{"id":3484,"date":"2019-08-01T11:35:28","date_gmt":"2019-08-01T10:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/grayshottgardeners.net\/?p=3484"},"modified":"2019-08-01T11:42:34","modified_gmt":"2019-08-01T10:42:34","slug":"visit-to-the-flower-farm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grayshottgardeners.net\/?p=3484","title":{"rendered":"Visit to the Flower Farm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\nAs Claire Brown, who runs Plantpassion, explained: her business is\nflower farming, therefore we should not expect pretty garden scenes,\nher flowers are grown as crops. That morning, well over 2000 had been\ncut and were conditioning (soaking up fresh water) in buckets inside\nthe barn, awaiting collection by customers in the morning. \n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\nOutside we were immediately struck by the magnificent views across\nthe gently sloping fields towards a range of hills and possibly\nLondon in the far distance. The hilltop farm is surrounded by woods,\nand Claire explained how she\u2019d arrived at an accommodation with the\nwildlife, including deer, squirrels, moles, and even a measure of\nappreciation: kites, aphids (food for beneficial insects which kill\nthe harmful ones). \n<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We saw the poly tunnel (to extend the growing season) and the field with many different beds of flowers and shrubs, in all stages of growth. She explained her work-saving no-dig, no weeding method, and that the chalk subsoil her plants are grown in promotes healthy and sturdy flowers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n