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Volume:12 Issue:9 Web site address: www.squamishgardeners.com Date: Oct 2009 |
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Letter from the Editor: "Down the Garden Path" by Ellen Grant Enough procrastination! I must pull myself in from the garden and sit down and write this letter. It has been such a splendid fall so far that I have been spending all of my spare time just enjoying the late bloomers. This year many flowers have decided to put on a second showing, an encore performance as it were. One of my magnolias always does so as well as a forsythia. This fall a couple of rhododendrons also joined the show and some calla lilies too. The begonias and fuchsias welcomed the cooler weather. Of course the usual autumn stars, the asters, Japanese anemones, canna lilies, dahlias, sedums, and rubeckia have really shone with all the sunshine. But now that frost has invaded the garden it is the color of the trees and shrubs that has stepped up to give the final touch of glory to the post Thanksgiving scene. Now the chore of bringing in the tender bulbs and tropical plants has taken on some real urgently. No longer can I just empty the linen closet with sheets, tablecloths and blankets to shield them from the chilly nights and so to have yet another day blooming in the sun. The dahlia leaves have all turned black so it is time to lift and store them away in a frost free area for the winter. It is a sign too that all those blankets will no longer protect the cannas or the callas or the Lily of the Nile. It is time to dig up your glads, pineapple lily and other summer bulbs, to store away geraniums and fuchsias either as whole plants or as cuttings, and to fill the holes in your beds with spring bulbs that are still plentiful in the stores. Except for an early evening walk about through our garden and over the patio, the bears have left our garden alone this year. The apples were great but not as abundant as in previous years. I suppose that is due to the hard pruning we did in the spring. The fruit was excellent, large and juicy, however and we appreciated not having to fight off the bruins in order to enjoy some apple pies and sauce. We have had a family of raccoons but they seem to have preferred the Mountain Ash berries and the neighbour’s grapes to our apples. I did find my huge container of fish food hauled out on to the front lawn one morning but not opened. I suspect the bandit family since a bear would have easily ripped off the lid. A group of coyotes patrolled the area for a few weeks but seem to have left. We don’t even hear them anymore as they howl at the trains whistling through Brackendale in the middle of the night. |
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"October's poplars are flaming torches
lighting the way to winter."
- Nova Bair
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Page 2 Newsletter |
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They have even come out of the shade and are the work horse of edging in many beds. Tuberous begonias, ranging through every colour except the cool shades of blue and purple, have changed over the years too. This year I had a basket that was blooming in May when I bought it for $20.It lasted in full flower until I stored it away last night – five months of value and I’ll have it for next year too. These plants have under gone a spectacular change too. There are single-flowered varieties and double ones, frilled, streaked, two-toned, upright, hanging, large and small. Recently growers have been concentrating on producing plants that have beautiful veining on the leaves so that these plants are eye catching even in the rare days when they are lacking blooms. Begonias combine well with fuchsias, coleus and lobelia in pots or baskets or alone as a feature plant. The size of the blooms makes the tuberous one the focal point of any planter. In the garden centers you will find new and improved varieties of these every year. I found small, closed-flowers hanging ones this year in white and pink. Last year giant fibrous plants over wintered in the sun room and provided me with a dozen feature plants for baskets and planters. I found only pink and orange- red ones this year but I am sure new colours will emerge soon. The rex-begonia is a type of this family that is grown for its magnificent leaf colour. They usually have a touch of silver in their mixture of greens, pinks and burgundies. |
During the last executive meeting at our president’s home¸ I was impressed by a huge arrangement of orange begonias that provided such a warm, welcoming display near her front door. Begonias have come a long way since our grandparents’ days. Originally they came only as fibrous, small flowers house plants that were set out on the veranda for the summer months. Today the fibrous variety comes in single colors of pink, red and white but also in doubles and range in size from mini blooms to tony sizes. Some even have frilly edges. The leaves have taken on shades of green and bronze that accent the flowers.
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Page 3 Newsletter |
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This year one of them bloomed for me with elegant dangling pink blooms. Like the other begonias, these were prized at first as house plants. They still can spend winters indoors and return to the garden when temperatures reach their summer warmth. The only members of the family that can spend the winter outdoors here in southern B.C. are two known simply as ‘hardy begonias’. They come in white or pink and enjoy a shady area and humus rich soil. They are not as brilliant as their delicate cousins but they provide a spot of color in the forest in the late summer. Begonias are easily multiplied. The fibrous ones root from cuttings in the spring. The bulbous tubers can be divided like potatoes making sure that you include a growth eye in each piece. I have also had some luck with rooting pieces that have been broken off the main plants in the summer. Just stick them into a pot and water well. The rex-begonias can be propagated from their leaves. Using a potting mix stick pieces of a leaf, with part of the main vein into the soil, water then make a tent with clear cellophane over the container. Poke holes to allow for air circulation and keep out of direct sunlight. As you can tell, these plants are a favorite of mine. If you have a special plant that you would like to share with the club just send me an e-mail and I’ll include your recommendation in one of our newsletters.
Although we are busy closing the garden down for the year, next season is right there in front of us. Check out the buds forming on all the early blooming shrubs. My first hellebores have buds already and the camellias look like they have set a good number of buds. Many of you may have picked up some seed for winter vegetables or have seeded cool season crops in a cold frame. If you are one that likes to divide perennials in the fall remember to bring a few bits to the plant exchange at the Railway museum before our October meeting, October 19. If you have any plants, seeds, cuttings to share bring them along. Try to label you donations or at least label the box or bag that you bring them in or stay around to explain what it is that you have brought so that other gardeners don’t end up with plants that they already have or that are unsuitable for their particular garden.
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Page 4 Newsletter |
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While delivering a “Thank you “ note to one of our corporate sponsors for the garden tour at Marie’s Mountain Landscaping and Design (formerly Mountain Landscape) I was impressed by the new owner, Marie Girdlay. (604 213 0717). I then got to musing that in the past few years many of the local speakers that we have had in the landscaping business have been professional business women, These ladies are not only designing gardens but are also doing the heavy work like pruning, installing and hardscape. They are well trained, talented and not afraid to get down and dirty. If you have a garden chore that is too big for you to handle why not contact one of the many local landscapers for professional results. Just a reminder: we will soon be collecting for the wreaths for the Christmas event. We still don’t know the cost of the fragrant bough-draped forms but we could start pre-ordering at the next meeting. Gardeners Club Scholarship Awarded
Our Howe Sound Secondary School Award, as you likely are aware, was
received in June by Danielle Pasco. Both the school and Danielle
have expressed their appreciation. The card from Stuart Bent, the
Vice Principal, says, "Thank you for contributing the Squamish
Gardeners Award to the students of Howe Sound Secondary.
Your generosity will help our young people pursue their desired careers, and in some cases make the difference in their abililty to continue into post secondary education." He mentions the included photo of Danielle and Nairn (presenting), and then goes on to say, "...on behalf of all staff at Howe Sound Secondary, I sincerely thank you for the support you have given our graduates." The card and photo are now in our archives. Similarly, Danielle has sent us a lovely handpainted card in which she thanks us very much for the award. DiDi Price |
As the outside gardening pace slows our club’s activities quicken. After our plant exchange, our October meeting will feature Dr. Iain Taylor from U.B.C. who will give a power point presentation on Botanical Gardens. November will have both our election of officers and volunteer committees set for the year as well as a presentation by Dave Colwell and December will feature our famous Christmas gathering at the B.A.G. with our feasting and fun seasonal creations.