Every year, as days shorten, temperatures cool, and light patterns shift in the garden, it becomes apparent that a change in seasons is at hand. At this time, I am always overcome with the sense of a new year beginning.
With that feeling comes what I think of as “The Cleanies.” Time to tidy up, thin out, clean, and start fresh, in the garden and in the home.
Soil care. A major part of ongoing renewal in the garden is care of the soil. Any plot or area that remains bare will benefit from a protective cover of small or chopped leaves, straw, or whatever loose organic matter is on hand.
I’ve placed a similar covering over the potatoes that have dried down. The cover of chopped leaves and straw mark their place. I push the materials aside to dig the potatoes as needed. Over the years, I’ve observed that potatoes, like carrots, store best in the ground where they were planted.
Compost is a major contributor to soil health and fertility. Keep compost heaps well aerated and just moist. To accelerate decomposition, mix in or layer fresh glass clippings or young weeds.
Harvesting. The autumn equinox is tomorrow, and harvesting from the garden continues. July’s garlic and last month’s sweet and juicy Kelsae onions are cured, cleaned, and stored. Bean, zucchini, tomato and apple picking and processing continues.
Once again this year — except for last year, when Bunny got the beans — a bush bean called Calima (William Dam Seeds) has produced an abundance of long, slender pods of crisp texture and a sweet, rich bean flavour on robust plants. A single picking from Calima’s short (140-cm) row yielded a large bowlful of the beans.
Sunny blooms. In the spring of last year, PanAmerican Seed, a major seed producer, sent me transplants of a “petchoa” — a cross between petunia and calibrachoa — called Caliburst Yellow for a preview trial. The seeds became available this year.
I liked the way the plants grew, sturdy and shapely, and the cheery flower colour enough to buy seeds (Willaim Dam) and grow them again this year. The deep buttery coloured blooms bring patches of glowing sunshine to container plantings.
I plan to grow more of them next year, to use alone and also to try pairings with other flower colours. Caliburst Yellow blooming with vivid red geraniums in a tall urn-shaped planter has created an impressive floral statement in the front garden.
I’m fond of yellow and white together as well. These two flower colours mingling with each other gives a gently soothing effect. Caliburst Yellow would likely combine well with a white dwarf pot dahlia for a lengthy season of bloom. Dahlias for containers are usually available at garden centres in the spring. White lobelia is another possibility.
Then there is yellow and blue, colours of the Ukrainian flag and a another personal favourite floral combination.
GARDEN EVENTS
View Royal meeting. The View Royal Garden Club will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in Wheeley Hall behind Esquimalt United Church, 500 Admirals Rd. Entrance off Lyall Street. Linda Amy will present “Permaculture for the Home Gardener.” Practical tips will be discussed for making small changes to design a garden suited to your local environment. A judged mini show will feature exhibits from members’ gardens. Non-member drop-in fee $5. More information sat .
Cactus and succulent show and sale. The Victoria Cactus and Succulent Society is holding a Fall Show and Sale on Friday, Sept. 27, 12 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, Sept, 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Church of the Advent, 510 Mt. View Ave. in Colwood. Admission is free.
Garden symposium. The View Royal Garden Club is celebrating its 75th year since inauguration with a symposium on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Victoria Scottish Community Centre, 1803 Admirals Rd. Guest speakers will be Jeff de Jong, UVIC Instructor of Landscape Design, and Gary Lewis of Phoenix Perennials. Tickets are available at . Registration $25.
Plant sales. The Friends of Government House Gardens Society are hosting sales of perennials on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Plant Nursery at Government House, 1401 Rockland Ave. Sales continue to the end of September.
