Dear Helen: I have a problem with critters befouling empty vegetable plots at night. Cats came close to despoiling the garlic bed while the planted cloves were rooting and before top growth emerged.
F.G.
That’s a major problem in many home gardens. The area across the top of my back garden is a well established raccoon run and kitty walk. The raccoons deposit their substantial and potentially dangerous leavings atop the soil while the cats do a vigorous and sometimes destructive digging job to cover theirs.
Once plantings are up and growing this is usually no longer a problem, but seeded beds and unsprouted garlic plantings are vulnerable to damage. Then there are the accompanying health issues and considerable yuck factor to deal with, especially where food plants are involved.
Because I knew cats and raccoons to be active at night in the area of the garlic bed planted last fall, I covered the bed with a wire trellis and some metal stakes I had on hand. Any slim stakes or pieces of wire fencing or chicken wire can also be used to deter animals from using an area as a latrine.
The same sort of light but effective cover protects newly seeded beds. Lift the cover off when the plants are up and growing.
Dear Helen: I’m curious about how to handle the Epimedium plantings in my newly acquired garden. The foliage stayed beautiful all winter, and now I notice flowers are emerging among the leaves. Though the foliage is decorative, it is obscuring the blooms’ effect somewhat. Is this just the nature of this perennial, to be accepted?
G.P.
I agree that, especially during this past, very mild winter, Epimedium (barrenwort, bishop’s hat) foliage stayed wonderfully decorative. Still, cutting down the foliage in late winter is a worthwhile exercise that makes way for a fully open display of the starry, miniature columbine-like flowers — and all-fresh foliage to follow the flowers.
The wiry flower stems begin emerging early, usually around mid-February. Trimming away the foliage later is possible, but it’s a bit tedious having to work around the flower stems.
I value this perennial highly for its ability to thrive, once established, in dry and even root-infested places.
GARDEN EVENTS
Sooke meeting. The Sooke Garden Club will meet this evening at 7 in St. Rose of Lima Church, 2191 Townsend Rd. in Sooke. Marika Nagasaka will speak about “Seed Saving and Creating a Garden Calendar.” Newcomers are welcome. Membership cost is $15.
Cactus meeting. The Victoria Cactus and Succulent Society will meet this evening at 7:30 in First Memorial (Funeral Services), 4725 Falaise Dr. in Royal Oak. Meeting rooms are at the back and are reached by a path to the right of the parking lot or a ramp at the left side of the building.
View Royal meeting. The View Royal Garden Club will meet this evening at 7:30 in Shoreline Community School, 2750 Shoreline Dr. Deb Becelaere, superintendent of engineering for the township of View Royal, will present a slide show on the creation of boulevards and streetscapes in View Royal. The evening will include a judged mini-show and a sales table. Visitors are welcome. More information at 250-220-5212.
Chrysanthemum meeting. The Victoria Chrysanthemum Society will meet on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in St. Matthias Church Hall, 600 Richmond Ave. Beth Close from Applied Bio-nomics will explain biolotical pest controls, with a focus on earwigs and aphids. Everyone is welcome.
Heather sale. The Vancouver Island Heather Society is holding a Spring Heather Sale on Saturday at the Cobble Hill Farmers Institute Hall. The sale will start at 10 a.m. and last until noon or until the plants sell out. Experienced buyers advise getting to the hall early for the best selection. Unusual heathers will be featured, as well as ornamental grasses. Society members and master gardeners will be on hand to help with choices and answer questions. More information at 250-743-0965.
Pest detection. The City of Victoria recreation department is offering Be Your Own Plant Detective, a course on how to identify and control common plant pests, on Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Cost is $25. Pre-register by calling the Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre at 250-361-0732 or going online at victoria.ca/recreation.
