Back yesterday from another visit with my brother in Cedar, just south of Nanaimo. Interesting to see how far ahead we are on the south part of the Island, compared to what is probably almost the central section.
For instance, my tulip foliage is now several inches tall whereas the tulips I planted in his big pots aren’t, as yet, even coming through the soil.
Mind you, he does have a few resident squirrels who may have unearthed (and eaten) them.
Whereas daffodil foliage is poisonous, tulip greenery is not, so if something that looks “tulipy” doesn’t appear soon, we’ll know the squirrels are feeling fat and full and there will be no tulips blooming in those pots this year.
My good intentions “shot to smithereens” (to quote my Dad). Oh well, we’ll just have to plant polyanthus instead.
Herb has lovely large chimney flues in a row by his back entrance, and I longed to plant all six of them with polyanthus but not having a car and not feeling I could ask his driver to take me shopping, I came home having done nothing to cheer up those empty pots.
I don’t suppose he would notice anyway, having such difficulty getting into and out of the car, but it would have made me happy to see them full of bloom and maybe, in spite of everything else being dull and dreary, it would cheer him up.
I have two lovely “polys” in pots on the balcony and they give me a lift every time I look out at them.
This morning I went with dear friends to breakfast and was delighted to see pansies, snowdrops and tulip greenery in a bed right by the restaurant door.
Makes one’s spirits rise at the sight .... helped out, of course, by a tasty breakfast of pancakes, sausage and coffee.
Helen Lang has been the Peninsula News Review’s garden columnist for more than 30 years.