Hello My Dear Gardening Friends,

What an exciting week this has been - three days at Canada Blooms. What a joy it was to smell the flowers! As we entered the lower level we walked through a tunnel of orchids. I do not know what they will do will them all; I expect that they will go in the garbage for as we left on Sunday evening they were already looking rather sad. There was a wedding dress made of white orchids, which is being taken to Ottawa for the tulip festival – I am not sure how they will keep it fresh for that length of time.

Flowers, plants, beautiful gardens, with and without fountains, one “garden” had a lawn made out of Granny Smith apples, bright green, all the same size and beautifully polished. The decorative classes were outstanding as usual – so much work went into this wonderful show.

Now for the special news. You do not have to drive all the way into Toronto to see such beauty – there is to be a Garden Show, of all garden shows at the Evinrude centre in our own Peterborough. When? April the 15th and 16th. Please notice that it is NOT Easter weekend this year for Easter is too early for all those precious plants to be out in the cold. One very special and new feature is the Garden Café, with good food (not fast French fries, etc.), a place to sit and relax, a place to have a cup of tea with your special friend and talk about what you are going to buy next!!!!

So, April the 15th and 16th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, only $4 admission, children and teens under 16 are admitted free, when they bring an adult. This is a good time to get those teens interested in gardening – and weeding! There is an eclectic and extensive marketplace, acclaimed speakers, informative workshops, lots of garden displays, wonderful floral arrangements by our own local flower arrangers. And as I have previously mentioned, the garden café with live music for your pleasure. Do come and support the Peterborough Horticultural Society and the Peterborough Master Gardeners. A special thanks to all those who have put so much work into this event.

On the 17th it is the Equinox, which is when the day and night is of equal length. It only occurs twice a year in the spring and the fall as the sun crosses the equator. We know that the sun is returning to us, and before too long spring will be here. As I have said before, gardeners judge the spring not by the calendar but by the snowdrops, nodding their little heads in the spring sunshine. Soon we will be saying: “Alone but the mosquitoes won’t let me be.” Haiku.

I am the land of their fathers, in me the virtue stays I will bring back my children after certain days,
Under their feet in the grasses my clinging magic runs. They shall return as strangers, they shall remain as sons,
Over their heads in the branches of their new bought ancient trees, I weave an incantation, and draw them to my knees.
~ Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

I think that Mother Nature was whispering in his ear when he wrote this little poem.

I loved this story I found in the 2005 Farmers Almanac:

“Most gardeners would agree that rewarding as gardening is, weeding and other chores can be a pain in the, uh – back, you have to do it to keep your gardens healthy and attractive. Instead of doing all the chores at once, as we are all prone to do, spread them out during the day. Instead of a coffee break, try a weeding break. If you are watching television (I loved this one), use those pesky commercial breaks, to set up a hose, dead head a few flowers, pull some weeds or bring in herbs for your salad. Get a cell phone and whilst you are talking to a friend, stoop and pull a few weeds.

It is surprising how much work can get done during those 3 or 4 minute breaks – personally I am afraid that once outside only the darkness would take me back indoors!!!

Do not throw out those metal spiked golf shoes, I understand that golf courses no longer permit them. Instead put them to good use in your garden – as you walk around you will not compact the soil, the suds even aerate it a little and if it is muddy, you will not “stick”. Plus you will get much better traction, especially if you are mowing or weeding on a slope.

Because I Could Not Stop For Death
By Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Because I could not stop for Death
He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,
And I had to put away
My labour and my leisure too,
For his civility

We passed the school where children played,
Their lessons scarcely done;
We passed the fields of gazing grain,
We passed the setting sun

We paused before a house that seemed
A swelling of the ground;

The roof was scarcely visible,
The cornice but a mound

Since then ‘tis centuries; but each
Feels shorter than the day
I first surmised the horse’s heads
Were toward eternity.

At the show I noticed that ornamental grasses were everywhere. They sway in the wind showing off all sorts of interesting variegations, colours, forms and shapes. Grasses blend and contrast with your other foliage and flowers. They can be used to hide dying bulb leaves, in the fall they delight us with showy seed heads. Grasses have an extremely long growing season, from spring to late winter. This is the time, right now, to go outside and tie up the dried grass stems and cut them back severely; tying up makes the dead grass easier to handle. Grasses can be left to their own devices, and after this they are disease free and pest resistant. Although they appreciate full sun, they will grow in light shade. Plant in a fertile soil, planting space should be equal distance to their height at maturity. Note if you are planting several, water them really well the first year, and add mulch to keep them moist. After that they will mostly look after themselves.

Q) What can you do about weeds now that the pesticides and herbicides are disappearing?

A) Fill a spray bottle with the cheapest white vinegar that you can find. Do not dilute the vinegar (which is why I stress cheap). Wait for a sunny morning, better for you too, and then spray thoroughly. The acid combined with at least four hours of sunshine will kill off most of your weeds. If some weeds do still fight back and refuse to die, just spray them again. This is a good way to get rid of those growing in the cracks in your pathways, but be careful not to spray your plants, for they will succumb too. If you should spray something by mistake, take the hose and wash it off for at least a full minute.

Growing Your Potted Herbs Inside:

Using sterile potting soil (and for all seeds that you are starting), moisten the soil and then making depressions on the surface with a pencil or small dipper (the planting depth will be printed on the seed packet), drop the seeds into the little indentations and cover with soil. Again, check the seed packet. Spray very gently with water and cover with a plastic bag to keep the humidity in. Once the seeds have germinated, remove the bag and set the pot in a sunny window. If you have grow lights, put them under the lights – make sure they are at least 2 inches from the bulbs, and that they never touch, otherwise they will burn. Water regularly from the bottom of the pots and feed with a solution of liquid fertiliser (I use half strength). If they are getting leggy, they are not getting enough light.

I was given a book called The Real Witches Garden. It says:

Now plant your seeds one by one. As each seed goes into the soil, name a person from amongst your friends. The last seed should not have a name but should be planted for “the friends yet to come”. Isn’t that delightful? Water the seeds, cover with plastic, place it somewhere warm where the temperature does not fluctuate too much. Thank the elements, the Goddess (Mother Nature) in the usual way. If the plants develop flowers, whilst still small pinch them out as soon as they appear. As your crop will do really well, give the young plants to friends – or take them to the plant sale or seed exchange.

There is virtually no limit on what you can grow indoors, all you have to do is take into account the three main constraints of light, water and, very important, how much weight can your floor take? I wanted to purchase a large aquirum for my “pond” fish, but when we worked out the weight, it would have been over ¾ of a ton my floors over a basement would not have held it.

Light and warmth are essential to plant growth. However, plants indoors are more susceptible to excess sunlight than those growing outside. South facing windows often have too much light and sun in the summer. Plants in strong sunlight dry out very quickly and can easily scorch, especially if the light is coming through glass. A thin drape or shade will be necessary as well as keeping the plants well back from the window. Also check that these nights are not too cold – I have seen geraniums actually frozen to windows and still blooming away! I suppose that they did not read the gardening books?

Water can be a problem. I place an old piece of wooden board that I keep for this purpose, down first and then a sheet of plastic over this. I put all my potted plants on saucers so that you can water from the bottom easily and you will not get wet or soggy rugs as I have done in the past. This brings weight back into the picture – pots are so much heavier wet – I bought a number of little plant trolleys at Wal-Mart for about $9, they sure save my back.

How fresh, O Lord, how sweet and clean Are they returned!
Ev’n as the flowers in spring;
To which, besides their own demean,
The late-past frosts tributes of pleasure bring,
Grief melts away Like snow in May.
As if there were no such cold thing.
~ George Herbert “The Flower” II 1-7 (1633)

Q) I am often asked why don’t Rhododendrons grow here?

A) They do. In fact there are several that are native as far north as Canada - Rhododendron (A) nudiflorum, R.lapponicum and R. maximum. Other hardy North American natives abundant in the cold mountainous regions of Pennsylvannia and West Virginia are R (A) canescens, R (A) calendulaceum, R (A) arborescens and R catawbiense.

If you are thinking of buying Rhodos, check the catalogues for these names and then you will be sure that they will grow in our climate and zone.

I am afraid that I haunted the Lee Valley garden booth, I purchased two (one for my daughter) “thingy’s” to get the weeds out from between the cracks and stones. They have improved upon the short handled one and now have it on an extending handle – no more bent backs and sore knees. When choosing garden tools always buy the best that you can afford. Pick up different models of the tool that you are thinking of buying. Look for tempered steel, tools that feel solid and well made, handles that are part of the tool or solidly riveted on, without flaws or rough spots. Hold the tool as you would in your garden. Choose one that feels good to you, suited to your size and strength. If you are not happy with any of them – try another store.

We think that we are so modern with our composting, but Thomas Tusser told people during the Renaissance:

All the gravel and sand,
Is not the best land,
A rottenly mould (compost)
Is land worth gould (gold).

In the middle Ages every garden was enriched by adding compost. Weeds, scraps, and dung from doves and farm animals improved the soil. Every kitchen garden had its compost pile, and the fork for turning and spreading compost was an essential garden tool. I can heartily recommend the forks at Lee Valley.

One year my ever practical Jack bought me a rabbiting spade, a very narrow blade for digging out burrows where badgers were hiding (this is of course in England), and a fork. They were $64 plus each over 12 years ago – they are still the same price. It was one of the best anniversary gifts that I received. The spade I use like a trowel; it works for almost everything that I do in the garden. I intend to pass them along to the grandchildren.

For my birthday Mike and Aileen gave me a tool belt. I am really looking forward to taking my shears (in the holster portion), knife, trowel, gloves, and sunscreen out to the garden – no more rushing back inside or using something that was not intended for the job at hand. I suggest that you put one on your wish list.

“Book, learning” gave me information, but only the physical contact can give any real knowledge and understanding of a live organism. To have “green fingers” or a “green thumb” is an old expression which describes the art of communicating the subtle energies of love to prosper a living plant. If you wish to make anything grow you must understand it, and understand it in a very real sense. “Green fingers” are a fact, and a mystery only to the unpractised. But green fingers are the extension of a verdant heart. A good garden cannot be made by somebody who has not developed the capacity to know and to love growing things.
By: Russell Page, The Education of a Gardener

Well my dears it is past 6:30 p.m. and still light. Soon the clocks will change, then it will be time to turn off the television get out into the garden after supper.

Good gardening to us all, hats, gloves, sunscreen and smile – it takes less muscles to smile and you will not get wrinkles!

Lovingly, Beryl