Peony Season Is Almost Here!

Our aim is to keep you up to date with what's happening on the farm and to provide you, our subscribers, with special offers and "first dibs" on products.

Peony Season is almost upon us!

I have been out taking too many photos in the peony paddocks this last fortnight, and the plants are looking really good. They are growing fast - our coral varieties are well up now, and our Red Charm are coming along nicely. Our mid season varieties - the reds and whites -  are just starting to poke through the ground now. It is looking like our season is following a relatively normal pattern despite the wild weather we have had the last few months. We can't wait to see what this season brings us! If you would like to buy our peonies this season, subscriptions are available now! Orders are open for flowers in the third week of October, so put the date in your diaries. You will also be able to find our peonies in your local florists, so be sure to check in with them too!

 

 What have we been up to?

Things are in full swing here on the farm. We are frantically getting ready for the start of our peony harvest - we think we will be able to start picking in the second week of October, and then begin sending out orders a few days after that. This is my most favourite part of the year, hand down! It’s hectic and busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

We have been weeding, composting, weeding, fertilising, weeding, debudding, weeding, organising the shed for pack outs, and did I mention weeding? It feels like the weeding is never ending! 

However, it’s worth it - consistent weeding is super important for peony plants, and is in fact the easiest way to ensure both plant health and vigorous growth. I’ve been having a little nerd out and doing a whole lot of research on peony growth and how to encourage them to grow more stems - the most frequent answer to the question of ‘how do I get my peonies to grow better?’ is really really good weed control. Turns out peonies are pretty territorial, they like their space and don't appreciate anything else in it. 

Moutere Artisans Day

The other major thing going on at the farm this month is the Moutere Artisans Open Day. Twice a year the artisans in Upper Moutere open our farms, cellar doors, workshops, galleries, to the public to come and have a look and meet the people behind the products. We joined this group last year, and it has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. We will be open on the Sunday (22nd of October, 10am-4pm) of labour weekend with the other artisans, and our farm gates and shed doors will be open if you want to take a peek behind the scenes or come say hello. We will have fresh cut flowers to sell, as well as our own handmade peony products: hand and body soap, and a peony floral water. We will also have some saffron available for the foodies. If you want more information about the artisan open day, you can find the website here, or check out their social media here. There is a lot of really really nice stuff coming out of this area, and it is amazing to see it, and even more so to be a part of it.

 

Fun Fact 

Flowers are associated with positive mental health outcomes. As I am writing this, it is mental health awareness month. I have seen lots of people sharing links between flowers and mental health, and I thought I’d share my favourite here. 

Interactions with flowers lower stress levels and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. It is pretty generally accepted that flowers increase happiness, joy - this is especially true if they are gifted by a loved one. Having them in your home (or even just line of sight to your garden) can promote wellbeing and a sense of calm.

 

Available Now: Peony Flower Subscription!

We love peonies, but we only have a short season so let's make the most of it. We will send peonies direct to your door, every week, throughout the peony season. The peony season is typically 6-8 weeks long, depending on what Mother Nature has in store for us. Thus, our subscription period will be for 6 weeks, and you can choose whether you would like to receive your peonies once a week (6 deliveries over 6 weeks), or once per fortnight (3 deliveries over 6 weeks). There are four options to choose from: