I will not look back on this growing season with unmitigated joy. High heat, blazing sun, drought, and bunnies managed to nibble away at least the edges of delight in my little bit of planting paradise.
Heat and drought: I’m planning already for managing these increasingly daunting challenges.
After improvising with materials on hand to create shade, I finally gave in and acquired a length of proper shade cloth. Very impressive. I now understand how growers at my local farmers’ market produced all those sturdy, juicy greens through the heat. My lettuce and endive transplants stayed full and perky with the 50 per cent shade protection during last month’s hottest days.
I’ll have shade cloth on hand in the spring to place over seeded carrots and peas and also over the green leafy vegetables at the first indication of high temperatures.
And I’ll be “upping” my mulching game to have enough leaves and chopped straw to cover root areas of all the plantings, and hopefully enough to cover and protect every bit of bare soil.
Winners. With all the stresses of the season, there were successes. A seeding I made of Salt Spring Seeds’ Black Coco bush dry beans beside the long edge of a vegetable plot germinated impeccably, grew without a hitch, and began drying off in August. By the third week of the month the pods were fully dried and ready to release their shiny little beans.
The compact plants of Little Napoli tomatoes in patio pots grew wonderfully well and became festooned with small plum (Roma) tomatoes. Two patio pots with new (to me) compact “Mini Snack/salad peppers” called Baby Belle (Renee’s Garden) held beautiful plants with small, sweet and crunchy orange and red peppers that continue to provide handy nibbling right outside the patio doorway.
GARDEN EVENTS
Festival of floral designs. St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Qualicum Beach invites the public to their Flower Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9, and Sunday, Sept. 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the church at the corner of Memorial Ave. and Hoylake Rd. View designs based on the theme “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” created by members of the Mid-Island Floral Arts Club and local Oceanside churches. Entry is by donation.
Abkhazi Garden open house and plant sale. Abkhazi Garden, 1964 Fairfield Rd. in Victoria, is celebrating Grandparents Day on Sunday, Sept. 10, with free admission to an Open House from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4). Visit this heritage garden with your grandchildren and learn about its history. Prizes to be won include Afternoon Tea for Two at the Teahouse and children’s activity books. Wander through the beautiful garden and look in at the Plant Sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Most of the plants are grown at the garden
Peninsula meeting. The Peninsula Garden Club will meet on Monday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. in the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney. In her talk on “Xeriscape Gardens: Less water, more joy, a healthier planet” Bernice Betts will lay out principles for xeriscaping in west coast gardens. The evening will include a parlour show and Master Gardeners answering questions. Guest fee $5. The club’s Fall Plant Sale will be on Saturday, Sept 16, 9 to 11 a.m. in the Mary Winspear Centre. Cash and cheques welcome.
Qualicum meeting. The Qualicum Beach Garden Club will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the QB Civic Centre, 747 Jones St. Horticulturist Jeff de Jong will speak about “Plants that earn their keep.”
Floral art presentation. The Mid Island Floral Art Club is presenting a special program on Thursday, Sept. 14, at 3 p.m. in St. Stephen’s United Church Hall, 150 Village Way in Qualicum Beach. Andrea Strachan, a European Master Florist, will be creating designs with the theme “Beachcomber - A Day at the Beach.” Tickets at $10 will be available at the door. [email protected]
Garden show. The View Royal Garden Club will host its annual Fall Garden Show on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. in Wheeley Hall, behind Esquimalt United Church, 500 Admirals Rd. Entrance is off Lyall St. Exhibits will include perennials, vegetables and fruits, potted plants, herbs, a decorative division and a junior division. A potato growing contest will be judged. Admission $5, includes refreshments and door prize tickets. Entry is free to the plant sale.
