I don't know about you, fellow gardeners, but with every snowfall it seems harder to believe that it is now spring! The piles of snow everywhere make it difficult to imagine how our tulips and daffodils will ever make an appearance.
You and I have talked before about how seed catalogues can be a valuable source of planting information. So as I sit here with you now, after checking out the thigh-deep snow in our back yard, I am looking through the Lindenberg seed catalogue to inspire myself to "think spring"! But here are some interesting pieces of information that I have learned.
One: did you know that not all lilies are winter hardy? I always thought that because the bulbs were in the ground, they would all be equally hardy. But this seed catalogue said that because some are more tender than others, we should plant these more delicate varieties in a spot that gets a lot of snow cover. They would have done well over-wintering this year! It also stated that if we plant this type of lily close to the foundation of a house, we should be careful to cover the area with extra mulch. So if you and I buy some lily bulbs this year, we should do some homework before planting them, just in case they are a type of lily that needs a little extra care.
I was reading up on roses, too. Do you remember how we once talked about planting roses as a personal memorial in our gardens for someone that we have lost? We just lost two very dear cousins, and I was thinking that our rose collection should be expanded this year to include a special plant in their memory. As always, we gardeners have to do our homework before we plant! This article said that roses like a sunny location with good air circulation.
Be sure that the soil drains well. Prior to planting our new rose, we should soak the roots for about 24 hours. When we are planting, the hole should be large enough so that the roots can fan out. The article suggested using a transplant fertilizer at this time. After our new rose is backfilled, we should water it very well.
We are very lucky that our local greenhouses have such wonderful, knowledgeable experts who can guide us when we purchase shrubs or trees. They know about the latest varieties, and the kind of care they will need in our climate. So even though we think we know how to plant certain things, like roses, it never hurts to ask for pointers. As my Great-Grammie always said, "you never stop learning!" And I find that is very true in our gardens: every gardening year is different, with a new set of challenges. We can always learn new ways do things!
The next meeting of the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society will be on Thursday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sunshine Room at SIGN on North Street. Our special guest will be Frank Woloschuk, talking to us about "Planning A Perennial Bed". Frank is an amazing gardener, well-known for his beautiful planters; and if attend our Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Show each August, you may remember the stunning lilies that Frank enters each year. I know Frank will have many great ideas and pointers for us, whether our perennial bed is just a tiny patch in our garden or a long, sweeping bed! That's Thursday, April 18.
I'd like to also remind our gardening friends that you don't have to be a member to attend the meetings: if you are interested in the topic, please feel free to come! And if you decide that you want to be part of our great group, we'd love to have you!
So let's think positive, think spring, and I hope you have a good week!
