Canada's Local Gardener Vol 3 Iss 3 Revised

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Issue 3

Official English Language Magazine

2022 • 1

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Contents volume 3

Canada’s local Gardener

ISSUE 3, 2022

On the cover: Detail of foxtails in the garden of Donna Bloski.

6

14

36

Newest plants for 2022...............................................6

In praise of messy trees.............................................34

Tender bulbs...............................................................14

A passion for succulents...........................................36

Dahlias.....................................................................15 Gladiolus..................................................................17 Elephant ears..........................................................19 To dig or not to dig....................................................22 Some secrets of soil...................................................24

What is a greenhouse used for?...............................40 Wildflower or weed?

Cheeseweed and creeping Charlie.........................42 Beautiful Gardens:

Growing greens.........................................................26

Donna and Dave Bloski, Spruce Grove, Alberta.......44

Potatoes......................................................................28

Pete Mowat, Selkirk, Ontario.................................50

10 Neat Things about peperomia............................30

Corinne Hersey, Fredericton...................................56

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2022 • 3

Dear gardeners, O

h, I have so much to tell you about! It is a great year for the newest cultivars of annuals, perennials, shrubs and vegetables, and we have 96 of them described in the first few pages. Have you ever planted gomphrena or ptilotus? Or wowed dinner guests with white ‘Icicle’ eggplants and ‘Double Red’ corn, which is, yes, red? There is the super webby hens and chicks ‘Arctic White’, and a copper-tinged hosta ‘First Blush’. And I can hardly wait until I have a bigger garden so I can plant sweetshrub ‘Simply Scentsational’!

The last few years I have been lazy about putting in tender bulbs like gladiolus and dahlias, but this year I’ve just got to get it done. I always regret my spring sloth when I see other gardens full of these colourful stars in August. This year I might even plant some elephant ears, which I’ve wanted to do for so long.

I have already got some spinach planted outside and am ready to put in lettuce to harvest in June, before the heat goes crazy here in Toronto. This is the year I might try some of the anti-bolt methods for lettuce that I’ll plant later. Honestly, though? I’m not going to sample sweet potato vine leaves or lambsquarters, although I’ve heard they’re perfectly good to eat. I’m sure there are more adventurous readers who will, and I hope you’ll write and tell me about your experience.

All of these topics are covered in the issue you hold in your hands. We also have stories from Michael Rosen on “messy” trees and why they are worth it, Greg Auton on the nutritional value and easiness of potatoes, and Maggie Connell on no-dig gardening. Plus, you can swoon over the stunning photos and article by Robert Wrigley on the development of his passion for growing greenhouse succulents.

And, of course, we’ll take you on visits to three gardens from across the country. Donna and Dave Bloski, in Spruce Grove, Alberta, have been tending their lot for 50 fabulous years and have a number of rare and tender plants. Pete Mowat has a beautiful piece of land on Lake Erie, where he coaxes beauty from the ground. And Corinne Hersey works in her Fredricton yard and in community plots to grow vegetables and attract pollinators.

Before I close, I must say, in case you haven’t heard: every member of parliament from every party has voted to declare 2022 the Year of the Garden across Canada.

This is the year to “live the garden life”. Plant red to show your support, and make sure your friends and neighbours know.

Get ready to garden!

Shauna Dobbie Editor shauna@pegasuspublications.net 4 • 2022

Canada’s

Local Gardener Follow us online https://www.localgardener.net Facebook: @CanadasLocalGardener Twitter: @CanadaGardener Instagram: @local_gardener Published by Pegasus Publications Inc. President/Publisher Dorothy Dobbie dorothy@pegasuspublications.net Design Cottonwood Publishing Services Editor Shauna Dobbie shauna@pegasuspublications.net Art Direction & Layout Karl Thomsen karl@pegasuspublications.net General Manager Ian Leatt ian.leatt@pegasuspublications.net Contributors Greg Auton, Maggie Connell, Dorothy Dobbie, Shauna Dobbie, Michael Rosen, Robert Wrigley Editorial Advisory Board Greg Auton, John Barrett, Todd Boland, Darryl Cheng, Ben Cullen, Mario Doiron, Michel Gauthier, Larry Hodgson, Jan Pedersen, Stephanie Rose, Michael Rosen, Aldona Satterthwaite, and Trudy Watt.

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2022 • 5

Amaranth ‘Red Cathedral’.

Begonia ‘Bewitched Night Owl’.

Begonia ‘I’Conia Scentiment Peachy Keen’. Begonia ‘Viking Explorer Rose on Green’.

Coleus ‘Spitfire’.

Foxglove ‘Falcon Fire’.

Gomphrena ‘Fireworks’.

Mandevilla ‘Madinia Elegant Velvet Red’.

Newest plants for 2022

By Shauna Dobbie

Annual

Amaranth ‘Red Cathedral’ (Amaranthus cruentus).

Full sun. Blooms from summer to autumn. An upright amaranth growing to 3 feet and featuring crimson red blooms. Harris Seeds.

Begonia ‘Bewitched Night Owl’ (Begonia rex). Part sun or shade. Gorgeous pointy silver leaves with black veining and margins. Under 12 inches high. Can be grown indoors. GreenFuse Images.

Begonia ‘I’Conia Scentiment Peachy Keen’ (Begonia x interspecific). Sun or shade. Super fragrant garden begonia that flowers endlessly from spring through autumn. Plant in containers and hanging baskets to enjoy the spillover effect. Gets to about 12 inches high.

Dummen Orange.

Begonia ‘Viking Explorer Rose on Green’ (Begonia x hybrid). Full to partial sun. 90 days from sowing

E

Where can I get a plant?

very plant named also has the name of a business associated with the plant. Most of those businesses don’t offer retail sales. So why include this name? Because if you ask at your garden centre and offer them this name, they should be able to tell you if they’re getting the plant or possibly order it for you.

In a simple plan, there are four levels of businesses between you and a new plant.

There are the breeders, who develop new varieties by crossing and recrossing those that currently exist. Then there are the dealers and brokers, who narrow down 6 • 2022

to bloom. A 2022 All-America Selections Ornamental Winner, this compact plant is full of flowers. Best in containers. All-America Selections.

Coleus ‘Spitfire’ (Plectanthrus scutellarioides). Sun or shade. “Micro coleus” stays under 12 inches in height and dazzles with uniquely long leaves in pink and light green. The real bonus is that it works well in sun or shade. Ball Floraplant.

Foxglove ‘Falcon Fire’ (Digiplexis hybrid). Full to partial sun. What is Digiplexis? It’s a hybrid between Digitalis and Isoplexis. This one has mango orange flowers on sturdy spikes. Grows to 3 feet and taller. Walters Gardens.

Gomphrena ‘Fireworks’ (Gomphrena haageana). Full sun. 95 days from sowing to bloom. Gomphrena is underused in Canadian gardens, probably because it takes so long to go from seed to bloom. Start them indoors and, come late summer, watch people go “wow!” Hot pink

new varieties from the breeders – maybe half of what is new for sale in a year gets selected by brokers and dealers. They sell to growers, who choose maybe two-thirds of the plants to grow. The growers sell to the retailers, who will choose around half of what’s on offer. The retailers are the garden centres and big box stores. They sell to you, the consumer.

The problem is that the plan is not so simple. There are growers who are also retailers, and breeders who are also dealers, and retailers who are sometimes breeders, and everything in between. For Issue 3

example, Syngenta is a breeder which employs its own brokers and has growers as well. Proven Winners employs its own breeders and works with smaller breeders; they are also growers and have started to sell to the public through mail order. You can also buy Proven Winners products at Home Depot and numerous other garden centres and box stores.

If you are truly at a loss finding a plant that you really want, contact the business we’ve listed and ask them where in your area you can get it. They will either know or know who you can contact to find out. localgardener.net

Mandevilla ‘Sunvilla’.

Marigold ‘Super Hero Spry’.

Marigold ‘White Sugar and Spice’.

Pansy ‘Atlas Black’.

Petunia ‘Fun House Potpourri’.

Ptilotus ‘Joey’.

Salvia ‘Hummingbird Falls’.

Sunflower ‘Concert Bell’.

Verbena ‘Beats Purple + White’.

Verbena ‘Vanity’.

Vinca ‘Soiree Flamenco Seniorita Pink’. Zinnia ‘Cresto! Red’.

with yellow stamens on slender stems. Osborne Quality Seeds.

Mandevilla ‘Madinia Elegant Velvet Red’ (Dipladenia hybrida). Full sun. Continuous flowering. Hotter shade of red in a mandevilla that is more bush than vine, making it ideal for smaller patios. Drought tolerant and disease resistant. Tops out at 18 inches. Syngenta Flowers.

Mandevilla ‘Sunvilla’ (Mandevilla). Full sun.

Continuous flowering. These blooms, red with a yellow throat, are slower to fade than those on other mandevillas. It’s a vigourous vine that promises to grow long enough to drape over a fence or climb a trellis. Monrovia Nursery.

Marigold ‘Super Hero Spry’ (Tagetes patula). Full sun. Blooms summer through fall. A short marigold that maxes at a foot high, this one is earlier to bloom and doesn’t require deadheading. Brilliant orange. Ernst Benary of America.

Marigold ‘White Sugar and Spice’ (Tagetes erecta).

Full to partial sun. Blooms summer through fall. A creamy-coloured marigold of 18 inches that almost looks like a carnation. Wonderful! But does need deadheading. West Coast Seeds.

Pansy ‘Atlas Black’ (Viola x wittrockiana). Full to partial sun. Blooms in cooler months. The darkest black I’ve ever seen on a pansy. Yellow eye. No taller than 12 inches. Plant in partial sun for longer blooming period.

Harris Seeds.

Petunia ‘Fun House Potpourri’ (Petunia hybrida).

Full sun. Blooms all summer. There are new petunias every year, with one a little more this and another a little more that. ‘Fun House Potpourri’ makes this list because of its cheerful red and yellow colouring. Other localgardener.net

than that, it’s just a petunia. Syngenta Flowers.

Ptilotus ‘Joey’ (Ptilotus exaltatus). Full sun. 14 weeks from sowing to bloom. A “what’s that?” flower. Fuzzy spikes of purple flowers look alien. Height 18 inches.

Ernst Benary of America.

Salvia ‘Hummingbird Falls’ (Salvia x guaranitica).

Full sun. A trailing salvia to put in baskets! Attracts hummingbirds. It may come back year after year if you have a warm winter as it’s rated to USDA 8. Dummen Orange.

Sunflower ‘Concert Bell’ (Helianthus annuus). Full sun. Blooms in summer. A 3-foot sunflower with multiple blooms per stock. Blooms are 5 to 6 inches. AllAmerica Selections.

Verbena ‘Beats Purple + White’ (Verbena). Full to partial sun. Blooms all season long. One of the fancy verbenas with bicoloured panicles, this one is magenta in the centre and white to light pink around. Less than 12 inches high. All-America Selections.

Verbena ‘Vanity’ (Verbena bonariensis). Full sun.

Blooms mid summer through fall. If you haven’t been seduced by verbena bonariensis, this is your chance. The species resows itself, so we’re hoping ‘Vanity’ does too.

This one is more compact, attaining a height of 36 inches. All-America Selections.

Vinca ‘Soiree Flamenco Seniorita Pink’ (Catharanthus hybrid). Full sun. Blooms in summer. These vincas have big ruffled petals, in pale pink with a rosy eye.

Height under 12 inches. Suntory Flowers.

Zinnia ‘Cresto! Red’ (Zinnia elegans). Full sun. 75 days from sowing to bloom. A tall crested flower makes this cultivar special. Sturdy stems makes it great for cutting. Height to 36 inches. Osborne Quality Seeds.

Issue 3

2022 • 7

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.

Bellflower ‘Flore Pleno Mix’.

Billy buttons ‘Golf Beauty Improved’.

Blue star ‘String Theory’.

Butterfly bush ‘Sparkler Petite’.

Coneflower ‘Strawberry Mango’.

Coral bell ‘Frilly’.

Fountain grass ‘Lemon Squeeze’.

Hens and chicks ‘Arctic White’.

Hens and chicks ‘Coral Red’.

Hosta ‘First Blush’.

Lavender ‘La Diva Eternal Elegance’.

Lobelia ‘Starship Scarlet’.

Perennial

Bellflower ‘Flore Pleno Mix’ (Campanula trachelium). Sun or shade. Blooms June to September. USDA Zone 3. Medium high bellflower grows 24 to 36 inches high, in light or dark blue and white. Works best in partial shade, but will do alright in full sun with plenty of water. Jelitto Perennial Seeds.

Billy buttons ‘Golf Beauty Improved’ (Craspedia globosa).

Full sun. Blooms all summer. USDA Zone 3. Spherical 1-inch yellow blooms on silvery foliage reaching 12 to 18 inches.

Danziger Flower Farm.

Blue star ‘String Theory’ (Amsonia). Full to partial sun.

Blooms in late spring. USDA Zone 4. An improvement over earlier amsonia, this one is more compact and the leaves don’t turn yellow in the summer. Clusters of light blue, star-shaped flowers above thread-like leaves, turning brilliant golden in the fall. Grows to 18 to 24 inches high. Proven Winners.

Butterfly bush ‘Sparkler Petite’ (Buddleja). Full sun. USDA Zone 5. ‘Pink Petite’ and ‘Purple Petite’ are two colours in the ‘Sparkler’ series of butterfly bushes. These are noticeable for the sturdier stems that are strong enough for the blooms so you don’t risk breakage. They are also more compact, maxing out at 3 or 4 feet high and wide. Monrovia Nursery.

H

A note on hardiness

ardiness zones are listed according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) system, rather than the Canadian Zones system, because this is the way the information came to us. Most of the businesses promoting new plants to Canadians are American.

We will warn you that these numbers are not always accurate. For instance, if you live in a very cold area with consistent snow cover, your zone for perennials is likely higher than you know

8 • 2022

Coneflower ‘Strawberry Mango’ (Echinacea purpurea). Full sun. Blooms in summer. USDA Zone 4. Another colour for this species. Gurney’s Seed and Nursery Company.

Coral bell ‘Frilly’ (Heuchera hybrida). Partial sun. USDA Zone 4. Honestly, we yawn at a lot of new heucheras. There’s only so much you can do with a plant. But this one is a true standout: heavily ruffled and frilled into a perfect mound like an unmolded dessert. The foliage comes out in reddish tones before turning yummy caramel. Height of 12 to 14 inches. JW Jung Seed.

Fountain grass ‘Lemon Squeeze’ (Pennisetum alopecuroides).

Full to partial sun. Panicles in midsummer. USDA Zone 5. The remarkable thing about this 3-foot high grass is that the chartreuse-gold leaves don’t burn in the sun. Proven Winners.

Hens and chicks ‘Arctic White’ (Sempervivum arachnoideum). Full sun. USDA Zone 3. A very cobwebby sempervivum.

UpShoot LLC. Hens and chicks ‘Coral Red’ (Sempervivum arachnoideum).

Full sun. USDA Zone 4. A bright red sempervivum. UpShoot LLC. Hosta ‘First Blush’ (Hosta hybrid). Partial sun to shade.

Blooms in summer. USDA Zone 3. Hostas went through a phase where every permutation of blue-green to green to yellow to cream was being brought to market. Well, get ready for this:

because the ground is insulated by snow. Your zone for shrubs may not be, because the living parts stay above the snow cover – well, most years, anyhow!

The USDA Zones are a guideline. Most plants To find out more about USDA Hardiness Zones, go here. https://www.provenwinners.com/ learn/zoning-hardiness Issue 3

are listed as hardy to USDA 4. Frankly, we think that many of these plants will survive in Zone 3 or even 2. If you are a risk-taker, take the risk.

Of course, a good garden centre near you will have a better idea of what will grow in your area.

If they are selling a plant that you don’t believe is hardy, ask. They may sell it as an annual or without the usual guarantee that it will come back next year. Or they may sell it for your area because they know from experience that it is reliably perennial. localgardener.net

Miscanthus ‘Gentle Breeze’.

Phlox ‘Backlight’.

Phlox ‘Coral Super Ka-Pow’.

Phlox ‘Younique Roundabout’.

Rose mallow ‘Edge of Night’.

Sedum ‘Back in Black’.

Sedum ‘Evolution Purple Crush’.

Shasta daisy ‘Banana Cream II’.

Shasta daisy ‘White Lion’.

Yarrow ‘Marshmallow’.

Abelia ‘Vanilla Brandy’.

Blackberry ‘Superlicious’.

a reddish blush on the leaves. Yes, really. Foliage starts green and returns to green. Plant attains a size of 18 by 18 inches. Breck’s.

Lavender ‘La Diva Eternal Elegance’ (Lavandula angustifolia) Full sun. Blooms spring through summer. USDA Zone 5 or annual. Have you ever wished lavender had more visual oomph?

This is the one you’ve been looking for. The plant maxes out at 18 inches, making it perfect for pots, and is absolutely covered in blooms. Dummen Orange.

Lobelia ‘Starship Scarlet’ (Lobelia speciosa). Full sun. Blooms mid summer through fall. USDA Zone 6. Gorgeous scarlet flowers on deep dark stems in a petite size make this beauty special.

It will reach a total of 10 inches in height in a moist area. It will make a good annual if you can find it outside of the growing zones. PanAmerican Seed.

Miscanthus ‘Gentle Breeze’ (Miscanthus sinensis). Full to partial sun. USDA Zone 4. Silvery-green compact grass grows to 18 inches high. It has very fine foliage. Pretty! Plant Haven International.

Phlox ‘Backlight’ (Phlox paniculata). Full to partial sun.

Blooms summer through fall. USDA Zone 3. The new thing with this phlox is the extraordinary resistance to mildew on a tall garden phlox. Height: 36 inches. Walters Gardens.

Phlox ‘Coral Super Ka-Pow’ (Phlox paniculata). Full sun.

Blooms late spring through summer. USDA Zone 4. Big flowers on plants that bloom and bloom. Easy care. Height up to 20 inches. JW Jung Seed.

Phlox ‘Younique Roundabout’ (Phlox paniculata). Full to partial sun. Blooms mid summer through fall. USDA Zone 3.

White eyes peeping from purple-blue flowers are so pretty, and they last for weeks. Height of 18 inches. Breck’s.

Rose mallow ‘Edge of Night’ (Hibiscus hybrid). Full to partial sun. Blooms in summer. USDA Zone 4. Big 8-inch blooms are nice, but the real standout on this plant is the dark, dark foliage, which is almost black. Reaches 36 inches, but it is one of the last plants to emerge in spring. Walters Gardens.

Sedum ‘Back in Black’ (Sedum hybrid). Full sun. Blooms in fall. USDA Zone 3. For those who can’t get enough super dark localgardener.net

foliage in the garden, here is a sedum with nearly black leaves.

Blooms are cream-coloured with dark red centres. Height up to 24 inches. Walters Gardens.

Sedum ‘Evolution Purple Crush’ (Sedum). Full sun. Blooms in summer. USDA Zone 4. Blue-green foliage and masses of pink flowers. Reportedly nice looking interplanted with other varieties of upright sedums. Height of 18 inches. Monrovia Nursery.

Shasta daisy ‘Banana Cream II’ (Leucanthemum superbum).

Full sun. Blooms in summer. USDA Zone 5. An improvement on the first ‘Banana Cream’. It starts out with lemon yellow flower buds that shift to creamy white as it opens. This one stays yellower for longer and flowers earlier. Grows to 24 inches tall.

Walters Gardens.

Shasta daisy ‘White Lion’ (Leucanthemum superbum). Full sun. Blooms early spring through late summer. USDA Zone 3.

Big white flowers on a small stature plant. This traditional style daisy grows to a maximum of 12 inches high. PanAmerican Seed.

Yarrow ‘Marshmallow’ (Achillea ptarmica). Full sun. Blooms from late spring to late summer. USDA Zone 3. Not your typical garden-variety yarrow! We love A. millefolium in all its guises, but this cultivar of A. ptarmica has very large flowers reaching 2 inches! Looks beautiful and fresh in pure white. Height 18 inches. Ernst Benary of America.

Shrub

Abelia ‘Vanilla Brandy’ (Abelia x grandiflora). Full to partial sun. Blooms spring through fall. USDA Zone 6. Bicolour leaves of green with white margins, turning pink in fall, and lightly scented white flowers. This shrub stays at a maximum of 3 feet high and wide. Bailey Nurseries.

Blackberry ‘Superlicious’ (Rubus). Full sun. Fruits in summer.

USDA Zone 4. Super reliable thornless blackberry small enough for patio pots. Gets to be about 3 feet high and wide and fruits on second-year canes. With a long enough season it will fruit twice.

Monrovia Nursery.

Issue 3

2022 • 9

Crape myrtle ‘Summerlasting Coconut’.

Fig ‘Fignomenal’.

Fig ‘Little Miss Figgy’.

Holly ‘Golden Oakland’.

Holly ‘Ruby Colonnade’.

Lilac ‘Pinktini’.

Rose ‘Fiesta Verando’.

Rose ‘Pink Sunblaze’.

Rose ‘Top Cream’.

Sweetshrub ‘Simply Scentsational’.

Arugula ‘Dragon’s Fire’.

Basil ‘Everleaf Thai Towers’.

Crape myrtle ‘Summerlasting Coconut’ (Lagerstroemia indica). Full sun. USDA Zone 7. Not hardy through most of Canada. This is a gorgeous pure white bloom on very dark foliage. The flowers last a long time and then will rebloom if removed. Dwarf variety grows to 3 feet.

Monrovia Nursery.

Fig ‘Fignomenal’ (Ficus carica). Full sun. Fruit in spring and fall. USDA Zone 6. UpShoot LLC. Fig ‘Little Miss Figgy’ (Ficus carica). Full sun. Fruit in spring and fall. USDA Zone 7. If you’ve been itching to try growing figs but can’t wrap you head around getting them through the winter (they need cold but not colder than around -7° Celsius), this small-statured shrub might be your dream come true. It grows to 3 feet high and 4 feet wide, so it’s perfect for a big container. It will give you many large purple fruits. Plant Development Services.

Holly ‘Golden Oakland’ (Ilex hybrid). Full to partial sun. USDA Zone 6. Variegated golden foliage and oakshaped leaves. Needs little pruning to stay at a tidy 36-inch height. Plant Development Services.

Holly ‘Ruby Colonnade’ (Ilex x crenata). Full sun.

USDA Zone 7. Foliage starts out deep red before transitioning to green! Takes shearing so can be shaped as topiary! Left on its own, it grows to a 3-foot cone. Monrovia Nursery.

Lilac ‘Pinktini’ (Syringa x prestoniae). Full sun. Blooms late spring. USDA Zone 2. Many pink blooms on this compact and tidy lilac. Grows to 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Who doesn’t love lilacs? Bailey Nurseries.

Rose ‘Fiesta Verando’ (Rosa hybrid). Full sun. Blooms in summer. USDA Zone 5. Yellow with red tinges. Height of 36 inches. It’s recommended to grow it in a pot on the patio for the first year then plant it in the garden. We figure if you have somewhere protected (but not indoors) to keep the container over the winter, you can grow this in much lower zones. Star Roses and Plants.

Rose ‘Pink Sunblaze’ (Rosa hybrid). Full sun. Blooms 10 • 2022

all season long. USDA Zone 5. Sweet pink doubles on 2-foot shrubs. Star Roses and Plants.

Rose ‘Top Cream’ (Rosa hybrid). Full sun. Blooms in summer. USDA Zone 5. Creamy roses with the palest hint of pink. The fragrance is strong and fruity. Grows to 36 inches plus. Edmunds Roses.

Sweetshrub ‘Simply Scentsational’ (Calycanthus floridus).

Full to partial sun. Blooms late spring through mid summer.

USDA Zone 4. A North American native, this cultivar has an amazing fruity fragrance and big red blooms. Grows to 6 feet with a mature spread of up to 5 feet. Spring Meadow Nursery.

Vegetable

Arugula ‘Dragon’s Fire’ (Diplotaxis tenufolia). Full sun. 15 days from sowing to harvest. A zesty new salad green with red veins contrasting the green and a pretty shape. Harris Seeds.

Basil ‘Everleaf Thai Towers’ (Ocimum basilicum).

Full sun. About one month from sowing to harvest. Well ordered plant with strong stems and abundant leaves with a strong anise scent. Thai basil is different from Italian basil, but delicious in its own right. Reaches 2 or 3 feet in height. Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

Bean ‘Park’s Whopper’ (Phaseolus vulgaris). Full sun. 57 days from sowing to harvest. Mid-season determinate bean on a self-supporting bush that will work for containers. Grows to 2 feet high. Vigorous growth produces one-time crop, so succession plant every two weeks for continual harvest. Park Seed Company.

Broccoli ‘Burgundy’ (Brassica oleracea). Full sun. 70 days from transplant to harvest. Pretty purple sprouting broccoli that doesn’t require vernalization. Tender stems have a nutty and sweet flavour. Height of 18 to 24 inches. Bejo Seeds.

Carrot ‘Rubypak’ (Daucus carota var. sativus). Full Issue 3

localgardener.net

Bean ‘Park’s Whopper’.

Broccoli ‘Burgundy’.

Carrot ‘Rubypak’.

Corn ‘Double Red’.

Eggplant ‘Icicle’.

Kale ‘Dazzling Blue’.

Kale ‘Oldenbor’.

Kale ‘Rainbow Candy Crush’.

Lemon balm ‘Limoncello’.

Lettuce ‘Bauer’.

Lettuce ‘Ezpark’.

Onion ‘Elsye’.

sun. 75 days from sowing to harvest. A reliable carrot with longer roots, healthier tops and great resistance to alternaria and powdery mildew. If you’re new to carrots, try this one. Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

Corn ‘Double Red’ (Zea mays). Full sun. 85 days from sowing to harvest. This produces a good looking ear of corn! Deep, dark red inside and out. Good for fresh eating or drying and grinding. Height of 3 feet.

Osborne Quality Seeds.

Pak Choi ‘Bopak Organic’.

Onion ‘Warrior Red’.

Eggplant ‘Icicle’ (Solanum melongena). Full sun. 80 days from sowing to harvest. You’ll get 8 or 9 cylindrical white eggplants per 3-foot plant, with fewer spines than Lettuce ‘Bauer’ (Lactuca sativa). Full to partial sun. most. White skin doesn’t turn yellow and the taste and 58 days from sowing to harvest. Oakleaf lettuce that texture has universal appeal. All-America Selections. will grow into a fist-sized head with a lovely darker Kale ‘Dazzling Blue’ (Brassica oleracea). Full to green colour. The leaves are crispy and sweet and the partial sun. 60 days from sowing to harvest. Blue-green size makes it suitable for window boxes. All-America leaves with purple midribs. Grows to 12 to 18 inches Selections. tall. Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

Lettuce ‘Ezpark’ (Lactuca sativa). Full to partial sun.

Kale ‘Oldenbor’ (Brassica oleracea). Full sun. 65 days 50 days from sowing to harvest. Tango lettuce that from transplant to harvest. Typical dark green with tight grows quickly and works happily as a cut-and-comecurl, the remarkable thing about this kale is that it is again or you can harvest as a head. It is a vibrant green the only fusarium yellow resistant variety on the market. with good bolt tolerance. Vitalis Organic Seeds.

Bejo Seeds.

Onion ‘Elsye’ (Allium cepa). Full sun. 110 days from Kale ‘Rainbow Candy Crush’ (Brassica interspecific). transplant to harvest. Mildly sweet flavour in this interFull sun. 70 days from seed to harvest. Do you like to mediate day-yellow onion. Excellent size, good tolerput vegetables into your flower garden? Or flowers in ance to bolting, strong vigour. Stores for three to four your vegetable garden? This one is ideal for either. It’s months. an edible ornamental kale. A mild, sweet kale that is so Onion ‘Warrior Red’ (Allium fistulosum). Full sun. pretty with rosy coloured foliage and green edges. Pure 60 days from sowing to harvest. Bunching onion with Line Seeds. slender white stems and red bulb. Pretty and delicious.

Lemon balm ‘Limoncello’ (Melissa officinalis). Full Seeds by Design.

Pak Choi ‘Bopak Organic’ (Brassica rapa). Full sun. sun. Lemon balm has such a lovely emerald green leaf and smells so gorgeous. This variety has an even stronger 40 days from transplant to harvest. This All America’s lemon scent than others and a trailing habbit, making it Selections 2015 Regional Award Winner is now available perfect for containers or for ground cover. Give it room as organic seed. Dark green and glossy with a white stem, to sprawl if you grow it in containers. It is perennial, tender leaves with crisp, sweet stalks, good for fresh eating or cooking. Height of 18 inches. Bejo Seeds. listed as hardy to USDA 4. Hem Genetics BV. localgardener.net

Issue 3

2022 • 11

Pea ‘Easy Peasy’.

Pumpkin ‘Camaro’.

Watermelon ‘Century Star’.

Tomato ‘Brad’s Atomic Cherry’.

Tomato ‘Frosted Green Doctors’.

Tomato ‘Heartbreaker Vita’.

Tomato ‘Lemon Boy Plus’.

Tomato ‘Marzito’.

Tomato ‘Mountain Man’.

Tomato ‘Pink Delicious’.

Potato ‘Adirondack Red’.

Radish ‘Sango’.

Watermelon ‘Sweetie Pie’.

Pea ‘Easy Peasy’ (Pisum sativum). Full sun. 60 days from sowing to harvest. A top yielder with 10 or 11 peas per pod and 2 pods per node, ‘Easy Peasy’ also topped the trials for taste. Bush pea to 36 inches high. Burpee and Company.

Potato ‘Adirondack Red’ (Solanum tuberosum).

Full sun. Harvest mid-season. Lovely pink coloured flesh that lightens but lasts through boiling, baking, roasting and frying. Try these in a potato salad!

Height to 12 inches tall. JW Jung Seed.

Pumpkin ‘Camaro’ (Cucurbita hybrid). Full sun.

100 days from sowing to harvest. Grow 12-inch pumpkins in a smaller garden with this plant, which will give you more fruits per square foot than with a larger vine. Give them 2 feet between plants. Hoss Tools.

Radish ‘Sango’ (Raphanus sativus). Full sun. 10 days from sowing to harvest. These radishes are grown for the microgreens, which add gorgeous colour to salads and sandwiches. They get 4 inches tall. Seeds by Design.

Watermelon ‘Century Star’ (Citrullus lanatus).

Full sun. 75 days from sowing to harvest. This new seedless watermelon gives a good 10-pound fruit.

It’s round with yellow spots. Flesh is crisp and sweet.

All-America Selections.

Watermelon ‘Sweetie Pie’ (Citrullus lanatus).

Full sun. 75 days from sowing to harvest. This big sugarbaby type watermelon has very juicy, very red flesh and superb sweetness. Fruits are 12 pounds.

Sakata Seed. h 12 • 2022

Tomato ‘Better Boy Plus’.

Tomatoes

Tomato ‘Better Boy Plus’. Red. Over 36 inches. 77 days to harvest from transplant. More flavourful and disease resistant than the original ‘Better Boy’. Good for canning or slicing.

Each tomato weighs about a pound. Seminis Home Garden.

Tomato ‘Brad’s Atomic Cherry’. Red with green stripes.

Over 36 inches. 75 days to harvest from transplant. Sweet fruit that starts out lavender and purple and turns to red with brown stripes and a bit of blue when mature. Seeds by Design.

Tomato ‘Frosted Green Doctors’. Green. 24 to 36 inches.

70 days to harvest from transplant. Green cherry tomatoes that are sweet and tart. Seeds by Design.

Tomato ‘Heartbreaker Vita’. Red. 18 to 24 inches. 70 days to harvest from transplant. Tender skin on sweet and sour heart-shaped tomatoes. Bonnie Plants.

Tomato ‘Lemon Boy Plus’. Yellow-orange. Over 36 inches. 70 days to harvest from transplant. Tangy tomato, just like the original ‘Lemon Boy’, but with added flavour and disease resistance. Seminis Home Garden.

Tomato ‘Marzito’. Red. Over 36 inches. 50 days to harvest from transplant. Like a mini Roma tomato, growing to 2 inches long. Great for cooking. PanAmerican Seed.

Tomato ‘Mountain Man’. Red. Over 36 inches. 73 days Issue 3

localgardener.net

Tomato ‘Tutti-Frutti Deep Red Desire Raisin’.

Tomato ‘Red Velvet’.

Tomato ‘Sunset Torch’.

Pepper ‘Biquinho Red and Yellow Blend’.

Pepper ‘Buffy’.

Pepper ‘Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry’.

Pepper ‘Chinese Five-Colour Hot’.

Pepper ‘Dragonfly’.

Pepper ‘Early Sunsations’.

Pepper ‘Pot-A-Peno’.

Pepper ‘Quickfire’.

Photo courtesy of Pan Anmerican Seeds.

Tomato ‘Purple Zebra’.

to harvest from transplant. Half-pound tomatoes are great for salads and eating fresh. Can be grown in patio containers.

Syngenta Flowers.

Tomato ‘Pink Delicious’. Red. Over 36 inches. 84 days to harvest from transplant. Like the look of heritage tomatoes but not the issues with diseases? Here’s one for you. Lightly ribbed with good balance of flavour between sweet and acidic. All-America Selections.

Tomato ‘Purple Zebra’. Red with green stripes. Over 36 inches. 85 days to harvest from transplant. The striping on the outside stays clear. On the inside, gel is green. All-America Selections.

Tomato ‘Red Velvet’. Red. 12 inches. Red cherry tomato meant to be kept in a pot on the patio or – get this – on your kitchen windowsill! Tidy plant produces all year. PanAmerican Seed.

Tomato ‘Sunset Torch’. Orange. Over 36 inches. 75 days to harvest from transplant. Vigourous grower with a mildly sweet, fruity flavour in 250 to 300 1-ounce fruits per plant.

All-America Selections.

Tomato ‘Tutti-Frutti Deep Red Desire Raisin’. Red. Over 36 inches. 77 days to harvest from transplant. Once you have ripe red tomatoes, leave them on the vine another two weeks or so and they will dry into a sweet raisin! If frost threatens in your area, you can bring them in and dry them in the oven. Very high Brix level. Pure Line Seeds.

Peppers

Pepper ‘Biquinho Red and Yellow Blend’ (Capsicum chinense). Full sun. 72 days from transplant to harvest. A tangy-sweet Brazilian pepper with a touch of heat, these are an interesting shape, round at the top with a pointy tail. They are a mild 1000 to 2000 Scoville heat units. Plants reach 24 localgardener.net

inches in height. Botanical Interests.

Pepper ‘Buffy’ (Capsicum annum). Full sun. 70 days from transplant to harvest. A “fiery little pepper” according to one judge that is a very heavy producer, giving 250 to 280 peppers per plant. Edible when green, or wait until it turns red. Height: 28 inches. All-America Selections.

Pepper ‘Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry’ (Capsicum annum). Full sun. 70 days from transplant to harvest. Grow this one as much for beauty as for eating. A bell-type with gorgeous chocolate striping on red fruit when mature. The foliage is variegated too! Plant reaches 24 inches. PanAmerican Seed.

Pepper ‘Chinese Five-Colour Hot’ (Capsicum annum).

Full sun. 80 days from transplant to harvest. A rainbow of fruit, in purple, yellow, orange, red and cream as they ripen.

Great for ornamentation, they are also screaming hot. Plants get to 24 inches in height. Gurney’s Seed and Nursery Company.

Pepper ‘Dragonfly’ (Capsicum annum). Full sun. 75 days from transplant to harvest. Purple sweet bell pepper that has thicker walls than other purple peppers. Height of 36 inches.

All-America Selections.

Pepper ‘Early Sunsations’ (Capsicum annum). Full sun.

70 days from transplant to harvest. Big, sweet yellow pepper that matures earlier than other bell peppers. Height: 36 inches. Hoss Tools.

Pepper ‘Pot-A-Peno’ (Capsicum annum). Full sun. 60 days from sowing to harvest. Mild hot green to red jalapeno has a cascading habit that makes it great for the patio in hanging containers. Top to bottom is 18 inches. Totally Tomatoes.

Pepper ‘Quickfire’ (Capsicum annum). Full sun. 65 days from sowing to harvest. Thai-style little red peppers on a small, sturdy plant. The fruits measure 40,000 on the Scoville heat scale. The plant is less than 12 inches high. Hot things come in small packages! All-America Selections. h Issue 3

2022 • 13

Tender bulbs T

ender summer bulbs (well, bulbs, corms and tubers) are a glorious way to punch up the wow factor in your garden in late summer. Callas, cannas, dahlias and gladioli are four of the most common tender bloomers that Canadian gardeners plant in spring and dig up in fall to overwinter in cool basements. Or, if you have the budget and get lazy in the fall, buy new ones and plant them every spring.

Read on for the inside intel on dahlias and gladioli, and have a look at our article on elephant ears to give your garden a very tropical vibe.

14 • 2022

Issue 3

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Dahlias D

ahlia is a tuber originally found in South and Central America and is the official flower of Mexico. It was taken to Europe about 200 years ago becoming an immediate hit with flower frenzied English gardeners. The plants were easily hybridized and so became a great favourite among the emerging botany class that was then in its heyday of discovery.

Here in Canada, the exotic blooms from these tubers were highly prized, and the bigger the flower the better. On the prairies, dinnerplate dahlias were widely grown in the early part of the last century. Every local flower show had a display of stunning, gigantic, dinner-plate dahlias, lovingly preserved over cold winter weather, stored like potatoes or turnips; dahlias are winter hardy only in Zones 8 or higher.

Then, gradually, dahlias fell out of favour and for years were seldom seen except in pictures. Now they are back in all their florid glory, not just the yellows and reds of the past but now in softer hues of pink and white and paler yellows. There is every colour but blue and, like the rose, this appears to be unattainable. Dahlias lack the gene needed to produce an enzyme that is critical to the key pigment for blue flowers.

A major feature of dahlias is their long blooming time – two to three months of non-stop flower production. This has made them popular with container gardeners who crave the season-long colour they offer.

They are easy to grow and will bloom with plenty of sunlight and with a normal watering regimen.

Dahlia flowers range from 2 to 12 inches in diameter. They grow in height from 1 to 6 feet.

Cactus dahlias Dahlia petals come in a variety of shapes, which is one of its charms.

A favourite is the cactus and semi cactus flower type with long, rolled petals that look like spikes. There are many sub varieties of this type. There is a wide variety of heights. Flowers range from 6 to 10 inches wide.

localgardener.net

By Dorothy Dobbie

Single dahlia.

Cactus dahlia.

Pompon dahlia.

Issue 3

2022 • 15

Decorative dahlias The decorative dahlias have broader, more blunted petals. This class encompasses the dahlia flowers you often find blooming in containers at the local garden store each spring.

They are usually 1 to 2 feet tall with 4- to 6-inch flowers.

Pompon and ball dahlias If you like flowers to be prim and well-behaved, these dahlias will find your favour. They are perfectly symmetrical, round, with small, tightly formed petals arranged with mathematical precision. Ball dahlias may be slightly flattened at their tops.

There are many more type of dahlias, including the so-called orchid dahlia, a single with eight petals arranged in a star shape and emitting a slight scent.

How to grow and care for dahlias Dahlias grow from tender tubers, hardy only to Zone 8 or higher.

Plant them in springtime, 3 to 4 feet apart for the larger types and 2 feet for smaller ones. Add compost to the planting hole – they enjoy a rich diet – and cover with about 6 inches of soil.

I have seen magnificent dahlia gardens at Butchart in Victoria, but they can be grown as annual almost anywhere, although they prefer to be grown in the ground over being in a pot. If you overwinter the tubers, it is best to try and start them in a pot, though, with exposure to a sunny window or under grow lights early in April. Otherwise, they many not come into bloom until later in the season.

Unless you are an expert or very adventurous, it is easiest to treat dahlias like annuals and buy them each year from your local garden centre. If you’d like to try overwintering, check out the video through the QR code. h

Decorative dahlia.

Scan me How to Divide and Overwinter Dahlias in Cold Climates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tZWg7PFDxA

Orchid dahlia.

16 • 2022

Issue 3

localgardener.net

Gladiolus

By Dorothy Dobbie

A

glory of exquisite blossoms lining a sturdy stalk; that is gladiolus. Named the sword lily – the Latin word for sword is gladius – Roman soldiers were said to wear a chain of gladiolus corms around their necks in battle to protect themselves from death. No wonder gladioli stand for strength, victory and pride. They also signify remembrance, faithfulness and integrity.

For most of us though, gladioli stand for beauty and their reliability as a cut flower where you can study their beautiful blossoms up close. They are easy to grow if you understand that they need full sun and like to be kept moist, unlike many other bulbous plants. Failure to keep them moist will result in smaller blossoms and shorter plants.

Gladiolus, unlike dahlia, does not bloom for months. Flowering lasts only about two weeks, but you can prolong their appearance by planting corms at intervals of eight to 10 days up until about the middle of June to its end, depending on when your first frost days will occur in fall. They take 10 to 12 weeks to bloom.

A corm, for those new to gardening, is a disk-like bulb. As the plant grows and blooms, it uses up the resources built into the corm and begins to produce a new one on top of the old, storing food for the following year of blooming. You can tell the top by its little growing tip in the centre of the corm.

Plant glads about 4 inches deep in well-prepared soil. You can dig a deeper hole and fill it with loose soil and compost for the biggest, sturdiest stalks and best flowers. Glads grow 3 to 5 feet tall, so know what variety you are planting. The shorter ones can be planted a little less deep. The taller ones may require staking. Plant them close together – say 5 inches apart so that they will support each other and make the best display.

If using for an indoor bouquet, cut the flowers in the morning,

localgardener.net

Gladiolus.

Choose flowers that haven’t fully bloomed for cutting.

Issue 3

Gladiolus.

2022 • 17

Gladiolus callianthus murielae, or peacock orchid, is a popular alternative to Gladiolus hybridus.

leaving some of the leaves growing to help regenerate the corm for this coming year if you plan to overwinter them. Cut when blossoms are still tightly furled except for the first one of two. They bloom from the bottom up. Both indoors and out, remove spent flowers from the stalk.

Because gladioli are Zone 8 or higher – most originated in South Africa – the corms must be stored indoors over the winter. You can dig up the corms about six weeks after blooming or after the first frost.

Harden them off in the sun for a few days, removing the old, shriveled corm on the bottom before storing. Happy gladioli will produce cormels which you can also store and plant next year. The cormels take a couple of years to get to the blooming stage.

When choosing corms from the garden centre, look for the largest and plumpest. The bigger the corm, the better the plant and bigger corms bloom sooner.

There are several hybrids to choose from, but you will most likely encounter only the Gladiolus hybridus and perhaps acidanthera, Gladiolus callianthus murielae, also called the Abyssinian gladiolus, or the peacock orchid. These lovely white flowers have a dark maroon heart and are also scented. They come from Eastern Africa.

You might be astonished to learn that certain species of gladiolus are native to various parts of the Mediterranean and Europe (primarily Gladiolus dzhavakheticus) including Britain (Gladiolus illyricus).

There are endless hybrid varieties of gladiolus, with blossoms of every colour and variegation imaginable (even speckled) – except for true blue. Colours range from yellow to green to white to mauve and all the reds, oranges and pinks you can think of. Blossoms can be ruffled or plain. h Scan me Digging and storing Gladiolus bulbs by Chuck Beavers as the Busy Beaver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxSdR1v8fWI

Gladiolus.

18 • 2022

Gladiolus.

Issue 3

localgardener.net

Elephant ears

By Shauna Dobbie

C

olocasia go by the name elephant ears because of the large leaf size and, if you kind of squint, their shape. They grow from corms that you can find at some grocers as taro. If you buy those mixed root chip snacks, taro is the one with speckles. Travellers to Hawaii may have come across prepared taro as poi, the starchy purple-brown, semi-liquid stuff that Hawaiians seem to love to eat. But beware: the plant must be cooked before eating.

Alocasia and Xanthosoma are two similar plants, also called elephant ears in common parlance. All three are from the arum family of plants. All the plants have similar requirements, but colocasia are the ones most often grown in the garden; the others are more typically indoor plants in Canada.

The huge leaves of elephant ears bring to mind humid days and warm nights in a dreamy tropical setting.

Giant 36-inch leaves on tall stems look exotic in any garden, and you can add them to yours with a little effort.

One of the most difficult things about growing them is that they’re tender and above-ground parts won’t survive extended periods below 10 Celsius. Below ground, they will survive cooler temperatures such as you find in Victoria and Vancouver, but in most of Canada, you’ll have to bring the corms in for the winter.

Another thing that can be a challenge is that the plant needs a lot of moisture. They do well at the edge of a pond, sitting in a bit of water. Otherwise, you’ll need to keep them in a constantly moist situation. Situating them in dappled shade will help keep the watering duties down. Make sure the soil is rich in humus and consider mulch. They appreciate regular feeding. Use a water-soluble food high in nitrogen every two or three weeks.

In the tropics, elephant ears stay green all the time. In Canadian Hardiness Zones 8 and 9, they die to the ground for winter but come up again the next year. If you don’t have such mild winters where you live, you can either dig the tubers up and store them in newspapers or peat for the winter, or you can take the plant indoors and put it in a sunny room, keeping it as a houseplant.

If you want something a little outré

localgardener.net

‘Hawaiian Punch’.

‘Tropical Storm’.

‘Maui Gold’.

‘Aloha’.

Issue 3

2022 • 19

‘Maui Sunrise’.

‘Black Coral’.

‘Illustris’.

‘Tea Party’.

20 • 2022

‘Heart of the Jungle’.

from the regular green, there are a few varieties on the market right now.

Proven Winners has 11 that are noteworthy. They range in height from 3 to 5 feet.

‘Hawaiian Punch’ has red stems and veining.

‘Tropical Storm’ has cream centres, turning green and then darker toward the edges.

‘Maui Gold’ is chartreuse.

‘Aloha’ has leaves with a dark brown tinge to the green.

‘Maui Sunrise’ has a creamy centre and grows a little bigger than ‘Tropical Storm’.

‘Black Coral’ is mahogany.

‘Heart of the Jungle’ is green with dark petioles and grows to 5 feet high.

‘Illustris’ is almost black with bright green veins.

‘Coffee Cups’ is green with dark veins. The leaves don’t open out flat but stay cupped.

‘Tea Party’ is shorter statured, maxing out at 3 feet. The foliage ranges from green to bronzed to almost black.

‘Sangria’ has a bluish tinge and red stems. h

‘Coffee Cups’.

‘Sangria’.

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Ranunculus.

Freesia.

Also rans

I

n addition to dahlias and gladioli, there are calla lilies, cannas, Hymenocallis, ranunculus, tuberous begonias and many more tender bulbs. h

Calla.

Tuberous begonia. localgardener.net

Canna flowers.

Hymenocallis.

Issue 3

2022 • 21

To dig or not to dig

By Maggie Connell

The bounty of no-dig extends to flowers in Maggie’s garden.

H

ow do you make your garden return an abundance of vegetables? There is certainly no silver bullet for manifesting those luscious tomatoes, those giant red peppers, those greens. Where will you place your treasures? Will the fertilizer (in my case, comfrey, which I grew last year) be sufficient to keep you in plant food throughout the summer? How will you deal with those pesky aphids whose new favourite place to hang out is your greenhouse? When will you till your ground… or will you till it at all?

Of all the decisions we make, this one has the greatest impact on abundance.

While we are fixated on the bounty… the part we can see… there is a whole world of activity going on below the surface of that soil. In that often-overlooked world, there exists the potential for epic plant growth. In undisturbed soil that has been mulched with organic matter, hardworking mycorrhizal fungi help plant roots access nutrients and moisture. The more you feed your fungi friends, the harder they will work for you. Want to feed your plants?

Feed your fungi friends! So then, why not simply add all that organic matter and till it in? Mycorrhizal fungi are designed to thrive and work below the surface; when we till, they are exposed

22 • 2022

Comfrey.

to the air which destroys them. (Not to mention the chopped-up worms!)

Back in the day when synthetic fertilizers first appeared, they seemed to hold so much promise. But we understand a lot more about the role of soil health now and have learned that synthetic fertilizers literally liquify (chelate) the very minerals that allow roots access to critical nutrients, allowing them to leach out of the soil and creating a dependence on that fertilizer.

By contrast, when a layer of organic matter (chopped up leaves or straw, garden waste, composted kitchen scraps, chicken contributions) is applied to the surface, your friends (worms and fungi) will quickly transIssue 3

form it all into a soft, rich, velvety soil that holds moisture and nutrients for the plant’s taking. You will notice that you need your shovel less and less; a light dig with your fingers in this black, velvety soil will make the planting hole you need.

No-dig gardening Is a time saver. What gardener couldn’t use more time? Without all that tilling and constant fertilizing schedule, you have more available time!

Eliminates guessing. No more wondering about which fertilizer or how much to use; just mulch and walk away, often for the duration of the season, as decomposed organic matter lasts longer than synthetic fertilizers.

And it’s free!

Diminishes need for watering.

That layer of organic mulch drastically reduces evaporation of soil moisture, both at the surface level as well as below the ground.

Grows fewer weeds. When soil is disturbed, surviving organisms need to recover… they do this by growing weeds, which help the soil to heal. No need to heal means fewer weeds.

Ensures survival of beneficials.

Undisturbed soil means the survival of the very community that determines plant health and vigour. localgardener.net

Maggie Connell.

Closes the loop. No-dig gardening brings you one step closer to a closed loop system where everything taken is somehow returned so that the soil never gets exhausted and fewer commercial products are needed.

Produces better food. Talk to anyone practicing no-dig gardening and you will surely hear them praise the quality of produce in terms of size, volume and …oh the taste!

Saves the planet. Conservation of our ever more limited water supply, increased biodiversity, climate resilience and the importance of sequestering carbon are all critical ideas in these times. Every effort counts, no matter how small!

Following the principles of no-dig gardening sensitizes us to and develops empathy for the ways of nature. Once we start thinking of the soil as a living thing unto itself, we begin to revere it and treat it kindly, allowing it to do its job as was intended. Regenerative farming is truly the future of growing food on this planet.

Check out Charles Dowding, a practical influencer of no-dig gardening in the United Kingdom. He has several valuable YouTube videos available for free as well as a great book No Dig Organic Home & Garden. h Maggie Connell is an artist and gardener in New Brunswick.

Scan me Check out a video here by Charles Dowding about the no till method. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBoXd1mo1tw&li st=RDCMUCB1J6siDdmhwah7q0O2WJBg&index=3 localgardener.net

Vegetables grow best when you feed the soil.

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Issue 3

2022 • 23

Some secrets of soil W

By Dorothy Dobbie

ay down where the roots of our plants survive in the dark where people can’t see, there is a world teeming with life – billions and billions of microscopic bacteria, viruses, fungi, molds, nematodes, and little critters of all kinds. In addition to moisture, there is lifegiving oxygen. Just as in the world above, the act of life changes everything, constantly and unendingly.

One of the strongest forces is one stimulated by the roots of vegetation which exist not far beneath the surface of the earth. The growing tips of the roots, the apical meristems, powered by the sunlight above, are seeking out food, water and oxygen. They are interacting, often symbiotically but sometimes in self-defense, with other life forms.

We have long known that adding organics to our soil not only creates a more porous and water-absorbent environment, but organic materials also seem to help plants grow. Now we know how. (If you’re interested in the latest science, see the sidebar.)

Many years ago, we identified the major and minor mineral elements needed for plant growth. The commercial fertilizers concentrate on the big three – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, also known as NPK, which they sell commercially and which some gardeners faithfully dissolve in water and pour on the soil around our plants. But we also know that plants require a whole list of other elements including sulfur, magnesium and calcium.

The also-rans are molybdenum, copper, zinc, manganese, iron, nickel, boron and chlorine. But wait, that is not the complete list: plants also critically need carbon, hydrogen and oxygen . . .

Hold on! you say. You are giving me a headache. So, let’s take some of the stress away and suggest that you do a couple of practical things to keep soil healthy and teeming with that necessary life that seeks out all these remedies and delivers them, sight unseen, to your garden.

First, if you are using a commercial growing medium such as a potting soil, inoculate it with some real soil to introduce native life to the planter. Compost is a wonderful way to provide a growing medium for that life. Next, don’t just pour on the NPK. When you fertilize, add some seaweed tea to introduce those micronutrients that are necessary for a truly happy plant.

Remember, a critical element in the soil is oxygen. That is why you need what is called “tilth”. Tilth is the word used to describe soil that is crumbly, but a squeezed handful will keep the shape of a ball for a minute or two. This indicates that the soil has enough moisture and enough air to keep the roots in good shape on their search for the other nutrients the plants must have.

Plant some nitrogen fixers in the garden. “Fixed” nitrogen means that the nitrogen is ready for plant use when it is combined with another element such as ammonia (as is done in commercial fertilizers) or in the case of nitrogen fixed by lightning, by bonding free nitrogen atoms with oxygen to create nitrous oxide, which is dissolvable in water and carried to the earth by rain. Plants, such as those in the legume or bean family, are very good at fixing nitrogen.

Clover is a good plant to incorporate in your lawn and

24 • 2022

The most important part of gardening is often what’s happening below the ground – and it’s still something we’re trying to figure out.

garden, but trees such as caragana, alder and black locust also have this ability. Ornamentals include lupine and, if you live in a warm enough area, wisteria.

Nitrogen and other minerals are also restored to the soil from fallen leaves and other vegetation such as grass clippings.

You don’t need to be a chemist to ascertain just how much of each product or material should be added to the soil you are growing in (although some compost producers do measure this carefully). You need to think about balance. Just as in everything else, too much is too much, so don’t overdo it. If you feed your garden green lawn clippings all year long, you may develop a nitrogen imbalance evidenced by leaf edges starting to turn yellow then brown as if burnt.

On the other hand, if leaves begin to show signs of paleness or dark green veins on a light green leaf, you can be sure you are seeing some lacking nutrient. Depending on the symptoms, it could be nitrogen, (pale to yellowish leaf), magnesium (dark veins on older leaves) or iron (dark green veins on young leaves).

If this all sounds far too complicated, don’t worry. Just give your perennial beds an inch or two of compost each year. Mulch fall leaves with your lawn mower and add a nice layer of the shredded material to the beds. Leave the rest on the lawn to nourish it. By spring, the underground army will have pulled all that vegetation to the vaults below where they are busily making it useable for next year’s growth.

As for your pots, change the potting mix every couple of years and in between try to add some compost or even a bit of topsoil.

Most of all, relax, have fun and the next time you are lying on the lawn soaking up the sun, take a deep breath and enjoy the smell of that sweet soil beneath you. That will help you breathe in some of the “happy” bacteria, Mycobacteriuim vaccae. It stimulates the production of serotonin in your gut which makes you not only happier, but smarter! h Issue 3

localgardener.net

B

Science underground

acteria break down dead organics releasing nutrients in a form that roots can absorb. Why do they do this?

Because they get carbohydrates obtained through the action of photosynthesis and delivered to the roots which secrete this substance.

This is the rhizophagy cycle and you probably already know something about his because for the past few years we have been discovering different mycorrhizae fungi whose hyphae bring water and nutrients to plant roots while receiving carbohydrates in return.

In this instance, root cells absorb microbes and blast them with superoxide. This degrades the cells of some of the microbes which releases nutrients that the plant needs. Some of the microbes survive and are released at the root hair tips where they go back into the soil to pick up more nutrients in this elegant cycle. Even more inter-

esting is that while this is happening, the microbes are helping to suppress pathogens in the plant cells.

This is not the end of the story or the only thing happening down here – just one of the latest discoveries. Deeply rooted weeds such as Canada thistle and dandelions bring nutrients up from the depths to the surface. Earth worms of all kinds also do a very good job of

mining nutrients so that they are available for plants. They are also the first processors of the vegetative or organic matter you leave or incorporate into your garden. The materials they ingest as they burrow is chemically changed so that their castings are much more digestible by plants and other organisms.

There are millions of other insects and other organisms, each of which does its part.

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2022 • 25

Growing greens

By Shauna Dobbie Lettuce You want to grow lettuce? Scatter a few seeds, water, and in a few weeks: boom. Lettuce. It’s the same with spinach and several other salad greens, such as arugula, pak choi, mustard greens and mâché. But to be more precise (as a gardening magazine should be) here’s what you do.

Lettuce in particular is a coolseason crop. It will survive some frost, so it’s good to sow seed very early in the spring. You can use a cold frame, cloches or row covers to extend the season by a couple of weeks, or just to ensure your lettuces don’t get frozen by a rogue hard frost.

The seeds will germinate best between 10 and 20 Celsius but will germinate down to 5 and up to 24 Celsius. Hardened off baby plants will survive temperature drops down to about -6 Celsius for short periods.

Sow lettuce seeds indoors four to six weeks before the last frost for your area, one per cell. Don’t bother with a heat mat because they germinate better at cooler temperatures.

They should germinate in two to 14 days. Harden off your babies a couple of weeks before the last frost and plant them 10 inches apart for head lettuce and 6 to 9 inches apart for leaf lettuce.

Outdoors, you can sow lettuce seed starting from two weeks before your last frost date with no protection. They grow so fast, don’t bother planting extras and then thinning them unless your seed is getting old; lettuce seeds last up to five years if kept in a dark, dry, cool place. If you have a big gap in your row from a bum seed, just plant another one.

Do succession sowing every two weeks. If the temperature goes way up through July and August, don’t bother to sow from June until it cools down toward the end of summer, or use anti-bolt methods.

It varies from variety to variety, but lettuce will bolt if the temperature is above 24 Celsius during the day and 16 Celsius through the night.

Anti-bolt methods Bolting is when the leafy vegetable sends up a spike to flower, signalling 26 • 2022

Swiss chard.

Bolted lettuce.

Lambsquarters.

Malabar spinach.

the end of its usefulness for eating. A plant will bolt in response to stressors like heat, drought and long daylight hours. The plant wants to reproduce before it dies.

You can let the flower bloom; it won’t be beautiful, but you can collect seeds for next year. You can eat bolted lettuce, but it’s bitter.

Other leafy vegetables become too spicy or grow little unpalatable hairs.

These are the plants’ mechanisms to prevent insects and foraging animals from nibbling at them while they’re making seeds.

• Plant in dappled shade in an attempt to keep the daytime temperature below 24 Celsius. This will give it enough sunlight to continue growing while lowering the temperature.

• Use plenty of mulch. Prevent Issue 3

water loss and over-hot soil temperatures by laying a good deal of mulch at the base. You can use any type of mulch, like wood chips, straw or grass. Just make sure to leave enough room around the base of the plant to prevent rotting.

• Keep it well watered. Lettuce bolts for a variety of reasons that fall into the same category: it is trying to set seed before it dies. Drought will cause bolting.

• Install a shade cover. This is the same as the dappled shade.

• Choose head type over leaf type for lettuce in summer. They don’t bolt as easily. I don’t know why.

• Choose varieties that are recommended as slow to bolt. Check on seed packets or in catalogues which varieties these are. localgardener.net

Kale.

Collards.

Cos lettuces.

Bloody dock.

Sweet potato vine.

Amaranth.

Scan me Picking and eating lambsquarters: with the only recipe you need https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZDY1uR2ZSc

Other cool weather greens Most leafy greens we eat will bolt as the weather heats up. Many will take longer than lettuce to bolt.

Here are some other types to consider.

Mild: Chard, kale, mâché, spinach.

Bitter: Collards, endive, escarole, raddichio.

Spicy: Arugula, mizuna, mustard. h localgardener.net

Hot weather greens Malabar spinach (Basella alba) is a vine with mild, peppery, lemony leaves that can sort of be substituted for spinach. The two aren’t related. Malabar spinach leaves are a little bit succulent with a slightly mucilaginous texture, but don’t let that throw you off.

Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) grows like a weed. In fact, it is a weed! But it is a wonderful green and very tolerant of hot weather. The young leaves are the best for eating. Some people are sensitive to the white bloom on the young leaves; in that case, they need to be cooked. As a bonus, you can collect and eat the seeds, too, though it is a pain to winnow them. Quinoa is another species of Chenopodium.

Sorrel (Rumex), also known as dock, is regaining its popularity. It is an acquired taste, rather Issue 3

like tart, lemony grass. If you like to forage, you may find sheep’s sorrel, with its small leaves.

If you prefer your vegetables from the garden, you may have come across bloody dock, which is beautiful but less flavourful than common sorrel or French sorrel.

Sweet potato greens (Ipomoea batatas). If you know, you know, and if you don’t, you’re like me. Turns out sweet potato vine is edible!

But it is bitter and tough. Many people like bitter greens, and if you’re one of them, try sweet potato green. Apparently, they are better cooked.

Amaranth greens (Amaranthus) is the plant that just gives and gives. Gorgeous flowers turn into seeds that are used like quinoa, but before all this happens, you can eat the greens!

2022 • 27

Potatoes

The underrated, healthy food that’s easy to grow

W

hether they are baked, boiled, mashed, or french-fried, potatoes are pure comfort food.

Still, despite the many virtues of these tasty tubers, they tend to be overlooked by many backyard gardeners. In this article, I'd like to make a case for the potato; it's nutritional virtues, why it should be included in your garden this year, and how easy they are to grow!

An old New World food feeds the Old World While the cultivation of potatoes goes back thousands of years, Europeans were relatively late to the party, with the Spanish learning of their incredible value during early contact with the Inca Empire in the 16th century. Knowing a good thing when they saw it, only a handful of decades went by before potatoes were being grown back in Europe, and shortly thereafter, they were literally fueling the Industrial Revolution. Today, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, over 300 million tonnes of potatoes are grown annually worldwide, with Europeans eating the most on a per capita basis, and consumption is on the rise in Africa and Latin America. In addition, about half the world's potatoes are consumed in Asia. In essence, virtually every culture on earth has been introduced to the potato and has adopted it as sustenance in one way or another.

The most inexpensive health food in the supermarket The potato gets a bad rap among certain proponents of the diet world.

We are supposed to shun these starchy staples in favour of hip health foods, but the actual evidence reveals that this is all smoke and mirrors. The numbers don't lie, and they tell us that potatoes are a healthy food. According to the Canadian Nutrient File, a medium baked potato about the size of an avocado, (173 grams including the skins) has 161 calories. In terms of basic composition, that 173 grams is primarily made up of water (129.6 grams), carbohydrates (36.6 grams) and protein (4.3 grams).

A closer look at the carbohydrates

28 • 2022

By Greg Auton

Scan me Harvesting & Storing Potatoes: A Full Demonstration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOhLVI8Rgoo

reveals 3.8 grams dietary fibre, 2.0 grams total sugars, and 29.9 grams starch. In terms of vitamins and minerals, they (like many fresh vegetables) are basically multivitamin pills, having small amounts of almost everything, and a huge amount of potassium (936 milligrams). If we look at this from another angle, a man (requiring 2,500 calories a day), would have to eat about 16 potatoes a day (with no butter or cheese) to maintain his weight. A woman (requiring 1,900 calories a day) would have to eat 12 potatoes a day, just to maintain her weight. So, contrary to popular wisdom, potatoes (not potato chips of course!) are the quintessential diet food, providing energy, dietary fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals, all while leaving Issue 3

you feeling completely full. They also have no cholesterol, practically no fat (0.22 grams per 173 grams) and are completely lactose and gluten free.

Why should I grow them when they are so cheap to buy?

It is true that potatoes are very cheap to buy, especially when bought in 50-pound bags, but sadly, there’s not much variety in stores, especially when buying in bulk. It’s the flavourful varieties available to the home gardener that make them a crop worth adding to your spring planting schedule.

This, in combination with how easy they are to grow and store, make them a no-brainer if you have the space. If you have a small community plot – or a small property – it probably doesn’t make sense to grow them, but if you have the room, they are totally worth it. In my opinion, it makes much more sense to grow potatoes than to grow grass – and it’s pretty easy (using the method explained below) to expand your gardening space by converting your lawn space to potato beds.

Do homegrown potatoes taste better?

I’m not sure if there has ever been a peer-reviewed article published in localgardener.net

I grow a lot of potatoes in my garden, and despite having a family of four and eating them a few times a week, they usually last until April of the following year.

an academic journal that has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that homegrown potatoes actually taste better than store-bought potato, but many gardeners (including this one) make that claim. Some say it’s the soil quality, some say it’s the organic inputs, but for me, it’s most likely the range of varieties. Next time you are in a grocery store, take a look around and you will see very few varieties for sale.

Perhaps this is due to a preference for varieties that ship well, attain uniform size and shape, and have a long shelf life. Perhaps this is due to their capacity to withstand various aspects of modern agriculture such as machine harvesters and factory processing.

Regardless of the reason, the home gardener can grow varieties that no one can buy in a store – and varieties that are all about flavour!

So how do I grow them?

Potatoes are one of the easiest plants to grow. When you start seeing yellow dandelion flowers, it’s time to plant potatoes. To convert a lawn to a potato garden, mow it short, lay the potatoes on the ground in a 12-inch grid, then cover with a heavy mulch (12 inches of hay, or 8 inches of shredded leaves) and just walk away. The grass is smothered out by the mulch, then decomposes and feeds the soil organisms, which in turn feed the potatoes.

At the end of the year all the sod will be gone and you will have beautiful soil ready for growing whatever you want next year! If you are planting in a bed that’s already established, just dig down about six inches in loose soil, place the seed potato with most of its eyes pointing up if you can, cover, lay down mulch about 3 inches thick and walk away. I literally do nothing from localgardener.net

this point until harvest. In a few weeks, the eyes will poke out of the ground, in a month they start to really take off, and by July or August you’ll be eating them! Harvest after the plants wilt and die. Some potatoes, like the Red Norland, can mature in less than 90 days, while others, like the Kennebec, can take 110 days or more.

Aren’t you supposed to hill potatoes?

Many people say this, but the reality is that when using a mulch, it is completely unnecessary. I have used wood chips, leaves, straw and hay, and all with great success (make sure straw is at least 6 inches thick). Without a mulch, some potatoes tend to pop out of the ground, and become exposed to the sun, and this utterly ruins their flavour, which is why hilling is needed with conventional gardening methods, but this is completely unnecessary when using a mulch. The mulch also serves many other functions: it feeds nutrients to the soil organisms as it

slowly breaks down; maintains more constant moisture levels in the soil, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for watering; dramatically reduces the presence of weeds; and provides an ideal environment for beneficial organisms. All of these factors result in healthier soil – and better potatoes!

What to do with all those potatoes?

Perhaps one of the best things about growing potatoes is how easy they are to store. As long as you can keep them at the right humidity and between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius, they will keep for months. A second fridge is one solution; a root cellar or cold room is another; or if you are lucky, you are like me and have a garage that stays in that temperature range from November to late March. I just put mine in cardboard boxes and leave them on the floor and I am typically eating my previous year’s potatoes into April.

This is also how to store seed potatoes for next year’s crop – just set aside the smaller ones for planting – no need to cut and divide them up!

Final thoughts Quinoa, goji berries, and chia seeds are nice, but there are plenty of perfectly fine, low maintenance health foods that you can grow in your backyard, and the potato is possibly the king of them. You stick them in the ground, wait a few months, then stick them in a box and eat them when you want with no loss of quality, flavour, or nutritional value. Wouldn't you want to give that a try at least once? If you have never tried growing potatoes, make this the year to put aside some space for this fantastic staple crop. h

Storing potatoes is as easy as doing a careful inspection and then gently placing them in tiers in cardboard boxes separated by layers of newspaper.

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2022 • 29

Peperomia obtusifolia.

Peperomia caperata ‘Rosso’.

Pilea peperomioides.

10 Neat Things about Peperomia 1. Plant of the year! Peperomia has been declared the plant of the year by the National Garden Bureau.

The National Garden Bureau is an American organization, but Canadians can follow their edicts too. This year is the first time they’ve had a houseplant as one of their “Year of” selections. It is also the Year of the Gladiolus, Verbena, Lilac, Phlox and Salad Green.

2. Many, many, many. There are over 1500 species of peperomia in existence, ranging from upright to trailing, succulent to non-succulent, and in a multitude of colours. They come from the American tropics and mostly grow as epiphytes, which is to say, in nature they grow on rotting wood. But you can easily grow them indoors without a rotting tree. There are around 10 or 20 that you may come across being sold as houseplants.

3. How much light? In nature, peperomia grow

Peperomia incana.

30 • 2022

lower down, close to the forest floor, where they don’t get much light. In your house, they will be happiest in a bright room out of direct sunlight.

4. Succulents. Peperomia succulents require less light than other succulents, making it easier for the new indoor plant parent. Look for Peperomia obtusifolia, with round, emerald-green foliage or variegated foliage.

5. If you like that, you’ll love this. P. polybotrya, or raindrop peperomia, sometimes get mixed up with Pilea peperomioides, also known as Chinese money plant.

They do look very similar. The peperomia is more tolerant of drying out and doesn’t have the perfectly round leaves of the Pilea. And if you ask me, it’s quite a bit more attractive.

6. Help! It’s lost its leaves! If your peperomia drops its leaves, chances are you have watered it too much.

Peperomia ‘Raisinet’.

Peperomia polybotrya.

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Peperomia puteolata.

Peperomia caperata ‘Schumi Red’.

The stems of overwatered plants will be mushy and the leaves will turn yellow before dropping. Let your peperomia dry out between waterings.

7. Too big for its pot? These plants like to be snug in their pots. They don’t need to be repotted very often, certainly not more than every three years.

Choose a pot one size up when you do repot. A terra cotta pot is a good choice because it will allow water to escape through the porous container.

8. Make more. Want to give a plant to a friend?

Snip of a few pieces, remove the bottom leaves, and put them in a glass of water. You should get roots in two or three weeks. The plantlets can be potted up and given away. Alternatively, you can do leaf cuttings: cut a leaf at the stem and trim it diagonally.

Peperomia argyrei.

Put the cut side down into potting soil and keep it well watered until it roots and new growth appears.

9. Toxicity. Although it comes from the same family of plants as black pepper, you’re not supposed to eat it. But don’t worry if your pet does. The ASPCA does not consider peperomia toxic to cats or dogs.

10. Is that a flower? If your peperomia gets enough light in your house, it may bloom. The blooms look like long, thin spikes that have been compared to a rat’s tail. Congratulations! h ••• Pssst: if you don’t get our weekly newscast of 10 Neat Things delivered to your inbox, subscribe at localgardener.net.

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2022 • 31

How will you

Celebrate?

The Year of the Garden 2022, a celebration of everything garden and garden related in Canada, begins this spring and you’re invited to join in the fun and “Live the Garden Life”.

Whether you already enjoy time in the garden or want to learn more about how gardens impact so much of Canadian life, there’s something for everyone to discover and celebrate at home, at work, in school, in your community, and at beautiful garden destinations across the country during the Year of the Garden 2022.

Visit the Year of the Garden Website to discover ways to celebrate.

yearofthegarden.ca

FouNDiNG SPoNSoRS

FouNDiNG PARTNERS

SPoNSoR

PRoMoTioNAl PARTNERS

32 • 2022

MEDiA PARTNERS

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Here are just some of the ways to celebrate during the year of the Garden:

Plant Red to pay tribute to lives lost, or honour frontline workers during the pandemic.

Or Plant Red as an expression of your Canadian Garden Pride in 2022.

Visit your favorite Garden Centre to get your plants and the Year of the Garden website for details: yearofthegarden.ca

Red Charm Peony: Veseys.com

2022 Celebration Garden Gardens and gardening helped people face life’s challenges during the pandemic. Sign up your garden, indoor or outdoor, to be a 2022 Celebration garden. Tell us the theme of your garden, what you are planting and share pictures and stories, to help others learn from your gardening success.

Pandemic Celebration Garden - a source of • comfort in managing the challenges of the pandemic Therapeutic Celebration Garden - improve physical • and mental health and wellness Climate Action Celebration Garden - make a • positive impact on the environment Edible Celebration Garden - help improve health • and access to fresh food Native Celebration Garden - indigenous • speciesPlant that are part of the original flora of a place

• •

to make a positive contribution to the environment and habitat Social Celebration Garden - an ideal space to host and entertain family and friends Personal Celebration Garden - expressing your garden creativity

Discover many more ways to celebrate the Year of the Garden 2022 the weekly Therapeutic Garden Invitation •• Follow Visit Canada’s Garden Route to see top garden destinations Days (June 11 to 19) National Garden Day Jun 18, 2022 •• Garden Learn about the new Garden for Every School resource your Garden Heroes •• Celebrate Is your municipality a Garden-Friendly City? from Year of the Garden 2022 Garden Ambassadors • Learn Learn businesses, clubs and organizations that make • up the from Garden-Family

ViSiT : yearofthegarden.ca | Follow us on Facebook and instagram localgardener.net

Issue 3

2022 • 33

In praise of messy trees “T

By Michael Rosen

en trees you should never plant in your garden”, “how certain trees can harm your garden”, “trees to avoid”, “five worst messy trees for the lazy landscaper”, “14 messy trees that make a mess of your yard”, “trash trees – avoid planting messy, smelly trees”… and then there’s the passive-aggressive, “the least messy trees for your yard”. It’s all a sort of requiem for the fact that trees are living organisms with bark, leaves, flowers and fruit. Academics even have a formal name for these: “ecosystem disservices”.

It’s a sign of the times that we see so much disinformation (and paranoia) on messy trees. Part of this is the new ethic in residential development – enormous houses, small yards with a minimum of: grass, trees, raised beds or anything green. Many new subdivisions sell themselves on having “no yard to clean” complete with sterile courtyards of paving stones, AstroTurf and monster homes taking up as much space as possible as people increasingly seek refuge inside. Countless real estate sites extol the virtues of these yards. Often, they challenge the reader with leading questions such as this one: “How often do you use your current outdoor space?

How much of the yard do you use on a regular basis?

Do your outdoor activities have to be at home, or can they still be enjoyed in a public space, such as a park?

Which is more useful to your lifestyle, a yard or more space in the house?.... This leads people to sacrifice the size of the yard in exchange for a larger house. Next, there is a growing number of homeowners who are just uninterested in a large backyard. This large population of homeowners enjoy a lifestyle in which the yard adds no value and/or they see the maintenance of the yard as an added unnecessary expense rather than an amenity…. The result is a clean and well-maintained neighborhood that maintains its value.” (Gulfstate Homebuyers, 2022).

There really is no tree which can escape the wrath of the 21st-century persnickety homeowner eager to live a maintenance-free existence, never to pick up a leaf, prune a branch or smell the earth. Lord help us.

Sugar maple? Maple keys. Norway maple? Leaves, keys, and protruding roots. Honey locust? Tiny leaves I cannot get with my rake. Female gingkoes? Vomit-smelling fruit.

Lilacs? Perfumy smell and a weedy form. Oak? Persistent leaves, acorns, and they’re just too big. Hemlocks? Cones.

Walnuts? Missile-like nuts aiming for my car. Apples?

Apples. Cherries? Cherries. And so forth.

As you can tell, my patience for these anti-arboreal crusaders is extremely limited. Already on single-sex trees (“dioecious trees” like poplar, willow, white ash, and gingko) nurseries seek to only sell male trees (therefore with no dropping fruit). But of course, this does not make everyone happy either as male trees’ pollen can cause problems for the allergic. Oh well.

“Messy trees” is right up there with “dangerous trees” in the perpetuation of tree myths. I know this from personal experience. We live in the country, yet my children’s elementary school sat in a school landscape that

34 • 2022

Female gingkos have smelly fruit.

is all too familiar to Canadians: an acre of asphalt, some swings and teeter totters, surrounded by a chain link fence.

I approached the principal to see if she was interested in me facilitating a greening plan for the school yard. “Sure,” she said, “you just have to run it by the school board.”

I remember explaining the plan to the “maintenance specialist”. It was an incredibly educational experience for me. In the space of 15 minutes, he confirmed every bad (and technically flawed) stereotype about trees in urban areas: “The roots will crack the school’s foundation,” “The branches could break a window,” ‘’The leaves will rot the roof shingles,” “Children will slip on the leaves”, “The vines will pull out the bricks off the school wall”, and my favourite, “The kids will climb the trees one day, fall, and hurt themselves.”

I walked away shaking my head – yet those statements went on to form the basis for a pamphlet I wrote for Tree Canada called Greening Canada’s Schoolyards.

Quite frequently, people take their lead from political leaders and governments. In 1981, US President Ronald Reagan claimed that trees produce more air pollution than automobiles, fueling a spate of jokes about killer trees. He was mostly wrong, but not completely. In hot weather, trees release volatile organic hydrocarbons including terpenes and isoprenes linked to photochemical smog.

However, he confused the nitrous oxide that trees produce with nitrogen dioxide, a dangerous atmospheric pollution from automobiles. But the message was clear – Reagan was not catering to the tree-hugging vote.

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Oak trees drop acorns.

Honey locust has small leaves that are difficult to rake.

Lilacs are considered weedy and perfumey.

Hemlock trees drop cones.

to hack down goldenrod patches or mow down long stem grasses because of neighbour complaints of a messy yard.

It’s time for these bylaws to move into the 21st century.

The poor foresters who work for municipalities endure endless criticism of their species choices, even those made many years before they were born. Where it is all this headed, I am not sure but if we are to break our compulsion for a life indoors, in front of a screen and far from the natural world, we need to live with the incongruities, the imperfections and the wonder that gardening outdoors with trees will give us. It is one of our only hopes.

Things discarded from trees enrich our soils, give habitat to bees and other insects and form part of the ecosystem for others. In these times, this is a small part but is very definitely part of the solution going forward. Messy trees?

The ultimate oxymoron. h

And neither, one may argue, are municipalities. Sure, most will profess the International Society of Arboriculture’s slogan “Trees are Good”. Any glance at a municipal website will display messages around the virtues of planting trees, information on the latest bugs and diseases and where to call if a city tree branch lands on your roof, but other pieces of municipal regulation set the stage for the decidedly anti-mess (and anti-natural) message.

“Property standards” – a catch phrase that includes bylaws regarding the appearance of yards consistently raises its ugly head. Holdovers from the Leave it to Beaver era of 1950s traditionalism, most municipalities take it upon themselves to be the arbiters of how one person’s mess can be another one’s naturalization project. There are countless stories of the work of pollinator-friendly homeowners being castigated by property standard bylaws, forced

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A barrel cactus (Ferocactus) in Arizona. The ribs are capable of great expansion and contraction, dependent on the amount of stored water.

Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantia) is a characteristic, columnar species of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. Mature specimens may grow to a height of 50 feet have up to 50 branches.

The living rock cactus (Ariocarpus fissuratus) grows slowly, with only the roughened tubercules and occasional flower exposed above ground. It is threatened in its native desert habitat in Mexico and Texas from over-collecting, and is being cultivated by grafting.

The scalloped leaves of the silver crown (Cotyledon undulata) are covered in a white powder, which helps Elephant’s foot (Dioscorea elephantipes) is a caudiciform from the Cape, South Africa. Growing up to 10 feet in Tiger jaws (Faucaria tuberculosa) is a member reflect solar radiation. It is a 1- to 2-foot high shrub diameter, it loses its leafy vines during the dry season. found in the Cape, South Africa. of same family as figs.

A passion for succulents

H

ow does a passion begin for a new hobby or pastime? In my case, I can vividly remember it was on a visit to the American Southwest, while a graduate student attending the University of Illinois. Wandering through the parched landscape of gravel and arid-loving shrubs, I came across what was an amazing sight for a young Canadian ecologist – a 3-foothigh barrel cactus. This was no potsized juvenile like the ones found on supermarket shelves, but a fully armed, battle-scarred, senior citizen of the Arizona desert, standing erect like a camouflaged missile in the full-blast of the furnace sun.

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Story and photos by Dr. Robert E. Wrigley I approached in amazement and plucked a long, flattened spine which stretched protectively over the green skin. It sang back like a musical instrument, so taut and plump was this barrel of a plant. How could this cactus be so healthy and full of water when the surroundings were debilitatingly hot and dry? Here was a real tough member of the plant kingdom, capable of resisting any big herbivore (including prehistoric giants) and stubbornly refusing to wilt, dry up, and blow away if rain failed for a couple of years.

From that time on, I was hooked on ‘fat plants.’

Starting slowly with a few select Issue 3

plants from local greenhouses, I learned of other enthusiasts who distributed excess cuttings and offsets from their succulent collections. Opening each package of a dozen or more small species (mailed with bare roots) was so exciting, and I couldn’t wait to plant them and watch them expose new growth, perhaps to gift me someday with flowers.

As my collection of cacti and other succulent plants grew to over 200 specimens, I needed a greenhouse, so one summer I was kept busy constructing a 10- by 13-foot structure in my back yard. It served remarkably well for years until a move to another home in localgardener.net

Baseball plant (Euphorbia obesa) in bloom.

Male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Native to the Cape, South Africa.

Living stone (Lithops species) from South Africa.

Moisture and nutrients from the old pair of leaves are withdrawn into the new pair of leaves.

Maughan’s haworthia (Haworthia truncata var. maughanii) exposes only its ‘windows’ at the ground surface, which permit light to enter its interior for photosynthesis. Contractile roots may pull the plant below the surface during drought, thereby avoiding detection from herbivores. Native to the Cape, South Africa.

Zebra haworthia (Haworthiopsis attenuata) from the Cape, South Africa, is prized for its white-banded leaves.

Winnipeg necessitated donating my expanding collection to the Assiniboine Park Conservatory, where the superintendent allowed my frequent entry to maintain the plants. I was kept busy watering and repotting my main collection and preparing surplus offsets to donate to the annual plant sale of the Friends of the Conservatory. As each beautiful species matured, I took photographs of their exquisite flowers. Some of my favourite species had such charming common names, such as baby toes, bear paws, tiger jaws, plover’s eggs, elephant foot, and beavertail.

In time, my interests waned from cacti and agaves of the Americas to the haworthias and aloes of Africa, and I began to acquire species with swollen stems, termed caudiciforms, a few of which could be trained into attractive bonsai shapes. Many of these lost their localgardener.net

leaves during their dormancy period.

Several of my specimens became almost like pets because they kept their shape and character for decades, unlike broad-leafed tropical plants and some acquaintances. Remarkably, there are over 10,000 species that may be termed succulents (which is, those with water-storing roots, stems or leaves) within 800 genera and 57 families, and new species are continually being discovered. Succulents provide food, moisture, homes, and nesting and perching sites for countless species of wildlife.

One of my greatest pleasures was to visit famous botanical gardens that featured large collections of succulents. Strolling along pathways, inside greenhouses or in outdoor settings, I discovered amazing species I had never observed before, or mature specimens representing species I had Issue 3

2022 • 37

The collection of cacti at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in London, England.

in my collection or had seen in books.

The feelings of excitement were at times overwhelming.

At some of the gardens, I was granted the honour of behind-the-scenes tours by the director or other staff.

Among my favourite gardens were Kew Gardens (London, England), Royal

Flowers of Huernia zebrina, in the spurge family from southern Africa.

Flowering Echeveria minima. This Mexican genus provides numerous attractive species popular in cultivation.

Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Montreal Botanical Garden, Huntington Botanical Garden (San Marino, California), and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Tucson, Arizona). Standing beneath a towering, 45-foot, multi-armed, flowering saguaro cactus in Arizona was an experience I will never forget. I knew that bats, such as the lesser long-nosed bat, would be visiting the white flowers that night to feed on nectar (and later to eat the fruit), and at the same time offering up a pollination service.

Unfortunately, ever-expanding developments such as ranches, farms, and

housing, the introduction of invasive species like goats, and unscrupulous collectors have endangered thousands of succulent species from all continents. Many are now under full protection, but for countless other plants it is too late. On the positive side, hundreds of popular species of succulents are now cultivated to supply the enormous demands of succulent enthusiasts. I still cannot resist heading for the succulent tables every time I enter a greenhouse.

It brings back so many pleasurable memories of my three-decade-long passion for fat plants. h

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What is a greenhouse used for?

A greenhouse is so much more than a place to grow plants.

E

very gardener wants a greenhouse, but just what exactly are they used for?

A greenhouse offers a whole new dimension to the garden. Different gardeners use them in different ways.

In winter and early spring the protected environment allows gardeners to start sowing seeds long before they can be sown outside. This gives the plants a head start against later sown seeds and provides the gardener with a very valuable earlier harvest. By staggering sowing times, you can create a continuous crop of something, extending its season of harvest and offering fresh ingredients for a longer period under glass. The same applies to later sowings that can continue cropping right into autumn providing precious food crops late in the season.

Inside a bespoke glasshouse in Wyoming.

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localgardener.net

Victorian Terrace in Manchester, UK.

Drying power By harnessing the power of the sun under glass the warmth inside your glasshouse can be used in a variety of ways. You can use it to warm your seed compost before sowing so that your seeds get the very best possible start. You can use it to warm the water before you water your plants, to reduce cold shock and stress.

You can use the warmth of the greenhouse to dry onions and garlic after harvesting and before storing. You can dry seeds, herbs, and flower heads or even kindling and firewood.

Healthy living A greenhouse is much more than a place to grow plants. It quickly becomes the focal point of the whole garden and a haven away from the hustle and bustle of life.

But it can also make huge inroads in the costs of your groceries, not localgardener.net

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just financially but also in terms of your health, plus you will be reducing your carbon footprint, lessening your food miles and keeping fit too. You can choose to grow your plants organically, raising not just their inherent value but also increasing their health benefits. And you will have fresh ingredients to hand whenever you need them. These days horticulture is not only on trend but it is even being prescribed

by GPs for some of their patients for Issue 3

exercise, mindfulness, sunshine and beneficial microbes.

Garden haven If you are the only gardener in the family then the greenhouse becomes your own special space where you can raise plants, store a few gardening accessories and site a chair for thinking and reading time. The sloping glass harnesses the solar rays and warms the inside of the glasshouse so that the interior is always warmer than outside. The greenhouse protects your plants (and you) from the wind and the rain and keeps them dry. It can also be sectioned off so that an inner area can be kept slightly warmer or used to house a cold frame, heated soil cable or even a heated propagator to raise seeds or cuttings from tender perennials.

Even in the cold the greenhouse is still a haven within the garden away from the harsh winter winds and the chaos without. h 2022 • 41

Wildflower or weed?

Cheeseweed and creeping Charlie

By Shauna Dobbie

Cheeseweed (Malva neglecta).

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42 • 2022

T

wo of the regular invaders of perfect lawns across Canada look fairly similar, with rounded, lobed leaves. These are cheeseweed (Malva neglecta) and creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea). People curse both as weeds, but each has some charms of which you may not be aware.

If you are accustomed to either, you should be able to tell the difference right away. To be certain, though, the stems will give it away: creeping Charlie has square stems and cheeseweed has round.

Cheeseweed is upright or prostrate with hairy stems and leaves. It usually grows as an annual but can be biennial. The leaves are crinkly and lightly lobed, sometimes with teeth. The flowers are usually white, sometimes with a tinge of pink or purple, and they look like smaller versions of their cousin, hollyhock.

All parts of cheeseweed are edible.

Flowers and leaves can be tossed into salad; the leaves get mucilagi-

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Creeping Charlie foliage.

Photo by Ryan Hodnett.

nous when you chew them, so only use them if you don’t mind this slimy, sticky attribute. The flowers have a slightly sweet taste, with a flavour reminiscent of peas.

The fruits are small, sectioned cylinders. They’re often compared to cheese, but I don’t know what kind of cheese is sectioned like this.

If you want to use the fruit, it is a pain to separate it from the husk surrounding it, but if you’re using the fruit for something sweet, it’s a good idea. The fruits have a kind of sweet, nutty taste. The seeds can be dried and used as a nut or mixed with grains.

Creeping Charlie is a perennial and also has round, crinkly, lobed leaves. It is always prostrate, and it can root wherever it touches the ground, making it a tough plant to get rid of. To get rid of cheeseweed, rip it out; to get rid of creeping Charlie, you’ll have to rip it out again and again and again. And again.

The flowers of creeping Charlie are trumpet shaped and they are blue or lavender. When you walk on it, it emits a minty scent.

Creeping Charlie is edible to humans. It was used in flavouring ale in England before hops became popular, and it has been used in place of rennet in making cheese – which makes it weird that it looks so much like a plant commonly called cheeseweed, which was not used in place of rennet. h

Creeping Charlie blooms.

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2022 • 43

Beautiful Gardens

Ornamental planting of foxtails.

Donna and Dave Bloski

Spruce Grove, Alberta

I

t is Donna and Dave Bloski’s 54th wedding anniversary this year and they are celebrating by taking a 500-kilometre drive from their home in Spruce Grove, Alberta to Waterton Provincial Park, which is perched on the border of Alberta and Montana.

A pale variety of trollius.

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Story and photos by Dorothy and Shauna Dobbie

Issue 3

localgardener.net

Part of the dining area in the back yard.

Hand made during a family party where they made 40 stepping stones.

This is no self-indulgent, leisurely jaunt. Donna is hot on the trail of birds and wildlife to satisfy her new photography hobby. Dave is her spotter, keeping a sharp eye out for likely candidates.

But photography is just a sideline for Donna whose overriding passion is gardening. They moved into their forever home 51 years ago, raised two girls and watched five grandchildren almost grow up in the house on this corner lot. Twenty years ago, localgardener.net

A potted rose garden. Donna keeps her beloved tender rose in a lightly heated garage over winter.

Donna finally got time to take up the ornamental side of her lifelong pursuit of plants. Back in the day, they planted potatoes and lots of harvestable vegetables with just a few flowers. Then the giant spruce trees were finally banished making room for sunshine and an ever-burgeoning collection of flowers.

Not that the vegetable garden has disappeared. There is still a large kitchen plot filled with peas and beans, carrots and beets and cucumIssue 3

bers, which Donna prefers to grow in pots. Corn shows up every year or two and the strawberries and rhubarb are fixtures. The rhubarb is well-used; Donna makes a delicious cake with this tasty bit of family history.

It is that kind of garden. One of Donna’s favourite memories is of the time the whole extended family got together to make steppingstones and rhubarb leaf birdbaths.

“Even my aunt who was in her 80s 2022 • 45

Clerodendrum ‘Blue Butterfly’.

Donna’s first single peony is still one of her favourites.

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Buddliea, or butterfly bush, which is tender in Alberta.

Big leaves of rhubarb.

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A beautiful Itoh peony, one of several.

pitched in,” said Donna. In all they produced about 40 steppingstones, each family taking home their share of the merchandise and memories of that wonderful day.

But the garden is now much about flowers. Donna has a huge collection of tea roses that she overwinters in the garage. Dave keeps it heated to just above freezing to protect not just the roses but a host of other tender woody plants, trimmed back for the winter and stored here and there, under shelves and above them, wherever there is room.

When it comes to perennials, you name it, Donna has it – or at least it seems this way – many of the plants bought from a long-gone garden center that used to sell six-packs of seedlings at a price new gardeners could afford.

A venerable single pink peony was one of her first acquisitions, purchased from a plant sale at what used to be the Devonian Garden just outside Edmonton. There was this tiny, 2-inch pot with the peony root planted in it and Donna had to have it, never mind that it would take maybe five years to bloom. She was already in it for the long haul. That peony is now her most loved, the brilliant yellow stamens set in a cup of pink are a magnet for bees each spring.

That doesn’t mean she places her brilliant, jewel-coloured Itohs in any subordinate place, and she has a lot of respect for the good old bombs, Paeonia lactiflora, that fall apart so fast in the rain or in too much heat, and for the hardy tree peonies, not to localgardener.net

mention the early rising fern peonies.

“That first one cost me $65,” Donna exclaimed, but they spread, and she now has at least eleven.

She has not ignored the trees and shrubs. Lilacs, plum and a beautiful double-flowering mock orange set the stage for many of the perennials.

“I am not a planner,” asserts Donna, who nevertheless managed to produce a tidy plantation of perennials chosen to bloom in succession, with the shorter ones in the front and the taller ones in the back. This shows a discipline that many gardeners lack, but she credits Mother Nature with most of her success.

However, Donna and Dave assist Mother Nature with layers of organics covered by a mulch of black chips.

“We used to hand pull the weeds,” she says. “We did that for 40 years.”

Then she discovered the magic of mulch. She said she’d hate to think of what her father would say if he saw the hundreds of bags of steer manure they have laid down – and paid for, not to mention the gallons and gallons of water!

“I don’t use chemical fertilizers in the garden,” Donna says. Nor does she water perennials once they are established, although the potted annuals soak up their fair share of both.

Annuals fill multitudes of ornamental pots. Salvia ‘Victoria Blue’ is seemingly being fed steroids because it is growing so vigorously while surrounded by petunias in an ornamental pot. An unusual butterfly plant, Clerodendrum ‘Blue Butterfly’, a shrub that grows 4 to 8 feet tall Issue 3

Mr. Fox with his foxy lady.

Donna’s workspace for the garden.

2022 • 47

Scan me To see more of Donna and Dave Bloski’s garden scan here! https://www.localgardener.net/donna-and-davebloskis-garden/

Vacation home for houseplants.

in its Zone 8 to 11 natural habitat, overflows a pot with delicate blue surprises.

Speaking of ornamental, Donna is also a collector of lovely and interesting garden decorations, the pride of which may be her lady and gentlemen foxes by the back door. Lady

Fox feeds the birds from a basin fashioned from a swirl in her pretty skirt.

The pair show off well here. The backyard is not nearly as expansive as the front so there is less competition for the eyes.

Even so, the back yard has room for a dining area and a greenhouse, as well as a potting table turned into a buffet table for the nearby barbecue – all appropriately served by an antique sink at the end of the narrow corridor that accommodates all these practical functions. This space is defined by the three-season greenhouse on one side and the fence on the other. It is shady most of the day here, a perfect place for Donna to escape the blazing prairie sun.

As for the greenhouse, it is mainly

there to give the indoor plants a break; the greenhouse is home to all sorts of interesting, heat loving exotics, succulents, hard to grow ferns, interesting ivies, flowering vines and who knows what all. They are clearly getting a summer holiday outdoors without being exposed to the elements. A thermometer on a shaded spot declares that the temperature is over 30° Celsius. The plants seem very grateful.

Donna has a playful side. She has constructed several fairy gardens, one cleverly made from a broken claypit, whose shards are being used to create different elevations in a miniature garden.

In one spot, Donna has done something that delighted our editor, Shauna. Donna planted the silky foxtail grass, deemed a weed by farmers, but beautiful and fascinating to Shauna who vows to use this plant as an ornamental if she ever returns to the prairies. It’s worth it, says Donna. If it gets a little overexuberant, just pull it out.

That’s Donna: practical, energetic, and full of plans for her next garden adventure. h

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2022 • 49

You can see Lake Erie from several points in the garden.

Beautiful Gardens Pete Mowat Selkirk, Ontario

P

Prolific hydrangea at the front of the house.

50 • 2022

Story and photos by Shauna Dobbie

ete Mowat is living the dream. Retired from Canada Post, he has the time, the space and the energy to garden everywhere on his two acres of land on the shores of Lake Erie. With a lifetime of experience, first as a vegetable gardener on his family farm, and a landscape diploma under his belt (he studied in service to his hobby) he knows his way around a spade.

When he left home forty-odd years ago, he lived in an apartment in a duplex in Hamilton. “There was very little lawn around it, and I thought I would turn some of it into garden just to make it look nicer, so that's kind of when I actually really started into it.”

Then he moved to his own house and, by the time he sold it nine years later, there was no lawn in the back. It was all gardens and ponds – which were not extremely popular at the time, though he managed to find plants to fill and surround it. He did the same at the larger house he moved to, then he sold it 10 years after moving in.

The land he gardens on is a part of his father’s farm. He took over a couple of acres in 2000, and about six years

Issue 3

localgardener.net

Between the house and the lake is a beached rowboat filled with succulents.

later he built a house on the land, on the edge of Selkirk, Ontario, which is now an area full of cottages. “I hadn't planned on making so much garden because I didn't want the work involved. But that went out the window,” he chuckles wryly.

The time he spends maintaining the space is mostly used on mowing the lawn (he uses a push mower), weeding, and fixing what the winds blow down. He doesn’t water much, except for the vegetable garden. He doesn’t bother much with insect pests; something that gets too troublesome will be dispatched with insecticidal soap and slugs get the ammonia treatment.

Of course, there are always new items to add to the growing list of growing things. He doesn’t really need to visit garden centres anymore because most of his new plants come from his old ones as divisions or through seeds. He fills the space with flowers, vegetables and trees, as well as ponds, and a huge collection of stuff he’s picked up or been gifted, artfully arranged. Three aluminum tea kettles placed side by side. Decommissioned bicycles painted black from tip to toe. A signpost, one of those ones with names on arrows pointing in different directions; his says “Port Colbourne”, “Selkirk”, “Tillsonburg” and… “Disciple Camp Ground”? Apparently, it’s at the end of the road he lives on. He found it in a ditch.

There is a rowboat, full of cactuses and sedums, run aground in a gully of river rock. A kind of political comment, this dry-land planting in and around an old water-worthy vessel? Maybe, but talking to him, he doesn’t seem like the type. The river rock runs under a bridge and down to a pond, with thickets of reeds growing up here and there.

Incredibly, except for some very heavy lifting, he does it all on his own. A friend – Nancy Connor – comes by to localgardener.net

Giant plants near the house.

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2022 • 51

The main pond.

Signs to here and there.

Baby trees to keep or give away.

52 • 2022

help him out sometimes, but mostly he does it solo. Pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, watering new plants and the vegetable garden. Harvesting the fruits and veg, some of which he gives to friends (hoping for a pie in return!). His harvest gets eaten, frozen, or left in the ground in the case of carrots.

The vegetable garden is almost all direct seeded. For tomatoes, he’ll bury a whole tomato in the fall and when seedlings sprout in the spring, he’ll separate them and move them around. Forget your red cups and heat mats and grow lights. (Of course, in an area that is frost-free for over 160 days, this works; I wouldn’t try it on the Prairies.)

Near the house there’s a collection of giant plants: aruncus, cannas and elephant ears jostle together to make you feel tiny. Look behind you and there are some Jerusalem artichokes reaching for the sky. These all loom over an arbour being swallowed by a wisteria vine. Things grow big and healthy in this garden.

Family and friends come by to enjoy the beauty, of course, though Pete wouldn’t mind sharing it some more.

He’s had a couple of garden clubs stop by, then the pandemic put a halt to everything. It is a spot full of wonders to explore and the surprises are endless – there is a dinosaur!

I won’t be surprised if his garden gets many, many visits once the garden clubs find him. h

Rows of onions.

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Rhubarb at peak health next to some kind of squash.

“I hadn’t planned on making so much garden because I didn’t want the work involved.

But that went out the window.”

Scan me To see more of Pete Mowat’s garden scan here! https://www.localgardener.net/garden-of-pete-mowat

Lovely flowers in a watering can.

Aging apple tree. localgardener.net

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2022 • 53

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the sense of humour and whimsy of the gardener.

localgardener.net

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2022 • 55

Beautiful Gardens

Corinne Hersey Fredericton

Story and photos by Shauna Dobbie 56 • 2022

Issue 3

An overview of Corinne’s back yard.

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verybody gardens for their own reasons. For Corinne, those reasons are for food and a safe pollinator habitat. As a professor of Sociology at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, she says, “No matter what I teach, I try to teach food advocacy and sovereignty.” Use of food banks and the community kitchen has more than doubled during the past year, only making her more determined to grow more food in the community.

She has been very concerned about the large number of clear-cuts in New Brunswick. “The forests are declining so fast here wiping out pollinator localgardener.net

and wildlife habitat. We have been importing bees for the blueberries, and I thought, ‘this is just stupid’.” Wild blueberries have been growing in New Brunswick for centuries longer than they’ve been tended by commercial growers, and they never needed help with pollination in the past. That has certainly changed.

About six years ago, she turned to cultivating her own urban back yard, which she estimates to be roughly 20 by 40 feet. Though she began by turning sod, she quickly realised that was just too much work and instead laid down cardboard and had topsoil localgardener.net

trucked in. Then, she started to plant.

“I always make sure that flowers are in first, so that lots of pollinators come early,” she explains. Bergamot, bleeding heart, comfrey, calendula, sweet pea, and rudbeckia punctuate the garden with beauty while doing their job. Legs heavy with pollen, bees move from tomatoes to squash to marigold, while hummingbirds sip on morning glory and four o’clock. With the help of those pollinators, there is no lack of vegetables to save for seed – which she considers one of the most important acts of growing food. “Seeds are just one example of the planet’s abundance Issue 3

and should not be monopolized.”

Corinne’s back, front, and side yards grow vegetables, grapes, currents, raspberries, blackberries, huckleberry, blueberries, flowers and herbs. There is a large and widening crop of strawberries, perhaps to delight the couple of young grandsons who play with the dinosaurs that are hidden in a forest of tall vegetables where Corinne places them for the boys to find.

What does she do with all of her produce? She gives some of it away to people in the neighbourhood. When she sees local kids passing the house, she’ll invite them into the front yard 2022 • 57

The strawberry patch.

to eat some raspberries and tell them to take what they want, whether she’s there or not. Of course, she eats plenty of her produce fresh herself, and preserves a lot of it through drying, pickling, freezing and canning.

This interest in growing food does not end at her property line. She teaches it and facilitates it in her area.

Through her business, Natural Capital Gardens, she designs and installs gardens for businesses and non-profits, often helping them secure funding.

“Gardens must be sustainable and fit the needs of the person. They should heal hunger, habitat, and heart,” she claims. A great success story is her work with the Salvation Army Community Centre, where she works with seniors to grow food.

She also forages for wild edibles and medicine, such as lambsquarter, sting-

Some pollinators in Corinne’s garden.

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Malabar spinach.

A dinosaur, waiting to be found by a young lad.

Peas. localgardener.net

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Black-eyed Susans and seedy asparagus.

Blueberries.

Blackberries.

Calendula.

ing nettle, fiddleheads, and plantain.

She enjoys mushroom hunting with experts and harvests chaga, a fungus that grows on birch trees (see below) and is prized for medicinal benefits.

With rising prices and the threat to the food system more pronounced due to the pandemic, Corinne sees her concerns over food sovereignty being Scan me 9 Things You Didn’t Know About Chaga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUuco5LRArs

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echoed by many more people. “Growing and preserving your own food is now becoming necessary.” One who has volunteered at the Salvation Army (SA) garden will be planting her own this year to take some pressure off of her grocery bill. She got her seeds started at the SA’s first workshop and while it is a little sad to lose a volunteer, “this is why we do what we do”, says Corinne. Not a gardener in the past, she will now have access to her own food which would be far more than she could purchase – or share.

In the woods, in the community, and in our own back yards, there are food possibilities for us to find, to cultivate and to use. Whether you’d like to forage or garden, someone like Corinne is needed to offer encouragement and show how it’s done. h

The Salvation Army gardens.

Scan me To see more of Corinne Hersey’s garden scan here! https://www.localgardener.net/garden-of-corinnehersey/

In the Salvation Army garden it says “Happiness blooms where seeds of love and joy are planted.”

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VICTORIAN LODGE New York, USA

Discover the secret of Hartley Botanic by calling 781 933 1993 or visit www.hartley-botanic.com

NOTHING ELSE IS A HARTLEY The only aluminium Glasshouses and Greenhouses endorsed by the RHS ® The Royal Horticultural Society. The Royal Horticultural Society, and its logo, are trade marks of The Royal Horticultural Society (Registered Charity No 222879/SC038262) and used under licence from RHS Enterprises Limited.