Last year saw a week-long heat wave in mid-May, followed by a long, dry period until significant rains began in mid-October. Let’s hope for less difficult growing conditions this year.
So many comments from gardening friends and column readers about the cool April weather delaying planting led me to look over my weather records for last year, when April temperatures were roughly similar to this year except for warming at the end of the month. Then a week-long heat wave began at mid-May, followed by a long, dry period until significant rains began in mid-October. Let’s hope for less difficult growing conditions this year.
The little plant rosettes usually appear early in the year and, especially in poor, dry soil, flower and form seeds quickly. This year was oddly different — a sunny side of weeding. Because these popular succulent plants require so little care, I don’t check on them often, but as I was seeing to the needs of other plants at the living room window I noticed something different about one of the snake plants.
Another common name is mother-in-law’s tongue, perhaps because the leaves are long, or because they are toxic if ingested. Qualicum meeting. The Qualicum Beach Garden Club will meet on Tuesday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the QB Civic Centre, 747 Jones St. Jason Crouch, co-owner of Fraser Valley Rose Farm, will delve into Growing Great Roses — tips for helping roses thrive easily. Guest drop-in fee $3.
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