A Whisper of Spring: The Magic Before the Peony Harvest

 

Hey flower friends!

Here in our little corner of the Moutere, something's in the air. You can feel it, can't you? (Hopefully, it's not more rain!) The sunlight's got a new sparkle, and the chilly mornings have a whisper of warmth to them - or maybe that's the sun shining on the frost, who’s to say?

For us, that feeling means one thing: the countdown to peony season is ON!
While the paddock might look like it’s still snoozing, behind the scenes, we’re buzzing. It’s a time of happy, hopeful work before the full-blown floral chaos begins, and we wanted to let you in on what we're up to before the first blooms are ready to go.

Waking Up the Garden Beds

First things first, we've been gently waking up the peonies from their winter nap. This means cleaning up any debris from the rain storms the last few weeks have brought us, mowing between the rows - making sure the grasses and weeds are under control so they can’t interfere with our precious peonies, basically giving the fields a fresh start. And the best part? We're starting to see those little jewel-toned red “noses” popping up through the soil! Our early corals are looking increasingly like red asparagus every day!! Seriously, there’s nothing more exciting. Each one is a promise of the gorgeousness to come.

A Feast for the Flowers

You know that feeling when you're starving after a long day? A long hibernation and dormant period in our peonies case! After a long rest, they're hungry! We're busy giving them a good feed with rich, organic compost and some nutrient dense fertiliser to make sure they have all the energy they need to grow strong stems and those ridiculously luscious blooms you love.

We’re also getting their support systems in place. Some of those flower heads get heavy (looking at you Dinnerplate!) so we’re setting up strings to assist them. It’s like giving them a little something to lean on, so they can stand tall and show off without taking a nosedive after a spring shower or gentle breeze. .

The Other Kind of Prep (Boxes & Spreadsheets!)

Let's be real, it's not all dreamy walks in the field! A huge part of getting ready happens in the shed. Right now, we’re surrounded by stacks of flat-pack cardboard, getting our shipping boxes built, printed, talking to suppliers and filling out order sheets. There's something so satisfying about seeing them all lined up, ready and waiting to cradle your future flowers.

We're also geeking out over spreadsheets, updating our availability lists, and making sure our order forms are ready to fly. We're stocking up on all the essentials: flower food, secateurs, ice packs, wool wrap, and enough rubber bands, elastic, and packing tape to go to the moon and back. It’s the less glamorous side of things, but it’s what makes sure the beauties get from our field to your flower studio or kitchen table safely.

Hitting the Phones (and the Road!)

(please excuse my terrible airplane window shot - I couldn't resist!) This is one of our absolute favourite parts of the pre-season hustle: reconnecting with all of you!

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be calling and visiting our local florist friends to chat about the season ahead (our Wellington people may have already had a call in, lucky you!). We want to hear what you're dreaming up, what colours you're excited for, and just have a good old catch-up.

Getting to hear the excitement in your voices gets us even more hyped. It’s a reminder that we're all in this together, ready to make some magic happen for our amazing customers.

The Watchful Wait

And now, we watch and we wait. Every day, we walk the rows, checking on the buds as they swell from tiny spears into what we call the "red asparagus" stage, then greening out and developing the buds. That's the perfect moment to cut – when the bud is still closed but feels just the slightest bit soft and squishy. It’s the secret to making sure your peonies open up perfectly in the vase and last as long as possible.

So, get your snips sharpened and your buckets ready! We're dreaming in shades of coral, blush, cream, pastel pinks, and deep rich reds, and we can practically smell that incredible Festiva fragrance (my favourite!) on the breeze. The season of impossible beauty is almost here. We can’t wait to share it with you!!

Yours in Flowers,
Emily, Jo, and the JSP Team