular, nectar rich, raspberry wine colored flowers and our hummingbirds spend many hours drinking from these beauties.

September 5 – Week 37

Dahlia Creme de cognac, Mr. Optimist, Sam Hopkins, Seniors Hope and the first of the Cafe au laits.
Antirrhinum Madame Butterfly cherry bronze (snapdragon) is a graceful beauty with a unique range of tall, double-azalea like flowers that create extra full flower spikes.
Menthe (mint) is a beautiful green filler with its fluffy white spiky flowers and smells so good!
Rudbeckia triloba (black eyed susan) has bright, daisy-like, golden yellow flowers with black centers cover the dark green foliage. These are over 5’ tall in the flower farm.
Rudbeckia hirta sahara (black eyed susan) are a mix of large, mostly double, velvety flowers in a blend of dusty rose, milk chocolate, copper, pale lemon and rich merlot. They are a wonderful new additional to the Black Eyed Susan family, offering a romantic, moody twist on an old garden staple.
Menthe (mint) is a beautiful green filler with its fluffy white spiky flowers and smells so good!
Ammi majus (Queen Anne’s lace) has white lace like flower structures and is part of the carrot family.
Echinacea (coneflower) is an herbaceous flowering plant that is medicinal encouraging the immune system and reducing symptoms of colds and flus.
Amaranthus cruentus red spike has gracefully arched, feathery plumes that are dark red. When plants are young and leaves are tender, the foliage makes a nice edible green.

September 13 – Week 38

Dahlia Creme de cognac, Mr. Optimist, Sam Hopkins, Seniors Hope and Cafe au Lait are blooming like crazy! Dahlias also make a beautiful dye bath for fiber so any past their prime get dried and used in the winter months to get a burst of flower power.
Helianthus Black Magic (sunflower) is a multi branching sunflower with dark gold to black brown petals on a sturdy stem.
Menthe (mint) is a beautiful green filler with its fluffy white spiky flowers and smells so good!
Rudbeckia triloba (black eyed susan) has bright, daisy-like, golden yellow flowers with black centers cover the dark green foliage. These are over 5’ tall in the flower farm.
Ammi majus (Queen Anne’s lace) has white lace like flower structures and is part of the carrot family.
Zinnias including Queen Red Lime, Queen Lime with Blush and Zinderella Peach are the workhorses of late summer blooms. I direct seeded these in early June because of the late spring with the hopes they would bloom before the first frost and we were treated with a flush of blooms.
Aromatto (ornamental basil) is the tallest cut-flower basil and has sturdy, purple stems, dark purple flower bracts, and purple-green bicolor foliage. Its scent is similar to Cinnamon basil with a spicy flavor.
Japanese Anemone (honorine jobert) are fall blooming beauties with a multitude of pure white flowers on graceful, branching upright stems that bloom for five weeks or more.

September 19 – Week 40

Dahlia Creme de cognac, Mr. Optimist, Sam Hopkins, Seniors Hope and Cafe au Lait are blooming like crazy! Dahlias also make a beautiful dye bath for fiber so any past their prime get dried and used in the winter months to get a burst of flower power.
Helianthus Black Magic and/or Holiday (sunflower) is a multi branching sunflower with dark gold to black brown petals on a sturdy stem.
Zinnias including Queen Red Lime, Queen Lime with Blush and Zinderella Peach are the workhorses of late summer blooms. I direct seeded these in early June because of the late spring with the hopes they would bloom before the first frost and we were treated with a flush of blooms.
Aromatto (ornamental basil) is the tallest cut-flower basil and has sturdy, purple stems, dark purple flower bracts, and purple-green bicolor foliage. Its scent is similar to Cinnamon basil with a spicy flavor.
Japanese Anemone (honorine jobert) are fall blooming beauties with a multitude of pure white flowers on graceful, branching upright stems that bloom for five weeks or more.
Physocarpus (diablo ninebark) has deep purple foliage and makes a great fall palette filler.
Delphinium dwarf stars with their large spires of bushy flower blooms ranging from deep dark blues to light mauves and whites. The perennial plant is on its second flush of the season and is over 3’ tall!

September 27 – Week 41

Dahlia Creme de cognac, Mr. Optimist, Sam Hopkins, Seniors Hope and Cafe au Lait are blooming like crazy! Dahlias also make a beautiful dye bath for fiber so any past their prime get dried and used in the winter months to get a burst of flower power.
Helianthus Black Magic and/or Holiday (sunflower) is a multi branching sunflower with dark gold to black brown petals on a sturdy stem.
Zinnias including Queen Red Lime, Queen Lime with Blush and Zinderella Peach are the workhorses of late summer blooms. I direct seeded these in early June because of the late spring with the hopes they would bloom before the first frost and we were treated with a flush of blooms.
Aromatto (ornamental basil) is the tallest cut-flower basil and has sturdy, purple stems, dark purple flower bracts, and purple-green bicolor foliage. Its scent is similar to Cinnamon basil with a spicy flavor.
Japanese Anemone (honorine jobert) are fall blooming beauties with a multitude of pure white flowers on graceful, branching upright stems that bloom for five weeks or more.
Delphinium dwarf stars with their large spires of bushy flower blooms ranging from deep dark blues to light mauves and whites. The perennial plant is on its second flush of the season and is over 3’ tall!
Amaranthus cruentus red spike has gracefully arched, feathery plumes that are dark red. When plants are young and leaves are tender, the foliage makes a nice edible green.
Rudbeckia hirta sahara (black eyed susan) are a mix of large, mostly double, velvety flowers in a blend of dusty rose, milk chocolate, copper, pale lemon and rich merlot. They are a wonderful new additional to the Black Eyed Susan family, offering a romantic, moody twist on an old garden staple.
Antirrhinum Madame Butterfly cherry bronze (snapdragon) is a graceful beauty with a unique range of tall, double-azalea like flowers that create extra full flower spikes.

October 3 – Week 42

Our frost comes early in Trout Lake and this was the final week that included every single bloom we had growing. Luckily we harvested just in time and din’t loose much of our crop but it is always sad to see it end with all those beautiful buds lost to the frost.

juile beelerFebruary 11, 2020

Journal

Summer Flower CSA Bouquets