Itchy Fingers…
It’s June and we can finally settle into gardening, getting our fingers into the soil, to feel the earth beneath our feet, to smell the freshness of spring, and to test our seedlings with what may or may not be the real beginning of spring.
The winter is the best time of year because there is ample time to sit in front of the fire to pour over our gardening books; my library is chock-a-block with gardening books, old and new because I can never send them off to a book sale as I’m still looking for the new ideas I missed last winter… I still have the first garden book I ever bought, Better Ways to Successful Gardening by Isabelle and Charles Young, published by the The Calgary Albertan.
Another of my favourites is The Ultimate Container Gardening that is filled with ideas on finding the perfect pot that accentuates form, shape, and the perfect colour combination. I love the use of indoor and outdoor plants; the use of carefully placed rocks – large and small that completes the scene.
Imagine in your mind how tiny seedlings will erupt into baskets filled with ivy dripping over the edge as oranges and yellows grasp your attention and fill the artist’s eye with pleasure.
A great tip is to take your pots or photos on your phone to the Plant Nursery with you so you can imagine how your choice of colours will work with that particular pot. Spend time testing combinations of colours and carefully read the labels that give the height and other information for fully developed plants.
Take good care to check if the plants need sun or shade. For example, pansies quickly wilt in the hot sun. Find plants that need little water as we’re learning that the snowpack in the mountains to the west is about half the normal amount this year.
April and early spring are always difficult for me, I’m so keen to clean up the garden and to soak up the spring sun and begin to tidy the scraggily winter mess that I run the risk of disturbing my darling ladybugs. They come out of hibernation to linger in the warm sun under the foliage, they, too are longing for the summer sun.
Ladybugs, whose botanical name means “small red sphere,” are the natural enemies of a large number of pests, mainly aphids and can eat as many as 5,000 aphids in their lifetimes. They also feed on insect eggs and small larvae. Children love them, when they find them, they should be encouraged to put them back into the garden to do the work for their gardener friends as they contribute to a healthier garden ecosystem.
Plant marigolds, dahlias, daisies, asters, cosmos, calendula, coreopsis, tansies, and yarrow to attract them to your garden.
Don’t forget to plant vegetables amongst your flowers. I love the rich deep green texture of potato leaves and the feathery carrot tops along with rich green lettuce varieties that add density and interest to your flower bed.
Normally by the May long weekend, but not always, we can begin to think it’s safe to put out our precious seedlings. Caution – check the weather charts or be prepared to haul them in and out until the conditions are perfect. Night temps of at least 10°C.
The climate is changing and warming, so our old ideas on time and dates should be double checked. Plants are expensive and you don’t want to have to replace them after a frost bite.
Once June is fully underway, we’re safe to put our babies out for a full summer of flowering glory and a deep sense of satisfaction in preparation for another beautiful summer. Enjoy!
Joey Stewart is an award-winning gardener who lives in Killarney.
Photo Credit: Lorne Kingwell
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