By Kim Thistle
‘Tis time for someone else to pick up the reins. I have run out of steam, and I’m embracing retirement with a vengeance. I will leave you with these pieces of wisdom from a lifetime of gardening:
Grow your own garlic. It’s easy to grow and will keep the vampires at bay.
Fragrance. You have to have sweet smells in your garden. Plant some lavender, sage, rugosa roses, and lilacs. There are so many delight- fully fragranced flowers to choose from that it’s hard to know where to begin.
Keep a gardening journal. Our teeny tiny brains do not remember everything we do.
Plant a tree for a child and watch them grow together.
Practice companion planting. There’s a ton of information out there on this subject.
Watch an oriental poppy open.
Try to support local seed growers when purchasing seed. There are a few here on the rock, and there are lots in the Maritimes. Just re- member, you are looking for seed that’s grown here, not the one that says it was packaged here.
Try growing organically. It’s not brain surgery. If it’s not your thing, at least do your research on the products you are using. An insecticide will not kill the weeds in your yard. Herbicides will, but if you are not careful with your choice, you may take out a lot more than just the weeds. Read the small print.
Compost!! I recently read some- where that dirt is the main crop and that anything that grows in it is a by-product. True dat!
Encourage your local senior’s home or long-term care facility to have a functional garden that residents and families can work in together.
Water wisely. Drip irrigation will target water to the roots. If using sprinklers and hoses, water in the morning to avoid evaporation.
Plant a peony. Not only are they beautiful, easy to grow and very hardy, but they can predict the weather. If your peony is about to bloom, you can almost guarantee that a monsoon is just around the corner, and your blooms will be flattened to the ground by morning. A peony ring is well worth the investment. These plants are known to last over 100 years, and your great grandchildren will enjoy them long after you are gone.
Know your pH. Soil and water!
Encourage a community garden where you live.
Plant bulbs that bloom in spring. Plant them in your front yard
for everyone to enjoy. Crocus, daffodils and tulips are no brainers. It’s almost impossible to fail with these as long as you do not put them in an area where drainage is poor.
The season is not over when the snow falls. Trees with berries will bring winter colour to the landscape. I am asked over and over what those beautiful trees that grow in front of our greenhouse are. Sea Buckthorn for those of you who are curious. Those two trees have gotten more attention than the most glorious of the summer bloomers.
Know your hardiness zone.
Gardening will help you get through a pandemic.
Build a coldframe and extend your season.
Plant pollinators.
Plant a garden with your child or grandchild. Guide them, but let them learn from their mistakes.
Rotate your crops.
You only need two zucchini plants.
Plant a perennial garden. You can grow old together.
Support and value your local garden centre. You are not just paying for a plant, but also for the knowledge and wisdom they have to impart.
Encourage beneficial insects, toads and birds. They were all designed by Mother Nature to help you in your battle against unwanted, destructive pests.
Please plant a garden. Learn about how big and powerful nature is. It’s a bit like going to sea in a dinghy with an approaching storm, but if you weather the storm, oh my, what a feeling of accomplishment.
Thank you to all of the readers who read my articles and to those who have given me positive feedback. I have heard so many, many kind things from people I know and from strangers. Thank you to the people at Downhome who have provided me with the opportunity to ‘Spread the Word’.
Happy gardening everyone! The end.
