In spite of the long, dry summer, root competition for moisture and nutrients from pine trees on the boulevard, and the lateness of the season, a听broad ornamental bed along the front fence is still looking lively. Interspersed among the shrubs (spirea, Hydrangea paniculata, a听large Aztec Pearl choisya, weigelas flaunting purple autumnal tones), and still bearing blooms, are hardy fuchsias, border sedums, and assorted annuals.
Prominent among the annual flowers are billowy patches of the ever-reliable 鈥楽ensation鈥� cosmos, its soft-hued daisy flowers resting gracefully amid the ferny foliage. 鈥楽ensation鈥� has long been popular with home gardeners for its long season of bloom and its tough, easy-growing nature.
On one of my early autumn bike rides through my own and adjacent neighbourhoods, I听noticed a corner house with a听broad, rock-covered boulevard where this cosmos was growing and blooming. Whether the planting was intentional or accidental I听don鈥檛 know, but it was surprising, and lovely.
Dwarf zinnias and marigolds still display bright patches of colour at the front of the bed, and听fitting in beautifully with the听cosmos has been an annual lavatera new to my garden. I found it listed in the T&T Seeds catalogue, which describes 鈥楶ink Blush鈥� as a new, multi-use dwarf lavatera that is easy to grow, in flower beds or containers.
The catalogue also suggests the 40-cm plants with their rich green foliage and large flowers would make a perfect low summer hedge. All summer and early autumn, the simple beauty of the delicately pink-striped white flowers charmed me.
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A tale of three basils. For more than a few years now, 鈥楶istou鈥� (Veseys Seeds) has been my preferred variety of dwarf, small-leaved basil 鈥� my favourite kind for its pronounced, sweet flavour and aroma and the plants鈥� neat dome shape, perfect for growing as aromatic miniature 鈥渉edges鈥� in window-box-style planters.
Still, every winter as the new catalogues begin arriving, I pounce upon new listings of basil described as uniformly dwarf and small-leaved. This year, I chose 鈥楪lobette鈥� (Richters Herbs) and 鈥楶luto鈥� (William Dam Seeds) to grow and compare with 鈥楶istou鈥� in听three separate planters.
Another quality issue I monitor for in these basils is bloom time. The longer flowering is delayed, the longer is the season of tender greens. It鈥檚 true that basil bloom can be clipped back, but once the plants鈥� reproductive programming is in play, it can be stalled for a limited time only.
All three container plantings made neat and comely little hedges. 鈥楪lobette鈥� was the first to begin blooming, in late July. To my surprise, my longtime best basil, 鈥楶istou,鈥� began flowering soon after and was usurped as my longest-season producer of tender young basil foliage.
鈥楶luto鈥� did not even begin to show its first flowers until Aug. 31. At just 20-cm high, it will be an excellent variety also for growing indoors in pots.
Next year, I鈥檒l repeat seedings of 鈥楶luto鈥� and 鈥楶istou鈥� to see whether this year鈥檚 growth and flowering pattern repeats itself. And I鈥檒l look for another dwarf variety for听the third planter, to continue the tiny basil experiment.
Last of the warmth. 鈥淪unshine on my shoulders makes me happy 鈥︹��
That sweet John Denver song sparkled its way into my mind one recent dim and drizzly October day as I stood high up an orchard ladder cutting and sawing away some of the overgrowth in a wild section of the garden.
Suddenly, as if a giant light bulb had been turned on, the sun emerged from a cover of clouds to create stunning brightness and deliver a warmth that penetrated my back and shoulders with deep comfort.
Cherish whatever moments of warm sunshine the rest of the month may bring, and anticipate its return in spring.
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GARDEN EVENTS
Orchid meeting. The Victoria Orchid Society meets Monday at 7:30 p.m. in听Gordon Head United Church Hall, 4201 Tyndall Ave. Jennifer Fabre will present Orchids of Borneo. Guests are听welcome.
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Spooky at Point Ellice. Point Ellice House and Garden, 2616 Pleasant St. in听Victoria, will host a Spooktacular Family Event Oct., 27, 28, and 29, with听tours at 5,听6, and 7 p.m. Cost for听adults $12, students $10, children $5,听family rate $34. Reservations are recommended. 250-380-6506. [email protected].
