Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday
Hello!
It is so good to see so many of you at the Farmers Market in Davis on Friday, and to welcome some new names to the weekly news.
Delphiniums were definitely the talk of the town – at least in my purple market tent. I can understand why. I had some of this year’s first New Zealand “Stars” in pretty cottage bouquets. The effect of the pinks and blues fading to purples and the bright green spots at the tip of the petals is almost iridescent. They are stunners!
A classic cottage garden perennial, their name comes from the Greek word delphis, meaning “dolphin,” because the shape of the unopened flower bud was thought to resemble a tiny dolphin leaping through the sea. I can see that.
I can also see how, with their upward-reaching stems, delphiniums have come to be regarded as full of heart, a source of encouragement and forward momentum. They may even ward off negative energy and bring blessings into the home. Just about any bouquet does that for me, but I won’t quibble.
What I can attest is that these gorgeous flowers are mountain tough, having made it through the winter out in the cold and snow here in Canaan Valley, even fending off a few hungry deer in early spring who, in hindsight, were doing the pinching needed to encourage branching and more blooms.
Some of you asked about buying live delphinium plants for your gardens. I checked the wholesaler’s availability and the delphinium sales are done for this season. But I can pre-order for 2027. So, if you are interested in some for next spring, raise your hand. (Actually, it is probably more effective to send me a message).
There is a British adage that gardeners live longer because they are always looking ahead. The seasonal planning and anticipation keep us going. For my part, I am looking forward to a day out this Saturday to Accident, Maryland, for the Mountain Laurel Garden Club Garden Tour. Every year the event is different and they are always excellent. Invariably, we’ll come home with more plants in the back of the truck. It happens.
Back to being in the moment, I am loving these long days, and tell myself not to fret. The Solstice may be past but there are still many weeks of summer ahead of us. It will be a long while until days are well and truly short again.
Daisy our dog, on the other hand (or should I say “the other paw”?), is managing the lengthy daylight hours in her own way. It involves a lot of napping in the long grass in the shade of her favorite tree. And if the sun and shadow shift, no matter. She is using her ears like curtains to cover her eyes!
Let there be flowers – and herbs!
Lizz
PS - Points of Sale this week are:
• Fridays – Sundays, bud vases at Blackwater Galley in Thomas, 7 am-2 pm (delicious breakfasts and baked goods!)
• Fridays, 4:30-7:30 pm, Davis Farmers and Artisans Market, next to Davis Riverside Park, across from Shop’n’Save supermarket
• Friday, June 26, from 3pm, bouquets at the Tucker County Pride Pre-Party, Stumptown Ales, Davis
• Sundays - pop-up, 2:30-5pm, in Canaan Valley by the Canaan Valley Garage on Route 32/Appalachian Highway
• For custom orders, quantities, convenience or just because – contact me! hello@canaanvalleyflowerco.com
PPS – FYI - For Mountain Laurel Garden Club Tour tickets https://www.mountainlaurelgardenclub.com/store/p7/MLCG_2026_Garden_Tour.html