Dear Helen: Are you familiar with a sprawling vine with shiny leaves and fragrant, white flowers that was identified for me as Confederate jasmine?
L.P.
Confederate jasmine is another name for star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), an evergreen vine with lax stems bearing sweet-scented summer flowers. The name you were given comes from the plant’s primary point of origin in lands previously known as the Confederate Malay states.
Once these plants are established with good root systems, they are prized for being heat and drought tolerant. They are popular in California, Arizona and the southeastern United States.
Dear Helen: I am looking for a daphne I saw blooming in late winter. The flowers had a wonderful fragrance. Which daphne might it have been?
P.M.
The daphne that blooms in late winter and early spring, with an exquisite perfume, is winter daphne (Daphne odora). This shrub needs a very well drained soil and shelter from the hottest sun.
Unfortunately, daphnes in general have become difficult to find. More easily grown and more likely available is one called Eternal Fragrance.
Dear Helen: Were you aware that wood ashes can be used to control clubroot? I sprinkled them around the base of plants that went on to produce find heads of broccoli.
M.D.
Clubroot, a soil micro-organism that infects cabbage-family vegetables, causes tumour-like swellings in the roots and stunting or death in the plants. The disease organism does not thrive in cool, alkaline soils. In our acidic coastal soils, clubroot is a common problem.
The disease spores can last up to two decades in soils. Rotating plantings and cooling summer soils with mulches can be helpful.
Even in soils where the clubroot pathogen is present, damage can be averted by preparing the soil with a little more lime than usual, enough to bring the pH level up to just above the neutral 7 on a scale of 1 to 14. A pH of 7.2 or a little higher is ideal.
The higher pH helps to suppress the disease organism, and it also is of benefit to soil bacteria that help to control clubroot.
Wood ashes are strongly alkaline, with a pH of 10 to 12. They need to be used with caution in gardens. You must have used a very judicious sprinkling of them around the plants to bring the soil pH up to helpful levels. Wood ashes also contain a little phosphorus and around three per cent potassium, a major element that helps to strengthen cell walls and harden plant structures against disease and weather extremes.
Weekend column. I’ll be taking a break from writing the Saturday column this week. The following Garden Events cover the period to Wednesday, Sept. 6. May you enjoy the fruits of your gardening labours on the upcoming holiday weekend.
GARDEN EVENTS
Garden art. Abkhazi Garden, 1964 Fairfield Rd. in Victoria, invites the public to view paintings and sketches inspired by the beautiful garden and created by local artists who have been part of the Artists in the Garden program. The art will be on display from Labour Day (Monday, Sept. 4) to Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. On Labour Day, weather permitting, artists will be in attendance with their artwork on display in the garden. Starting on Sept. 6, the artwork will be on display in the tearoom and gift shop.
VHS meeting. The Victoria Horticultural Society will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Garth Homer Centre, 813 Darwin Ave. Josh Wagler, co-founder of Edible Landscape Design, will speak about ways to integrate food growing into home gardens, whether they be small or large, shady or sunny. Non-member drop-in fee $5. vichortsociety.org.
Gordon Head meeting. The Gordon Head Garden Club will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Gordon Head Lawn Bowling Club, 4505 Lambrick Way. Jillan Tuson, a Saanich municipality arborist, will speak about the Urban Forest Strategy for tree planting and small tree maintenance, including the impact of climate change on establishing new trees. Visitors are welcome at no charge.
Dahlia meeting. The Victoria Dahlia Society will meet on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. in St. Michael’s Church, 4733 West Saanich Rd. The meeting will be the society’s annual Parlour Show of members’ blooms. Visitors are welcome to join the gathering as observers.
