Fall seems to have come early this year and all our customers are telling us they aren't ready for it.  It feels like it just got nice and now it is all over.  I'm gonna say, Summer was like a bad boyfriend; arriving late, having a few short, warm, lovely, weeks of fun and then he left early and we were ditched, left with nothing but a cold fall shoulder to cry on.

And winter...Oh my gosh, winter is coming and there is not even the prospect of another Summer until JUNE.  How will we get through the dark, dank, wet, wild, windy winter?

Spring will come...and planting spring blooming bulbs is a great way to brighten your garden to welcome Spring.  Planting bulbs is one of the easiest forms of gardening.  In fact there is a huge North America-wide campaign called "Dig, Drop, Done" aimed at teaching the younger generation how easy bulb planting is and how simple it is to add beautiful flowers to your tubs and/or gardens.  Many of us already know the simple joy of planting Spring Bulbs.  

What I like is that you plant them in the fall, planning for a drift of daffodils here, and a splash of crocuses there, a colourful combination of tulips in the big pot by the front door and some more to look at from the kitchen window. 

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Spring is in the air and gardeners all around town are planning out their summer gardens. Glossy magazines showcase all the beautiful summer flowering bulbs that you can add to your garden in the Spring and enjoy not only all summer but for many years.

This is the time to choose your summer flowering bulbs! Corms of Gladiolus, roots of Hosta, Hardy Geraniums, Day lilies Alstroemeria, tubers of Peonies and Dahlias, and true bulbs of Dutch Iris and Lilies are all in your garden centre for you to choose from now.

Not only is your garden well planned by choosing now, but you will get the best selection now and packaged bulbs and roots are much cheaper than buying the potted plants later on. The choice is nearly endless and the possibilities amazing.

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Deer in the garden is about as hot a topic as it gets! While many gardeners still hold to the gentle nature of gardening; willing to give a bit for Bambi and a bit for ourselves, others have been pushed very close to the edge. I have to admit 'a bit for Bambi' should be only a light nibble before first light but when he or she is back for midnight snacks, every night doing the block, it gets pretty annoying.

For some gardeners it is the fact that Bambi never comes to visit you until your favourite rose is about to bloom, and the next morning you stand in disbelief staring at the gaping hoof prints and whatever sad, torn up canes remain. The odd, small bud left on the ground as the proverbial call sign, Uncle Buck was here! As if you needed any proof. This is usually when it gets ugly. Spouses rush off to work, after all, they've heard it all before and they know nothing can relieve your anguish.

This is when you need the ear of a fellow gardener. Only then will you be heard as a balanced nature lover whose only wish is for nature to fit into your overall garden plan and not the other way around.

How about a list of deer resistant bulbs to get you started. Most gardeners know that the deer generally leave daffodils alone but here are some other bulbs that are quite resistant to midnight raids.

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Fall blooming bulbs are the tiny treasures of the autumn garden. As the days shorten and the shadows lengthen, the autumn crocus and colchicum make their début. As much as the spring crocus herald the coming of Spring and the end of winter, the autumn crocus announce fall is coming, time for warm sweaters and long walks, good books and homemade soup. It's time to gather your harvest in, and collect flowers to dry as airy keepsake of the glorious summer we've enjoyed.

These bulbs are planted in late summer to early fall with their blooming period to follow immediately afterwards. They should be planted with bonemeal to feed the bulb and encourage blooming in well drained soil. They look great tucked into rock gardens, around pavers and at path edges.

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The glorious blooms of Crocosmia brighten up the late summer garden with ease. This South African native is so happy in our Vancouver Island climate that one might wonder why it was not native here. Deer resistant, drought tolerant and winter hardy it out performs many other summer perennials.

On full display in Campbell River's, Discovery Harbour Mall, the blooms of the Crocosmia hybrid, Lucifer, are attracting a lot of attention. Growing three to four feet tall this perennials has fiery, scarlet-red flowers shaped like a delicate gladiolus, arching out from the grass like foliage. It is the perfect compliment to Perovskia (Russian Sage) or Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan).

Crocosmia is cold hardy to zone 5 (Campbell River is zone 7) and should be planted in a sunny location with good drainage. Plant with bonemeal for root growth and plenty of blooms and some good organic matter such as steer manure.

Enjoy!

...Experience the Joy of Gardening!

 

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Enjoying the scent and beauty of paperwhites during the winter is one of the simplest ways to bring your garden indoors. Not only does it smell and look beautiful, it also adds a growing/living element to your home. For young and old alike, it is fun to watch them grow.

It can be nice to plan for paperwhites to bloom during the Christmas Holidays when families are together and we enjoy entertaining in our homes. Paperwhites make great gifts. They are simply enough that children could plant them as gifts for grandparents or special teachers.

However you decide to grow them I'm sure you will enjoy their beauty and lovely scent.

You will need:

A shallow bowl or pot about 6 inches across. Clear, glass bowls are both beautiful and allow you to enjoy the novelty of seeing the roots grow.Enough pebbles to fill the pot. You can also use other materials to plant your bulbs into such as marbles or glass beads.5 paperwhite bulbs (or more if you choose a larger container.)

Plant your paperwhites in pebbles in shallow containers (or shallow in deeper containers). The bulbs should be deep enough to be anchored down but do not completely cover them. You can plant larger containers with more bulbs and the bulbs look best planted close together. Add water to your container but be sure that the level of the water is below the bottom of the bulbs.

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Tulips come in colours that range from pristine white through yellow, orange, pink, rose, red, green, blue, purple and even black. While that may sound shocking what is more amazing is how beautifully the green markings enhance the pink of varieties like 'Greenland' and how clean and fresh the green markings are on the otherwise pure white variety 'Spring Green'.

'Blue Amiable' and 'Blue Parrot' are two blue tulips with differing shapes that both look steely mauve-blue with other pink flowers and especially nice with a splash of white.

Being born on Valentines Day, I have always had a affinity with red, and red tulips never disappoint appearing at once vibrant and classic. Orange and yellow are colour trends that are gaining popularity currently. While these colours were once the shades left behind, now we notice that they are often chosen first.

Both orange and yellow look fabulous with purple and blue, which always takes us back to our school days and art classes where we learned how the opposite sides of the colour wheel are the complimentary colours.

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Everyone loves the magnificent blooms of the Amaryllis. Trumpet shaped flowers are up to 9 inches across and displayed in shades of pink, white and deep Christmasy red.

Amaryllis hybrids should be grown indoors and make spectacular potted plants that are sure to amaze. Amaryllis Hybrids include Red Lion (large deep red), Lilac Wonder (fuschia pink), Apple Blossom (light, shimmery pink), and Mary Lou (double flower, creamy white with pink edges), Vivaldi (salmon with white stripes) and Pasadena (double red with white star). Amaryllis bulbs are easy to grow for yourself or as Christmas gifts.

Method:

Before planting, place the bulb and its roots in warm water for 2 to 3 hours. Plant in a pot only slightly larger than the bulb, with about one third of the bulb above the rim of the pot. Add potting soil , but do not fill the pot with too much soil, so that there is room for watering. Set the bulb gently into the soil.

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