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The Perennial Plant Association has awarded Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ (Zones 3-8) the title of Perennial Plant of the Year for 2007. Named after its origins, not its growth habit, Walker’s Low catmint has silver-green crinkled foliage and a profusion of long-blooming, deep lavender-blue flowers. It’s low maintenance and aromatic, and supposedly disease- and pest-free.
I wonder – do they count cats as pests? Don’t get me wrong – I’m a cat lover and devoted mother of one (she’s sitting on my desk right now, actually, as she thinks she’s my managing editor) – but anytime I’ve planted any variety of nepeta, the neighbourhood cats turn my garden into a frat party! They roll on it, eat it, sleep in it… and just generally get high.
A few years ago, I came home with a tiny Nepeta faassenii ‘Six Hills Giant.’ Not ten minutes into the ground, the plant was suffering from the advances of the local cat posse. Not one to stand guard with a spray bottle, I caged the new plant in with a overturned wire basket and staked it down (since it is apparently just the very young plants that attract cats). Once the plant was established, I thought, I’d remove the cage and enjoy the flowers.
I came home the next day to find Jordie, a big black and white tom, totally stoned, inside the cage. He was on his back, legs slack and spread-eagled. I would say he was lounging, except the cage was smaller than he was so it was rather like he’d wedged himself in and then passed out. I wish I had a photo. God, it was infuriating. And cute, nonetheless. That was the last time I planted nepeta.
Photo via Walter’s Gardens.
“May your days be merry and bright…” Merry Christmas, everyone!
Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’
Today marks the winter solstice here in the northern hemisphere; the shortest day of the year. And while, as a gardener, you might think this would leave me cold, in fact, it’s just the opposite.
From here on, the days get longer! Spring is almost within sight (or is at least possible to fathom). The snowdrops are already coming up! It might not be time to dust off the gardening gear just yet, but I’m starting to plan the purchases necessary to begin construction on the back garden. I’ve got magazines and books marked with countless sticky notes, the design is almost finalized (details to come) and oh, I’m just itching to get outside. Anyone with me? Or just trying to get through the Christmas season?
I found this on a site called Objects of Design, but it should be called Objects of Desire because I’m totally coveting this sweet little Penguin Deck Chair. Based on the classic Penguin book covers, the chairs come in a number of your favourite titles. Great for the gardener/bookworm.
Also available: mugs.
As an update to an earlier post that cited a study showing that small amounts of alcohol (rubbing or martini-ready) can limit the sometimes-overzealous growth of bulbs such as paperwhites, I’m here to report that it’s true!
I wasn’t forward-thinking enough to grow a control batch of bulbs so show my readers (next year I will for sure) but I’m certain that my paperwhites aren’t as tall and floppy as last year’s. In fact, the splash of vodka I added to their drink seemed to positively reinvigorate them. I guess they like a good stiff drink as much as the next person.
Happy Hannukah to my fellow MOTs. Chag sameach!
March 2007 will mark the second annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival. Like last year, the festival will celebrate the beauty of Vancouver’s 36,000+ cherry trees with events, concerts, and a haiku contest. All poets, new or experienced, from British Columbia and around the world are invited to submit one unpublished haiku in English inspired by the cherry blossom. Come on, garden bloggers – I know you’ve waxed poetic over blooms before now!
Submit your haiku here. The submission deadline is January 11, 2007. Winning haiku will be immortalised on a stone marker under – what else – a cherry tree.
While I stand by some of my choices from last year’s list of Best Gifts for Gardeners (I love my Lee Valley Seed Keeper, and you’d still get major Heavy Petal bonus points if you got me the Nature Mill indoor composter, for example), this year I’m trying to give people less stuff. More experiences, fewer tchotchkes – you know.
Anyway, that’s what I was thinking when Evergreen e-mailed me yesterday about their Lawn and Garden Smart Holiday promotion.
I’ve written about Evergreen before and think it’s just such a fabulous organization. So, if you’re buying for someone in the Greater Vancouver area, consider giving a gift certificate for an Evergreen Lawn and Garden Smart consultation. For only $75, a horticultural adviser will go to your lucky recipient’s home, assess their current yard care practices (covers waterwise gardening, composting, plant selection (focusing on native and drought resistant plants), natural lawn care, biological pest control and design tips). And that’s just the regular package.
As part of their holiday promotion clients will also receive a rain gauge, Evergreen gardening gloves, additional resources that compliment the consultation, and on-going support. So your giftees – and the earth – will be thanking you long after the holidays are over. And no need for re-gifting tacky knick-knacks.
There’s lots of great stuff in the December/January issue of Dwell magazine for gardeners. Here’s the low down.
First up, there’s the Terradome Terrarium from ModernPast. I love this. It kind of reminds me of the Eames version but cleaner. Maybe I’d keep my indoor plants alive (I know, *shame*) if I had this.
Then there’s this cute little birdhouse by Invotis. So sweet!
But at the top of my wish list is the Nest Chair by Tord Boontje for Moroso. It’s made from molded polyurethane so is totally outdoor-safe, and comes in nine colours. So sleek and sexy. Want it!
So, there’s this wall at the end of our courtyard. It’s actually another building – BC Fur, a small family-run business that, despite my father-in-law’s “jokes,” doesn’t deal in neighbourhood cats. To my relief, they only wash sheepskins. Or so I’m told. Anyhow, there’s this blank, north-facing wall (shown above around Halloween, obviously) that I’d love to grow a vine against – and I need your advice in choosing one. Here are my requirements:
- shade-tolerant
- preferrably evergreen
- have flowers or berries or interesting colour
- vigorous growth
- self-supporting Commenters have noted that this wouldn’t be good for my neighbour’s building. I haven’t asked permission to attach a trellis, but let’s assume I can.
I’m considering Akebia quinata (Chocolate vine) and Parthenocissus tricuspidata (Boston Ivy), however, I don’t know that Akebia will do well in shade – or grow tall enough. Boston ivy, of course, doesn’t meet my evergreen requirement. Sigh… Any suggestions?
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