With the general shutdown early last spring, my hairdresser and her partner remained at home and created a food garden, complete with chickens. This year, they continued the rewarding project and added arbours, hanging baskets and numerous other planters for flowers.
Just before the latest heat wave this summer, as I was having my hair cut, Jackie commented that this challenging summer revealed petunias, of all the flowers they planted, to be by far the most resilient.
I agree. Along with basil planters and potted tomatoes and peppers on my south-facing patio, I grow almost exclusively petunias in bowl-shaped containers set on individual iron stands.
My regulars in recent years have been Tidal Wave Silver (pale lavender) and Evening Scentsation (vibrant, deep blue), both award winning varieties. They never fail to provide a profusion of fragrant flowers on spreading stems all summer long.
Every year I look for new and unusual petunias to try. This year, T&T Seeds introduced Tickled Blush, a climbing (or trailing) petunia with pale pink blooms. It grows in a planter set in an old hammock.
A novelty I noticed in the Veseys Seeds catalogue is Tie Dye, in the Shock Wave Series. The small blooms on spreading plants are purple-blue and white. My plants quickly covered themselves in flowers that were initially all purple-blue before they began to display the striking bicolouring.
The species petunias are a fascinating group of plants too. These are the wild petunias, some figuring in the parentage of our modern varieties. More on them later.
Rhodo remedy. If your rhododendrons suffered in the summer heat, Gail M. has a tip: “My poor rhododendron leaves were becoming scorched in the heat. A young gardener who helps me from time to time suggested that I cover the shrubs with burlap during the daytime heat. This was a great suggestion, and the practice spared the plants from further damage. I think that I’ll try this if we have a cold snap this winter, too.”
Hawk talk. Gail added in her note a comment on a recent column that described hawk activity in my garden: “We had a Cooper’s hawk in our neighbourhood too, and it was fun to read your column,”
Another reader was less than pleased: “Thanks for your article on Cooper’s hawks. I love birds, but believe me it’s no fun having hawks in my trees for two years now. They eat every bird and small animal around. My yard rains feathers and small wings.”
Steve’s family has had a different experience with the hawks: “After reading your article, we thought you may be interested in our garden guests. A family of Cooper’s hawks taught their young to fly and hunt in our neighbourhood. The nuthatches and smaller birds adapted to their presence without noticeable loss. Our berry crops were untouched by robins and starlings as they kept a wary distance.”
That email answered a question I’ve had in mind since I began picking blueberries from my laden bushes: Why weren’t the birds lighting on the bushes to feed? Usually I have to throw old netting over the plants. Maybe hawks in the immediate area are sending the smaller birds to more hidden feeding sites.
Picnic in the Gardens. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, is hosting a Picnic in the Gardens event tomorrow (Sunday, Aug. 29) with admission by donation starting at 4:30 p.m. and live music from 5 to 8 p.m. Bring a picnic from home or take-out from a local restaurant. No alcohol is permitted. Bring a picnic blanket or folding chair and practise physical distancing. hcp.ca.
Abkhazi Garden art show and sale. Some of the artists in the Abkhazi Garden “Artist in the Garden” program will have a public showing and sale of their works on Labour Day Monday, Sept. 6, in the garden from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. After that, the art will be on display in the teahouse and gift shop through to Oct. 11. Proceeds from the sale will be divided evenly between the artist and The Land Conservancy. The address: 1964 Fairfield Rd. in Victoria.
VHS meeting. The Victoria Horticultural Society is hosting a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 7, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dr. Ross Bayton, assistant director of Heronswood Garden, will present “A Heronswood Year: Five Season Gardening in the PNW,” Drop-in fee for non-members is $5. To register, visit vichortsociety.org.
