Before we share a cup of tea, let’s review a couple important dates that are coming up: March 15 is the date of the next Yorkton and District Horticultural Society regular meeting; our guest speaker will be Maira Waechli, owner of Florissima Flowers and Plants, speaking to us about “Growing and Caring for Orchids”. For those of you that know Maira, you know about the beautiful and vibrant flower arrangements that she makes; but at our meeting she will be teaching us all we need to know about orchids! I know Maira’s bubbly personality will make it a wonderful session! And then on Saturday, March 25, we’re planning a one-day bus trip to Saskatoon to visit Gardenscape. It’s a gardening extravaganza, and if you think you’d like to join us, please call Liz at (306) 782-2830 for all the details. This trip is open to non-members.
March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day; and everyone turns Irish for the day! Wear something green and treat yourself to a new plant or bouquet of flowers in shades of white and green. Some of the most popular plants associated with St. Patrick’s Day include the ever popular shamrock plant, oxalis, an easy-care houseplant that like bright light (but not direct sun) and enjoys a coollocation. If we were growing them later on in our gardens, they would like a location with full sun, but might need protection from intense afternoon sun. They would enjoy regular watering in well-drained soil. The shamrock plant has the distinction of being a teaching plant for St. Patrick, as legend says that he used the plant to explain about the Trinity. Druids held it in high regard because three, the number of leaves usually found on the plant, was a mystical number to them. But if someone was lucky enough to find a four-leaf clover (and your chances of that are about one in ten thousand), each leaf represents faith, hope, love and luck.
Bells of Ireland are another popular flower connected to St. Paddy’s day: FYI, they are an annual that grows easily here, and makes a very interesting plant in the garden. It can also be used in dried arrangements. Why not give it a try in your cutting garden this year!
And the beautiful carnation, one of the most versatile flowers in the world for flower arrangements, comes in green and white, perfect to treat ourselves to St. Patrick’s Day flowers!
I was thinking that it would be fun to make a St. Patrick’s Day arrangement with a visit to the produce aisle! Think about it: the beautiful curly leaves of kale; delicate parsley; airy dill; the structural leaves of romaine lettuce, all placed in a clear glass vase, just like flowers, with a couple of whole limes at the bottom! Wouldn’t that be amazing on our kitchen tables?
I was told that March 17 is the day that the 2017 Prairie Garden will be out; as their website (www.theprairiegarden.ca) says, “The Prairie Garden is a digest sized, soft-covered book published annually by a volunteer committee since 1956 and is dedicated to the advancement of horticulture in the Prairie Provinces.” The 2017 edition, the 78th, is dedicated to herbs and spices, and “The plants highlighted in the 2017 Prairie Garden reflect a wide range of fragrance, flavours and uses, and our contributors offer an inspiring look at the many ways that herbs and spices weave into our lives. This year’s book also features a comprehensive herb and spice compendium with full colour pictures and prairie-specific growing details.” This is a great reference book to add to our gardening library, and this year’s edition promises “spicy” reading!
One amusing St. Patrick’s Day factoid: did you know that the world’s shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade is held in an Irish village and it lasts only 100 yards, between the village’s two pubs!
Slainte mhaith!
Have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and have a great week!
