Hello my dear gardening friends,

Hello My Dear Gardening Friends,

We are still enjoying the strange “winter” weather. I looked out over the lake last night… it was the full moon, it was so bright and beautiful, the snow was glistening and it was indeed the proverbial “snow scene’. I have a sky light over my bed and this morning around 4:30 am I was awakened with the moon streaming into the bedroom. Then of course I was “up”! Despite warm milk, and several chapters of my latest “who dun it” I was still awake at 6:30am so I got up and showered, washed my hair etc. and cleaned out my shoe closet!!!

I suppose that all gardeners get really antsy when they are up early and cannot find their gardens for the snow! I cleaned off my poor old truck, and she started on the first turn of the key. I am trying to preserve it for at least another couple of years so “she is off the road” for the winter. Despite the wonderful gift Nancy gave me, I still miss that truck!!!

Haven’t we all suffered these little burs? I have lost stockings, and once they clung to the inside of my pants, couldn’t understand what the pain was until I removed the pants and there they were!!!! How on earth did they manage to get there??

Last time I promised that I would tell you how to care for some of the Christmas Plants that we are trying to bring through the cold weather.

The Jerusalem Cherry:

The Christmas Cherry does best in direct sunlight, but needs a relatively cool environment, 55oF (the temperature of my house) to 60oF (very hot for me), and soil that is moist to the touch at all times. In January and February you can take some of those pretty cherries and start new plants. First of all you must soak the seeds in the sap of the fruit mixed with a little water, do this for a few days - just the same as we do for tomatoes.

Plant the seeds in small pots, and when the seedlings are about two-and-a-half inches high, prick them out into either flats or more pots. When they have developed two or three true leaves, transplant them into two-and-a-half inch pots. Late in the spring when all danger of the frost is past, plunge the pots out in the garden about a foot apart. Remember to keep them watered and fertilized through the summer months. A good fertilizer for everything is 20-20-20. In the fall when sufficient fruit is set, and way before a heavy frost, bring them back indoors. Keep as much soil around the roots as possible, pot them in 5 or 6 inch pots and keep them in a cool place, then dress up the pots with material, pretty paper etc. and you have a whole bunch of Christmas gifts ready to give away. If you keep them at a temperature of 50oF to 60oF and with proper watering, you will encourage good growth. Those beautiful berries should turn a bright yellow orange by November or December, just in time for Christmas!

If you do not want to go through all of this when they are about 3 inches tall and have their true leaves, pot them up and donate to the Horticultural Societies plant sales. Oh if you are starting seeds, please plant some extra ones.

Back to those precious plants:

Cyclamen:

The cyclamen with its winged flowers that come in white, pastel pink or brilliant red, should bloom from four to eight weeks with just a little care. It needs a cool location in again temperatures, 50oF to 60oF with a good bright light but not direct sunlight Watering is a little touchy. It must not be allowed to dry out – ever, the soil must be kept moist to the touch at all times. Water early in the day so that the stem and foliage will be dry through the night; it is the night-time dampness that causes the stem to rot near the base.
During the summer plunge your cyclamen in the garden in a sandy soil and let it become dry so that the leaves will die off. Repot it in the fall and slowly bring it into growth again. The Readers Digest, Illustrated Guide to Canadian Gardening suggests “Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum or C. indicum) Cormous-rooted plant with beautiful flowers above rosette of succulent, heart-shaped blue-green leaves marbled with silver. Popular gift and holiday plant because it is long lasting in cool rooms. H 6 to 12 inches.

Flowers: Nodding 2-3 inches across, with reflexed petals of white. Rose or red appear from early winter to early spring.

Light: Moderate to diffused.

Special Requirements and Remarks: High humidity. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Feed every two weeks while blooming. After leaves die down in late spring, stop watering and place the pot on its side. In early fall repot in general–purpose soil mix, with the top of the corm just above the surface. Resume watering. It does best in temperatures of 18oC or to -10oC.

Propagation: Sow seeds in late summer to late fall in moist un-milled sphagnum. Maintain cool temperature. Plants should bloom in 12 to 18 months. Not very explicit, but you will get the idea. I know that all you green thumbs out there will rise to the challenge!!

Whilst we are on the subject of “children” for this is what your seedlings become. I loved this quote: “The very fact that we don’t look, act or feel like grandparents of even a generation ago does not mean that we are less, but that we are more – in effect, an evolved form of grandparents, primed to do a bigger, more challenging job than any group before us.” -Arthur Kornhaber.

“You can only be young once. But you can be immature for ever.” -Dave Barry

“The best mirror is an old friend.” -George Herbert (thank you Patricia for being my friend for 43 years!!!)

I can’t believe that I have a grandson who is 31 and his brother 30!!!! I love it when a beloved granddaughter says that I am awesome, cool etc. Gosh just realized that very soon I will be 72 – heavenly day where is it all going and so fast????

Question: “I seem to be running into plant diseases in my home, can you help please??”

Answer: The first step in controlling house plant diseases, especially soil borne organisms which are notorious for attacking seedlings and potted plants, is to make sure that you practice good sanitation methods for your soil, tools and equipment. Buy sterilized potting mix, burn or throw into a garbage bag and tie tightly any fading flowers, and leaves. Especially any that are showing signs of disease. I strongly recommend that all badly diseased or infested plants be discarded, it is easier and cheaper to get rid of one plant that be forced to throw them all out.

Never over-water your plants. Not only does the excess water in the soil cut off the oxygen supply to the roots, but excess moisture around the crown of the plant will encourage fungus growth, which in turn causes stem rot. Buds, flowers, and leaves that stay wet for prolonged periods are inviting an attack of botrytis and other fungal diseases. When a plant suffers a serious infection destroy it.

The best way to control disease is to prevent it from happening in the first place. If you do have a serious problem – go to Rural Roots (the Co-Op on Lansdowne) and ask to speak to Jordon, she will find you the right “medicine” for your problem.

I have a couple of goldfish that are about 7 years old. The other morning one of them was decidedly wobbly – I gave him some icky medicine and he seems much better. I really think that he ate too much and was suffering from the after effects, just like us after Christmas and New Year.

Are you keeping your resolutions?? I suppose that we are all dieting!! It will only be In about 10 weeks we will be outside cleaning up the aftermath of the weather that we are “enjoying” right now, so the pounds will just drop off!!

It has been raining, freezing rain this afternoon. If your trees are bending down covered in ice, try and prop them up but be very gentle you do not want to break them – a Y shaped prop can be made – make a square base for it – then it will not sink into the ground.

Well my dears, I think that is about all for now – if you have any questions please contact me. Oh speaking of problems – someone asked me about lilacs not blooming. You have to be sure not to get any fertilizer anywhere near the trees. I will include some addresses where you can log on and get a lot of information.

Good gardening, be careful when you are out there cleaning off cars, shoveling snow, or tobogganing. If you are a snowmobiler, stay off the lakes, the ice is still not that thick.

Hats, gloves, scarves, and warm layered clothes!

Lovingly, Beryl