Ten Minute Gardening

When I began writing this particular instalment of Bert’s Bloomers on November 14, the temperatures were relatively warm for November. The thermometer has suddenly dropped out and we now have a dusting of snow on the ground, but, Mother Nature is still astonishing me with her stubbornness to let go of the growing season. In other words, what I wrote about, is still current news.

A tour of our rather wild and barren garden this morning has brought many delightful surprises! Still blooming are two roses – New Dawn, and The Fairy, as well as sweet peas, black eyed susans, alyssum, feverfew and garlic chives (we’ll pay dearly for that last one). How exciting to see anything blooming in November in our area!!  I can perhaps understand the cooler weather plants, but how does one explain the tenacity of the roses? Heat loving, sun loving roses?  While I’d like to take the credit for the survival of all those spots of summer, I can’t. The credit goes to Nature herself.  Incredible, wonderful, never to be understood, Nature.

Having survived the shock of seeing plants in bloom, my attention was drawn to a number of gardening tasks yet to be attended to. There are still containers of plants to be emptied, still some perennials languishing in pots, a bird bath to be stored for the winter and let’s not forget about the patio furniture that has to be stored yet. And leaves to be raked off the lawn. I should forget about writing and go outside.

I guess while I’m out there, I really should shut off the outside tap and drain the hose, and store the hose.

Some of the more delectable plants (according to our neighbourhood rabbits) need to be caged. Those would include all of the roses, the flowering quince, the chestnut and a dwarf burning bush. Caging them may prevent the ravenous rabbits from pruning them down to the ground. I say “may” because if we get enough snow built up around the cages, the rabbits will still be able to reach the plants. 

I haven’t cut back any of the perennials nor do I intend to! I’m leaving the seed heads for the birds, and the stalks for added winter protection for the crowns of the plants. The theory is, the stalks will cause snow to build up around the plants, and the snow is a natural insulator, therefore, no winter mulching is required. That’s been my story for twenty odd years, so I’m sticking with it! Besides, it really does work.

One bit of trimming I continue to put off is removing the wild grape growing between the walls of our greenhouse. Perhaps the description of where it’s growing is explanation enough for why it has not been removed. And since it isn’t interfering with the greenhouse, I figure, why mess with it? If it ain’t broke and all that. Common sense says I’ll kick myself some year for not dealing with it. Maybe when we re-skin the greenhouse the grape vine will be dealt with?

Enough rambling for one day! I’m off to the gardens.