Hello my dear gardening friends,

On Saturday I attended my friend’s daughter’s wedding – the bride has been my other “daughter” for about 43 years. What a joy it was to see her so very happy.

It was the most beautiful ceremony, with a dear friend and Native Shaman sharing the wedding with a United Church Minister – after the smudging ceremony – vows and rings were exchanged. Each guest received a rainbow umbrella to remind us of this beautiful day.

The umbrellas were needed not to keep off the rain, but rather the hot sun!!! It is persisting with no end in sight – I love the heat - but this is a little too much, our plants are wilting as are we. My daughter came from Toronto with 4 teenagers and it was a wonderfully happy weekend all around. There was one worrisome note because on Friday I apparently backed into someone’s car, I didn’t even feel it – The Lakefield Police were so very kind as was my insurance agent – assuring me that accidents do happen – I felt so upset even after I had called the person involved and apologized.

Last Saturday was the last day of the Loblaws Garden Centre. It was a sad day since we all loathe saying goodbye for yet another season – it is difficult to realize that it is once again just a parking lot. There was such an abundance of colour plants, joy and love. We will see you all again next spring!!!!

Rural roots, Ann Griffin and Dawn Tack are still open – as well as several other garden “places” around the city – if you are still in need of plants, or just want more, I urge you to drive around and look, for there are lots of bargains out there.

I have been asked to write something about Cottage Gardens.

What is a cottage garden? I think that it is a profusion of flowers, flowering plants and produce all growing together in a glorious jumble – as mine is right now – such colour, fragrance and good things to eat.

The style is as organic as the gardens themselves and is always shifting and changing, adapting itself to new circumstances and influences.

The earliest cottage gardens were little more than pig pens, with plants playing a singularly second fiddle to any livestock, often being used as food for the animals rather than people, with the occasional tomato or green pea struggling up through old roses or peonies !! Our forebears did not have time, energy or even have access to seeds to grow “frivolous” plants; it was at all times a case of survival!

The most successful cottage gardens are simple ones that work directly with nature. These gardens are the healthiest and loveliest. Authentic cottage gardens are not contrived, but the result of country artisans who were short on free time and whose aesthetic senses were linked closely to the countryside, it is the lack of sophistication that makes these plots work, and the surest way to ruin a cottage garden is to install an elaborate fountain or try to “tidy things up” with boxwood hedging etc. Neatness has been thrown on the sacrificial altar in favour of unabashed exuberance and bounty.

The result of all this freedom is a great deal of flexibility for not only the plants but also the gardener – we are able to purchase all the plants that our little hearts desire – plant them willy nilly – very close together and thus cut down on the weeding, being able to just “stick them in” inspiring you to experiment with plants that are new to you, or to look once again at the common plants that we have overlooked previously, such as morning glories and especially our own native plants.

All plants have a story to tell, all have unique qualities, much like the people who cultivate them, they have their links to past generations, I grow red poppies for my father-in-law whom I never had the privilege of meeting (but I am still using his gardening tools)! He loved and grew them, thus making them all the more precious. It also puts into perspective the brief span allotted to us, and reminds us that we alone are the stewards of these plants in our own generation – a daunting yet noble responsibility.

In many respects creating a cottage garden where nothing is growing is easier than trying to convert an established garden. There are no mature trees to contend with, no weedy deep rooted ground covers or old paving stones to be removed. In fact you have a clear clean canvas to play on. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started.

1) Before you do anything else, have a really good look at the condition of your soil. Now is the time to test its pH, organic and nutrient levels. Purchase a small kit at Rural Roots for only 3.95.

2) Once you have your soil in good shape, one of the first things you will wish to think about are trees. As these are very large, very permanent structures, never rush the decision as to what species you will purchase. If your garden is small and your house tall and narrow, think about upright tree forms - perhaps a Purple Fountain Beech (“Fagus Sylvatica”). If you live in a bungalow on a larger lot, small to medium sized fruit and nut trees will perhaps look more appropriate. You may wish to include some evergreens. Remember that small trees like the corkscrew hazel (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ and many of the dogwoods (Cornus spp) will provide a good winter interest in spite of their deciduous habits.

3) The next thing to think about is how you intend to enclose your garden perimeters. Some gardeners like fences, others will use roses, shrubs and dwarf trees. If you have pets, then perhaps a chain link fence is necessary – if so, choose something to climb over and cover it - as I have mentioned before - try morning glories or even nasturtiums.

4) Then think about the placement of flowers beds, where the paths will be, and what they will be made of. When you are thinking about the layout of the paths, also keep in mind any vertical accents, trellises, arbours, archways, etc. to frame views and add height to your garden.

5) As you are mapping out your garden, think about any additional benches, birdbaths, sundials and other bits of “hardware” that you may wish to include in your garden. Whilst perhaps these articles are likely to be a few years down the road, if ever, it is never too soon to think about their eventual placement. It is easier to plan on paper than it is to squeeze them in amongst a lot of lush and growing plants.

6) Last but by no means the least, now is the seriously fun part – choosing your plants! If you are on a budget (but who cannot find money for just one more plant!!) most cottage gardens can be grown from seed. It takes only a little patience to fill your garden with an abundance of plants and flowers. You should leave bare patches to plant bulbs for spring colour followed by annuals and herbs and vegetables. This year for the first time, the Lakefield Horticultural Society is having a plant sale at the Antique and Flower Show in August. Keep your eye open for plant sales in the spring, as you know for certain that these plants will grow in your area. Scrounging from friends and neighbours works well too.

If you have an existing garden and wish to convert it to a cottage garden, it is not an impossible task; there are a few things to consider:

1) The first problem is usually dealing with mature trees. “Limbing up“ we dealt with this in a previous article. Or pruning out the lower branches of a tree will enhance air circulation and light levels on the ground where you can plant species that are tolerant of dry shady conditions, which will allow the growth of a lush garden beneath the leafy canopy.

2) Perhaps you have a garden shed, garage, deck, patio etc. that cannot be removed, or moved. Instead of trying to make them “blend in” or disappear, emphasize them – you can let your imagination run away with you, paint them riotous colours and then plant material that will cover them with gay abandon!! Have fun here!

3) The next step is to decided where the flowerbeds and pathways are to go. You may have to remove grass, if so do a little at a time, think of your poor back – it will be more fun than a chore if you divide your garden into sections and remove things slowly, it will be an enjoyable experience, rather than becoming overwhelming, by trying to do it all at once – and often times just giving up on the whole thing.

4) Now is the time to assess the plant material you have already. “Do I need all these yews?” “Should I replace them with something prettier, perhaps flowering or fruit bearing shrubs?” “Rather than bare brick should I have something climbing up the house?” These are the kind of questions that you need to ask yourself.

5) Yesterday I went on a bus trip to Wildflower Farm near Orillia on highway number 12 (no we did not stop at the Casino!!)

I was surprised to learn that they use Round-up to get rid of unwanted growth – from there we went to Marjorie Mason at Coppins corners, the end of Brock Road on number 7 highway. If you want to see different styles of gardens I suggest that you pay her a visit. Closer is the Ecology Garden another good place to check out various types of gardens – just walk around your own neighbourhood and you will get lots of ideas.

This most welcome rain is due to me – I left home at 6:45 am yesterday morning and left out my laundry. It is getting well rinsed as I write!!!

My cousin Michael is arriving from England tomorrow – I had no idea that he was coming until a few days ago – lots of fun in store I can see – he is a photographer so will have his camera at the ready as usual!!

Last night I was at the Communities in Bloom reception – it was wonderful to see the recipients of various garden awards. Janet and Bob Clements won the best garden category. Theirs is indeed the most beautiful garden, using shapes, textures, space, not a lot of colour, but have created a place of great serenity.

The runners up were the Axels, as one of the judges, I was overwhelmed by the amount of work that these people do – edges precise, lots of whimsy – but certainly a “man’s garden” everything neat and tidy with little odd corners, where something different is either growing or placed. Congratulations to you and to all the other winners.

I hope that this pride will continue and that next year there will be even more contestants. It was indeed a pleasure to see so many beautiful gardens around Peterborough. The one community garden that received an award is on Barnado Street - Zoltan Banks and his 60 volunteers have done a tremendous job. Do drive by and see what working together can produce.

Today the “big judges” are in Peterborough and they will do another judging – it is up to them as to whether or not Peterborough as a whole is worthy of a prize – good luck Peterborough!!

As Rudyard Kipling said:

I am including a recipe for Potato Salad. This recipe makes a great light meal, lunch or appetizer.

-2 cups waxy salad potatoes, (right out of your garden are the best ones.)
-4 eggs
-1-cup snap beans
-L head lettuce
-1-cup cherry tomatoes – right off your vine
-1 can of anchovies
-2 cloves garlic crushed
-Handful black olives

Seasoning:
Lemon vinaigrette dressing (I prefer raspberry vinegar)

Boil the potatoes until just tender with a little salt added to the water. Twelve minutes after putting the potatoes on to boil, put the four eggs on to boil in cold water (cook for 10 minutes), five minutes after that put the beans on to boil in boiling salted water. In a large bowl place torn pieces of lettuce as a base. Peel the eggs and cut into quarters, chop the potatoes into rings, put the beans in whole. Halve the tomatoes then add the anchovies, garlic, olives and seasoning (salt and pepper). Finally dress with the lemon vinaigrette which is:

-2/3rds cup olive oil,
-1/3rd cup lemon juice
-¼ tsp strong mustard
-pinch each of sugar and salt

You will like this for it is quite different to the usual potato salad. Enjoy the wonderful rain that is finally falling – my garden is already looking 1,000 per cent better!

Good gardening to us all!

Hats, gloves, sunscreen (yes still) bug repellent, and rain gear – get out there and pull weeds, they should come out easily now.

Lovingly, Beryl!