Dear Helen: On my daily walks last month I began noticing showy patches of beautiful pink flowers that looked as though they could be a kind of lily.
They were about 40 centimetres tall with crinkly, recurved petals. I also noticed that they weren’t eaten by the deer that abound in my neighbourhood.
I’d love to know the plant’s name, where I can acquire it, and when it should be planted.
M.V.
The plants are nerine lilies, most likely Nerine bowdenii, the form most commonly grown and also the hardiest.
The bulbs will be available in the spring at garden centres. For good flowering in the fall, plant nerine bulbs in the spring, in a fully sunny location with a well-drained soil.
Dear Helen: I was horrified to come across the garlic bulbs I’d bought with the intention of planting the cloves in late September. Is it too late for planting now?
I.B.
It’s not too late, but get them into the ground right away.
The cool conditions now will facilitate rapid rooting, which will set the cloves up for the production of good top growth in the spring.
I suspect there are few home gardeners who always succeed in planting in the precisely ideal time slot for the plants, seeds or bulbs at hand.
We are fortunate to live in such a “forgiving” climate with (usually) elongated spring and fall seasons that broaden opportunities for successful plantings of many things.
Just one week ago, I was potting the last of the tulip bulbs for outdoor display on the patio.
Dear Helen: My family moved to the Island from the Interior of the province this past summer. Earlier in the fall, we were delighted to notice a few patches of small, cup-shaped flowers that looked like the crocuses commonly seen in gardens in the spring. We’d like to know what these lovely little autumn blooms are.
K.G.
The blooms are fall flowering crocuses. Like spring crocuses, they grow from corms that are available in most garden centres from late summer onward.
Look for them as soon as the first bulbs begin appearing in local outlets. An early planting is good for these fall-blooming corms.
One of the varieties you are likely to find is my favourite, Crocus speciosus — a beautiful flower in veined mauve with showy orange, threadlike centre structures.
Crocus sativus is the saffron crocus. Its light purple flowers have long red stigmas (the pollen receptors at the flowers’ centres).
Saffron is a spice made from the dried stigmas. I’ve seen rows of this crocus growing in Italian gardens in October.
Fall crocuses are sadly underused in gardens.
The little flowers create pools of fresh colour in among perennials and shrubs as the active growing season winds down.
Speciosus is especially useful because it usually blooms early enough to escape the heavy fall rains that can bash the small flowers down.
Garden Events
Chrysanthemum meeting. The Victoria Chrysanthemum Society will meet on Saturday, Nov. 25, at 1647 Chandler Ave. The event will begin at 1:30 with a pre-meeting hands-on demonstration of preparing plants for winter and of flower arranging, including an ikebana demonstration.
HCP workshops. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, is offering the following workshops. To register, call 250-479-6162. hcp.ca.
• Plant Identification & Culture. The next session in this ongoing, monthly course (can be joined at any time) will be on Saturday, Dec. 2, 1 to 4 p.m. In each session Diane Pierce introduces 25 new plants, with descriptions, preferred growing conditions, landscape uses and maintenance. Cost to HCP members per session is $35, others $45. Cost for 12 sessions: members $350, others $450.
To register call 250-479-6162. hcp.ca.
• Wreath Making for Kids, Saturday, Dec. 2, 1 to 2:30 p.m. For children age seven and up. Create a beautiful wreath for your home or for gift giving during the holiday season, using a selection of greenery and natural materials. Bring an adult along to give you a hand. Fee is $15 per child.
• Handmade Herbal Gifts, Sunday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. In this hands-on workshop learn how to make a series of natural, healthy gifts and receive a booklet with easy to follow instructions and recipes. Take home a sample of your creations. Herbal tea and treats available during class time. HCP members $60, others $65. If the class is full, put your name on the “interest” list. With enough interest, another class will be added.