Bees Need Water and the Bee Hotel

Bees need water and this water is a good source for the bees in the hotels. My pond has some cattails that need to be cut so the new growth can flourish. Another native plant I have near the pond is a bog plant called Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia).

Greetings fellow gardeners 

I have been staying close to home as the basement people continue to bustle about. As of now they are pressure washing, which is a great sign. Because I have been staying put, I have been able to do a few things in my garden. I am being careful not to tread on the garden if possible as I do not want to compact my soil. 

This Year’s Bee Hotel Arriving

Late last week Lydia Wong arrived in my garden to reinstall the bee hotels. She was able to point out a great many native bees that were enjoying the cherry blossoms and various early flowers. I have made a point of making sure my tiny pond is better prepared for the season. Bees need water and this water is a good source for the bees in the hotels. My pond has some cattails that need to be cut so the new growth can flourish. The thimbleberry needs to be cut as well as it is really pushing into the pond. Another native plant I have near the pond is a bog plant called Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia); it is a nice addition. I also want to add some more plants with scented flowers and perhaps some vegetables to attract the bees. 

Bloodroot Update

With all the rain we had this past while I found that I missed the blooms of my bloodroot. It is an early spring bloomer, but it closes up at night or if it is cloudy. I was very disappointed until I remembered that I had planted a large amount of it in deep shade at the side of my yard. It is about two weeks behind my bloodroot under the crab apple and there it was blooming like crazy. It made my day.

Grandpa’s Potatoes

My Grandpa’s potatoes are up. I just covered the little green leaves and am waiting for the next leaves to poke through. It is a fascinating potato. My grandpa started growing them around 1911 and then my father grew them and then he passed them to me. I only had a couple to begin with, so I have been trying to build up my stock. I have one pot for seed potatoes and one for eating potatoes and I treasure them. As they have been carefully selected over the years, I find that they are not susceptible to diseases and pests and the potatoes are beautifully formed. And tasty.

I am so happy to see the sunshine. There are now branches in my firepit area ready to burn, and I am glad to see all the kindling I am getting from the larger branches. I have a burn permit and always check to see if there is a burn ban in place.  As I am waiting for the basement people to finish up for the day, I see flashes of colour by my birdfeeders. Bright yellow finches are flitting about, and the brilliant orange Baltimore orioles have returned. How wonderful! Enjoy your week. Judith. (Email:  sghorticultural@gmail.com)  Veggie Bites are available at https://sghorticultural.wixsite.com/website or https://gardeningcalendar.ca/category/veggie-bites/