Friday marks the official first day of summer, and as I am sitting here under my blanket typing this, I am thinking "Are you sure?"  Seems fitting that the hubby just finished registering the kids in Minor Hockey for next season.  I do hope everyone in the areas effected by the flooding are staying safe!

Farm Update:  Garden is looking good!  The cool weather is slowing it down a bit, but everything is coming and looking good!  GPA Bert hilled the potatoes already - he counted 300 hills.  Check out the pictures I took on Wednesday below.

Greenhouse Update:  Pea Patch will be at Aggie Days Friday and Saturday this weekend (21-22 June).  Come out and check out the Trade Fair and Parade.  We are bringing plants and hanging baskets for purchase and will have our tent set up!  We have been busy getting things ready all week.  The greenhouse will be CLOSED on Friday as we haven't figured out how to be two places at the same time.  

We are continuing to post plants for sale using Facebook and there has been a very positive response overall.  Look for us on both the Strathmore Bidding Site and Strathmore and Area Garden Site for some great deals on plants!

I promised you some exciting news last post.  And I have it ready - but there has yet to be a public announcement - so more to come on this....but......  

Melody is now the Chair of Communities in Bloom Strathmore.  A public announcement will be made shortly, and I will be addressing Town Council the third week in July.  This year Strathmore is not competing in the judging this season - so it will give me a little time to acclimate myself.

I am a little nervous about this new position - but have a lot of great ideas brewing (great for the committee and town - not so great for sleeping).  I am going this afternoon to meet with the Past President and get all of the past information and will be calling a meeting with the existing committee soon to discuss a direction for the association.  

Well, I had better get my butt out to the greenhouse - lots of work to do today!

Until next time,

Mellie

Kids are off school today for the last Flex Day of the year.  WooHoo!  It's winding down and getting crazier all at the same time.  I was actually still hoping to be in bed, but because hubby's banging this morning set off the glass break sensor in the kitchen, the alarm went off and well, here I am.  It's probably for the better - there were things that needed to be done before I cruise out to the greenhouse to do my thing :)

Pea Patch was at Strathmore's annual Spring Fest this past weekend.  We had a great day, and the weather (finally) cooperated for our third year participating in this event.  We brought a selection from the greenhouse - popular favourites were the Tumbling Tom tomato baskets, the Patio Cucumbers as well as the Patio Tomatoes.  
We even made the Strathmore Times!  Check out the link to see C and I in the paper.  Next up Carseland Aggie Days - June 21-23!

ARGH - need more coffee - went to publish post (it was quite a bit longer than where it saved to above) and poof - it disappeared  :(  So the following is take 2 of this post.

News From the Greenhouse: We are calling Last Call on the following items:  Veggie and Herbs Transplants.  It's time to get these things planted in your garden folks - so if you are interested, please place your order soon - or we may not have what you need.  Also, last call on our Cool Wave Pansies - it is getting WAY TOO HOT in the greenhouse for these cool, shade loving beauties - so if you have a shady corner that could use a pot of these cute little guys - we have them ON SALE!  10" Hanging Baskets - Regular $24  NOW $17.  I love this plant and have some in my own yard.  They have such a happy little flower.  Everything else is still looking fantastic and there is still a great selection of bedding plants, baskets and planters.  We are having a fabulous dahlia crop and these beauties are blooming in every colour I have ever seen them bloom in.  Dahlias are super-easy to care for in the garden or a pot, they need full-part sun, water when they are dry and occasional fertilizer.  If you dead head these guys after each bloom is finished, they will continue to send up new blooms all season until frost.  If you are so inclined, the tuber can be dug and stored for next season - OR - you can do what I do and save the hassle and just treat them as annuals.  :)

We are now using Facebook as a way to sell some plants and get our name out there - so if you are a member of Strathmore Bidding Wars or Strathmore and Area Gardening Groups - Look for our posts to buy plants that will be available for pick up in Strathmore!  It is proving to be a great way for us to do some "house" keeping.  (hahaha I crack me up!)

Greenhouse Tomatoes are setting fruit!  This is very exciting news for everyone who has been waiting for a BLT.  It will probably be about a month before we are seeing these beauties turn red but it's starting!  

OK - Last update from the greenhouse for today:  As many of you who know me know - I love to test my boundaries to see what else I can grow.  This year's experiment was Bird of Paradise from seed.  I ordered seed (15 orange) and I am very happy to announce that we have had germination!  1 little guy has poked his head through.  I can't say this plant would be for the beginner or novice to attempt to grow from seed - and I can't say that I will be doing this on a regular basis for the greenhouse as a plant for sale but Yay Me!  I wonder what will be my next project.....??? 

News From the Garden: After our monsoon season, we are seeing germination from many of our plants that went in before the rain hit.  From the road, rows of veggies are popping up and it is fantastic!  For all of you that are waiting - we will keep you informed on when we can start harvesting - but it is looking great!!  We will need bug spray when weeding and picking this year with all of the mosquitos we will have though.  Peas, Potatoes and Beans - Oh MY!  

STAY TUNED FOR AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT: I may have some exciting news in the near future, I am just waiting on the "Officialities".  (Yes, I know that is not a word, but yes, I am using it.  This is my blog and I can make up new words as I see fit :) )  Check back some time after June 17 for an official announcement!

I have been trying very hard to be very diligent in my own personal garden this year.  I have this problem where I am usually so busy out at the farm and greenhouse that my own gets neglected....well not so far.  My sister and I did a big spring order to a few of our favourite places to get perennials and bulbs *Veseys and Botanus*.  We ordered 60 Hostas (to share) as well as some other goodies and hubby and I finally got the bed on the north side of the garage put in.  It already looks way better than the "grass" (I use that word as a loose description - more accurately it was a bit of grass, and some dead patches where there was grass - but mostly some healthy weeds.  I'm just waiting on the sod to compost a bit more and I will pop the Hostas in - but as it stands now, with only some shrubs and mulch it is a huge improvement!  I do a lot of containers to go around the perennials and hardscaping in my garden and I am getting closer to having them all planted and placed as well.  I will post pics in an upcoming blog post.

And before I sign this post off (again), I'd like to wish my youngest Liam Bo-Biam a very Happy 10th Birthday!  To quote GPA Bert, "When did you get so old?"  Well Dad, my baby is in the double digits and I will soon have a teenager on my hands...so I think this makes us ALL old.  I wouldn't change it for anything though, life is great!  Liam has grown into a smart, handsome hard-working young man with a sense of humour that is way past his 10 years.  Happy Birthday little dude, we are incredibly proud of you and we love you! XO

Until next time,

Mellie
XO