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In the Garden
By Irene Morton
June Is Bustin’ Out All Over
Summer solstice is something to sing about
Oscar Hammerstein’s June Is Bustin’ Out All Over
lyrics say it all when we look around and take in the
wonders of Nature. Life is abounding in the fresh
spring air.The fear of frost is behind us, the soil is warm and
most of our annuals and perennials planted. We can look
ahead to keeping our gardens in tip-top shape, as well as
enjoying the fruits of our labour for the next several
months. June is one of my favourite times of the year with
the first day of summer just around the corner on June 20.
The summer solstice is the day with the longest daylight
and it ushers in summer at precisely 11:59 p.m.
on June 20. In many countries, the summer solstice
is a time to celebrate life,whether through a religious
ceremony that seeks help with crops, a
ritual request for fertility or a June wedding
(which is still a common occurrence
today).For this and other summer
traditions, you can thank
your pagan roots.Ancient people,
such as Europe’s
Druids, the Celtic sect
that observed pagan rituals
tied to Nature, saw the period
surrounding the summer solstice
as yearly downtime.After many hard
weeks of planting and tending crops, it
was time to sit back and relax.In effect,the
summer solstice began a period of watching
the grass grow.
While its celebration goes back centuries, the
summer solstice is not connected to any national holiday
in Canada, so it is sometimes very easy to overlook.
However, Aboriginal Day coincides with the summer solstice;
selected in 1996 after the Assembly of First Nations
called for a day to unite and celebrate native cultures.The
date has meaning because aboriginal societies traditionally
marked the summer solstice with celebration.
Another way to display our creative handiwork in our
gardens is by placing a variety of plants in containers.
Container gardening is an innovative way to create boundaries
and direct traffic in our gardens, and it adds much
colour and charm to our gardens! The Canadian Country
June 2008 • 54 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
Woman Gardening website at www.canadiancountrywoman.com
has some great information and ideas on container
gardening.
Almost anything can be grown in a container as long as
you give potted plants the same love and care you would a
regular garden. Containers can be placed directly on the
ground, on a balcony or patio, or on a pedestal made from a
variety of materials. Some materials are easier to work with
than others. For example, cheap plastic can deteriorate in
the sun and is not meant for longevity, although its light
weight is a definite plus.Terracotta pots are stronger,but
dry out rapidly, so they often require more watering.
If you opt for glazed ceramic pots (or any other
salvaged container, like a teapot, small wheelbarrow
or even an old bucket), remember
to drill drainage holes in the bottom.
Good drainage holes are essential, as
are wide-mouth containers.
Clean containers thoroughly
before you plant.
Choose a good potting
mix and pack it firmly into
the pot, allowing for ample
space for plants and the earth
around their roots. Check with your
local garden centre for their recommendation
on potting soil. Fertilize often.Water
regularly; you will find that you need to water
container plants more often than the rest of your
garden, especially during dry hot spells.
Container gardening enables those of us who live
in apartments or condominiums with balconies to enjoy
gardening on a smaller scale.They are mobile; can be quite
easy to move if one uses a top quality, lightweight soil mixture;
they are often easier to work with for gardeners with
limited mobility;and they help us extend our gardening season.We
often put only annuals in containers but planting a
small shrub surrounded by annuals like ivy, coleus, nasturtiums
or petunias makes a lovely, long-lasting display.
Remember also that items like strawberries, tomatoes and a
diversity of herbs do very well in containers.
In addition to containers for our garden, there is a huge