Seed In Flowers for August

Hello and Goodbye to Student Gardeners

Sam, Lily, Cole, Lukas, and I chopped it all down. It's one of their last jobs before they go back to college. Seems cruel? Doesn’t it? Cutting down a flower border they've nursed and shared since way back in March? In gardening, sometimes you have to be brutal. But I wouldn't end the young people's summer with an act of destruction alone. This hundred feet of zinnias and butterfly-beloved blooms is now returned to the compost pile. It's a bittersweet annual ritual that tugs at my heartstrings.

We've learned not to tell Momma and to keep her occupied inside while the scything is happening. It has to be done. It makes way for hope. By cutting chest-high zinnias, the young folks ended one era and planned for another: fall. By exposing fertile ground during the rainy season, new little things can germinate, grow through dry August, and then look great when we open the farm back for tours in the fall.

I hold my breath and my heart, and Lily cuts a bucket full of flowers for Momma. 

CLICK VIDEO TO SEE BORDER IN IT’S GLORY. DOUBLE CLICK TO EXPAND.

Then, we pull out the new bags of seeds. Don't believe the garden media folks who say you shouldn't plant anything in this heat. The end of July is a great time to get summer flowers germinating. A list of our seed-in plants is below.

Cycles of growth and change bridge the plants to the young gardeners. I've always believed in the power of hands-on learning and mentorship. Our farm isn't just a business; it's a living classroom where young horticulturists grow alongside our beloved plants. Internships here are more than just paid jobs - they're transformative experiences that shape the future of gardening for Tom, Momma, me, and the interns.

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It's with both pride and a touch of nostalgia that I tell you Lily and Iris will soon embark on their college adventures while Sam, fresh from Georgia College, sets his sights on Atlanta's bright lights. One thing I encourage is that our departing gardeners recruit their own replacements. You've seen two new guys in earlier videos, Lucas and Chase, but in the video below, meet Maverick!

Watch as Sam passes on his wisdom of digging, dividing, and—get this—listening to crinum roots! It's pure horticultural magic! Honestly, the only magic is that on these sultry days, these dog days of 90% humidity, anyone at all, much less these young ones with so much fun to anticipate, comes to work enthusiastically.

As we bid farewell to our departing interns and welcome new faces, the cycle continues. With it, the promise of growth, both for our plants and for the passionate young gardeners who tend them.

Click on this video to watch Sam teach the new guy, Maverick, how to divide and LISTEN to crinum.

CLICK VIDEO TO SEE BORDER IN IT’S GLORY. DOUBLE CLICK TO EXPAND.

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EASY AUGUST SEED IN FLOWERS for USDA 8b

Buckwheat

Sunflower

Cosmos

Zinnia

Brazilian Bachelor Button

Celosia

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