The front flower bed at our abode is a gathering of peanuts, tulips that cannot keep their days straight, peony plants that flourish with neglect and ditto for the iris plants I bought at an auction sale.
I have discussed this plot of soil with the gardener in the family, and he faithfully puts in bedding out plants year after year as soon as the tulip foliage can be plucked from their spots. His patience with this routine was amazing.
But those darn tulips refused to stay where we originally planted them. I thought I was imagining it, watching them move closer and closer to the iris patch. I was not imagining it. It was the daughters underground responsible for the attempted takeover of the ground.
Research says that what is going on in the underground soil is called “offset formation.” It further says this is when daughter bulbs or bulblets grow alongside the main bulb. Those bulblets mature over time, can flower and gradually increase the size of the tulip patch.
In other words, the women are blooming on top, and other women are working underground to take over the garden spot.
Those lady bulbs were obviously busier than usual over the past year. I also confirmed the tulip patch should be dug up occasionally and the moms and daughters replanted in spots where they belong. No mention of dad or brother bulbs, but I assume they will eventually figure out this offset formation business and tag along to a new spot that is orderly and not so random.
So once the tulips have been put in their place, what will replace them?
As if by magic, I saw the solution: adopt a flowerpot program being offered by the City of Moose Jaw. I was so excited to think that my friendly city would provide, at no cost, flowerpots already planted and maybe flowering, at no cost to the adoptive plant parents.
Thirty-five pots are available, and they go out on a first-come basis. There’s an application form to be filled out, in which the applicant promises to find a spot for the pot that won’t be hazardous to the public. The only hazard would be the cats, who tend to like the shade of the peony plants.
The applicant agrees to water and deadhead, and care for the flowers for an entire growing season. No problem, and if we take a short vacation, I just know some neighbours who would be step-parents to our pot.
Further, the plant parent agrees to accept responsibility for the pot should it not be returned as requested. The penalty for that infraction might be an increase in taxes to pay for the pot.
I was ready to apply, but I had missed the May 30 deadline, and besides, more careful reading of the criteria indicates clearly that the program is only for businesses in the downtown core. A pity.
That leaves us pot-less, with too many daughter bulbs and nary an extra bedding out plant to save us gardeners’ humiliation.
But rest assured: I will be counting the downtown pots and I’d better count 35 exactly. Maybe next year the program could be expanded to include worthy homeowners who love flowers and will spend money on water, and give care and love for an entire season.
Just think who would benefit from our increased water consumption?
The city would get the higher water use payments, and we would get lovely flowers to enhance the neighbourhood. Everyone wins.
Joyce Walter can be reached at [email protected]
