February on the Farm

Late Winter Madness

Fog At The Gate | 2.18.26

Hello Subscriber First Name,

February is always the in-between month. Not quite winter’s end, not quite spring’s beginning. This year, it felt like a test. The kind where you’re not entirely sure what the lesson is, but you’re definitely being challenged physically and mentally. It was cold and snowy one week, warm and muddy the next, then cold and snowy again. You know, completely typical for northwestern Pennsylvania. This February was inconvenient, and full of moments that required grit over glamour. And yet, somehow, it was also quietly productive, hopeful, and full of surprise wins.

What’s happening right now

Melissa is spending most of her time in bed with the continual motion machine steadily bending and straightening her leg, faithfully logging her required 6–8 hours a day. She made the decision to get the surgery done now, before the growing season truly kicks in, because once spring hits, she is going to want her hands in the dirt, not a Sudoku book. Recovery has basically become her full-time job: physical therapy twice a week, stretches at home, time on the exercise bike, and a whole lot of Netflix. Maggie and Cara are loving the lazy cuddle time with her, and Meow Meow makes strategic appearances when the dogs are outside.

We’ve both been really grateful for the thoughtful gifts and encouragement from friends and coworkers. She’s healing well, just bored, restless, and more than ready to ditch the crutches and get things back to normal. I’m proud of her. Being still doesn’t come easy for Melissa, but she’s a trooper and knows that being lazy for a couple of weeks will pay healing dividends.

Up in the grow room, all of the Brassicas are coming up strong. The Lisianthus and Eucalyptus are officially two months old and looking good. The Lisianthus is taking its sweet time growing. It moves at the pace of cold molasses, but the plants are healthy and that is what counts. The Lavender is just starting to sprout, which feels like a small victory, and the Campanula should not be far behind.

Out in the greenhouse, the Yarrow we winter sowed along with a whole lineup of other perennials has decided to be the overachiever and is already sprouting while the rest are still thinking about it.

The Anemone and Ranunculus are presprouting beautifully in the basement, and will need to be planted outside soon. Even in February, there is plenty of life happening around here.

February Fails and Fixes

The shortest month of the year started off with some of the coldest temperatures we saw this winter and a ruptured drain pipe under the kitchen sink. Needless to say, our tempers ran a little short too. We’ve had issues with the drain occasionally clogging since we bought the house, so its failure wasn’t a complete surprise, but the timing was the worst! It was an inconvenience doing dishes in the bathtub, but it sucked even more having to spend a couple of really cold days lying in a crawlspace barely tall enough roll over in. Muscles ached and hands were frozen, but the drain was rerouted successfuly and now performs like a champ. Plus we decided to install a new sink while I was at it, so everything worked out for the best.

Unfortunately, our sedum cuttings and the chrysanthemum plants we were overwintering for cuttings turned into a full blown spider mite and aphid convention.

We tried every natural remedy we could think of to save them. Neem oil. Insecticidal soap. Rinsing. Isolating. Pep talks. Nothing made a lasting dent. At some point you have to decide whether you are running a flower farm or an insect sanctuary, and the decision was made.

We carried them outside and set them into the freezing cold. It was sad, but practical. Sometimes farming means knowing when to stop fighting a losing battle and protect the rest of what you have growing. And besides, we can always try again next year without the six-legged roommates.

February Successes

For all of its chaos, February delivered some solid wins. The Petal Collective went live and seeing those memberships start to roll in while the ground is still frozen feels like a promise of what is coming. Our clay crafts officially hit the shelves at Bake Your Day Bakery, which still feels a little surreal in the best way.

We also received the exciting news that we have a vendor spot in LEAF’s Open Market at Pioneer Park in Erie this season. On top of that, we have arranged to host the Waterford Garden Club here at the farm in July, which feels like a real honor and something special to look forward to.

Out in the garden, the cold hardy annuals have held strong through winter so far, with the exception of the Statice that decided it was not built for this level of commitment. during the big thaw, Cara reunited with her favorite ball, which had been lost under snow for weeks. It is once again her best friend and has not left her sight since. Even in a month that tested us, there was plenty to celebrate.

Looking Ahead

March is about picking up the pace just a little and getting these ducks in a row before things explode into full bloom:

The walk in cooler is still high on the list. If we are going to grow all these flowers, we need a proper place to stash them when summer heat shows up with attitude.

A big seed starting session is coming, and the grow room upstairs is about to be filled wall to wall with trays. It will feel fresh, bright, and full of promise as those first tiny greens start to push through.
Melissa working her way back to normal. More strength, more mobility, fewer limitations. The goal is steady progress now so she can step into the growing season strong and confident.

The days are stretching out, the light is changing, and we are gladly trading February’s chaos for a little more clarity and momentum.

And if you are dreaming about flowers as much as we are, the Petal Collective is open and growing. Being part of it means you are stepping into this season with us from the very beginning, from seed trays to armfuls of blooms. We would truly love to have you along for it.

With gratitude,
Chris & Melissa
Hopson Hill Flower Farm