How cold was it? Members at the Gardening Club questioned after the earlier polar vortex intrusion. "Colder than a lawyer's heart," opined the aged Rosarian. The resident herb expert disagreed. "Colder than a politician's handshake," was her view. "Colder than a bank loan officer's look," suggested the DYI enthusiast, who had recently been rejected by his bank for a garden improvements loan. All were in agreement though when upspoke the most respected president: "So cold, politicians had their hands in their own pockets."
Diversion No. 1
You may want to limit your imbibing. Or at least unless you wish see pink squirrels in the night garden. You would, of course, require an ultraviolet flashlight as did a curious researcher. He was using one in his backyard, initially examining lichens, mosses and plants to see if they fluoresced. By chance, a flying squirrel happened to be at his bird feeder. The purpose of the pink colour is still a mystery to scientists but it occurs across North America. The study was published in the Journal of Mammalogy and has appeared in the popular science press under the header 'Think Pink,' as advised that song in the delightful movie Funny Face with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn.
But extreme winter cold has mixed blessings for the northern gardener. It can and does destroy or damage carefully nurtured shrubs and perennials that survived many a milder winter. However, it eliminates many serious pests overwinter in crevices of bark, also below ground as frost penetrates deep into the soil. Look then for appreciably less problems with at least some of a gardener's persistent pests in the coming season. And as an additional bonus persistent very cold temperatures down to -35ºC have decimated the mountain pine beetle in Alberta. It's an ill wind . .
Diversion No. 2
Mind that snowdrop, it could net you £725 suggests The Mail on Sunday. Rare finds among Britain's winter flora sell for hundreds of pounds online. Millions of the spectacular winter flowers were expected to bloom in Britain last month, but few nature lovers will be aware that are varieties can fetch hundreds of pounds.
Time to commence fertilizing foliage houseplants this month. Day length increases as do light levels, encouraging new growth. So nutrients are needed. A ratio of three numbers is shown of fertilizer containers. This indicates the levels of principal elements required by healthy, happy plants. Nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, the first contributes much to foliage, the second for blooms and the last for health. Whether you choose chemical- or natural-based blends is a personal choice.
Diversion No. 3
Mind that snowdrop, it could net you £725 suggests The Mail on Sunday. Rare finds among Britain's winter flora sell for hundreds of pounds online. Millions of the spectacular winter flowers were expected to bloom in Britain last month, but few nature lovers will be aware that are varieties can fetch hundreds of pounds.
It might not be such a good idea to sit down at the table with the Richter family. What looks like a gigantic hairy caterpillar in the salad turns is a caterpillar--a vegetable one Scorpirus muricatus. The Prickle Caterpillar or Scorpion's Tail is native to the Mediterranean area, where the seed pods are eaten raw or cooked. They can also, suggests Richters catalogue (Richters.com), be added to salads as a prank. A gram of seed sells for $7--give it space: it forms a groundcover.
Diversion No. 4
Grey squirrel is on the menu, as Brit diners turn to the wild meat to help boost reds, suggests The Sunday Telegraph. They are often unwanted visitors to gardens, thanks to their reputations for raiding bird feeders and stripping trees of bark. But grey squirrels are finding a warmer welcome to the dining table, as chefs and retailers report increasing interest in eating the furry rodent. The grey squirrel is classed as an invasive pest which has few predators in the wild and out competes the endangered red squirrel.
Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with the memory of the legendary Irish-Canadian botanist who hybridized shamrock with poison ivy and got a rash of good luck. Famous Irish include, of course, George Bernard Shaw and Bram Stoker. author 'Dracula.' Both found it necessary to move to England to achieve success. Earlier, Jonathan Swift had found himself in the same predicament. There have been many real Irish botanists, however. Wikipedia lists 70 pages under 'Irish Botanists,' noting this is from the Republic of Ireland alone. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753), the Anglo-Irish physician, naturalist's collection founded the Natural History Museum and is commemorated in genus Sloanea. Sloane Square, London is named after him. Others similarly honoured include Sir George Ferguson Bowen(1821-1899) born County Donegal, genus Bowenia; Rev. Thomas Romney Robinson (1792-1882), Irish astronomer and physicist, genus Romneya; and Dr. John Rutty (1697-1775), Dublin physician and naturalist, genus Ruttya
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Mark These on Your Calendar for March
Who thinks these up? Who registers them? Ah well, a day without a smile . . .
1 National Pig Day
1 St David, Patron Saint of Wales died c. 589
3 Peach Blossom Day
8 Be Nasty Day
9 Panic Day
11 Johnny Appleseed Day
12 Plant a Flower Day
14 Learn About Butterflies Day
15 Ides of March
17 St. Patrick's Day
18 Goddess of Fertility Day
20 International Earth Day
20 Extraterrestrial Abduction Day
20 Spring (Vernal) Equinox
21 Fragrance Day
25 Pecan Day
26 National Spinach Day
28 Weed Appreciation Day
30 Take a Walk in the Park Day
If you live near Toronto consider dropping in on 17 March 2-3 pm to Richters Herbs for a free seminar 'Around the World Herb Gardening' with master gardeners Gini Sage and Elaine Davidson, a short drive northeast of the city east of Goodwood on Highway 47 (Richters.com)
If you live near Toronto consider dropping in on 24 March, 2-3 pm to Richters Herbs for a free seminar 'A Head Start with Container Gardens' with Koidu Sulev, a short drive northeast of the city east of Goodwood on Highway 47 (Richters.com)
Wes Porter is a horticultural consultant and writer based in Toronto. Wes has over 40 years of experience in both temperate and tropical horticulture from three continents.
How cold was it? Members at the Gardening Club questioned after the earlier polar vortex intrusion. "Colder than a lawyer's heart," opined the aged Rosarian. The resident herb expert disagreed. "Colder than a politician's handshake," was her view. "Colder than a bank loan officer's look," suggested the DYI enthusiast, who had recently been rejected by his bank for a garden improvements loan. All were in agreement though when upspoke the most respected president: "So cold, politicians had their hands in their own pockets."
