Planting Time

So I'm in the thrift store the other day and hear a man ask, "Hi Olga," (of course that wasn't her name, but I can't remember) "How's your garden doing?"

"Oh," says she, "not much going on yet."

To which he replies, "I've got lettuce about this big (holding his fingers an inch apart), ..."

That was enough for me. I didn't hear the rest, although he went on to mention other vegetables I hadn't even thought to seed yet. All I could think of was, "Yikes! I'm late!"

Now, a week later, it's still seasonally chilly and windy, and I still haven't gotten out there. Why is it that I don't get it? Some seeds actually like the chill in the soil and air. Me, not so much. And now I'm going away and it's going to be the same as every other year. May long weekend. Everything - cool loving or warm loving - gets put down. (Except for basil; it needs real heat before I set it out).

It's so sad that what we grow up with, we have a hard time diverting from. On the prairies, you darn well waited for the soil to warm before you planted (although my father seeded spinach in the fall).
Really, how long does it take to get out there and throw a few seeds in the ground?

I tend to overthink placement of vegetables. Will I try carrots again this year? They always have those pesky wire worms in them. I could cover them, to prevent that pesky rust fly, but how long? And don't they need moisture? You can't just put plastic over them until you harvest them...

I am thankful for my perennial crops that I only have to prune, fertilize and wait for: asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, kiwi, tayberries.

Every year I conduct one experiment. One year it was those mini squash, one year millet, and this year I'm going to try potatoes in my compost.

Through all the angst of planting, I'm grateful that I usually get a fair crop. I know what's gone into it, that it's been carefully and organically cared for, and that, when they're ready, I can pick the freshest veggies you can get.

Time to get out there!

Keeping Plants Hydrated in the Midst of Watering Restrictions

In the words of Blues musician W. C. Handy, "You'll never miss the water 'til the well runs dry." Just like the air we breathe, how easy it is to take water for granted. (Those in areas affected by summer wildfires know what it is to live without clean air).

 The last number of summers in and around Vancouver have been dryer than usual.  This year's drought has prompted severe watering restrictions. I have a large garden of trees, shrubs, perennials, a few annuals and a vegetable/berry patch. I am responsible for this little part of creation, and it's my job to keep these plants from wilting, browning up and losing their leaves and flowers prematurely. And what a shame it would be to lose the vegetables that are now just coming into their own - beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil and lettuce, not to mention my very first crop of kiwis! While I can still use a spring-loaded hand sprayer to water my plants, I'm anticipating the next stage, and getting ready.

But I'm not usually one to panic. In an effort to comply with these very necessary restrictions, I have begun catching and using what water I can to help my garden out. Should you decide to use some of my methods, please keep in mind that when re-using water, you must be careful about any soaps or chemicals you've used, being sure they're biodegradable, and won't harm your vegetation. As it turns out, soapy water is often used to deter garden diseases and pests.

So here are a few changes I'm making while the restrictions last (and maybe I'll even keep a few forever after):

Hand washing: It takes about 1/2 gallon of water to wash my hands properly. I'm leaving a bit of soapy water in a small container in the sink. I wash my hands, then rinse from the tap. When the container's full, I empty it into a larger pail for watering plants.

Dishes: I'm washing dishes by hand (just like in the 'old days') in a plastic tub. I rinse off the worst food particles and grease before washing them. Besides conserving water, I can use the dishwater for garden plants/trees.

Shower: For some time now, I've been showering every second day.  I've not admitted this in public, because people will probably draw some incorrect assumptions about me. However, I happen to have sensitive skin that dries easily. (When I was a kid, most people bathed once a week, on Saturday night. Just ask Grandma. So glad we're past that!) But back to my point. Showering every 2nd day instead of daily, conserves water and is less drying to the skin. Turning off the water while shampooing and soaping down conserves the water by more than half.  If you have enough room in your shower and you're really diligent, place a bucket in the shower with you. See how much water you catch. Use it in the garden. Bathing uses a great deal more water than showering, but the small kids need their bath, so try bailing out as much of the bathwater as you can for garden use.

Laundry: I've pulled my top load washer away from the wall for access to the outflow hose. By timing the washing cycle and being there when the tub empties, I'm able to catch almost 40 gallons for each of the wash and rinse cycles (on a medium load). My shrubs are thankful! I line up 4 or 5 10 - gallon pails. When one is almost full, I push in the cycle button to stop the water flowing so I can move the hose to the next pail, and so forth. I'm also trying to time laundry for effective watering, rather than doing all loads in one day.

Short of going out and buying a front loading washer, a low-flush toilet or water-conserving shower head, there are a few other methods of saving water.

Sensible water use:

•  Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, scrubbing your hands, etc.
• Catch the running water while you're waiting for it to come to temperature.
• Any water you use (washing your floor, etc) can be used to water your (or your neighbor's) garden. 
• Flush less (I know, but little kids and avid water drinkers can often use the toilet a few times between flushes). 

Whether or not you find these ideas helpful may depend on whether you grew up in a resourceful household during leaner years. There was a time when we looked carefully at our consumption of all things. Maybe this is the upside of water restrictions. And maybe we'll develop some good habits for the future. After all, not only would we miss the water should the well run dry, we couldn't survive without it!

Please share any other practical ideas you have for water conservation.

The Gift of Spring

I never cease to be amazed by the gentle unfolding of our West Coast spring season. Tiny crocuses bravely sport their bright yellow, magenta, white and even striped petals of paper-like delicateness, competing with the showy ornamental plum and cherry blossoms that leave no doubt in anyone's mind of spring's arrival. In my own back yard, the Star Magnolia brandishes pure white anemone blooms before the tree leafs out.

I've been out the past few days cleaning up last year's leftover oak leaves, pruning overgrown shrubs and dividing over-enthusiastic grasses. I lost a favorite shrub - Patty's Purple Hebe - over the winter, so I used that as an excuse (really, who needs one?) to visit my favorite nursery where I found a Daphne 'eternal fragrance'. Similar in size and color to Patty's Purple Hebe, it promises a crop of blooms lasting from early spring through to autumn.  I have a Winter Daphne now established, that's been blooming profusely throughout March and into this month. The fragrance of this shrub overtakes me every time I open the patio door or walk by. I picked a little twig and stuck it behind my ear to enjoy its scent for the day. I'm hoping the summer Daphne will produce a similar effect out front of the house, greeting visitors with its heady perfume.



I also purchased a Clematis Jackmannii to intertwine with my spring-blooming Clematis that's gotten a little messy, hence a clipping (even though it's not one that ought to be pruned back as it flowers in May - don't care, had to clean it up a bit). The Jackmannii will provide blossoms during the summer months, creeping up one side of the wooden archway and across to meet the climbing Lacecap Hydrangea from the other side. I'd been wanting to get a Jackmannii the last few years, just didn't get to it. Growing two different-season clematis together should keep the interest and color going until fall.

In the herb department, I bought some cilantro, which I love to eat, but have never had much luck growing. Either it wouldn't germinate, or it would grow tall and spindly, then go to seed. I'm going to plant it in a different location this time; a cooler spot in partial, not full, sun. We'll see how that works.

On the other hand, we ate fresh spinach just the other day...layered with a bechamel sauce, crab and sole, then baked. Very tasty! I still have some leftover kale in the garden from last year which I pick at.  I like it right off the plant - who needs a recipe? The spring chives are begging to be snipped into salads, scrambled eggs and potatoes.

I was so enthused at the garden center that I picked up several small plants (to add to my over-wintered geranium hanging basket) and brought them to the counter. Melanie (the helpful cashier) looked me in the eye and said, "You know these have to be inside for another month yet; you'll have to keep them indoors and water them.  You'll also have to pinch the tops to keep them full."

 "I guess I'm a little early, huh?" to which she replied. "I can put these back for you." What a nice lady!

Back at home, I planted the Clematis and the Daphne, and found a nice little spot for the cilantro. Not only is it therapeutic to dig around in the dirt, it's exhilarating to straighten up at the sound of eagles circling overhead or the cheerful chirping of tiny finches and sparrows as they flit from branch to branch.

When the weather is agreeable, gardening won't wait; everything else does.

Lost in Time

There are two activities - OK, maybe three - that for me, are all-absorbing.

The first is gardening.  If I have appointments lined up, or a long 'to do' list, I'd best not head out for a walkabout.  No telling where it will lead.  Suddenly, I am lost in this separate world, oblivious to responsibility as I weed, plant, transplant, clip, rake and hoe. As for many people, the physical work and being in a natural setting gives me time to ponder.  This is where I turn over dirt, turn over concepts and ideas.

The second activity is writing - either words or music.  Hours spent in research feeds my ever-curious mind and deep desire to learn new things.  It is such a privilege to interview ordinary people who have done great things. Their passion is inspiring.

Crafting and honing a piece that flows well invites the reader in.  Going back over and over to find just the right words or notes to convey the intent of the piece - playing, arranging, rearranging - this is a (mostly) joyous task!

Coming in third is art - drawing, painting - but I won't say too much about this since I'm still a  novice, and may always be.  I have a friend whose artistic talent I admire and who has made me realize how much time, hard work and focus are necessary to do good work.

But for now, I must get out and clean up some of winter's debris amongst my perennials!