March 2022 - Bowen Island Garden Club
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March 2022
The Mission of the Bowen Island Garden Club is to promote the love of gardening,
encourage sound horticultural practices through education, & enhance civic beautification.
(Interim) PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Lynn McArthur
This is a season for Hellebores. There are so
many varieties including many early bloomers.
Although a few daffodils are showing particularly
when they are in optimal spots, they are mostly
in fulsome bud whilst hellebores are coming
forth. I particularly like the ones whose flowers
are facing upwards. This issue features some of
the amazing colours and forms in Bowen gardens
Whilst the Hellebores are a delight, my mature
Choisya (Mexican Orange) have been a concern.
In the protected back yard, there are shrubs on
each side of the stairs. One of them lost most of
its new growth (with the flower buds) due to the
prolonged cold weather. However, its opposite To purchase seeds that support Bumble Bees
which had three other shrubs nearby for and other pollen seekers, look for sunflower
protection, showed very little damage from the seeds labeled OP (Open Pollinated) or choose F1
cold. I was pleased to read that Choisya benefits hybrids that produce a lot of nectar to support
by hard pruning. That was undertaken for the Honey Bees’ high sugar nectar needs.
most damaged one. I remain optimistic! Bumble bees are highly communicative and they
gravitate to high protein pollen in flowers
Many of us recently enjoyed including clover and members of the mint
hearing about Andrew Simon's
family such as thyme and oregano. Their needs
Bumble Bee research on vary at different times of their life cycle,
Galiano Island. Afterwards, requiring pollen for larvae and nectar for adults.
there was discussion about
It is important to provide a diversity of floral
pollen as an important source
sources for a Bumble Bee balanced diet. To learn
of a protein. We learned that more, Holly Cleator recommends the Xerces
hybridized sunflower seeds Society Guide “ Attracting Native Pollinators.”
grown for florists contain nectar but not pollen.
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LINNAEA TOUR BIGC SPEAKER SERIES presents
Pam Miller Sustainable Soils
Our spring visit to Linnaea Nurseries in Langley is With Linda Chalker-Scott
Saturday, April 9th rain or shine. This is a unique
Join us on Zoom Monday, March 21 at 7 pm
opportunity for Bowen Island Garden Club
members only. If you are new to the Garden Have you wondered about how to create the
Club, this is a trip that you won’t want to miss. best possible soil in your garden using research
based methods to improve quality, promote
Linnaea is a wholesale nursery that does not sell movement of air and water and prevent
to the general public. We receive a sizeable compaction and deficiencies in plant nutrients?
discount on all plants-----the larger the plants,
the bigger the savings. If you are landscaping a
new property or redoing an existing garden,
Linnaea is the place to go. Even if you don’t need
plants, you soon discover that you can always
make room for a few more.
Linnaea specializes in indigenous trees, ferns,
shrubs and grasses, and carries a great variety of
other flora. The inventory is always changing so
each visit presents new surprises. Please do not
phone the nursery with questions about plant
availability. John Folkerts will be available on the
9th to assist you.
To register for this tour, please e-mail me at: “Sustainable Soils” will be the next Bowen Island
pe7miller@gmail.com. As the nursery is so large, Garden Club Guest Speaker presentation. Dr
physical distancing will not be an issue but we Linda Chalker-Scott, Horticulturist, researcher,
ask that visitors follow the appropriate COVID Faculty member at Washington State University
safety protocols. I will send out directions and and horticultural ‘Myth Buster’ will address
information closer to our visit. myths associated with creating and maintaining
sustainable soils. Linda is also the award-winning
author of five books. Her latest book is an update
of Art Kruckeberg’s Gardening with Native Plants
of the Pacific
Northwest (2019),
which has won
several national
awards since its
publication.
Laura Robertson
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BOWEN ISLAND GARDEN CLUB PLANT SALE BOWEN ISLAND GARDEN CLUB AGM 2022
th
DATE: Sat. May 28 2022
Sunday, June 12th the AGM will be held in a
TIME: Set-up 9:00AM Sale 10:00AM – 12:00PM
meadow garden with opportunity to explore the
LOCATION, the LEGION parking lot.
gardens and socialize. We encourage you to
All proceeds from this MAJOR FUNDRAISER
consider joining our creative and dynamic Board.
support Bowen Island Garden Club programs.
There are some great opportunities to
HOORAY! Spring is here and the daffodils are contribute your skills by volunteering to serve as
dazzling in their yellow beauty. It’s time once President, Vice President, or Member at Large.
again - for the fabulous PLANT SALE. Contact Lynn McArthur if you are curious.
Start your seedlings, divide overgrown plants
and share any surpluses you may have. Specialty
plants are always welcome. Your donations will
find a happy home in someone’s garden.
Each seller will be responsible to come early to
set-up their plants. They will also manage the
table (space) during the sale. If you are not able
to sell your own plants, please contact Karen and
she will include them with another seller’s table.
TO KEEP EVERYTHING AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE:
• If you are selling your own plants, please
bring your own table. Plants can also be put
on the ground or on a tarp.
• Label each plant with the name and price.
EXECUTIVE BOARD 2021 until June 2022
• Payments for the plants will be processed at
a separate table. President** Lynn McArthur (acting)
• The sale will go ahead rain or shine. Vice-President* Vacant
Umbrellas or canopies are helpful if it rains. Secretary Linda Carvajal
Treasurer Laura McGregor
• Sellers are responsible for removing
Membership Holly Cleator
unsold plants after the sale.
Cuttings Editor Betty Morton
• If you would like to donate plants to the sale, Social Dale Harding, Sue Jance
please email Karen at: karenlp@shaw.ca Speakers Laura Robertson
Open Gardens Pam Miller, Doug Elliott
Technical John Hazell
Members at Large Jackie Bradley, Diane Buchanan,
Margaret Huntingford, Karen
Pineau
PHOTO CREDITS for this month’s Cuttings
thanks to Lynn McArthur, Doug Elliott, Betty
Morton. Your editor is always looking for
pictures to inspire Cuttings readers. You can
email your garden photos to me at
mortonstudio1600@gmail.com
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and invisibility powder. Who knows if Medieval
witches ever actually flew, or if they
only believed they did so because of the herbs’
reputation for disrupting heartbeats and causing
hallucinations. The take-away being that
gardeners should use care when pruning and
weeding Hellebores, wash hands afterwards and
protect children and pets from eating them.
In our region, Hellebores are an easy care plant.
Planted close to or under small trees gives them
sun in the spring and partial shade in the summer
as the trees fill out. They benefit from moist,
well-draining soil and occasional compost
amendment. Because Hellebores are a non-
native, they have no identified pollinators or
overwintering insects so it is safe to remove
HELLEBORES: HARBRINGERS of SPRING
dead and diseased foliage in early spring when
Betty Morton
temperatures are above freezing. Deadheading
Beautiful Hellebore photos from members is not necessary because the five petal-like
roused my curiosity about this compelling sepals persist throughout the summer and are
winter/spring perennial. Until now I have very ornamental. Species cultivars however, will
thought of Hellebores as a deer resistant produce huge amounts of seed resulting in an
champion and a great addition to my damp abundance of seedlings. Without weeding, these
shady mix of Hostas, Ferns and Solomon’s seal can result in a congested mono-planting.
but it turns out that there is much more to this
garden workhorse. A Buttercup family Hellebores tend to be expensive choices at the
(Ranunculaceae) perennial native to Eurasia, garden centres. Variations include species,
Hellebores grow at woodland edges and in primary hybrids and intersectional hybrids
(seedling crosses of two species) and “mixed up
scrubby, often in mountainous regions. They are
hybrids” whose lineages are impossible to
enormously adaptable in nature and their
untangle sometimes referred to as Helleborus
entwined botanical history and folklore is
hybridus. More recently there has been a trend
equally remarkable. to using tissue culture to produce large
quantities of identical plants from a chosen
In ancient Greek Helleborous means elein (to hybrid. In contrast, plants that are developed in
injure) and bora (food), indicating its poisonous seed strains are similar, but not identical.
nature. The ancient Greeks used the plant to
heal madness and to poison the water of
Stay in touch with the Bowen Island Garden
opponents in battle. Medieval medical uses
Club activities through our website:
included deworming children - initially successful
www.bowenislandgardenclub.ca and Bowen
but tragically lethal with repeated dosing. Roots Island Garden Club on Facebook
were used to lift melancholy and cure illnesses of
the psychology. In the mythical realm, witches
were famous for their Hellebore flying ointment
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MEMBERSHIP after a rain and listen to how busy the birds are.
Holly Cleator It’s all very hopeful.
A gentle reminder to A visit to a nursery at this time of year is one of
renew your membership life’s greatest pleasures. The first thing to do, is
for 2022 if you haven’t inhale. The sweet aromas of spring will come
already done so. Membership dues are now $20. rushing forth. Tables groaning with potted bulbs,
Renewals can be paid by cheque or e-transfer.
especially Hyacinths; sweetly scented Pansies
For details please visit the club website
and Primulas. Row upon row of colourful
(www.bowenislandgardenclub.ca).
Wallflowers, whose delicious scent always
The garden club welcomes reminds me of being a little kid and smelling
new members: Carole them in gardens I passed as I walked to school.
Bawden, Peter Canning and
Let us venture a little further along and now
Lori d’Agincourt-Canning,
there are pots dripping with flowering Aubretia
Lotte Henrichsen, and Sue
Ritchie. – just waiting to be planted over the edge of a
rock. Then, huge tables of Hellebores. I want
them all. So many new varieties and,
A NICE DAY OUT
hey, it’s not all about the flowers. Be
Su Rickett
sure to take a look at some that have
extraordinary, marbled foliage. Once
I’m sure I won’t be the
the flowers are done, you have that
only one celebrating on
to enjoy for the rest of the year.
March 20th – the day
Spring finally arrives. Is
Once you’re done drooling over the
it really happening? It
Hellebores, time for a quick chin
has felt like a very long
wipe and on to more delectable
winter, starting in late
spring bloomers – Brunneras,
October for me, with
Pulmonarias, Cyclamen,
mushy days, cold nights
Epimediums, all fabulous choices for
and the eternal threat
the woodland garden. Always so
of rain. The long and
much better planted in groups for
very cold spell over Christmas, bookended at
maximum enjoyment. Flowering Heathers are in
either side by ‘Atmospheric rivers’, was enough
abundance. Make a note of how long it blooms
to make the pages of Monty Don’s latest book
and check for foliage variations.
curl. Enough already.
I like to make a bee-line for Daphnes, (often in
Those sneaky little signs that spring is on its way
the greenhouse to protect them from the cold.)
are such a thing of joy. Giving us hope that our
Early varieties, like Daphne odora are just
poor washed out gardens will get some heat and
coming into bloom. They are expensive but so
sunshine and start rejuvenating themselves.
worth it for that incredibly exotic perfume. Other
Many spring bulbs have already pushed through
scented lovelies include Skimmias, Choisya and
and just a few days of warm sunshine will burst
Viburnum. It’s also a good opportunity to peek
them open. Branches are sprouting and fat buds
through other shrubs that maybe are not in
are appearing on the Lilacs. It helps to go out just
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bloom yet but get snapped up early once they your research at home once you have seen what
are – Rhododendrons, deciduous Azaleas, is available.
shrubby Magnolias and flowering currants.
Camelias are just starting to pop, but don’t wait A visit to the nursery right now will often be
for it to be fully in bloom, take it home and enjoy overwhelming if you don’t have a list to refer to,
the process of its unfurling there. especially when it comes to the seed racks. Keep
your hands in your pockets until you have picked
This is a great time of year to look for Clematis up the West Coast seeds catalogue. This is
and other vines. Get in there before they have excellent reading for the ferry ride home and will
had a chance to tangle up. The group A clematis put you in good stead for your next visit. No one
will be in bloom shortly – check out the really needs 15 kinds of tomato seeds and how
macropetala, alpina and Montana varieties. many varieties of lettuce can you eat?
Blooming between late March
and late May, these Clematis need Now is a good
no pruning unless it’s to re shape opportunity to pick up
if they get too big. seedling trays, starter
mix, and labels. By the
If you are considering planting middle of April these
trees this year, early spring is a are in short supply.
really good time to find a great Also, look for a
selection and they will have time watering can with a
to settle in a little before the fine rose attachment
summer heat gets going. I’m all especially for
for planting a tree to honour a lost seedlings – they don’t
loved one, this includes the four- like being drowned by
footed kind too. I’m also looking top heavy watering.
forward to planting a tree for the
Queen’s Jubilee. It’s always worth While you might look
doing a little research before you at lawn seed. It is far
purchase. What looks a lovely too early to use at the
little chappie in its pot at the moment. Temps need
nursery may turn out to be a hoodlum. No one to be between 15 & 20 C (usually in mid-April).
wants to chop down a beautiful tree because it’s By putting grass seed out too early, all you are
now threatening to take the neighbours fence doing is feeding the birds or watching it rot.
down. Also bear in mind the kind of growth
pattern of the tree you are considering. Willows, As a final fling at a nursery, it’s tempting to
Cherries, Birch and large Maples have no place inspect the pots and containers. I only have one
near your septic field, your water lines or your piece of advice here. Go big or go home.
foundations. Do you have power lines to
consider? Is the tree going to give you too much With trolley loaded and groaning with spring
shade? How tidy is it when it shrugs off its fall treasures, a few investment pieces for future
finery? What does it look like in winter? So many bloom and a gorgeous pot or two, a trip to the
questions. So many trees. So much easier to do nursery will restore the promise that Spring
really is just around the corner.
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DENMAN ISLAND HOME & GARDEN TOURS
June 11 & 12, 2022 9:30 - 5:00
Earlybird Tickets $20 starting March 15:
www.denmanconservancy.org/gardentour/
denmanisland.hgt@gmail.com
Long considered one of BC's top horticultural
events, this year features the renowned home
and garden of award-winning broadcaster and
writer Des Kennedy and a dozen other glorious
rural properties.
GARDEN SNIPPETS! After a four-year hiatus, Denman gardeners are
ready to throw open their garden gates, inviting
Our 2021 “Garden Snippets!” were so popular
the public for a rare up-close look at the
that we’d love to do it again this year. So yes! -
creativity, skill and passion they pour into their
we want to see something in your garden for a
properties. The gardens are accomplished,
future video presentation!
imaginative, and full of variety — lush blooms;
The concept is to take short two-minute videos tranquil ponds; artisanal stonework; hand-
of something you love about your garden. They crafted arbours; permaculture practices; and
will be edited into a longer movie that features stunning ocean views.
you and your favourite plants. You can have a
friend use a smart phone to take a 1-2 minute The houses offer exquisite craftsmanship,
video or Doug Elliott will pop by your house for a innovative design, inspired use of local materials,
quick video shoot. There are no rules about what and unique island touches. This weekend event
you show off: it can be a specific tree, plant, provides an unforgettable experience for lovers
flower, or vegetable or perhaps a garden pond or of gardens, homes and rural living. Many people
view that you treasure. It's all about you and return year after year from all over Canada and
what you love and want to share. around the world, and are never disappointed.
Here's what to do.
• Go to the Bowen Island Garden Club
website: www.bowenislandgardenclub.ca
and click on "Contact" at the top right.
• Fill in your name and email address and
under subject type "Garden Snippets"
• In the message box just type "send
instructions" and we will get them to you.
• If you want Doug to come to your house and
do the video of you then put that in the
message box along with the approximate
date that you think will be best along with a
contact phone #.
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“I WISH I HAD A POTTING BENCH”
And your wish could come true!
Club member Liz O’Malley would like to give
away her mother’s potting bench to a good
home. (Her mother is downsizing and no longer
has room for it.) The bench is 6’ in height and 4’
wide with a work surface, shelves, and two large
metal storage bins underneath. If you are
interested, please contact Liz directly
at lizo@cool-air.com.
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