Some have bewailed the long, cool spring, but the past many weeks could also be regarded as a time of delayed delight. It’s been a season filled with the pleasures of anticipation as large rhododendron flower buds slowly swell and favourite trees and shrubs have taken their time to leaf out.
Delay in the onset of really warm weather has delivered an extended period of perfect conditions for seeding and transplanting hardy flowers and vegetables. Not too hot. Not too cold. A Goldilocks spring.
Ever since the snow withdrew and the garden thawed out in March, I’ve been more than thankful that I took the time early last autumn to plant pansies and violas in containers for the patio. The plantings bloomed through the fall and during January’s mild weather, hunkered down looking rather ravaged in February, then surged into bright life again in March. They’ve displayed gorgeous rounds of richly coloured flowers ever since.
On warmish days, when the sun hits the patio, I open the glass door from the family room to be enveloped in the intense perfume from the flowers. The most fragrant from among the five pansy and viola varieties I planted is a viola in the Sorbet Series called Midnight Glow, a vibrant confection in purple and yellow, with midnight blue and burgundy centre markings.
Slightly less fragrant, but still notably so, is a viola in the Penny Series called Orange Jump Up, a striking little flower in rich orange and royal purple.
I bought all the patio pansies and violas last September at local garden centres, where it’s a treat to amble by the shelves of flats and select flowers that most appeal. When I spot a variety I like, I usually bend down to check it for fragrance as well. An advantage to choosing plants in bloom is that you know precisely what you’re getting.
As well as months of flowering in outdoor containers, pansies and violas supply lovely cut flowers for charming arrangements in small, shallow containers.
GARDEN EVENTS
Spring plant sale. The Nanaimo Horticultural Society will hold a plant sale today from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Nanaimo North Town Centre (off Rutherford). Proceeds support a VIU student bursary. Master Gardeners will be on hand.
VRS meeting. The Victoria Rhododendron Society will meet on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the Couvelier Pavilion at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich. The meeting will feature a Truss Show. victoriarhodo.ca.
Gordon Head meeting. The Gordon Head Garden Club will meet on Monday at 7 p.m. in Gordon Head United Church, 4201 Tyndall Ave. Claudia Copley, B.C. Museum Entomology Collections manager and researcher, will speak about garden bugs — The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The evening will include a parlour show and raffle. Non-member visitors are welcome at no charge.
VHS meeting. The Victoria Horticultural Society will meet on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Garth Homer Centre, 813 Darwin Ave. The main presentation will be about Outerbridge Park, a bird and nature sanctuary in Saanich. Learn about the park’s creator, the development of the park’s landscape, its natural history and ongoing restoration activities. The pre-meeting workshop at 6:30 will feature Linda Dowling on Potty About Plants — tips for food and floral container growing including soil mixes, irrigation, and fertilizing. Visitor drop-in fee of $5 is refundable with membership purchase.
Government House plant sales. Government House, 1401 Rockland Ave. in Victoria, will be holding plant sales on Tuesdays and Thursdays from May 7 to June 27, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Plant Nursery opposite the Tea Room.
Nanaimo meeting. The Nanaimo Horticultural Society will meet on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the First Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 595 Townsite Rd. Jo Canning will speak about Soil Amendment. Information at 250-758-6783.
Garden tour. I’m looking forward to chatting with people at the 25th Annual Cowichan Family Life Garden Tour on Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The self-guided tour of six Cowichan Valley gardens will feature Master Gardeners at each site and a Genoa Bay Road garden with music and art to enjoy as well as a garden tea catered by the VIU Culinary Program. Ticket vendors are listed at cowichanfamilylife.org. Cost of $25 includes refreshments at the tea garden. Proceeds support the counselling and other services offered by the Cowichan Family Life Association in Duncan.
