To my Dear Gardening Friends,

What wonderful weather we are enjoying. Last Thursday I went to Chicago on the bus and surprise, surprise, when we reached London, Ontario, there was about three inches of snow on the ground. The snow stayed all the way to Chicago, but when we returned Monday evening it had all melted. The Christmas lights were wonderful, but I could not help thinking that they are rather premature – perhaps people have decorated whilst the weather is warmish, clear and without the cold biting wind that usually accompanies the “lighting of the festive season”. On the other hand, in the U.S. I understand that it is the tradition to put the lights up, right after the American Thanksgiving, and indeed Dorothy and Tom’s neighbours were very busily decorating their homes. In fact, one neighbour whom I really enjoy being with, had just purchased their tree. Seemed very early to me, then I always leave things to the last minute!!!

Recently I mentioned that Queen Victoria loved Lily of the Valley and had fresh flowers growing by her bed at all times. I have been asked how she (her gardeners) managed to grow them other than in the garden.
Answer:
Lily of the Valley that is grown indoors is usually from specially prepared “pips” or root crowns. Plant crowns in sandy soil, moss or bulb fibre, leaving the tips of the crown exposed. Place five or seven crowns in a 5-inch pot. Water thoroughly and place in a dark room at about 70oF for about three weeks, gradually bring them into the light and you should have flowers in three to four weeks. These beautifully fragrant flowers will last longer if you lower the temperature to around 60oF. To provide a dark but warm place for the pips you may put a box over the pot (you can keep in the living room) raising the box a little higher each day, when it is time to increase the light. If you turn down the heat to accommodate the lily flowers, you will not only save on your heating bills, but you will be healthier too.

As Christmas approaches and we start to think about a Christmas tree, why not purchase a Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla). They are handsome plants, and are one of the few conifers that will live indoors. Although some people tell me that they have had difficulty in growing them, I had one for many years. It grew so large that I passed it along to a neighbour with a much larger house. They are native to the moist semi-tropics of the South Pacific, so need good light, cool temperatures and reasonably high humidity, especially during the winter months. I understand that after a few months of the heat and dryness of our homes their leaves become crisp, lose their colour and start to fall. I have never had this problem – perhaps because I keep my house cool for all my “babies” growing indoors in spite of themselves. Once the tree gets to a large size, and is obviously root bound and top heavy, move it into a larger and more stable container. Use a good quality, commercial soiless mix, with some added compost, making sure that you have a good balance of water retention and proper drainage. Norfolk Pines only need re-potting every three or four years, so this is not an arduous task. Place a layer of gravel on the bottom of the pot, this will help to provide extra weight and keep the roots out of direct contact with any drainage water that collects at the base. Norfolk Pines and indeed any other houseplant will develop root rot if left in standing water. Do not forget to empty the trays/saucers after you have watered them.

During the spring and summer, mine went outside, in the shade for they like indirect but bright light, and even moisture. Fertilise them every two weeks as always with half strength fertiliser. Do not do this during the winter, but be very careful not to let the soil dry out, if you can run a humidifier in the same room, great, if not you must mist on a daily basis. Most of the plants that we purchase have several stalks in the same pot to give them “bulk” or shape – do not try and separate these little trees, if there is one stalk that looks spindly and you really can’t stand it, then with very sharp pruners, just cut it out being careful to cut only the one that is displeasing you.

Question: Someone asked about their shrimp plant that is starting to look “leggy” what should they do with it?
Answer: I had a number of these plants in Mexico; they grow literally like weeds there. It is really the Mexican Hop, it does have a habit of going leggy so, it is best to propagate new plants and throw out the old ones (just like us, we discard our old people) as new cuttings root very easily. The young plants should be pinched back to promote bushy growth. The chief attraction of the shrimp plant is the unusual colour effect that is produced by the reddish bracts that subtend the flowers. Like the bracts on the poinsettia, they outlast the blooms thus providing colour over a long period. The white flowers are spotted with purple in the throat and grow to about an inch and a half long - it is a most delightful plant - I really like them.

Question: What can I do with my Oleander plant over the winter? I was given one this past year and now it is huge.
Answer: Try to find a kind neighbour (or your spouse) who will help you to move that large plant into the basement and put it in a very cool area for the winter. This is a very fast growing plant and in about two years is usually too large for the average home. It is greatly prized for its wonderful pink and white flowers that go on and on. If you do not have a basement, treat it as a houseplant, growing in a south facing window, with lots of light. I grow mine in a tub outside in the summer time. It is in my living room now for this is a very special plant; it belonged to my dear friend’s mother, so I am trying to keep it growing – she is still here whilst her plant is! A dear lady who spoke little English - but she sure could garden!!!

Question: If you are growing hyacinths, which do you prefer water or soil?
Answer: I hate to see anything growing in just water – I have even potted my bamboo. Bulbs seem to get “used up” when only grown in water, so pot them up and enjoy indoors, remove any dead flowers and keep the leaves growing. Then in the spring, plant them in the garden with bone meal and compost, it may take a year before they bloom again, but feed them, be patient and you will be rewarded.

Question: Are you still watering your trees and Rhododendrons? Someone asked if they should bring them indoors (The Rhodos).
Answer: No – do not wrap them but mulch them well. If you are using a wire cone protector, fill it to the top with leaves, for if left unprotected the tender tips can easily be burned by the bright spring sunshine, in and around February. The other really good thing that I do with mine, is build a screen of burlap around them, not touching the leaves, but protecting them from sun and wind. There is still time to do this if you haven’t heeded my earlier admonitions!!!! Yes, I know it is snowing at last and you really did mean to do all those things.

My most sincere thanks to Canadian Horticultural Societies and Garden Clubs, when I have had a really tough question – I have gone to the real gardeners for the solution. Russ Gomme (our dear friend, who summers near Minden) has always been helpful in steering me towards the truth on countless occasions. I firmly believe that gardening in Canada would be years behind its present advanced state without the dedication of members of the garden clubs and horticultural societies. There we go members, a big thank you from Stan, whom I had the pleasure of meeting several times, he was the head gardener for the Niagara Parks. A wonderfully knowledgeable and generous man, sharing his knowledge with everyone who took the time to ask.

I read this from Stan Larke:

The Song of the Sweet Chestnut Fairy

Chestnuts, sweet Chestnuts,
To pick and eat, Or keep until Winter,
When hot, they’re a treat!
Like hedgehogs, their shells
Are prickly outside;
But silky within,
Where the little nuts hide,
Till the shell is split open,
And, shiny and fat,
The Chestnut appears;
Says the fairy: “How’s that?”

Chestnuts - I hope that you have indulged in buying some of these wonderful treats. I found some the other day, I boiled them for about half an hour, then saving the water which is dark brown by now, I peeled and chopped them, made a white sauce using the water as well as milk, and added the chopped nuts, poured the whole thing over Brussels sprouts and they were amazing – the Brussels are actually better after a really hard frost – or even leave them in the garden all winter cutting them as you wish to devour them!!! Mmm…very good.

If you haven’t yet potted up those bulbs for forcing this is a good time maybe even get some of them to bloom in time for the holidays. I understand that we are not supposed to say Christmas anymore; too bad that a few peoples are spoiling the old traditions for many others who have celebrated for two thousand years. I suppose this is what is known as progress – change comes to everything and everyone I should be more understanding, but I must admit that standing in the synagogue I felt there is something about the “old ways”, the old traditions, although I read with amusement in the prayer book that it is "Gender Sensitive" – the assistant rabbi is a woman, the Cantor a woman and the choir was made up of little girls - change indeed - I wonder what the members of Holy Blossom Temple would think of these radical changes.

To my friends in Australia, I say remove the dead flowers on your tulips and daffodils, leave the leaves until they are brown and dry. Your tulips need at least 6 weeks in the fridge before next fall's planting - use your sunscreen, drink lots of water (beer?) wear a hat, etc. and think of use cleaning away the snow.

I hope that you all remembered to put the snow shovels in a handy spot. Hats, large woolly ones, gloves also warm ones, sunscreen, yes you still need it, not the insect repellent, but fill the bird feeders, they really need your help - especially the first snowfall for they panic just like we do when the first snow falls.

Lovingly, Beryl