Well, is winter behind us? Is spring just around the corner? Only the groundhog knows for sure. Feb. 2 is the day. Groundhog Day celebrates mid winter – six weeks have passed and six weeks to go.
It is time to sit down with the seed catalogues and enjoy the dream of a summer garden. If the sun is shining, spend time outside looking for new buds.
Valentine’s Day is coming up. Chocolates and red roses are the order of the day. Why not a potted rose that can be enjoyed year round? The red rose was linked with Venus, the Roman goddess of love and mother of Valentine’s Day favourite, Cupid.
Family Day will be celebrated Feb. 20.
WE DIG – DO IT NOW TIPS
* Start hoeing and pulling weeds to avoid overload later. The soggy ground makes it easier.
* Cut away any broken branches from winter storms as close to the main branch as possible.
* Create new rock gardens away from trees and shrubs to avoid leaf accumulation.
* Prune wisteria, clipping back lateral and side branches to within two or three buds.
* Bring dahlias into the warmth – divide and expose new shoots to daylight.
* Prune fruit trees and summer flowering shrubs, including roses before growth buds swell and open. All pruning of trees and vines must be done before the sap runs.
* Sow hardy annual seeds, such as sweet peas, as soon as weather breaks.
* Plant broad beans and peas.
* Divide Pampas grass and red hot poker plants.
* Clean and sharpen tools.
DID YOU KNOW …
… The flower of the month is the violet? Meaning modesty, virtue and faithfulness?
… During the Middle Ages it was believed that birds chose their mates on Valentine’s Day.
… That slugs start feasting as soon as shoots emerge? Scatter ground egg shells around to deter.
… A herb is from the leaf of a plant and a spice is from the seed, bark, root, berry or bulb?
… Fig flowers are carnivorous, they trap and digest the wasps that pollinate them?
… Pineapples are neither pines nor apples, they are a group of berries that have fused together?
PICK OF THE MONTH
Helleborus – also know as Lenten rose. They bloom from late winter to early spring and provide subtle colour until the earth warms up. Saucer shaped flowers that come in pink, yellow, white, cream, green, maroon, purple, spotted, speckled or black. They are single or double forms with ruffled or smooth petals. The flowers last six to eight weeks but unfortunately they are toxic. They like moist easily drained organic soil and partial shade.
AND …
My wife is a water sign. I am an earth sign. Together we make mud!
(This is a regular monthly report from Chemainus Communities In Bloom. Check out https://wedigchemainus.ca or Chemainus Communities In Bloom on Facebook).
