Well, May has come and gone. A bit on the dry side but the blossoms around town are wonderful. The big plant is on – Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29. Community in Bloom members will be busy at the Henry Road traffic circle. If you would like to join us, please contact Diane (250-210-0396). We would love to have more volunteers – it is fun and rewarding. Gardening knowhow is not necessary. A total of 2,770 plants have been ordered and consist of Cosmos, Sunpatiens and Lantana. It should be a burst of colour around town.
Thanks goes out to Paul Beltgens of Jemico Enterprises for his donation of mulch. Your generosity and support are very much appreciated.
Celebrate summer solstice on June 20 and don’t forget to pick up a gift for Dad.
WE DIG – DO IT NOW TIPS
• Finish planting hangings baskets, patio pots and window boxes with flowers – keep them well fed and watered during the summer months
• Prune lilacs after blooming
• Plant gladiolas for late summer colour
• Feed vegetable gardens once a month now through September with an all-purpose fertilizer
• Thin heavy crops of fruit on apple, pear and plum trees to reduce branch weight and increase fruit size
• Keep compost piles dampened and well aerated
• Keep grass long, set mower blades to 1 ½ to 2 inches, to keep lawn green and roots cool and moist
• Feed fuchsias, they need water and fertilizer frequently
• Plant heat loving veggies such as cucumbers, eggplant and peppers
• Dead head spring blooming flowers
• Cut off chive flowers to encourage new growth
DID YOU KNOW
… a few slices of cucumber on a tin plate and your garden will be free of pests all season?
… that cutting a whole cucumber and placing it in boiling water will create an aroma that reduces stress
… flower of the month is the rose ? Meaning – I love you.
… geraniums will repel cabbage worms and are good to plant among roses?
… did you know that June 5 is World Environment Day?
PICK OF THE MONTH – Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Native to Mexico. Annual flowers with colourful daisy-like flowers, blooming throughout the summer months. They attract birds, bees and butterflies. Cosmos will grow in both beds and containers and make great cut flowers. They don’t need special soil preparation as too rich soil will encourage foliage at the expense of the blooms. Soil should be well draining. Cosmos can tolerate dry weather and are considered drought resistant. In order to prolong flowering, Cosmos should be dead headed frequently.
AND …
I stood in my garden early yesterday morning wondering where the sun had gone. Then it dawned on me!