SPRING WEEK 5

BOUQUET INGREDIENTS

statice, nigella, sweet william, snapdragons

Happy summer solstice, friends!

With the heat finally settling in, it feels safe to declare: summer has officially arrived. We usually see our first sunflowers around solstice time, and it always feels like the perfect way to mark the season.

This week Spencer has been out at sunrise, harvesting in the coolest hours of the day. Flowers are at their best in the early morning, fully hydrated from a night of rest and still untouched by the sun’s intense rays. As the day heats up, stems begin to lose water through transpiration, which can shorten their vase life. Early harvests mean better blooms for you, and help us to beat the heat! To stay safe during these hot days, we avoid working in the hottest parts of the day, take frequent breaks to rest and cool off, drink LOTS of water, and wear sun-protective clothing like long sleeves and wide-brimmed hats. We have learned over the years to look out for the signals our bodies send when it's too much, and we make sure to look after each other, too.

From now on, the days begin to shorten—a shift that many plants are acutely attuned to. Some flowers actually bloom faster or more abundantly under shorter day lengths. These are known as short-day plants, and some of our favorites fall into this category, like dahlias and cosmos. They’re growing strong now, but they’ll really come into their own later in the season.

We hope you enjoy the blooms, and we truly appreciate your support as we power through these busy, sweaty days!