It took a while, but I finally did听manage a modest display of horticultural patriotism to听celebrate sa国际传媒 150.
My idea was to plant a row of red and white geraniums behind a听line of lavenders in a bed alongside the driveway, but by the time I was ready to choose plants the shelving that just a week earlier was crowded with geraniums had become close to bare. The only celebratory plant I cold find was a听beautiful Dianthus with white-edged, cherry red double flowers called 鈥淲ith Glowing Hearts.鈥�
I had just about given up on the geranium idea by the time I听dropped into a Buckerfield鈥檚 store to replenish a few garden supplies. When I walked into the plant area the first thing I saw was a small, slightly bedraggled group of geraniums in bright, clear red and pure white 鈥� on sale, two plants for the price of one. I brought six home, cleaned them up, and installed them behind the lavenders.
Why behind the lavenders and not in front? Clumps of cheddar pinks already occupy that space. Another reason is tree roots. The听area is close to a side fence and neighbouring forest trees with wandering roots. Behind the听lavenders I need to plant annuals, to have the space free for removing roots and replenishing the soil before planting in the spring.
The geraniums will grow to around 30 cm tall and wide and bear their red and white flower heads all summer and well into autumn. The flower-filled 鈥淲ith Glowing Hearts鈥� plant resides at the top, house end of the row.
I鈥檓 interested in hearing what other home gardeners have done to adorn their landscapes with displays of living red and white.
Salad days. I wasn鈥檛 thinking at all听of deer when I overseeded the boulevard with microclover early in the spring, but now that its luscious plumpness has improved the appeal of the area I have a regular visitor coming to share in听the results of my efforts. A young deer is here early in the evening to nibble at the clover.
It鈥檚 a good thing this one is a gentle, shy creature, not like the cheeky adventurer a few years back who was determined to storm the not fully deer-proof gate and fence. Maybe the clover is a听good ploy after all. I鈥檝e heard of听gardeners setting out buckets of water and planting patches of听juicy greens in places along the听outside edges of their gardens听in hopes of keeping deer satisfied there. (I can hear you laughing).
Meanwhile, I expect the clover to keep the boulevard looking green and fairly presentable while it does double duty as a fertilizing agent for the lawn. Clover, like all legumes, attracts nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria to its roots. The nitrogen benefits the clover鈥檚 companion grass plants.
GARDEN EVENTS
Peninsula meeting. The Peninsula Garden Club celebrates sa国际传媒 150 on Monday, 7 p.m., at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney. Three speakers will present the past, present, and future of gardening on the Saanich Peninsula. Brad Morrison will speak about the history of gardening in the area. Bonita Elliot will demonstrate how to navigate the club鈥檚 website, and Dr. Doyle from Backfit will talk about taking care of your back while gardening. The evening will also feature a sa国际传媒 Day cake, floral displays, and a sa国际传媒 themed flower arrangement as part of the parlour show. Members and guests (drop-in fee $5) are encouraged to听wear red and white.
Qualicum meeting. Qualicum Beach Garden Club meets Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., in听the Q.B. Civic Centre. Bob Duncan will speak about growing citrus plants on the Island. Non-member drop-in fee is $3.
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Plant identification and culture workshop. The Horticulture Centre of听the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, is offering the next session in this ongoing, monthly course (can be joined at any time) on Saturday, July 15, 1 to 4 p.m. In听each session Diane Pierce introduces 25 new plants, with descriptions, preferred growing conditions, landscape uses and maintenance. Cost to members per session is $35, others $45. Cost for 12 sessions: members $350, others $450. To register call 250-479-6162. hcp.ca.