Dear Helen: I think you have written before about this foxglove oddity, when a large, open flower appears at the top of the blooming stem. What is it called, and what causes it? A beautiful surprise in the garden.
Z.D.
This interesting aberration is called “peloria” from a Greek word meaning “monstrous.” It is thought to be caused by a recessive gene that is can be triggered by some kind of sudden environmental change, perhaps in lighting or temperature.
Peloric foxgloves have appeared a couple of times in my garden — groups of them, in particular years. Peloria can be inherited through seeds that have been developed to have a high percentage of peloric flowers. They are sometimes sold as Digitalis ‘Monstrosa.’
Dear Helen: Himalayan blue poppy seeds that I planted in January have yielded healthy little seedlings. The seeds I used were taken from a plant I’d grown from purchased seeds. Should I plant them out now or keep them in pots? The little plants, though small, are sturdy.
D.S.
I’d plant them out as soon as they are substantial enough to work with easily, before they develop tap roots. Choose a time when the weather is not really hot.
Since you have grown Meconopsis grandis successfully, you will be aware of the cool, moist, lightly shaded conditions in which the plants thrive. They need a fertile, well-drained soil that is consistently moist and humus-rich.
In such conditions, blue poppies often self-sow readily. That’s probably the easiest way to acquire numerous seedlings that can be spaced as necessary to create a lovely blue poppy “meadow.”
As soon as you feel comfortable handling the little plants, move some of them into the garden, perhaps where the parent plant grew successfully, and as a Plan B transplant some into individual pots. Grow them in light shade, water regularly and plant them into the garden as the weather begins cooling in August.
Dear Helen: I would like to know the best time for taking cuttings of a kiwi (the fuzzy type) vine.
S.L.
Late summer, using semi-ripe growth, is a commonly recommended time. The cuttings should be 10 cm long, with the bottom cut made immediately below a node (leaf joint). The use of bottom heat, in a container with a humidity tent cover, is helpful.
Also helpful is reducing the area of the leaves by about half, using sharp scissors. This lessens stress of the cutting from transpiration.
Dear Helen: I recently found a bright green, alarmingly large, fat caterpillar in one of my rose bushes. What could it be and should I be concerned?
C.A.
The caterpillar is most likely a hornworm, of which there are many species. The best known is the tomato hornworm, which in sufficiently high numbers can be damaging to tomatoes and related plants.
There are many native species. They are not commonly a problem, and are easily dealt with simply by hand picking. Hornworms are the larvae of sphinx moths and hawk moths.
GARDEN EVENTS
VHS meeting. The Victoria Horticultural Society will meet on Tuesday, July 4, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Garth Homer Centre, 813 Darwin Ave. Linda Dowling from Happy Valley Lavender Farm will lead a workshop at 6:30 on growing fruit, vegetables and other plants on balconies. At 7:30 Phil Newton, a former president of the Victoria Dahlia Society, will give a slide presentation on “30 Dahlias to Grow on Vancouver Island.” Non-member drop-in fee $5. vichortsociety.org.
Dahlia meeting. The Victoria Dahlia Society will meet on Thursday, July 6, at 7 p.m. in St. Michael’s Church, 4733 West Saanich Rd. Senior grower, award winner and hybridizer Paul McKittrck will present “Everything you want to know about the American Dahlia Society trial gardens.” The talk will be of special interest to those interested in growing seedlings. A question and answer period will follow. Guests are welcome.
Lily show and sale. The Victoria Lily Society is hosting a Summer Scentsation Flower Show, Plant Sale and Fancy Tea on Saturday, July 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Lambrick Park Church Hall, 1780 Feltham Rd. in Victoria. Judged exhibits will include floral designs, fruits, vegetables and children’s entries. The event will feature a huge lily and plant sale and a silent auction. Free parking is plentiful. Admission is by donation. Tea or coffee with scones and homemade sweets $5.
