Happy Easter! Time to dig with enthusiasm and joy. The smell of freshly turned earth is hard to beat.
Are your seeds ready to go? Have you decided where to plant that special shrub you have wished for, for so long? This should be a fun year. The flower of the year is the Osteospermum daisy, commonly called African daisy. They come in a great variety of colours, are very showy and small enough for a pot, planter or hanging basket if space is limited.
Our full moon, known as a Pink moon, is April 29, named after a species of early blooming wild flower.
Celebrate Earth Day on April 22.
We Dig – Do It Now Tips
• All spring digging should be completed by the end of the month
• Shear winter flowering heathers and forsythia after blooming
• Plant glads and dahlias in Easter week
• Plant porch and patio tubs
• All plants and the lawns need help with spring growth…feed!
• Conifers should be pruned before new growth starts
• Sow grass seed
• Rake grass before mowing, keep at 1 1/2 – 2 inch height
• Herbs like lime and grit. Mix one handful of ground oysters shells into each herb planting hole
• Remove, by rubbing, all soft buds now appearing on main trunk of young trees
• Bait garden and flower beds for slugs
• Deadhead spring bulbs but do not cut the leaves back
• Plant fuschias and red hot pokers to attract hummingbirds
Did you know…
…that the flower of the month is the Sweet Pea, meaning goodbye?
…that Anna’s hummingbird overwinters here on the South Coast?
…that members of the mint family have square stems? Check it out by rolling the stem between your fingers to feel the four flat sides
…Oak trees do not produce acorns for the first 20 years of their life?
…that according to a recent study (Yale University) there are three trillion trees on earth?
…that the Provincial flower, the Pacific Dogwood, was chosen in 1956?
Pick of the Month – Ornamental Plum, also known as cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera)
A small to medium sized tree, native to Asia. Purple leaved trees with fragrant pink flowers, such as the Thundercloud, are most popular. Good in zones 5-8; likes partial shade; moderately drought tolerant; and prefers well-draining, acidic soil. Bees are attracted to the flowers and birds to the red fruit.
AND…Veggie Definitions:
• Kale, as in “..above and beyond the kale of duty”
• Leek, as in “…it cost me an arm and a leek”
• Herb, as in “…I herb it on the grapevine”
• Lettuce, as in “…you’ve lettuce down the wrong path”
• Lentil, as in “..it’s not over lentil it’s over”
Chemainus Communities in Bloom next meets Tuesday, April 16, 7 p.m. at the Steeples Activity Room. Check out our blog at: wedigchemainus.ca.