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Volume:12 Issue:7 Web site address: www.squamishgardeners.com Date: July 2009 |
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Letter from the Editor: "Down the Garden Path" by Ellen Grant
How true the above statement by the noted landscape designer-gardener! Summer has never been my favorite time in the garden. The spring flowering trees and shrubs have moved on to produce their crops of seeds, berries, apples, or haws that will brighten the autumn and feed the young birds and bears as they prepare for winter (and humans too if they are quick enough to get their share). There are only the hydrangeas, roses, butterfly bushes, and rose of Sharon and a few semi-tropical shrubs that fill the spaces after the wild spring show of color. I have had trouble this spring with enjoying the yard as I mourned the loss of many of the stalwart plants that I lost to last winter’s fickle weather. Many were plants that I had had for many years and were the backbone to particular displays. Although some will come again and others I was able to replace, still this year’s garden is not the same. Only in the past week or so have I been able to again find inspiration and excitement in the plantings again. Some species have flourished because of the threat to their existence. The hostas, for example, are huge this year and swallowing up some of their smaller companions. Like cotton candy feathers, the astilbe, seem taller and more ethereal than ever. And in the bed by the sunroom, the astromeria (Peruvian lily), daylilies, monks hood and delphinium are threatening to completely wipe out the giant blue planter that provided a backdrop to my display of yellow daffodils. Perhaps it was the long sunny May and June that has given the gardens such a boost and my spirits as well. |
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“Summer makes a silence after spring” - Vita Sackville-West
Even the leaves take on a muted green hue as if sleeping until the cooler nights of autumn awaken them for the finale of fall. As gardeners we work to fill the baskets and beds with annuals and tender bulbs to keep the displays glowing until the perennials of autumn begin their reign with the fiery hues.
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Page 2 Newsletter |
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This June’s Garden Tour was another great success thanks to the hard work of the organizing committee, the volunteers, the owners of the gardens and our sponsors. The garden art display at the Quest was an added attraction. And the sunny weather also helped to make the day completely enjoyable. I have heard nothing but good comments from everyone. Even great things can always be improved upon so remember to bring your suggestions to our July meeting. We want to keep this event as profitable and as interesting as possible. Our wrap-up meeting will be held Monday July 20, at the BAG at 7pm. It is our usual ‘bring a treat’ affair. So bring an appetizer to share. |
This is the time of lilies. If you hate the process of planting summer bulbs like gladioli, begonia, and dahlia that have to be lifted and cleaned and stored for the winter, then lilies are the summer bulb for you. These plants are hardy even on the Canadian prairies. They can be grown in almost any soil that has reasonable drainage and the same sun requirements as roses. They multiply year after year to form glowing clumps. A little mulch helps to see them through the winter until covered with snow. If it is worked into the soil with a little all purpose fertilize or composed in the spring you are guaranteed a great display. 
Lilies used to come in only a few varieties, the Asiatic which were in a variety of colors but unscented, Tiger lilies which were orange and spotted, the Trumpets that were downward facing and scented and the later blooming Oriental that came mostly in pinks and could perfume the entire garden on August nights. Today there are varieties that extend the season from Easter to October. The cross-breeding has produced flowers of every hue, some spotted, some streaked and some double and even triple petalled. There are short plants for borders or pot culture up to 6 or 7 foot tree lilies. Scents seem to be a feature of 80% of the varieties now. They are easily a plant family that one can become addicted to as new names are popping up every year.
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Page 3 Newsletter |
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This is the last newsletter for the summer. Please keep checking the website for the latest information. Remember to get out and enjoy the Fall Fair this September. If you have an hour to spare, the Club mans a booth to promote our hobby at this event. It is always fun to share gardening experience with the fair attendees and the other booths. You get the “inside scoop”. |
Working in the yard has been a bit of a scary occupation these past weeks. Like most of you, our neighbourhood has been the scene of an unusual amount of brazen wildlife. The incident of a young girl attacked by a cougar, and the cat being subsequently shot, is only the most publicized part of the story. Bears have been spotted searching for an easy meal already and a family of coyotes has been walking up and down our street during the day looking for prey. A mother raccoon with five youngsters yesterday confronted me on one of my garden paths and stood hissing and growling at me until I backed down. Is it any wonder that the baby duck population is almost non-existent this season? My cats are confined to the house and they don’t like it but they would make some predator a fine feast. I wonder how much of my new vegetable patch I will be able to harvest and how much will be for the benefit of the masked bandits and their bigger critter pals!
A couple of hints to pass on; Have you tried using a fine spray of Listerine to keep mosquitoes and gnats at bay? I am told that it is effective if sprayed around a campfire or picnic area or around doorways. The second idea is a help to keep black spot from ruining your roses, just spray them with a mixture of water and milk- about 2/3 water to1/3 milk. It is suppose to change the acidic base on the leaves that resists black spot mold.