It's about this time of year that I finally sit back and enjoy my garden.  Of course, there are still things on my "to do" list - like trying to figure out what to do with that great idea I had for a pond that just didn't work out like I'd planned.  But we won't talk about that!

For the most part, I am content to sit in my Adirondack chair and admire just how well Mother Nature does her work.  My veggie beds are bursting and my perennial border is in full bloom.  The weather is superb.  Even the pesky deer see,kind of cute.  Ah life is good!

Several years ago, we created our Credo - words to describe how we at Dig This feel about gardens and gardening: 

We believe the garden is an extension of the joy we feel for life.

We know that each escape to our gardens relaxes and restores us.

We believe in taking time to breathe deeply after the rain, feel the breeze on our skin and the warmth of the sun.

We believe in making a special place to share with the people we care about.

We believe creating beauty in the spaces around us creates beauty in our lives and our souls.

We are artists and our gardens are our canvasses.

Whenever I read them, these words still ring true.  Whether in our gardens or in our stores, all of us at Dig This are committed to creating beauty (and utility) for our family, friends and customers to enjoy.  It's what we do.

Elizabeth Cull, Franchise President

You might have noticed we had a Birthday Celebration Sale last month in honour of the fact that Dig This has been in business 25 years. Well, we’re doing it again.

This Saturday, July 25th, we will be giving $25 gift certificates to every customer who spends $100 on regular-priced merchandise. That’s $25 per $100 dollars, so in effect it is a 25% saving for you!

As well, we are still featuring our great no-drip glass hummingbird feeders, regular price $16.00, for just $9.95. Customers have given us great feedback on these feeders so buy one for yourself, and one as a gift.

Each store will have additional in-store specials, with savings between 25 and 70%. Our Broadmead and Nanaimo stores are having a sidewalk sale with lots of great specials, so don’t miss it.
 

As a locally-owned, locally-developed business, we're proud to have served gardeners on Vancouver Island for 25 years.  So drop by, wish us Happy Birthday, and let us give you a gift of savings.

The weather is gorgeous and it’s the best time to sit out in the garden. So why not be comfortable.  It's time to give away those ugly white plastic chairs and move into something more stylish and long-lasting.  Our all-weather "rattan" furniture looks great, feels amazing and stands up to the test of time.

Even better yet, now is the time to save on garden furniture. All of our in-stock garden furniture is 30% off until it is gone. Shop early for the best selection.

For a bird that weighs about as much as a penny, the tiny hummingbird sure creates a lot of buzz. We all want them in our gardens. And if we already have them, we want more.

We are fortunate here in Victoria to have two hummingbirds to admire: the Anna’s Hummingbird, which lives here year round, and the Rufous, which visits us from early March to early October.

Putting up nectar feeders is the quickest way to attract these entertaining birds – hummers can’t resist checking out anything red. They investigate not only red flowers and the red tips on feeders, but also red eyeglass frames, red shoes, red hats, red children’s toys, and even red lipstick!

Hummers have to eat a lot to keep those wings buzzing at an average of 75 beats a second. So if you want to see these beauties up close, put up a feeder or two and select plants with flowers that attract hummingbirds.

In early spring, Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) , Heucheras and Maltese cross (Lychnic chalcedonica) attract hummingbirds. Later in the season, good bets are Bee Balm (Monarda didyma), Penstemons and garden phlox (Phlox paniculata). In my garden, hummers flock to my cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) in late summer.

If you suddenly notice that your regular hummingbird visitors stop dropping by in the middle of summer, don’t take it personally. It’s just part of their natural cycle. This is the time when they take up nesting territories and are busy with family duties. By late summer, traffic will increase again.

When putting up a new feeder, be patient. Hummingbirds have their regular routes of feeders and flowers. It takes a bit of time for the birds to find the new feeder and decide to visit it regularly.

Source: Sally Roth, Fine Gardening, October 2008.
 

Herbs are one of the easiest plants to grow – they need so little and forgive poor soils and dry soils. Herbs also turn the most bland foods and recipes into something that delights the taste buds. They take up little space and grow well in pots. So there’s no reason not to have a few herbs growing in your garden or on your deck or balcony – or even a sunny windowsill.

But once grown, how do you harvest them?

Most herbs should be harvested before the plants are about to bloom, when the leaves are at their peak flavour. Pick a sunny day, and harvest herbs in the morning, when the oils are strongest. Having said this, I personally find the easiest way to harvest herbs is from a pot just outside my kitchen door in the middle of making dinner!

For less instant use, try to harvest your herbs regularly as this regular pruning encourages new growth and maximizes leaf yield.

To fully harvest annual herbs, such as basil, cut all the steam back to just above the bottom two sets of leaves. Perennial herbs, like sage, should be cut back to about one-third of their height, also just above a set of leaves.

Drying can be done by either hanging the herbs in bunches or laying them in shallow baskets or on screens. Choose a well-ventilated place out of the sun. Depending on the weather conditions and humidity where you live, it may take a few days to a few weeks for herbs to dry fully. They should crackle and crumble when rubbed between the fingers. To get rid of the last bit of moisture, you can place them for no more than 5 minutes in a 200 degree oven that has been turned off.

Once the herbs are dry, strip the leaves from the stems and pack them into clean, dry jars with tight-fitting lids. Whole leaves retain better flavour than crumbled ones, do don’t crumble them. Label the jars and store away from light and heat.

You can also freeze herbs. Simply strip the leaves from the stems, spread them on cookie sheets and freeze. When frozen solid, place in airtight containers, label and return to the freezer. Another method is to put the leaves in the bottom of an ice cube tray, add water and freeze. The frozen cubes can be popped into soups or stews, where they will melt and release their delightful aromas.

Christiane Kamerman, Dig This Nanaimo
 

My tomatoes are just starting to turn pink and soon the earliest varieties will be ready to eat. My basil and other herbs are lush too.  And now that you know the best way to harvest fresh herbs, here’s a summer recipe that let's you enjoy them all in one dish..

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 cups Arborio rice, or Italian short-grain rice (This is important – don’t substitute!)
2 fresh tomatoes, chopped
½ cup dry white wine
3 ½ cups chicken stock
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
salt and pepper to taste
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 green onions, chopped

In microwave, heat oil and butter in a 9”x13” dish, uncovered at high power. Stir in onion, garlic, rice and tomatoes. Cook uncovered at high power for 4 minutes. Stir in wine and stock. Cook uncovered for 18 minutes. Stir in basil, parsley and sage. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until rice is tender and almost all liquid is absorbed. Remove from microwave. Stir in salt, pepper and cheese. Cover loosely with paper towels. Let stand 10 minutes. Sprinkle with green onion.

Makes 6 main course servings.
 

Elizabeth Cull, Franchise President

Wondering where to get the freshest vegetables and fruits direct from the farm gate? Check out http://islandfarmfresh.com/  for a complete listing of markets, farms and other sources of locally-grown food. Support our local farmers!
 

Speaking of local food, The Land Conservancy is trying to protect one of our local farms in the Blenkinsop Valley. 

Madrona has been a fixture on Blenkinsop Road since Lawrence and Ruth Chambers bought it in 1952. When Ruth died in 2002, ownership of the farm was passed on to her three sons – who in turn leased the property to Lawrence and Ruth's grandson, David Chambers, and his wife, Nathalie.  They are true eco-farmers.  Last year, Dave and Nathalie produced over 128,000 pounds of food on this land, feeding hundreds of loyal customers at their roadside stand for 11 months of the year - with virtually no waste, no artificial inputs, and using less than 700 litres of diesel. There is something phenomenally satisfying about making a salad from fresh local greens – especially in January. Now, Dave is training new farmers - people actually interested in growing our food themselves someday. The question is whether they will have land to do that. 

The brothers want to sell the farm and although the property is the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), the designation does not require the land to be kept in food production. Without further protection, Madrona could be purchased for use as a “hobby farm” or “Gentleman’s Estate,” and never again used for growing food for our community.

The Land Conservancy is raising money to purchase and protect the farm.  Donations are being accepted "in trust" for this project only.  For more information, go to http://madronafarm.com/?action=campaign

Virginia Parkhurst, Dig This Broadmead

August is a time for sitting back and enjoying your garden and all that hard work you have put in. Relax in your most comfortable outdoor chair, put your feet up and listen to the birds singing and the insects buzzing. Remember to put your sun-block on just in case you doze off listening to this relaxing summer symphony.!

• Water baskets and small containers daily, even during rain! Water bounces off a leaf canopy, and, even in a downpour, little rain will reach the potting soil.
   
• Remove dying and dead flowerheads daily. A stroll around the garden, secateurs or scissors in hand, is a pleasant way to spend some time, and you can smarten up your plants while you wander. Don't take off just the flower head, trim back to a leaf joint. Not only will you remove a potential source of disease, but this simple act will encourage many plants to produce a new flush of flowers.
   
• In your greenhouse, make sure you have good ventilation and if necessary, provide shade. The summer sun will scorch tender leaves, and lack of air flow will allow humidity to increase, and encourage disease. Potted plants benefit from a top dressing of leafmould, Sea Soil, or compost.
   
• Don't cut your lawn too short, it will survive the hot dry weather much better if it is a little longer. An ideal height is about 3cm ( just over an inch). Leave the bag off the mower, and let the clippings fly. They will rot speedily in warm weather, returning valuable nitrogen to the growing grass.
   
• Keep your pond topped up in hot weather.
   
• Keep planting arugula, carrots, cilantro, corn salad, lettuce, scallions, Oriental greens, radishes, spinach and turnips for fall, winter and early spring eating.
   
• Transplant sprouting broccoli, winter cabbage, and winter cauliflower.
   
• West Coast Seeds has just come out with a terrific free Winter Gardening Guide. Drop by one of our stores to pick it up. If you want more information and inspiration, take a look at Linda Gilkeson’s Year-Around Harvest: Winter Gardening on the Coast. With our mild climate, you can be eating fresh from your garden 12 months of the year.

Ann Watley, Dig This Sidney

Society for Organic Urban Land Care. S.O.U.L. Self-guided tour of 6 local organic edible flower and permaculture gardens. Demonstrations at every site. Saturday, July 25th. 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets $20 available at Dig This Johnson Street and Oak Bay. For more information, go to www.organiclandcare.org