Hello my dear gardening friends,

Can you believe that we are at the end of January already?? In a milder climate I am sure that your Hellebores are up whilst I am enjoying my Paper Whites, they make the house smell like Spring. Yesterday four of us went in search of Spring Flowers. Johnson's Greenhouse on Crawford drive had a few things that made us feel as though we should have our fingers in the “dirt”. From there we went to Rural Routes, the seed racks were just being filled so that we were lucky to be one of the first people to purchase some of the new seeds.

What did I buy? Indian Pea (Lathyrus sativus azureus). This plant looks like half a sweetpea bloom and is a sea blue. I also bought the Bat Plant (Tacca chantrieri). I loved the description: “Haunting, possibly even evil is this fascinating plant, displaying the rudiments of a bat. Large whiskered face, surrounded by green leaves”. It does indeed look like a bat. It will be interesting to see if I can get this one to germinate, the instructions say that it takes up to three months, must be kept warm and moist at all times. Maybe keep the seeds until the hot humid days in July and August?? Then I also purchased Acnistus from Australia, my favourite, the Moon Flower, Alstroemeria, and Castor Beans – this is the start of the gardening season!!!

The Song of the Alder Fairy
- Cicely Mary Barker

By the lake or riverside, were the alders dwell,
In the autumn may be spied baby catkins; cones beside
Old and new as well, seasons come and seasons go;
That’s the tale they tell
After autumn, winter’s cold leads us to the spring;
And before the leaves unfold; on the Alder you’ll behold
Crimson catkins swing, they are making ready now,
That’s the song I sing.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and I still haven’t found anyone who wishes to come and help me dig in my garden, so I thought about casting a spell – Madame du Barry regularly served this dish to King Louis XV.

4 Fresh eggs, ½ teaspoon of ginger and a pinch each salt and pepper. Mix all these ingredients in a bowl. Fill half an eggshell with water twice, pouring the water into the bowl and beat until the mixture is fluffy. Cook in a lightly buttered frying pan over a low heat until the bottom of the omelette is done, then with your fingernail (make sure that you wash it first) trace your initials on the top of the omelette – pop it under the broiler for a moment to cook the top. Fold it over so that the initials are hidden. Now serve it with a salad of bananas, peaches and pitted cherries – all have the power to arouse love. Hot rolls and apple butter also go nicely with this treat – it is actually the apple butter that has the power. Wash it down with champagne – never coffee – sit back and watch what happens. Or if you do not know the object of your “love” well, try this one.

An ounce of leeks, rose petals and coriander seeds. Mash to a fine powder, put this powder in a silver box and cover tightly. Carry it with you at all times, for you never know who you will meet when, put a little pinch of the powder into any food that person is about to eat (do not let them see you do this). There is no record as to how many secretaries have won the hearts of their bosses by using this love-powder!!!!!!

I found a spell, for the garden and it made me laugh so I thought that I would share it with you…

To Make a Garden Grow:

Ideally all gardens should be planted at night. However, day or night, make sure that you are working during the proper phase of the moon for your plants. To thrive, root crops – carrots and radishes, etc. should go into the soil between the full and new moons. All others, especially flowers, should be planted between a new moon and the next full moon. When the planting is done build a small bonfire near your garden. Burn one of your undergarments in it, (the bonfire) sprinkle the ashes on the ground around the plants (this must be when we are cut out of our long johns in the spring????).

To keep animals away from the garden, make a small straw doll, about 5 inches tall. Add something to it that will identify the animal that you wish to frighten away – a bit of rabbit/dog hair, a bird feather, etc. Bury the doll in one of the gardens borders. (And hope for the best).

Above all you must love your plants and tell them that you do. How do you talk to your plants? The same way that you would like a lover to talk to you. Tell them how beautiful they are, how happy they make you, exclaim over each new leaf and shoot, and so on. Plant talk is very good training for witchcraft. If you put your heart into the conversations, the plants do respond. Once you learn how to communicate with your garden, you are well on the way to communicating with all of nature. This is very odd – I find this such fun, but I have noticed that sad people have sad plants and bright energetic folk have bright, bristling, full of life plants. Hmmm…maybe something in this after all.

At this time of year – your house plants are feeling the blues, I have been asked if there are “rules” to abide by? I have Dr. D.G. Hessayon’s book called, The Gold Plated House Plant Expert; he gives us some “Golden Rules” to follow:
• Don’t Drown Them. Roots need air as well as water – keeping the compost soaked at all times means certain death to most plants.
• Give Them a Rest. Beginners are usually surprised to learn that nearly all plants need a rest in the winter. This means less watering, less feeding and less heat than in the active growing period.
• Accept the Loss of Temporary Plants. Some popular gift plants, such as Cyclamen, Chrysanthemums and Gloxinia, will die down in a matter of weeks. You have done nothing wrong. These types are flowering pot plants, which are only temporary residents (however, I personally keep the corms and put them in my garden and they usually bloom again).
• Give Them Extra Humidity. The atmosphere of a centrally heated home in the winter is as dry as desert air. Put on your humidifier.
• Treat Trouble Promptly. Expert or beginner trouble will strike sometime. One or two scale, some mealy bugs are easily picked off, an infestation may be incurable. Over watering is not fatal at first, but does kill when prolonged.
• Group them Together. Nearly all plants look and grow better when grouped together.
• Learn to Re-Pot. After a year or two most plants begin to look sickly, in many cases the plant simply needs re-potting.
• Choose Wisely. The plant must be able to flourish in the home that you provide for it. Even an expert cannot make a shade-lover survive in a sunny window.
• Have the Proper Tools. A number of tools are essential. Buy a watering can with a long narrow spout and a mister for increasing the humidity, reducing dust and controlling pests. You need a reputable brand of compost, never use garden soil. A collection of pots (2 1/2, 3 1/2, 5 and 7 inch are the most useful), stakes, plant ties or string. Drip tray will keep water off the furniture (check under these trays from time to time – I have found moisture under there), a bottle of liquid fertiliser and a safe pest killer will keep the plants looking healthy. To complete your tool kit, include a soft sponge, an old kitchen spoon and fork, and a pair of small sized secateurs.

The living room is an area where the family gathers to do most things, watch television – sometimes eat, relax, play, etc. If you just ‘pop a plant or two’ in odd corners around the room and expect them to grow, you will be disappointed – create special areas and group them together. They will not only look better, but you will be more pleased with the “garden effect”.

Put plants in the hallway, provided it is not a cold draughty area. If you are like me and have an abundance of plants, maybe some of your guests will even adopt a plant and take it home with them (it followed me home, can I keep it?).

I am surprised to find avid women gardeners do not think about putting plants in their kitchens. I always have a pot of something growing on my counter – perhaps a rosemary, or right now I have a pot of daffodils. I have an area close to my sliding glass doors that lead on to my screened-in porch. I have a number of plants here, ready to go outside as soon as possible – it gives me a feeling of being in a garden room, although the space is small long and narrow. I have my wicker garden chair there and flowering bulbs, etc. After being iced and snowed in for so long this is a real treat for me, to be able to sit and read there in the sunshine. Smell the flowers, if not the roses.

I have a number of plants in a plant stand in front of the window in my bedroom, as I have no heat upstairs (I have an electric blanket and sheets on the bed, making it toasty warm). I have “lost a few” but the sun in the afternoon makes the others grow – they seem to do very well there. The bathroom is another place I have plants and the moisture and humidity keeps everyone happy. My big problem is my fishes. They are so beautiful and though are only gold fish, are funnily enough good company, but I hate cleaning them out – such a huge job. I have two aquariums and another very large plastic container. I use the water from the fish to water my plants.

I just had a triumphant phone call from my dearest friend Patricia – the Council in Peterborough voted to pass a bylaw o get rid of toxic pesticides. I do not know all the details, look in the Peterborough Examiner. Cheers and congratulations to the hard working members of the Pesticide Committee and to the Council for your forward thinking – as you know Loblaws has not sold toxic pesticides for over a year.

I have finally had “Christmas” with three of my friends and one of the gifts that I received is a box of Barnyard Tea, organic plant food 2-3-2, containing 25 bags of “A rich and unique blend of composted manures and a pinch of alfalfa”. My friend Joyce tells me that it is from Lee Valley; I will have to let you know how it works.

For Valentines Day

June of the iris and the rose.
The rose not English as we fondly think.
Anacreon and Bion sang the rose,
And Rhodes the isle whose very name means rose
Struck roses on her coins
Pliny made lists and Roman libertines
Made wreaths to wear among the flutes and wines;
The young Crusaders found the Syrian rose
Springing from Saracenic quoins,
And China opened her shut gate
To let her roses through. And Persian shrines
Of poetry and painting gave the rose
- V. Sackville-West.

So when you go and purchase your roses for your sweetheart remember how long roses have been given as gifts. If you wish to have roses last, try the tips that I have given you in the past, and to ensure the length of bloom, purchase the small roses in pots. Once spring is here, plant them in the garden.

Good gardening – Hats and we still need warm coats, undies, gloves, boots and hats, do not forget your sunscreen – the sun is getting really warm again - much love to you all.

Lovingly, Beryl