Hello My Dear Friends,

It is still raining, but I hear on the long range forecast that once the rain stops, it is going to end for a very long time, much like last year. Don’t put those tender plants outside just yet – the nights are still cold and there is danger of frost.

This is called the Beginning - I read it and thought of our gardens and the friends who have left us behind, with broken hearts.

I would add: To have you by my side once more would fill my heart and life with joy. I thought of all of you who have lost a beloved, especially a rose this past winter, or any other plant that you enjoyed in your gardens.

I had someone come and ask me how to prevent deer getting into their gardens. I have a web site for you, so please get in touch with me again and I will pass along this information. I hope that you are not the person that I spent so long with suggesting plants and flowers to attract wild life to your garden?? This is something to consider when you are making a wild life refuge – we sometimes get more than we have bargained for – do not be angry when the deer invade, if you have planted cedars for the birds to hide in, remember cedar is a tasty “salad” for deer and they think that it is for them.

I understand that a woman was attacked by a doe - she was butted and stomped on, until some folk chased the doe away. I am sure that there was a fawn around. If you are out walking and find a baby anything, Please Do Not Pet It - do not touch it for this is a sure fire way to enrage the mother. I know that they are sweet, but the mother is usually close by. Stop and think how you would feel if a stranger picked up your precious baby!!

The other thing that I would like to ask – please drive carefully at night for I am seeing so many dead animals by the side of the road. Also if one deer bounds across the road in front of you please slow down because there are usually more following. Otherwise it can be a costly encounter for both of you.

This time of year we have our doors and windows open, maybe not today for my furnace came on this morning – horrors – but there are days when all the doors and windows are closed. If you have allergies, be aware that the pollen is flying. I know that just the mention of the word sends you into a sneezing frenzy. According to a study done by NASA Laboratories, some houseplants will help to reduce allergic reactions by cleaning small amounts of pollutants that are lurking inside our homes. This is done during photosynthesis which cleans the air by taking in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen. By doing so, plants take in small amounts of other chemicals that may be harmful to not only people but also pets.

When you have someone sick, especially in the hospital, is it a good idea to remove any flowers from the room at night, to prevent you from being harmed? No, so that the flowers are not harmed by us. All plants have the ability to remove small amounts of pollution from the air. Some chemicals are better at it than others. Some are even more efficient by removing specific chemicals.

Gerbera Daisies, Potted Chrysanthemums and Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) all remove small amounts of benzene which we have known for a long time irritates both the skin and eyes. Where is benzene in the house? In inks, oils, paints and even in some household detergents.

Potted Mums and Peace Lily remove small amounts of trichlorethylene or simply TCE. Research by the national Cancer Institute found that an unusually high incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas was observed in mice given TCE. This pollutant is found in printing ink, dry cleaning chemicals (the chief culprit) lacquers and varnishes.

Bamboo Palm, Spider Plant and Azalea remove small amounts of formaldehyde, found in foam insulation, plywood, grocery bags, wax paper and cigarette smoke. Formaldehyde as low as 0.1 part per million in the air can cause a wide range of ailments – from burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, to nausea and coughing.

You will need to purchase at least two plants every 100 square feet of floor space, of course (I should not say this to gardeners) - the more plants that you have the cleaner the air!

Do not over-water your plants, in general any woody plant (Ficus comes to mind) should be dry before you water it again. Softer fern like plants should be watered so that the soil is fairly moist to the touch at all times. You know to keep these plants in a well lit area, not direct sun. You can switch your plants if you wish to have one in a pretty pot but in a low lit area. Put one in a well lit area and rotate them about every couple of weeks.

Do not over fertilize your plants. Plant food is used to grow the plant, but only in the summer months. In the winter it is ‘resting” and does not need nor want to be fed.

Think carefully about repotting your plants - you would be surprised at the number of people who purchase a plant and ask two questions, can I repot it when I get home? The other question is can or when should I prune it/cut it down? Why on earth would you spend a lot of time and money choosing a plant and then “cut it down”? At least enjoy it for a few years first. Flowering plants like to have their “toes pinched” or be tight in the pot. They like to feel the side of the pot with their roots, so do not repot them. If you think that the plant needs repotting because it is drying out, cut about 4 to 6 inches off the soil ball and root, add fresh potting soil put the plant back into the same pot, and water well – that’s all. However, you can only do this with very large plants. With a smaller plant, if it really does need repotting, the roots are way through the hole in the bottom, then take it out of the pot, trim off any dead and straggly roots, and go up one size or two at the most, put it back and water once again.

We are in the midst of Lilac time so I thought these ideas were worth passing along:

1) Choose blooms that are just starting to open they make the longest-lasting bouquet
2) The more greenery that you take off, the longer the flowers will last. You can always use only the green foliage as filler. Shave the last two inches off the bottom of the stem to help take up more water
3) Place a single stem in each of several containers and place on the table at all the settings – then everyone can share the fragrance
4) Create a low table center piece, cut the stems short and pile the blooms in a shallow bowl
5) Use the right vase or something that is heavy and will not tip over with the weight of the blooms. Eight to twelve inches tall is a good size. A flared top allows room for the big flower heads to spread out.
6) Lilac blooms are edible so tie three asparagus spears with raffia and place on a plate with a sprig of lilac on the top. Eat and enjoy!

At Loblaws, for the past two nights we have put the tender plants under tarpaulins or inside the “tent” with the sides and ends closed. The tomatoes were left on a rack and pulled under the cover of another tent. Surprise, surprise - the tomatoes came through just fine, of course the basil wilted, but hopefully with lots of watering we rescued it.

When we speak of growing tomatoes there are three principle types to grow: tall, bush or dwarf. The tall types need strings or poles to climb. The bush will sprawl or can even be grown in a hanging basket. The dwarf types form miniature bushes - these are ideal for tiny spaces. But of course if you get a smaller yield, you can sit on the patio, reach out and pick them off like candies.

There is a wealth of choice - from the huge beefsteak to the tiny cherry one; a great array of colour, including yellows, pinks, white and striped. Try the huge Beefmaster (beefsteak) to Sweet 100’s.

Container size:
Containers should be at least 10 inches in diameter and ideally 12 inches deep for each plant. Last year I tried doubling up to save space – it was a big mistake!!! You could try a growing bag - one large bag will hold three plants. A family of four might need six plants – hence two growing bags.

Cultivation:
Buy young plants grown in pots. Tall tomatoes will need to be staked and the stake should be at least three feet high. As the plant grows tie the main stem to the cane very loosely, taking care not to damage it. You will need to “stop” the plant once four or five trusses have appeared and remove any leaves that grow between the side shoots and the main stem. All tomatoes need a sunny spot to fruit well. Tall growing varieties and even the small cherry ones should be ties to a good support system.

Pinching Out:
1) Pinch out the non-flower-bearing side shoots and the basal (bottom) growths at the point at which the trusses start to form. Tomato plants need warm roots, and too much foliage diverts the energy of the plant, which should be directed into flowering and fruiting
2) In high summer when there are four or five trusses of fruits on the plant, pinch out the growing point (the uppermost growth).

Tomatoes in containers need frequent watering, at least a couple of times a week and more often in hot weather, like we had last summer. Less frequent watering will result in tomatoes with good flavour but with very tough skins. Feed the plants with an organic tea once every couple of weeks until the fruits ripen. See end of this section for the “tea” recipe.

Tomatoes are relatively trouble free, but you might find it worthwhile to plant French marigolds around the base. They not only look attractive but help to deter white flies. Put mulch around the base to not only protect the plants from slugs but conserve the moisture.

Harvesting – this is the fun part:
The tomatoes should be ready to pick in late summer. Any that are still green in the early fall can be picked, wrapped in newspaper and stored in the dark. Adding one ripe tomato to a bowl of green ones will help them all ripen more quickly. If you pull out the plant and hang in upside down inside the house the tomatoes will ripen more readily and have a better taste.

To get the maximum benefit from tomatoes and to appreciate their flavour, pick them on a sunny day and eat them raw straight from the garden. Now I can tell you - Jack would go into the garden, pick a tomato and eat it with a cannabis leaf!!! Do not, whatever you do, refrigerate them. Especially if you are going to use them in a salad (say with basil), chilling destroys the flavour of any tomato. This is particularly true of the smaller tomatoes. The bigger beefsteaks can be used for salads, or stuffed and baked. Use slightly overripe ones for tomato and basil soup etc.

Some recipes now…

Try a mixture made from any rich organic matter, such as animal manure (not cats or dogs). Enclose it in a muslin or burlap bag and steep it in water for about ten days. The nutrients in the organic matter (horse is wonderful) will disperse into the water providing you with a useful feed that you use as needed. Dilute it to the colour of weak tea before adding it to the plant. I suggest an old barrel – away from the house, for it does smell rather bad. I keep one going all summer – the first year I made the mistake of having it near the front porch – I didn’t mind it – but my visitors objected!!

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• ¼ baguette
• medium goat cheese - roughly cubed
• 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
• small handful of torn basil leaves
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

Half the tomatoes and roast them in a warm oven for fifteen minutes. Slice the baguette and cook on a rack in the oven for the last 10 minutes. Spread the tomatoes, goat cheese, garlic, and basil leaves on the slices, drizzle with olive (the best you can afford) and serve warm.

Mozzarella and Tomato Salad:

• 1 ½ cups tomatoes
• 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese
• 2 large cloves garlic
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil – torn
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon black olives (optional)

Use the best mozzarella (buffalo if you can find it). Slice tomatoes and cheese into rings. Lay them on a plate. Crush garlic and sprinkle garlic and basil over the tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Season to taste and garnish with a few olives (optional). Do not refrigerate this salad; it should be served at room temperature, ideally with homemade wheat bread.

Invite your neighbours over for a feast – I am sure that they have watched you with envy as you brought all those wonderful tomatoes inside.

Happy gardening to us all – hats, maybe even sun ones and perhaps we can put away the rainy day ones! Gloves, we needed warm winter ones on the weekend due to the freezing rain, snow pellets, hail stones, and even snow - time for down jackets too. But all that is ending and we are going to get wonderfully warm sunshine - do not let me hear anyone complain that “it is too hot”!! Hats, gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent, and big smiles.

Lovingly Beryl