The Twelve Days of Christmas. The mention of this Christmas carol will either start you humming it (let’s face it who can remember all twelve gifts) or start you cursing about how it’s stuck playing in your head. In either case, you may wonder what this carol has to do with gardening.
Well as the carol goes, the first day’s gift is a partridge in a pear tree. Although not many of our true loves are wishing for a partridge in a pear tree this Christmas, that special gardener may be happy to receive a pear tree. Surprisingly, certain pear trees can be grown in Calgary’s Zone 3. RCG has successfully grown an early gold pear tree on the west side of the garden. The early gold pear tree blooms white flowers in the spring and the golden pears are ready to harvest in September. However, it may take five or more years until the tree produces. Other pear trees that should grow well in Calgary are the golden spice pear tree and the John pear tree.
This holiday season I hope you will visit the RCG in anticipation of finding a partridge in the pear tree. You never know, you may see a grey partridge wondering around the frozen garden looking for that pear tree to celebrate the holidays with.
Merry Christmas Renfrew!
The Smiling Gardeners
P.S. RCG is wishing for two metal 15-inch gently used or new bow rakes for Christmas. If you are able to help Santa with this request, please email [email protected].
Click here to the Renfrew Community News home page for the latest Renfrew community updates.
