The classic beauty of Ivory silk
I bet an observant gardener could declare a new species or variety of flower open almost every day of June and July, if he really paid attention to the game. At least, it seems that way to me, but that may be because I am so busy with life's demands, I only stop to notice what's in bloom every once in a while (observationally challenged, one might say.)
I'm always pleasantly surprised to see another favourite starting its seasonal show (and I really have countless favourites.) Today, it was an evening primrose, with the first few bright yellow cups open to the hot sun. For the last week or two, it was countless amazing varieties of peonies struggling to keep their heavy heads up in the air. This fluffy pink one is in my home garden in Torryburn, and like many I have, either salvaged from a garden renovation or a gift from someone long ago, it no longer has any variety name that I know of. But these giant, fully double, heads come back year after year with one or two more buds each time and a lush background of shiny foliage that remains attractive well into the fall. My only advice for that season is to remove the spent flowers right after blooming, to keep the plants tidy and so they can devote all their strength to storing up energy for next year.
The other picture today is an ivory silk tree, also known as Japanese tree lilac. It is indeed a lilac (Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk'), but you would never guess it to look at it. It is a classic small tree with a single branch-free trunk and well-shaped, upright oval crown. I can't say enough about its many attributes, such as deer and disease resistance, winter-hardiness and moderate growth rate (allowing it to be used in much tighter spots than most trees). When you see it now and for the next couple weeks in full bloom, you'll be sold. The best place to see these dense little trees covered in huge bright white flowers is on the grounds of Rothesay Town Hall, where there are five or six of them. I'm sure you'll be impressed.
On another topic, I'm having a great time in my vegetable garden this year, not only because I got off to an early start due to good weather, but also because this is year two for the garden, and I can focus more on planting and less on bed and fence building. And the growth is phenomenal. The potatoes are more than 90 centimetres tall, green and still growing, with flowers just starting to open. By some stroke of good luck, there are virtually no potato bugs on them, whereas in past years, I have had thousands. I was all ready to pick them off as the adults arrived to lay eggs, but today I saw the very first one, so no need to mount a search yet. If they wait much longer, it will be too late for them to have any affect on the production of potatoes no matter how numerous they get. Greens are coming on fast and furious: swiss chard, beet greens and spinach. And I picked enough leaf and Romaine lettuce in 10 minutes to make a huge salad for Sunday night dinner. Speaking of the above plants, they are all in the category of things you can transplant as you thin. That to me is the logical way to fill your garden to its full potential, taking advantage of the smallest empty spaces to set out nice neat rows of well-spaced transplants. Also a great way to fill the gaps left when certain crops just fail to germinate. Just be sure to wet the ground before and after you plant them, and keep them good and moist for a couple weeks until they get established.
Garden correspondents with Peter Kinsella in Renforth
Peter was away in Ontario for a week or so, and upon returning found the weeds hadn't taken their holidays at the same time.
"Did you ever notice that when you're away, the weeds in the vegetable garden grow even faster?" I know what he means!
Inevitably, Peter sought out a hosta nursery or two while away and brought back some new varieties.
"I came back with 35 new ones, actually, and that brings the total in my collection to over 500 now. The front yard beds are getting pretty full, more from the existing plants getting larger every season than from the new ones. I guess I'll have to start on the back yard next."
Because I got some garlic cloves from Peter this spring and planted them in my garden, I am keenly watching their progress, and asked him what I should be seeing or doing next.
"Each plant is going to make about eight to 10 leaves, then send up a long flower stem at the top. You don't want to let it go to seed, as that reduces production of new bulbs. When that flower stem is about a foot long, and still tender, it's great chopped in salad, or stir-fried in butter. It's just a mild version of the regular garlic flavour."
Peter is in the process of replacing some of the original plastic netting in his deer fence.
"That stuff was pretty thin, and has decomposed in the sun so that the deer can tear holes in it pretty easily. I found some really strong, thick poly netting at an aquaculture supply store in St. George. They have large remnants that are left over from making the big nets for raising salmon. I just cut them to fit my fence, which in places is about 10 feet tall. I tried something interesting on the inside of the fence. I planted a curly willow, and have trained it into an espalier against the fence, which works perfectly as support. Then I'll plant vegetables and vines at the base of the willow that can climb through its branches."
Like Peter, I'm finding all kinds of opportunities to grow vegetables and flowering vines on the inside of my deer fence. Barrier fencing sure is the way to go, at least for back-yard gardening, if deer are a big problem in your area. Poly netting or page wire attached to wooden poles at least two metres tall will keep the dear creatures out of your stuff.
Duncan Kelbaugh is a gardener living in Saint John. His column appears Tuesday.
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