What a surprise I had today, the first Thursday in weeks without rain. I had to swap my rain boots for sunscreen. Since produce was so late getting planted this spring I am still concentrating on checking vendors who grow assorted flowering plants. A few weeks ago I received a new application from Gene and Penny Stormann from Topeka Kansas, so this is where I headed this morning. The Stormann’s specialty is daylilies, an astonishing 800 plus varieties. “Deception at Night”, “Static Shock”, “Journey to Oz” and everything in between. As I walked between the 15 beds dotted with tags listing each variety I kept thinking how much time went in to making all these tags. If I am in the area this summer I will have to stop to see the daylilies when they are in full bloom, I am sure it is a sight to see. Pleasant Hill Daylilies will be at the Market on Sunday’s, they sell at the Topeka farmers Market on Saturdays. For those of you interested in purchasing daylilies from Gene and Penny you will be glad to know that they have been certified by the Kansas Department of Agriculture Plant Protection Program, the inspector found the plants to be free from harmful plant pests, good to know.

For those of you who were at the Market last weekend you might have seen Washington Creek Lavender’s stall. John and Kathy Wilson, from Lawrence, have sold at the City Market for a couple years and have recently taken the plunge to give up their day jobs and start an Agra- Tourism Business. I found them busy working on their new barn which will house a store and a much larger drying area. John gave me a tour explaining where everything would be, the crowning touch of this new addition was the solar panel which will operate all the new 10 watt LED overhead lights which are very green and will save the Wilsons some money on their electric bill. Another new addition since I visited last year was a new hoop house which is used for raising plant starts. John was a little embarrassed because they have not had a chance to weed around the plants this week, all I saw was beautiful lavender plants. Last year’s drought really took a toll on some of their younger plants, which will need to be replanted this year. They currently have 7000 plants which vary in size depending on when they were planted. The Wilson’s have a new area ready for planting an additional 1000 new plants. They hope to have a grand opening in the near future for everyone to come out, enjoy the view and buy some wonderful, fragrant lavender products. I will keep you posted. www.lavender@washingtoncreeklavender.com

I had a little time left before I got back to the Market so I stopped by Sai Lee’s since it was on my way. Sai Lee has a large garden behind her home in Kansas City, Kansas and has been a City Market vendor for a few years. When I visit the vendors farms in KCKS I am always amazed how large their lots are behind their homes, they just go on and on. Although produce is way behind schedule this year Sai had quite a bit of lettuce and spinach ready to harvest for the Market this coming Saturday. She also had cilantro and onions that she will pick in the morning. Sai Lee is at the market most Saturday’s and Sunday’s.

Next week I will head south to check a few new vendors and a couple that are not so new. If you haven’t shopped for bedding plants or plants for your garden you will want to shop the Market this weekend. There will be a wonderful selection; I am sure the best selection anywhere in town. You will also find some really nice greens, lettuce, spring onions, greenhouse tomatoes and asparagus.