SUMMER WEEK 2

BOUQUET INGREDIENTS

lisianthus, sunflowers, goldenrod, marigold foliage

One of the goals we've had since starting the farm has been to cultivate native species for cut flowers. Every year I've tried to establish native beds in our farm ecosystem, and every year they've failed. Our main challenge has been establishing slow-growing natives while battling the quick-growing weeds already present on the land we steward. Many native species spend months or even years developing deep root systems before putting on much top growth, leaving a window for our most aggressive weeds to crowd them out. But once they settle in, natives should be easier to care for than the other species in our garden because they've adapted over thousands of years to our region's climate, soil conditions, and pests.

Since we transitioned our farm to a deep-mulch, no-till system, I'm finally having some success with native plantings. We trialed two beds of natives this year, and one of the two (an interplanted bed of blue sage, Penstemon digitalis, and Echinacea pallida) is not only weed-free but also thriving! The other bed needs a bit of TLC, but this has given me the confidence to move forward with establishing more native beds next season. I've already started seeds for Baptisia (wild indigo) and mountain mint, which will be overwintered this fall.

Another challenge of growing natives is that many native seeds require a stratification period to germinate. This is fancy vocabulary that simply means a seed needs to experience cold, moist conditions—either naturally through winter or through conditions mimicking winter, like refrigeration—before it will be signaled to germinate. So I am already gathering seeds that I'll need to have on hand for starting and leaving outside through the winter.

The goldenrod in this week's bouquets is foraged, but I plan on adding it to the cultivated areas of the farm. Goldenrods (the many plants in the genus Solidago) are a keystone plant in ecosystems where they are endemic. Per Dyck Arboretum, 11 species of specialist bees rely exclusively on goldenrod, and it is a host plant for 115 types of caterpillars. Birds will eat the seeds as well as the caterpillars that feed on this plant, and you can see how this snowballs to support the entire ecosystem. While harvesting these stems, I saw at least four species of wasps nectaring on the goldenrod—and, of course, I left an abundance for them to enjoy.

Also in your bouquets are the last of the lisianthus for the season. The photos below were captured by my friend Bekah Stewart Kibler at last weekend's Lawrence Farmers Market. You can see more of her work on her Instagram or her website.

Enjoy your blooms and your week!

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