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Many hands make light work for planting in Chemainus

Henry Road traffic circle given an enormous burst of colour
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Communities In Bloom members were out in full force for Saturday’s planting spree at the Henry Road roundabout. (Photo by Pete Cavanaugh)

Planting thousands of plants in a few hours is a challenge, but many hands make it fun! Wow! The sun was shining Saturday and by 11 a.m. the Henry Road traffic circle had been transformed by 26 volunteers and approximately 3,000 plants! The bed preparation was done on Thursday, another two hours and 20 pairs of hands.

Along with the flower of the year, the osteospermun (African) daisy, there is Dusty Miller and lobelia.

The full moon, also known as the strawberry, rose or hot moon, appears on June 29. Summer solstice is June 21, and let’s not forget Father’s Day on June 17. A very busy month!

Water restrictions are in effect. Do you have water barrels attached to downspouts to catch roof runoff? Are you recycling grey water? Food for thought!

We Dig – Do It Now Tips

• Finish planting hanging 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 11/2 to 2 inches, to keep lawn green and roots cool and moist

• Feed fuschias, they need water and fertilizer frequently

• Plant heat loving veggies such as cucumbers, eggplant and peppers

• Deadhead spring blooming flowers

• Cut off chive flowers to encourage new growth

Did you know…

…Flower of the month is the rose?… meaning ‘I love you’…

…that an average sized tree will make 170,100 pencils?

…an apple is 25 per cent air?…that is why it floats on water

…a banana is an Arabic word for fingers?

…hummingbirds are the only known birds to fly backwards?

Pick of the Month - California Glory Fremontodendron, commonly known as a Flannel bush! Yellow flowers all summer. Plant in full sun in a Southern location. It can grow 12 to 20 feet tall. Grows well in dry soil with very little water but requires good drainage, and needs regular watering when first planted.

AND…

Why wasn’t the moon hungry? Because it was full!

Next meeting for Communities in Bloom is June 26, 7 p.m., Steeples Activity room.

New members welcome! For more info call Erica at 250-246-3395.

Follow our blog: wedigchemainus.ca.

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Massive planting job is conducted by Communities In Bloom members. (Photo by Pete Cavanaugh)