Sweat, Sprinklers, and Summer Blooms

Wow, it's hot. I mean, it's dripping-in-sweat-the-moment-you-step-foot-outside hot, peel-your-rear-end-off-the-car-seat hot, melt-a-popsicle-before-you-can-enjoy-it hot. I hope you are all staying hydrated and cool. We've been adjusting our workflow, sneaking in earlier and earlier to try and beat the heat of the day, enjoying the quiet beauty of the sunrises on the farm and watching the morning dew dry up before anyone notices.

We've called our bottled drinking water delivery company for extra water this week and have been perfecting our sprinkler tango as we bounce around the field sprinklers, making sure to hit all the babies in the field. What a job that's turned out to be, but man, have we stayed on top of it, and the plants are so grateful and growing so well!

I was sick with a stomach bug last week (that’s why there wasn't a crop report); in fact, a few of us got taken out with it. Now that we are on the mend, we are pacing ourselves but trying to tackle what didn't get accomplished last week in our absence. Tons of new babies went into the ground, including our cut fall crop of heirloom mums in the bottom tunnels! They look so good this year! We have one last house to finish for the project, and then we are installing a brand new field garden of mums that we can't wait to debut this fall!

The Dahlias are finally getting some love and attention as Rob pours blood, sweat, and tears into weeding, mulching, and genuinely loving them (like he does everything around here!), and the farm just looks so darn good and peaceful. Honestly, if you haven't been out in a while, it's worth a visit to see all the improvements this year; it's the best the farm has ever looked by leaps and bounds. I'm so proud of it!

This coming weekend is the 4th of July, and the fields are stocked with beautiful blooms for you to stuff a cup for your gathering, BBQ, or party! Nothing says Americana quite like some local blooms! So come enjoy a few minutes of sunshine and grab some Shenandoah Valley-soaked blooms for your 4th of July celebration so we can party with you!

P.S. If you're shopping for some plants, Overlook Produce just got in a new drop of houseplants in the greenhouse—I was in there the other day and caught them unpacking some new and unusual plants—so if you think you know everything they carry, it might be time to pop back by and check out what's new!

XOXO, Jess