Dear Helen: What are the best bulbs to plant for feeding bees as they emerge early in the spring?
B.L.
Dear B.L.: Plant crocuses. The earliest to flower are the snow crocus. Cream Beauty is a robust favourite. Gypsy Girl is lovely.
Plant the later large Dutch crocus too, along with snowdrops (Galanthus), grape hyacinth (Muscari) and flowering onions (Allium). Consider planting some winter heathers too.
Bees love the flowers.
Dear Helen: I am seeking roots (corms?) for Dracunculus vulgaris (voodoo lily, dragon arum). I'd like to know also where best to locate the plant in the garden.
N.H.
Dear N.H.: I can't find this tuber listed in the wholesale supplier catalogues that I have. That does not mean no outlets will be selling it. Phone a few garden centres near you to find out if there is a local source. Late summer to early autumn planting is recommended.
If you fail to find a local source, a mail order one is Fraser's Thimble Farms on Saltspring Island. To access the listing go to thimblefarms.com and click on bulbs.
Voodoo lily is a Mediterranean plant that thrives in warm places and in windy, seaside sites. The metre-tall plant is appropriate company for rock rose (Cistus) and evergreen herbs like rosemary, lavender and sage.
Dracucnulus is a rather bizarre, tropical-looking plant with big, divided leaves that fan out to form a sort of elegant staging for the 45-cm, wavy-edged, purple-red spathe (like an arum lily) enclosing a long, needle-like, dark purple spadix.
The vulgar aspect of the flower is the smell of rotting flesh it releases for the first day or two of bloom. The odour is designed to attract pollinators that like that sort of thing. This is not a plant to locate beside a picnic table or near a kitchen window.
Dear Helen: Why do people take a witch-hunting approach to wasps? Please tell people about this under-appreciated insect.
J.J.
Dear J.J.: Wasps are feared because their stings can be nasty and cause allergic reactions in some people. The wasps can also be a bit aggressive.
But you are right. The common "yellowjacket" wasp is a beneficial insect in gardens. These wasps catch huge numbers of caterpillars and other insects to feed their young until late summer, when they no longer have larvae to raise.
Then they switch to sweet foods and feed on ripe fruit. That is why late summer is the most troublesome time for wasp stings as we are picking ripe fruit. Picking early in the morning before wasps are fully active is a helpful avoidance practice.
GARDEN EVENTS
Chrysanthemum meeting. The Victoria Chrysanthemum Society meets on Thursday at 7: 30 p.m. in St. Matthias Church Hall, 600 Richmond Ave. A parlour show will be featured.
Floral art. The Mid Island Floral Art Club will meet on Thursday at 2 p.m. in St. Stephens Church Hall, 150 Village Way in Qualicum Beach. Margaret Leeuw will demonstrate some "thoroughly modern designs." See how to look beyond the obvious to transform flowers and foliage into modern floral designs. All welcome. Guest fee is $5. Information at www.mifac.org or call 250-752-2179.
Flower and vegetable show. The View Royal Garden Club will host its annual Flower and Vegetable Show on Saturday at Shoreline Community School, 2750 Shoreline Dr., with public viewing from 1 to 3 p.m. Admission of $5 includes door prize tickets and refreshments served from 1 to 2: 45 p.m. There will be baked goods and garden items for sale. Information, 250-478-5880.
HCP courses. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, is offering the following courses. To register, call 250-479-6162. hcp.ca
- Ethnobotany of southern Vancouver Island, Saturday, Sept. 22, 1 to 4 p.m. Learn about the long history of First Nations food gathering and their use of native plants in all aspects of life. A tour of the ethnobotany trail at HCP will follow a short classroom session. Cost to members $25, others $35.
- Advanced Pruning, Sept. 22 and 29, Oct. 6, 9 a.m. to noon. Basic pruning techniques will be reviewed and applied to advanced strategies for encouraging desirable structure, reduced maintenance and long-term plant health This course is outdoors. Bring pruning shears. Cost to members $90, others $125.
