Blessed are they who have the gift of making friends, for it is one of God’s best gifts. It involves many things, but above all, the power of going out of one’s self, and appreciating whatever is noble and loving in another
- By Thomas Hughes

Since my last newsletter I am another year older – Life, it is rushing by although sometimes, it seems to drag, especially when we are waiting for the spring to arrive- as we dig out from even more snow –

I was so surprised to find that I could not open my outer door on Thursday morning, and amazed at the amount of snow that had fallen, I wasn’t able to get to the bird feeder, for the depth of snow, so I cleared off a portion of my “to the door patio” and spread it there, plus a lot that I just threw onto the ground. The birds did not seem to care, they flew down in flocks to feed - The Grosbeaks are around, but I haven’t seen the Cardinals for a few days, hopefully they haven’t been snowed in somewhere!!!

I understand that a lot of folk are feeding the deer, they are having a hard time in this deep snow, but if you are feeding them and have dogs, please make sure that they are tied up, we don’t want the deer chased and sustaining broken legs.

I am sure that a lot of you have received the photo’s of the deer with a small cat – My friend Judie, had a deer come to play with her tiny Siamese cat – it is amazing how animals seem to get along and we –supposedly the smartest of the species cannot – we seemingly have to go out and kill each other – shame on us. Now we hear the horrifying story of people having organs “stolen” for those who are rich enough to purchase them, I know that in the States people sell their blood but it makes one wonder if there is a market for organs there/here too?

This is called the Spirit Catchers Story

We often forget that our gardens need to rest through the dark part of the day, it refreshers them as much as rain and sunshine. The cycles of the natural world are sacred. Only we humans break that trust, with artificial light after the sun has put the world to rest. We even speak of “banishing the night”

Try being in your garden after dark. Let your eyesight adjust, let it become secondary to your other senses, remove expectations from your heart and become attuned to the rhythm of the night. A friendly tree at your back and Mother Earth beneath your feet will guide you through this new way of “seeing”

By this experience you will deepen your connection with your garden, it in turn will respond with enthusiasm knowing that you trusted to share this sacred time together.

The Chi. :-

The energy of the Spirit Catcher is as old as time itself and as rare as the 2nd full moon in a month (blue). It comes especially to those who are willing to put aside their pre-conceptions and believe in the “mysteria” of the word. It encourages those gardeners who are willing to think and experience life outside the ‘box’.

Blue Moon

Symbol for “Dream Come True”

The moon is the mistress of your dreams

Who grants you wishes, so it seems

When two full moons

A month apart appears.
When times of magic will draw near,

The blessings of a moon that’s blue

Will double all good things for you.

Some chores for you to do now

Plant your geranium seed indoor of course

Take stem cuttings of those geraniums that you brought in – in the fall

Prune shade and fruit trees, except maple and birch

Plant impatiens, or bring those in the basement into the light

Plant peppers and egg plant seeds

Visit a local greenhouse – or Deborah at Loblaws

I am afraid that I haven’t been to Loblaws for a few weeks – I do not seem to have gone anywhere that far for a long time so cannot tell you just what awaits you there, but I am sure that you will get a breath of spring.

I would suggest before you rush out, pruning saws and pruners in hand wait until the weather warms up a little!!!! You will need your fingers later on so do not freeze them off now.

I am going to try and send you a list of all the seeds you can start in Jan/Feb I am not very great at columns but here goes

That should be sufficient to get you started – hopefully you will have room under the grow lights that are now full of those tired annuals you (we) just had to bring indoors  - time to be ruthless and into the compost with them all. Sigh

Don Nicholson a master gardener went onto the web and found this interesting facts about the difference between “determinate” and “indeterminate” tomatoes

Determinate varieties of tomatoes also called “bush” tomatoes are varieties that are bred to grow to a compact height (approx 4 feet)

They stop growing when fruit sets on the terminal or top bud; ripen their entire crop at or near the same time (usually over a two week period) and then die.

They may require a limited amount of caging and/or staking for support (use old panties hose for this) they should NOT be pruned or “suckered” as it severely reduces the crop. They will perform relatively well in a container (minimum size 5-6 gallons) Good examples are Rutgers, Roma, Celebrity (called semi-determinate by some folk) and Globe – all of which we had at Loblaws last spring.

Indeterminate varieties of tomatoes also called “vining” tomatoes. They will grow and produce fruit until killed by frost and can reach heights of up to 10 feet although 6 feet is considered the norm (I only wish) they will bloom set new fruit and ripen fruit all at the same time (much like oranges) right through the growing season

They will of course require substantial caging and/staking for support and pruning and the removal of suckers is practiced by many of you, but it is not really mandatory.  The need for it and the advisability of doing it varies from region to region. Experiment and see which works the best for you – as in all things not everything works for everyone.  Because of the need for substantial support and the size of the plants, indeterminate varieties are not usually recommended as container plants Example are of course Big Boy, Beef Master, most cherry types, early girl – and my favourite Roma and most heirloom varieties

I grow my tomato plants outside the cages, this way you can get three or more plants to share one cage – tying the ‘branches” with old panties hose

I have a friend looking for a Japanese Angelica tree = does anyone know of a source for her to purchase one?  I understand that it suckers a lot so perhaps a swap could be arranged in true gardening manner. I understand that it is almost as prolific as cow parsley, but she has 50 acres to fill so does not mind how big it gets.  I have cow (many) parsley that grows to enormous heights, is bushy, spreads like crazy and is more prolific than pampas grass – it is necessary to collect the seeds and put them in the garbage – I can see the landfill resembling a jungle in a few years; at least it will be prettier than garbage

Snow, snow and even more snow tonight – my poor daughter has a badly smashed thumb – she was so lucky her neighbour cleared away the snow for her. In Toronto if you have not cleared away the snow, in a certain length of time you may be fined. Please if you have an elderly or sick neighbour, do help them, it is a dreadful feeling to be snowed in – and the task of snow removal is quite daunting this year, (my question is where does one put it all?)  At least make sure that they have milk, bread and whatever, so that they are not hungry – remember karma works and you will be rewarded – maybe the bugs will leave your gardens alone, with soft gentle rain in the nights and sun in the daytime (perhaps the odd night shower will also contain a little manure?

To-day was my birthday – with calls from   all my wonderful grandchildren, daughters, cousins and friends plus calls from England and Australia made the day special – thank you everyone for your good wishes – it was a bitter sweet day, I spent with a dear neighbour and other friends

A Birthday

My heart is like a singing bird

Whose nest is in a watered shoot?

My heart is like an apple tree

Whose boughs are bent with thickset fruit?

My heart is like a rainbow shell

That paddles in a halcyon sea;

My heart is gladder than all these

Because my love is come to me.

Raise me a dais of silk and down;

Carve it in doves, and pomegranates,

Hang it with vair and purple dyes;

And peacocks with a hundred eyes;

Work it in gold and silver grapes

In leaves, and silver fleur-de-lys;

Because the birthday of my life

Is come, my love is come to me

 - Christina Rossetti

Jack came after my birthday and the day after Valentine’s Day ummm?

I am sure that a lot of you are suffering winter boredom or cabin fever as we used to call it. I know that a lot us wish that the winter would hurry up and end, but there is a lot to do whilst we wait for spring. Have you tried growing a gloxinia?  This is plant that produces large, velvety leaves and flowers that are tubular, broad and in many different colours.

Start your gloxinia in a special potting mix consisting of equal parts of peat and sand.  Leave the crowns of the tubers just showing above the surface.  When the plants are large enough to handle safely, place them in 5 to 6 inch pots, setting at the same depth that they were before.  Now from here on – they will need a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees F. and good filtered light.  Be careful not to over water, and especially careful not to wet the leaves.  You will be rewarded with beautiful exotic flowers around May and they should last September - just be careful to listen for frost warnings.

I think that it is time to say goodnight and to end a lovely day with good gardening to us all, Hats, gloves, warm boots, sunscreen and snow shovels, do not forget to do your stretching exercises before you tackle the snowdrifts.

Lovingly beryl