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Saturday, July 23, 2011

Giant Hogweed Is Dangerous


Giant Hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzium, is a real danger in the Pacific Northwest. Originally from Caucasus region and Central Asia,  it was introduced to Britain in the 19th century and has spread to many other countries, including Canada since then. It is considered by many as an invasive plant. It thrives in cool, wet climates, and given this years moist conditions, it has spread quickly.

This plant is phototoxic and causes phytophotodermititis. This translates into severe skin inflammation when  skin is exposed to sunlight. It can cause intense burns and  blisters that can last for nearly decade and possibly blindness if even a small amount of toxin comes into contact with eyes.



Keep pets, children and adults away from this plant. While the most serious effects are due to contact with the sap, its toxin is so strong that direct contact is not required to cause injury.

How to Identify Giant Hogweed:
This plant has stout, dark reddish purple stems and spotted stems. The leaves are large are deeply cut. Flowers are white and umbrella shaped. The plant can reach monsterous proportions in ideal conditions. (up to 15ft in height).

What to do if you think Giant Hogweed is in your neighborhood?
Call 1-888-WEEDSBC to report a sighting
you can also visit the website of the Invasive Plant Council of B.C.


More Information About Giant Hogweed can be found here:

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Gardening In Summer

Well summer has finally rolled around (no really it has) and we leave the garden to the sprinkler systems and direct our attention toward other more relaxing endeavors.

But can we still plant in summer, create new beds or containers and fill in empty spaces in the garden? 
Of course!
gardening in summer
Just look around at all the gardeners and landscapers who are busily planting and overhauling containers and gardens right through even the hottest months of summer.

It is traditionally thought that once the May long weekend was over planting time screeched to a halt until fall, not the case at all.  This is one of the best times to plant, with the highest available light levels and the summer’s warmth many plants are at their peak in active growth and as long as they are properly watered they will establish themselves very quickly.  Containerized plants can be planted pretty much throughout the year (with little or no transplant shock) and planting in summer allows a longer time for the plants to establish themselves before having to face and “tough out” our infamous BC winters.

By this time of year the established areas in your garden have filled out and you can see the bare spots that are in need of that special plant that you have been eyeing.  Now is a great time to shop as the garden center is stocked with an excellent selection of lush material much of which is in bloom and with plants that would not have been ready or available in spring.

Summer is a more relaxed time to get out and explore the garden center as many growers (myself included) are constantly producing new crops of plants throughout the year to keep things exciting and fresh, so keep an eye out as there is always something new for the garden and you can selectively shop without the hustle-and-bustle of the “spring rush”.   

Here are just a few plants to look for this summer:

Cistus hybridus Mickie

Cistus hybridus ‘Mickie’
ROCKROSE – Wow, what a stunner in the garden with brilliant golden leaves splashed with dark green in the center.  Plants are compact and low mounding with large (5cm) clear white flowers in early summer (May-June).  A charming evergreen that is deer resistant and tolerant of drought once established, likes full sun and good drainage.
Height:  45cm  Spread:  60-75cm  Zone:  7

Red Sun Gaillardia

Gaillardia x grandiflora
BLANKET FLOWER – Some very tough plants with the ability to tolerate the poorest of soils and blazing sun.  The newest introductions have compact habits, vivid colours and bloom through summer, they include:  ‘Red Sun’ with hot orange-red flowers tipped in yellow, ‘Sun Devil’ with fluted red petals and vibrant yellow tips or ‘Mesa Yellow’ with abundant flowers of bright yellow with complementary yellow cones.

Spice Island Orchid Ginger

Roscoea purpurea ‘Spice Island’
ORCHID GINGER – Found in the Himalayas by famed plantsman Dan Hinkley this hardy ginger should be a welcome addition to any shade garden.  Absolutely stunning with a tropical appearance; sturdy deep red stems support dark leaves with deep red backs.
Flowers appear in late summer and resemble pink orchids with a crepe-ruffle.  Likes a cool woodland setting with partial shade and adequate drainage also does great as a container plant.
Height:  60cm  Spread:  30cm  Zone:  6

Moonbeam Myoga Ginger

Zingiber mioga ‘Moonbeam’
MYOGA GINGER – An exotic, hardy ginger from Japan with leaves that become streaked with green and pale gold to white by summer, pale yellow orchid-like flowers at ground level in late summer and early fall.
A vigorous tropical-like plant that does best in partial shade on average well drained soil.
Height:  90cm  Spread:  1m  Zone:  7 (6)

White Arrow Myoga Ginger

Zingiber mioga ‘White Arrow’
MYOGA GINGER – An elegant hardy ginger with long dark green leaves edged and streaked with white, makes a great textural plant for the shade garden with a bold tropical appearance.  Pale yellow orchid-like flowers at ground level in late summer and early fall.  A vigorous grower that does best in partial shade on average well drained soil.
Height:  90cm  Spread:  1m  Zone:  7 (6)
Photographs courtesy of HarkAway Botanicals and Terra Nova Nurseries.
These plants and many others are available at Art's Nursery. As quantities may be limited, please call ahead to confirm availability.
Lyle Courtice Lyle Courtice, A.H.

 Lyle is a certified Horticultural Technician (Niagara College), Landscape Designer, Nurseryman and the proprietor of HarkAway Botanicals.



Since 1980 Lyle has worked in both the retail and wholesale sectors of the horticultural trade; he operates his own wholesale nursery, which focuses on an eclectic mix of rare and choice plant material from Asia, Europe and North America.



Lyle has appeared on The Canadian Gardener and is a contributing author to A Grower’s Choice (Raincoast books 2001).  His horticultural expertise makes him sought after as a consultant, lecturer, photographer, instructor and writer.  An industry veteran, Lyle is esteemed within the horticultural community for his passionate and often humorous enthusiasm for plants.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

July 2011 Garden To Do List


Honeysuckle VineI’ve just come back from walking the dogs this lovely evening in a tee shirt, shorts and sandals at about 10pm and have to say…it’s wonderful to have summer finally join us. (well maybe I spoke too soon!)

The honeysuckle is in full bloom, my Peony’s are just finishing and I think my beefsteak monster tomato plant has grown about a foot in the last 3 days!!!

I’ve also sampled the first few tayberries and sugar snap peas!
Enjoy!!


Here’s my to-do list for July.
  • Yes, you can still plant.  I’ve found a few spots in my garden that I think I need some texture and interest that I’ll fill with some grasses…they are usually coming into the garden centers at about this time so I’ll have a good selection.
  • Still keeping an eye out for pests and using the squish and remove method. 
  • You can think about trimming and deadheading if your perennial and shrub border is becoming a bit too full with all the spring rain that was supplied.  Cut back Bachelors Buttons to encourage a second flush of flowers.
  • Staking and tying your heavier flowers is a good idea at this time, like Dahlias, and Glads. 
  • Feed your plants – use a good fertilizer appropriate for your plants that also supplies the micronutrients your plant needs to thrive.
  • Towards the end of this month you can do a summer prune on your apple trees if necessary.  Remember, summer pruning slows down the growth of your tree, while winter pruning invigorates.  Remove only smaller branches and far less than the 1/3 we usually remove in the winter.
  • You can also shape up your vines at this time.
  •  Your veggie garden should be coming along.  I will definitely be staking that monster tomato plant I have before it takes over the front steps.  The others seem to be behaving themselves. 
  • You should be thinking about harvesting if you have currants, tayberries, goumi berry or goji berry, they’ll be ripening soon. The snap peas are yummy.
  • Think about Mojito’s on warm nights such at this one.  I have a pot of mint by the back door for those occasions that warrant a lovely Mojito or mint iced tea.
  • Fertilize in your veggie garden as well.
  • Don’t get discouraged if you have a lot of weeds, especially buttercups.  I think I have an almost pure culture of buttercups in my front west section of garden, just keep at them and don’t expect perfection this year.
  • You can still aerate your lawn and top dress if needed. 
  • Check your municipal website for watering restrictions, your lawns need far less water than you think!! This year, watering probably won't be an issue :)
  • Mulch garden beds if you haven’t already.  I know I sound like a lunatic after all the rain we’ve had, but the mulch will help to keep the moisture in during the hot summer (I’m an optimist).
  • Excellent time to go through that Honey-do list.  Garden projects are much more fun in the sun.
  • Do take time to smell the flowers and appreciate all of your hard work!

This Post Was Written By:

Laurelle Oldford-Downe

Saturday, July 9, 2011

5 Interesting Plants For July 2011

What would gardening be without exciting new plants. Here's a collection of 5 unique and interesting plants to consider adding to your garden for July 2011.


Beesia deltophylla
 Beesia
Beesia deltophylla
An excellent evergreen groundcover from the Dan Hinkley Collection. Exceptionally shiny, green to gunmental blue, heart-shaped leaves and pretty star-shaped flowers in mid to late spring. A fuss-free filler for shady understory spaces or a woodland garden. Best in full to partial shade. A slow grower. Maximum 18-24 inches tall and as wide. Hardy in zones 7-9

Justicia brandegeana




Shrimp Plant
Justicia brandegeana
A terrific tropical element to use in pots on patios or planted in entryways to enjoy the pendant terminal spikes of showy, unusual flowers. An evergreen in warm climates, but treat as an annual or as a houseplant in winter here in the pacific northwest. Best in full to part sun. Flowers year round (in warm climates). Will grow 3-4ft tall. Water regularly when top 3 inches of soil is dry. Hardy in USDA zones 9-11

Dianella revoluta 'Baby Bliss'
Baby Bliss Flax Lily
Dianella revoluta 'Baby Bliss'
A compact, extremely versatil and easy-care selection with blue-green foliage and pale violet flowers followed by attractive purple berries. An excellent mass planting or border in front of shrubs. Tolerates most any soil and salt spray. Evergreen. Thrives in either full sun or shade. Forms small clumps 1ft tall and 6 inches wide. Hardy in USDA zones 7-11. Needs only occasional water once established.




Disporum pullum 'Variegata'

Variegated Fairy Bells
Disporum pullum 'Variegata'
A charming groundcover with dark green leaves sreaked with pure white, golden fall colour. Easy to grow and makes a good naturalizer. Spreads to form a loose carpet of arching stems. Large creamy white, bell-shaped flowers in spring. A woodland plant best in cool shady sites. Height 40-50cm. Spread: 60cm. Hardy to zone 5.





Eucalyptus parvula
Small Leaved Gum Tree
Eucalpytus parvula
This mid-sized tree has juvenile leaves that give way to longer-pointed mature foliage which is attractive for cut arrangements at any age. Tolerates poorly drained, infertile soils and drought. Fast growing, with spreading, semi-weeping branches to 30-50ft tall and wide. Hardy in zones 7-11. Evergreen. Best in full sun. Water occasionally as needed.

All of these plants are available at Art's Nursery, but possibly seasonally and in limited quantities. Please give us a call at 604.882.1201 for more information or to have us put one of these specialties aside for you.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Rebecca van Der Zalm - In The Garden


A great article about Rebecca van der Zalm, Manager of Art's Nursery, her dad and founder, Art van der Zalm, and the transition to the next generation of garden centre owners in British Columbia.

Read More at Steve Whysall's Blog:
http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/inthegarden/archive/2011/07/07/rebecca-van-der-zalm.aspx

This Post Was Written By:

Art's Nursery Ltd.

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