|
Greetings!
I think we are not alone in welcoming the first day of summer tomorrow! It has been another interesting spring in Southern Ontario with temperatures fluctuating and more than enough rain.
Summer is a wonderful season for spending time outdoors with friends and family. It is definitely a time to celebrate our gardens whether relaxing in the hammock, playing with children or entertaining. Does your space need a bit of colour? Our greenhouse is now full of tropical plants, many of which can spend the summer outside. Dufferin Garden Centre is fully stocked with summer-flowering shrubs and perennials as well as trees to provide some future shade. We have weekly deliveries of fresh annuals that are in larger pots to help fill any bare spaces in containers or borders.
Dufferin Garden Centre is welcoming Farley See on June 22 at 11:00am. Farley is part of the third generation involved in the family business (Moore's Water Gardens) specializing in water lilies and aquatic plants. He will be discussing growing water plants in containers. Learn the benefits of including plants in your pond's ecosystem and how to over-winter them. This is a free seminar; however, we ask that you register to avoid disappointment. Please call the store at 519-941-5081 or click here for our online registration. (We need 20 registrants in order to hold this seminar)
New Summer Hours Monday - Friday :: 8:00am - 6:00pm Saturday :: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday :: 10:00am - 4:00pm
|
At the Water's Edge
Adding plants to your pond is more than creating a natural look. Each plant plays an important role in balancing a natural ecosystem. Many of these plants are perennial that will come back year after year and can remain in the pond for easy maintenance.
 Benefits of adding plants to the pond include: - filtering the pond water by absorbing impurities, helping to improve water quality - providing a more natural stress-free environment for fish by providing fish with shelter and hiding places
- food supply for fish
- reducing algae while providing shade for the pond -80% of the pond should be shaded from the sun
- helps prevent water from overheating, which reduces algae production
In order to complete a fully balanced pond ecosystem, a full range of complementary plants are needed. This includes a large assortment of oxygenating, floating, marginal and deep water plants. Water lilies and other aquatic plants are heavy feeders and require fertilizing in the spring and through the growing season. For easy and consistent feeding, try fertilizer tablets such as Pond Planter Fertilizer (10-14-8) from Aquascape.
Types of Water Plants
Floating Plants - do not require planting in soil - grow simply by floating on the water's surface
- help control algae by shading water
- use one plant per square foot of pond area to cover up to 50% of your pond
- floating plants include water hyacinth, water lettuce and duckweed
Hardy Shallow Water and Bog Plants - found at the edge of natural ponds including rushes and other marginal plants - try a selection of hardy varieties such as arrowhead, blue water iris, flowering rush, dwarf cattail, variegated sweet flag and spearwort
Tropical Shallow Water and Bog Plants - tropical plants can be over-wintered inside the house in a warm environment - includes dwarf water bamboo, spider lily, umbrella palm
Hardy Water Lilies - have a long life, even in the coldest of climates - long blooming time from April until October with colours from peach, pinks, reds, whites and yellows
- require very little maintenance other than pruning off the dying leaves and flowers
Submerged Oxygenating Plants - controls algae naturally, improving water quality - provides shelter for fish
- provides shade in water by using 1 plant per 2-3 square feet of surface area
Want to know more about this unique group of plants? Join us this Saturday, June 22 at 11:00am as expert Farley See will be sharing how the benefits of including plants in your pond's ecosystem and how to over-winter them. This is a free seminar, however, we ask that you register to avoid disappointment. Please call the store at 519-941-5081 or click here for our online registration.
Do you know another gardener who might enjoy this article?
|
|
Pond Plant Fertilizer (10-14-8) from Aquascape
 Feeds all types of aquatic plants including water lilies.
- produces great looking pond plants
- contains micronutrients
- maximizes flower production
- depending on the size of the lily, it is recommended to add a minimum of 2 tabs for plants contained in pots from 1-3 gallon, 3-5 tabs for larger plants
- add one application per month
- push the simple-to-use tablets into the soil in and around plant roots
Available at the Dufferin Garden Centre
|
|
Ladybugs from NIC (Natural Insect Control)
 - an excellent Canadian beneficial insect eating only aphids and other soft bodied pest insects and eggs
- be sure to water the area before releasing your ladybugs
- placing a small dish of water in your garden will help keep not only ladybugs but native insects close to your plants especially in the heat of the summer
Regular $ 19.99 for approximate 1,000 adult ladybugs
Ladybugs are available at the Dufferin Garden Centre for a limited time only.
See below for a coupon of savings :: while supplies last
|
|
Gardening Tips :: The Scented Garden
 | |
Rainbow Sorbet Rose
|
"Stop and Smell the Roses" is usually a reminder for one to slow down and take a few minutes for yourself each day. We could also interpret this cliché as taking time in our gardens to literally...smell the roses! Involve all of your senses in your garden by adding several fragrant plants to delight your sense of smell through the seasons.
Location:
- choose a spot that will receive plenty of sunshine but is protected from winds. We don't want the winds carrying the fragrances away from the garden! - find a location that will allow you to get the most out of your plants; near a window or door, sitting areas or pathways
- short on space? Not to worry, many fragrant plants grow well in containers, either on a balcony or window boxes
Fragrance:
- smells can originate from the oils in the leaves as well as from the flowers
- fragrances of lavender and thyme can come from both the flowers and the leaves when they are rubbed
- many plants keep their scent well enough to be dried and preserved
- the oil can be extracted from many plants which allow us to enjoy the scents of our garden when the plants are not in season
By adding several of the suggested plants to your garden, you can enjoy fragrance from spring, through summer to fall.
Plant Suggestions:
Shrubs
- Daphne
- Mockorange (Philadelphus)
- Roses
- Lilac (Syringa)
Perennials
- Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria)
- Pinks (Dianthus)
- Hosta
- Iris
- Peony (Paeonia)
- Sweet Violet (Viola)
Herbs
- Lavender (Lavendula)
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Thyme (Thymus)
Bulbs
- Hyacinths
- Narcissus
Annuals
- Heliotrope
- Stocks (Matthiola)
- Sweet Pea (Lathyrus)
- Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia)Flowering Tobacco (Nicotinana)
- Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) |
 Top 5 Favourite "Smelly Plants" of Dufferin Garden Centre Staff
5. Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria) - Spring Perennial :: Karen
4. Chrysler Imperial Rose :: Donna S.
3. Lavender (any variety!) - Perennial :: Linda Mae
2. Mockorange - Shrub :: Cyd
1. Heliotrope - Annual :: Donna Z.
|
 Feature Plant :: Sum and Substance Hosta
- this large variety of hosta averages 30" tall and 60" wide
- upright, heart-shaped, flat leaves have a glossy chartreuse hue that changes to gold when exposed to more light
- near-white lilac blooms blooming late July through mid-August
- grows in moist but well-drained fertile soil
- shade tolerate but grows best in full morning sun
Available at the Dufferin Garden Centre
On Sale this Week :: Regular $ 12.99, NOW $ 9.88
|
|
Cedar's Corner :: Welcome Summer!
 Whew! Welcome summer! I am scoping out all of my cool spots...like the perennial section, the display gardens and yes, even the 'treeland'! I like to check out the cat grass in the herb section just to show people how much cats really like it. Herbs are not just for smelling, they are also for tasting. Time for a nice cool drink and a shady spot! Enjoy!
Herbal Iced Tea
Making your own herbal teas is easy and relatively inexpensive way to use the herbs grown right in your own garden. You can grow, harvest and dry your own tea herbs and make your own blends. Herbs are always a welcome garnish for cool drinks too...like lemonade and iced black teas!
Harvest the herbs when they are in bud, just before they flower as the oils are the most concentrated.
- bring to a boil a pot of cool water, rinse the pitcher with extra boiling water to make sure the pitcher is clean and there is no leftover residue that would affect your herbal tea
- add 2 Tbsp of dried herbs or 3 Tbsp of fresh herbs for ever cup of water (it may be strong but will taste just right after the ice melts!) in your pitcher or use a tea ball
- steep the herbal tea covered for approximately 5 minutes until it's the desired flavour
- strain or remove tea ball and add citrus juices or honey to sweeten
- cool your herbal tea in the refrigerator and add ice
Popular Tea Herbs: Lemon verbena (Aloysia), Lemon Balm (Melissa), Mint (Mentha) - orange, peppermint, spearmint, German chamomile (Matricaria), BeeBalm (Monarda)
Fresh Herbs are available at the Dufferin Garden Centre
Stay cool everyone! See you next time from Cedar's Corner. |
