Hello my dear gardening friends,

By the time that you read this it will be September the 1st, and almost the beginning of the last long weekend of the summer.

I am sure that a lot of children are busy shopping for “back to school” and indeed are looking forward to renewing old friendships and making new friends. The summer holidays are wonderful, but we were all pleased to return to school. I always feel somewhat guilty about this time of year, feeling that I should be “signing up” for lectures.

Instead of attending school I will be teaching gardening at Buckhorn Community Center on the 20th and the 27th of September – all are welcome and there is no charge.

A beloved granddaughter will be going back to school in Canada, not Oman, much to the relief of her family. My step-granddaughter will be starting a new job very soon - change is happening all around us.

What of our adopted “children”, they have started to grow and settle in now that the very hot humid weather has finally dissipated. It has been a wonderful summer, long hot days, and the nights were not too bad. I spent many hours in the lake, some days the water was as warm as the air!!!!

I have procrastinated long enough, now to work…

I love lilies and seemingly so do many of you – I have been asked several questions about these beautiful flowers.

Q) When is the best time to either order or purchase my lily bulbs?
A) Right now. There is a chance that your order will not be delivered until the end of the month, perhaps even later. There are none in the stores yet; however you can start to get your flower beds, or areas where you are going to plant your treasures, ready to plant. Prepare the soil in advance and you will be ready when the bulbs arrive. Lilies need to be well drained, wet soggy soils create conditions that will give you small flowers, or even none as the bulbs rot away. So, well drained soil and semi-shade (if you must, they will grow in sun, but the flower colours will not be as vibrant).

Dig the holes about two inches deeper than the planting depth (this is usually two or three times as deep as the height of the bulbs that you are planting). Some small bulbs should only be planted about 4 inches deep. For stem rooting lilies, 10 inches and for base rooting kinds 6 inches is sufficient. If you are growing in heavy clay, add two inches of sand to the bottom of the hole, when you have the bulb in the hole fill it up with a mixture of peat moss and garden soil, or dig the hole a bit deeper and drop in a handful of small stones, this will guarantee good drainage, for remember that lilies will not grow with wet feet. After you have filled in the holes, add about three or four inches of leaves on top, removing them as soon as possible in the spring. I like to put a piece of chicken wire over the spot I have planted my precious bulbs; this deters the critters from chewing on and moving them around!!!!!!

Q) Where do I plant them and when do I divide them?
A) Lilies look best planted amongst perennials with perhaps a shrub border for background. Lily roots should be shaded, so the other plants will do this for you. If shading is not possible, then you will have to use a mulch.

Q) When do I divide my Lilies?
A) Do not divide your lilies until they have multiplied to the point where they are too thick to be cared for properly – e.g. full of weeds/grass.
Keep your eyes open in the garden centres for the bulbs will be arriving very soon! You want to get them before they have a) dried out in the heat of the stores, and b) before they have been handled by many fingers, looking for the biggest and best!!!!!

Q) When is the best time to plant tulips?
A) Tulips can be planted until the ground is frozen, however, September and October provide the best conditions. Prepare your beds now and you will enjoy the flowers all the more next spring, after all, we have not had to cut the grass very often this summer. It is still warm outside and today rain, glorious rain, so get out there and dig your beds over. There are so many varieties, colours, shapes, and sizes, there is something for everyone. There is so very little difference between the cost of the highest quality bulbs and those that come in bags at “knock-down” prices. This is one area you should not stint, do not be “penny-wise”, go for it, buy the very best that you can afford. After surviving our harsh winters we deserve the best show of flowers in our gardens when the warmer weather returns.

Q) I did everything that the books said at planting time last spring, the soil was prepared correctly, I purchased the best quality seeds and still nothing has flowered. Where did I go wrong?? I planted amongst other things, pansies and Canterbury bells.
A) You should have sown annuals if you wanted flowers this year. Such plants as Pansies (my favourite) sweet Williams, Canterbury bells, hollyhocks and foxgloves are all biennials. These plants only flower in the second year. If you must grow these plants from seed; next year try sowing your biennial seeds in June and carry the half grown plants over the winter in a cold frame but it is much easier to just purchase the already growing plants from your garden centre – let the experts have the worry of dampening off, cold snaps, etc. You will just have the pleasure and enjoyment of their beauty in your garden and planters without all that worry and angst when the seedlings fall over and horrors – die.

Q) Are evergreens better planted in the fall?
A) Yes. The cooler fall temperatures make the best conditions for planting evergreen trees and shrubs. Usually when you purchase evergreens from a nursery the roots will be burlap wrapped in a soil ball. This soil ball protects the roots from drying out and also from getting damaged. If you are going to dig or transplant a tree be sure to move it with the soil ball firmly wrapped.
B) How large a soil ball? Measure the trunk diameter one foot above the ground and for each inch of diameter, dig one foot of soil for the ball. Example: A three inch tree needs a three foot soil ball. Most important is to keep the soil ball moist before you plant.
C) The hole for the new tree should be dug well in advance of delivery in order to avoid any delay at planting time. When the tree arrives you may need to make the hole a little wider and deeper, but this can be done quite quickly. The hole should be one foot wider and six inches deeper than the soil ball. Fill the bottom six inches with good top soil (purchase a bag especially for this) carefully place the tree into the hole. The top of the soil ball should be just level with, or slightly below the level of the ground. Do not plant too deeply. Be careful too when you straighten it up, as moving it after the soil has been replaced may cause air pockets to form under the roots.
D) There is no need to remove the burlap, when the hole is partially filled. Cut the rope and let the burlap fall free; the material will decompose, but be careful none protrudes above the ground, for it will act as a wick and draw moisture from the soil.
E) When tamping the soil down, do it gently, but firmly. Remember to leave a depression around the tree within the “hole” to catch and retain water (something like a saucer).
F) You can give some kind of support to the newly planted tree. An old piece of garden hose threaded with wire, works well, the hose protecting the tree from damage by the wire, this is pegged into the ground. Another method of support is to drive a stake into the ground and attach the wire to it. Make sure that the tree is able to move in the wind, you do not want it snapping off – I only leave a support on for the first winter.

Q) When can I divide my peonies?
A) Peonies should be divided and reset so that they are well established before your area gets that first hard frost of the year. When you do divide your plants, select the strongest divisions that have three to five ‘eyes’ and set the eye that is closest to the top, two inches, no more, below the surface. Mix a tablespoon of fertilizer with the soil around each plant and water very well. The time to set stakes for supporting peonies is at the time of planting – this avoids the possibility of your driving the stake through the tubers later on. They are peonies not Dracula!!!!! When you have dug up the clump, wash the plant off with the hose. Very large clumps can be pried apart with a spade or two forks, back to back. Small thick clumps that cannot be broken by hand should be cut apart with a sharp knife. Each division should have roots and top growth.
When planting peonies use good healthy root clumps with at least four eyes. Plant them with the eyes resting no more than two inches below the surface of the garden soil. Discard the old rotten, and dark brown parts of the plant – I prefer to put them in the garbage rather than the compost pile.

I had to purchase a new tire and have the old ones rotated at Peterborough Used Tires (31 Lansdowne Street W.) and discovered that Gerry Robbins, the owner, is a fellow gardener. Poor Gerry had a familiar looking rash on his arms, seems that it covered his body – he had been told by a dermatologist that he should consult a gardener!! I recognized it at once - fungus, whose spores are carried from leaf to leaf on the hands of the picker. When the leaves are wet, some of us are allergic to the fungus which is anthracnose disease – it does not affect people quite as badly when the leaves are dry. The cure? Gerry had an expensive ($100) cortisone cream. I suggested my tried and true Arrid Extra Dry Deodorant – which also works well for poison ivy – I called him this morning, as he sprayed the lesions, the itch went and it started drying up at once, the first lesion is gone and the rest is so much better – Thanks to Arrid!!!!

“One thing that life has taught me; if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

Once again gardeners met, talked and enjoyed each other. What a wonderful world it is - one bad thing happens (a flat tire) and something very good comes out of it!

My beloved cousin is leaving to return home to England on Sunday and I am going to miss him so very much. Each time he comes he teaches me something new. This time it was how to handle his digital camera, cut wood with an electric saw (I found this very exciting, look out I will have fences, gazebos, and all kinds of containers, made out of wood), and how to use the plastic covers he made to close in my porch for the winter time. I feel quite badly that I used his time for repairs rather than “playing”. Next time I am hoping that we can either drive across Canada in a Westerly direction or spend time “down East”. Maybe by then I will have a very much needed new vehicle!!!!!

September is the month of The Harvest Moon and is traditionally the time for harvesting and storing vegetables. We moon-sign followers think that the waning moon is the proper time for this operation!!!!

Labour Day has become the symbol for the end of our beautiful summers. Observed on the first Monday in September as a legal holiday throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and of course Canada, it has always been one of the favourite holidays of the rural farm family, a day of rest, relaxation and recreation, a day for a huge picnic with family and friends. A time for rejoicing, a foretaste of the big Thanksgiving feast that will be held a little later in the year. A time for watermelons, my mother-in-law loved watermelon pickles. I have just discovered this recipe and thought that I would share it with you…

Pare the rind and all the pink edges from the watermelon. Keep the rind in a plastic bag in the ‘fridge until you have enough for one recipe. Cut into one inch squares or fancy shapes if you are so inclined. Cover with brine, made by mixing the salt with 3 quarts cold water. Add the ice cubes. Let stand 5 to 6 hours. Drain.

Rinse in cold water then cover with cold water and cook until fork tender (about 10 minutes). Do not overcook. Drain. Combine sugar with vinegar, water and spices tied loosely in a cloth bag (cheese cloth works well). Add colouring if desired. Boil 5 minutes then pour over watermelon with the spices. Add lemon slices – let stand overnight.

Heat to boiling. Cook until fruit is translucent and hot throughout (about 10 minutes). Pack hot watermelon loosely into clean hot jars. Open the spice bag and add one piece of stick cinnamon into each jar. Cover with boiling syrup to the top of the jars. Adjust the lids. Process in a boiling water bath for about 5 minutes. It should yield 4-5 pints.

Alternatively, Melonrind composts very well!!!!

This is also the time for Fairs! The name comes from Middle English “feire” and from Middle Latin “feria” meaning weekday, fair or holiday. Fairs were held long before the Roman’s time, first having developed as a way to facilitate peaceful trade between tribes. Thousands of years ago, tribesmen would come together at certain spots to exchange goods. They were quite often at war with men of other tribes, but they declared a truce at the “fair ground”. They regarded the fair ground as a holy place and believed that the gods would punish anyone who fought or cheated there.

Marco Polo returned to Europe from China in the late 1200’s telling of the fairs of Kinsai the great capital city ruled by Kublai Khan and the center of trade of all China. Fairs were held in North America at a very early date.

The Aztecs of Mexico held weekly fairs in honour of their gods, with special courts of law. The greatest fair took place in Mexico City in front of the temple (the temple is still there). Cortez’s Spanish soldiers, who saw this fair, were astonished at its size, orderliness and cleanliness. Strict rules of honesty were followed. Products such as stone implements, cloth woven of cotton and other fibers, chocolate (for which Mexico is famous) tobacco and garments of feathers were for sale. Much of the trade carried on was by barter but tin and gold were also used.

It is interesting, each week the Gypsies come to the villages and set up a sales area. They still sell much the same kind of things such as: cloth, vegetables, clothing, and another item has been added – CD’s copied on the spot for you. A large fair with ferris wheels and round abouts come to the village a couple of times a year. The village that I lived in is Saint Patrick – San Patricio – on March 17th we have fireworks. A few days beforehand the fireworks man comes to town, sits in the village square and hand ties the fireworks. There is a guy we discovered that represents St Patrick, on the top of a long pole, with fireworks running up toward it. The fireworks take place for 4 nights, on the fifth night, the final show (after a huge display) is to light the last of the fireworks up the pole. It runs up all the way to the guy, and the figure blasts off according to the number of rockets installed - one year it went up in the air, and came down on someone’s roof. The house burnt down but no one was angry - they all laughed, formed a chain and threw buckets of water on the fire. The church paid for a new house, for they had hired the fireworks man and it was their celebration. When we returned the next winter there was a new house and everything was back to normal. I can imagine the problems here – everyone would be sued – it would drag on for years – something to be said for a simpler way!

Winning at the fair was and still is important, for at stake were more than the prizes and prestige of individual farmers. A winner in the grain contest for example would have customers eager to buy his seed for their own harvests. Those with prize winning livestock could sell their animals at a higher price and charge higher prices for breeding.

It is still like that especially at the Exhibition in Toronto and even more so at the ”Royal Winter Fair”.

This is the time to start listening to the radio/television or checking your computer for the weather forecast - we can get that first frost anytime soon! It is a shame to lose our flowers when we have so many more beautiful days ahead of us – there will be time to cut down and get rid of all those things I have been trying to get done all summer. I must clear out two beds, (so that I can plant those 6 rose bushes), cut down bushes so that I will be able to see when I back out my vehicle this winter, enlarge the driveway, on and on. You all have your own tasks to do though!! I promise that next week I will give you a calendar of things you should get accomplished in the coming weeks.

Dandelions growing wild, a salad of leaves and wine of flowers. Angelica and childhood memories of their candied stems on jewel like cakes. Marjoram to delight the senses, in nosegays, sweet-bags or wild like it grows. Thoughts of fresh Lovage and duck’s eggs omelettes at Bourne Mill, when nasturtiums climbed and tumbled with bright flowers, and cool drinks in which floated perfect leaves of Burnet the essence of summer.

Dandelion from the French dent-de-lion perhaps for the leaf shape or yellow flowers.
Burnet – delicate plant, adds charm to any garden. Leaves have a cucumber taste. Lovage with umbels of yellow flowers. Eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable. Nasturtiums – from Peru leaves and flowers used in salads, seeds used pickled or crushed.
Angelica – for it is told during a plaque how an Angel shouted its virtues to a monk.
Marjoram – Latin origanum – means joy of the mountain a fragrant herb, pink or white flowers.

Good gardening my dear friends!
Hats, gloves, yes still sunscreen and insect repellent!

Lovingly, Beryl