What the Heck?! We are in bloom! 

I was so shocked to see a blue hue in the field when I visited the Gale Woods Farm flax on June 10th! That was two weeks earlier than I expected. Although when I count up the days since sowing, it is on time—about 60 days. 

The Gale Woods Farm plot on June 10th—beginning to bloom!

The stalk height on June 10th.

The stalks are shorter than I thought they would be. They range from 24 to 31 inches. However, when looking at the expected height of the Avian variety, it is within the typical range. The shorter ones may catch up to the others, provided the shorter stalks aren't already in bloom (blooming is when the growth stage ends). Nevertheless, we may end up with a range of heights this year. Will see!

Can you see the blue hue in the distance—in the upper center of the photo? 

This was the view of the flax plot on June 18th, looking from the farm's entrance road.

I went back out to visit the stalks on June 18th, and they are still in a healthy bloom state, with more to come! So folks, get out to Gale Woods Farm within the next couple of weeks to catch the remaining blooms! (Gale Woods is a Three Rivers Park District park in Minnetrista, Minnesota.)

The plot is starting to sparkle with blooms on June 18th! Happy midsummer blooms!

If you can't get out to visit the blooms in person, here's a video to give you a taste of being in the field:

My personal plot is also in bloom!

As has been true throughout this growing season, my personal plot at Riverbend Farm, planted a few days after the Gale Woods plot, began blooming around June 12th.

My Riverbend Farm plot on June 12th.

It's a little hard to see the blooms because the wind was really kicking up and bending the stalks. They were getting a workout, but the petals still hung on until early afternoon.

Can you see the blue petals on the ground? Such delicate beauties!

My Riverbend Farm stalks have a more consistent height than the Gale Woods Farm stalks. 

On June 12th, they averaged 32 inches. Why are they more consistent? Perhaps the seeds were more viable, the soil type more amenable, the moisture more steady, and the sun more direct. Who knows?