Your cart is currently empty!
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
We’ll send you event reminders
Your cart is currently empty!
We’ll send you event reminders
My colourful flowers were so beautiful. The Emily Carr rose that had such horrible winter damage is covered in deep red roses. One of my daylilies is blooming all sunshine yellow with red. And then there is my dahlia.
There have been a few showers without the drama of thunder and wind, and I have been really enjoying them. The humidity we get goes straight to my knees and makes life miserable, so the cool rain is welcome. As most of my garden is in pots, I love having a morning off from watering duties.
This morning as I did my chores, I stopped to take a picture. The colours of my flowers were so beautiful. The Emily Carr rose that had such horrible winter damage is covered in deep red roses. One of my daylilies is blooming all sunshine yellow with red. And then there is my dahlia. This is the first dahlia that I ever grew and each year the flower blooms a joyful pink with a golden center. This dahlia, Deerhurst Sunrise, was a great introduction to the world of dahlia growing. The holes in the leaves of my dahlia are slug damage. The slugs were very bad this spring but now the toads are hard at work and the damage has stopped; I picked off a fair number of slugs as well. Those little purple bells are creeping bellflower which is a horrible invasive that came with the house. I continue to try to get ahead of them.
As I continued my chores, I became distracted by one of my tomato pots. My tomato, Black Krim, is spectacular this year. The plant is big and strong, and it is starting to form fruit. I have a calendula tucked in with it that is blooming happily and a great quantity of alyssum to attract aphid predators. The nasturtium I planted is dark and mysterious which will make my salads sing. I make sure to water this tomato regularly, but I still worry because it underwent a huge trauma when the chipmunk displaced it this spring. I find that my Indigo Rose tomato that the chipmunk damaged is now showing signs of that trauma. While it is forming flowers and growing well, the leaves are curling in places and that indicates that the stress it went through may be its downfall. I live in hope.
The book that I have been waiting for has finally arrived. It is called A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee: Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators by Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla, with spectacular illustrations by Ann Sanderson. This is also known as the Ontario and Great Lakes Edition, so it is very relevant to our area.
Many of us are trying to find or identify native plants species and this is the ideal book for that. Our horticultural club is planting a local park with native plants and this book could prove invaluable. Many times we are looking for the pollinators such as bees and butterflies, but we need to have the habitat to nurture them through their entire cycle. This book helps to explain that with clear illustrations and descriptions. The pages are laid out to show the plants with illustrations or photographs and a lot of detailed information. This will help you if you are trying to source a particular plant.
Most importantly the book calls attention to the endangered rusty-patched bumblebee and how important it is to preserve areas for pollinator habitat. I find this to be a positive and helpful book and I hope that maybe someday I will find a rusty-patched bumblebee in my garden.
Cleo and I are watching the orioles eating the oranges I left for them and smiling at the bouncy chickadees as they bop up and down on the branches. Enjoy your week. Judith (Email: sghorticultural@gmail.com) Veggie Bites are available at https://sghorticultural.wixsite.com/website or https://gardeningcalendar.ca/articles/veggie-bites/
Logging in to comment gives you more features, but it is not required.
Learn sustainable mushroom cultivation. Along with their sustainability, numerous types of mushrooms are a nutritious food with decreased calories and no cholesterol or fat. Use these eco-friendly tips and start growing mushrooms today!
Learn how to dry hydrangea flowers for stunning winter table arrangements. Follow these simple steps from Master Gardener Gail Labrosse.
Create a stylish indoor garden with modern and suitable planters. Find tips on choosing pots and selecting the right plants for successful indoor gardening.
How to grow flowers with vegetables together, companion plants for beauty and food, giving attention to the soil, sun, water and maintenance.
Explore the aromatic world of lemon verbena, a beloved garden plant with intense lemon-flavored oils. Learn how to grow, overwinter, and incorporate this amazing herb into your culinary creations.
Explore 11 stunning water gardens, gain inspiration, and exchange ideas with fellow enthusiasts. Help support local initiatives and enhance your property value. Join the Greater Ottawa Water Garden and Horticultural Society.
Learn the specific pruning needs of your clematis based on its flowering season to promote healthy growth and vibrant blooms. Expert tips and techniques explained.
Welcome the spring with the gorgeous, fragrant blooms of Red Trillium! Discover all you need to know to successfully cultivate this iconic wildflower and appreciate its beauty in your garden. Learn about the White Trillium, its sister plant in the same botanical family.
Smooth yellow violets are highly desirable in woodland gardens or groundcover with delightful flowers. It is easy to grow and care for.
GardeningCalendar.ca gets some funding from advertisers. If you click on links and advertisements at no cost to you, the site may receive a small commission that helps fund its operation.
© 2024 J&S Calendars Ltd.