Isn’t spring in Victoria gorgeous? Is there anywhere else you’d rather be in May?

This year - maybe because we we’ve waited so long for warm weather - it seems prettier than ever. The cool weather earlier this year means lots of plants which have normally finished blooming by now, are still with us, along with the regular May bloomers. Dafffodils and tulips, lilacs and cherry blossoms.

This is the time of year I start re-thinking my garden. I notice the shrubs that have grown too big, or the perennials that should have been divided last fall. Earlier this spring I converted one flower bed to a raised bed for vegetables and flowers, and last weekend I removed a large cotoneaster that had outgrown it’s space. Like almost everyone, the cold winter has “edited out” some plants in my garden, giving me an excuse to shop for new ones!

If you are re-thinking your garden and need some inspiration, besides visiting Dig This, of course! - why not take in one of the many garden tours coming this month and next. Besides raising money for worthwhile charities, visiting other gardens can give you ideas to use in your own. Tickets make a great Mother’s Day gift – what better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than spending some time with your Mum in a garden?

Elizabeth Cull, Franchise President
 

Speaking of Mother’s Day, we have lots of great gift ideas to fit every budget!

For the practical gardening Mum, how about a pair of good gardening gloves and a great new hand tool? We have unusual tools you won’t find anywhere else like Cape Cod Weeders and Japanese gardening knives which serve as a trowel and a weeder. Good quality pruners are a great present, and here’s the best news: our prices on top-of-the-line Felco pruners have gone down.

If you’re looking for something decorative, we have lots to choose from. Whimsical iron garden critters like snails, frogs, and birds add an element of fun to a garden. Locally-made stainless steel herons, like the one shown above, make a striking focal point. Gazing globes and solar-powered lanterns add light to the garden.

Water adds sound and movement to a garden. We have bamboo fountain heads if you want to create your own fountain, or complete fountains made from fiberglass, ceramic or concrete. Our Raku fountains are very popular and come in three sizes.

Best gift of all?  Speaking as a mother myself, I know my favourite Mother's Day gift is just spending time with my son.  Preferably in a garden!

And just in time for Mother's Day!

Everyone loved the hummingbird feeders we brought in at Christmas.  Simple, colourful and well-priced.  Well they are back!

This no-drip top feed hummingbird feeder makes a great Mother's Day gift for only $9.95.  Select from four different colour combinations.

To truly enjoy your garden, you need to be able to relax in it – and for that, you’ll need a place to sit. Maybe a place where you and a friend can sit and chat, or a where a group of people can relax over a cool drink, or just a little quiet spot where you can snooze or read a book.

There are several things to consider when selecting seating for your garden.

What is the style of your house and garden? Garden furniture should complement your garden and feel like an extension of your home. If you have a formal garden, an Adirondack chair might look out of place, but a teak bench would look splendid. A relaxed, informal garden might look great with an iron bench or all-weather “wicker” glider, like the one shown to the right. Consider the scale. Larger furniture needs a larger space, or everything will look squished. Make sure the scale of your seating suits the scale of the patio, deck or garden.

How many people do you want to be able to sit in the garden? If what you want is a quiet spot to reflect or read while having a cup of tea, a small bench or seat tucked into a pretty corner of the garden is perfect. For larger gatherings, you might want several chairs, or even a bench or loveseat or sofa size seat. As a compromise, remember ottomans make for great occasional seating when you need an extra spot for someone to sit.

Will you be lounging, or eating, or just sitting? If you have lounging in mind, make sure the seat reclines or get a chair with an ottoman so you can put your feet up. If you want to be able to eat, a small end table or coffee table might work, but if you want to be able to sit down to a meal, you will need chairs with a high enough seat to make eating at a table comfortable.

Is the seat just a place to perch for a minute, or will you settle in for a while to relax? If you just want a resting spot, comfort needn’t be at the top of your list. A concrete bench serves this purpose well, and can look very ornamental in the garden. If you plan to curl up for an hour or two, concrete will become very cold and hard. Look for furniture with deep cushions on the seat and back.

How much effort do you want to spend maintaining your garden furniture? If the answer is “very little”, then choose all-weather “rattan” or concrete. Wood furniture can be low maintenance if it is teak or cedar and you let it weather to a silver-grey. However, you will have to oil teak annually to keep the original honey colour, and painted wooden furniture requires regular touch ups. All metal furniture, except aluminum, will eventually develop some rust, but a little sanding and painting will remedy that problem quickly.

Virginia Parkhurst, Dig This Broadmead

I’m one of those gardeners who doesn’t mind weeding: it’s a mindless job that gets me outside and gives me quiet time to think about things. However, less time spent weeding means more time to relax and enjoy your garden.

The first strategy is prevention.

Don’t over-cultivate. Weed seeds are everywhere in your garden just waiting for you to cultivate the soil around them to get them started. So don’t over-cultivate. Dig just where you need to in order to plant.

Mulch. Smother weed seeds with mulch. Mulch keeps your soil cool and moist, but it also deprives weed seeds of light needed to germinate. Two inches of compost or fine bark mulch is enough. You can make it even harder for weeds to break through the mulch if you cover the soil first with layers of newspaper, cardboard or landscape fabric.

Don’t let weeds go to seed. As the saying goes: “One year’s seeding means seven years’ weeding!”
Plant densely. Weeds won’t grow if your plants choke them out and shade the soil. Plant your beds snugly and don’t leave gaps of open soil.
 

The second strategy is reduction.

Weed regularly. Weeds come out easiest when they are smallest. Don’t let them take over! Weeds also come out easiest when the soil is moist. After a good rain, head out for a bit of mindless weeding.

Use the right tool. Deep-rooted plants like dandelions need a tool that will get most of the root out. Otherwise the root will just re-grow. Use a step-on weeder to get dandelions out of lawns, and a hand weeder with a long shank to get them out of flower beds. For other weeds, a Cape Cod Weeder or EZ Digger or an Action Hoe will slice weed roots below the soil surface where they will dry out and die.

Peter Kamerman, Dig This Nanaimo
 

We’re very excited about a new line of made-in-BC water sprinklers that we’re carrying this year. Rainforest sprinklers are made by a family owned environmentally responsible company based in the Kootenays, BC, Canada. Owner Mark Loran is an organic gardening enthusiast and carries his own strong ecological beliefs through to the company.
 

Why do we like them so much? They use about 1/3 less water than most impact and oscillating sprinklers. They have a gentle fine rain/mist spray that doesn’t damage small plants & seedlings. And they have only one moving part – so they will last for years.

Learn to water well. If you’re interested in learning more about watering responsibly, check out http://finegardening.com/how-to/articles/conserve-water-by-watering-well.aspx 

Ann Watley, Dig This Sidney
 

Victoria Hospice will be holding it's annual Teeny Tiny Garden Tour - June 14 - 9:30 am - 5:00 pm. We are looking for 16 volunteers to help as gatekeepers at various garden locations throughout the City of Victoria  (Oak Bay, James Bay & Fernwood). The role of the volunteer will be to greet participants and check tickets. In recognition of your support you will receive a FREE TICKET.

If you or a friend would like to volunteer for a shift (9 am - 1 pm OR 1 pm - 5 pm), please call (or leave a message) - Badge at 250-383-3437 or call Sharon at 250-952-5720.
 

Interested in Bonsai?  Learn to shape a heather or a juniper into a Bonsai. Plant and pot are included in the 3 hour lesson and the cost is only $40.00.

A good idea for a Mother's Day gift.

Dig This Broadmead, May 31st
Noon to 3 pm

If you've every wanted to do more than just look over the fence at that interesting garden, this is the time!  There are garden tours galore this month and next.

Victoria Mother’s Day Garden Tour
May 9th and 10th, 10 am to 4 pm
Sponsored by the Victoria Conservancy of Music. Tickets are $25 and are available at all Dig This locations.

Denman Island Home and Garden Tour
May 9th and 10th, 9:30 am to 5 pm
Sponsored by Denman Conservancy Association. For more information, contact Carole at 250 335 2535. Tickets are $15 and are available at Dig This Market Square, Oak Bay, Broadmead and Nanaimo.

Ladysmith Rotary Garden Tour and Plant Sale
May 31st, 10 am to 4 pm
Tickets $15 and are available at Dig This Nanaimo.

Sooke's Secret Gardens
June 7th , 10 am to 4 pm.
Sponsored by the Sooke Philharmonic Society. Featuring ornamental gardens large and small and some small scale local food production. Tickets $20. For more information call 250-642-7323 or 250-642-1397, email leas@shaw.ca ,or check our website at www.sookephil.ca.

4th Annual Teeny Tiny Garden Tour
June 14th, 9:30 am to 5 pm
Sponsored by the Victoria Hospice. 16 garden gems! Tickets are $25 and are available at all Dig This locations.

Blossoms for Bosoms
June 13th, 10 am to 4 pm. Wine & Cheese 5 pm to 8 pm.  10 gorgeous gardens in the Nanaimo area. Benefits the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. Tickets are $20 and are available at Dig This Nanaimo.
 

Soul Organic Garden Tour
July 25th, 10 am to 4 pm
Sponsored by the Society for Organic Urban Land Care. Explore 6 local organic edible flower and permaculture gardens. Demonstrations at each garden include compost tea, bokashi and effective micro-organisms, worm composting, aerobic bin composting and permaculture design principles. Tickets are $20 and available at Dig This Market Square and Dig This Oak Bay.

Plant Sale
May 8th and 9th
The Container Garden Club will hold its sale at the Hillside Mall on the 8th and 9th of May 2009 during mall hours. There will be fuchsias, geraniums, basket stuffers, some herbs, perennials, hanging baskets and containers for sale.

Container Garden Club Meeting
May 25th, 7:30 pm
At the St Michaels & All Angels Church Hall - 4733 West Saanich Road, Victoria. Guest speaker at the meeting will be Joan Ruskowski an expert plant person who will give a slide presentation and talk about her numerous garden visits around the world. The club holds its meetings on the 4th Monday of each month at 7.30. pm. at the St Michaels & All Angels Church Hall - 4733 West Saanich, Rd, Victoria and visitors are welcome.

2nd Annual ICC LOCAL FOOD FESTIVAL: Defending Our Backyard
May 31st
This is one of the highlights of Vancouver Island’s festival year. Chefs from some of the finest restaurants on Vancouver Island are working together to raise public awareness of the importance of local food and supporting local farms. Defending Our Backyard celebrates Island food, farms and flavours at the picturesque Fort Rodd Hill, For more festival information, please contact: Jacques Forest 250.888.2047 or info@iccbc.ca.

Hardy Plant Study Weekend
June 19th –21st
Sponsored by The Victoria Hardy Plant Group at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney. Speakers include plant explorer and breeder Dan Heims of Terra Nova Nurseries, plant explorer Philip MacDougall, garden photographer Allan Mandell, garden designer Julie Moir Messervy and author Mary Toomey; garden visits and a garden party at Glendale Gardens. More information and registration forms are available at http://www.islandnet.com/~voltaire/HardyPlant.htm
 

Direct seed parsnips, carrots, beets and radishes. Keep seeding lettuce, mesclun and other greens for a continuous harvest.

Start cucumbers and squash indoors now for planting out in 3 to 4 weeks. Wait until the soil is warmer, near the end of the month before planting these out, and before planting beans or corn.

Watch out for aphids on tender new shoots. Get rid of them with a strong spray from the hose, or squish them with your fingers.

Remove spent flowers on rhododendrons and azaleas – it’s a chore, but the work pays off in better blooms next year. Feed after flowering with a rhodo/azalea food.

Let the foliage on tulips and daffodils die back naturally.

Put out stakes or supports for perennials that tend to get floppy as the season goes on. Better to support them now while they are still small, than to try to tie them up later.

Keep ahead of the weeds by covering your beds with 2 inches of mulch. I love Sea Soil. Besides being a great source of nutrients, the dark black colour makes the fresh green leaves sparkle in the sun.

Plant summer flowering tubers and rhizomes such as dahlias, cannas, freesias, and gladioli.

Protect plants from slugs with slug traps, Safer’s Slug Bait, or copper strips.

Greenhouses can heat up quickly in May – shade with greenhouse shading and make sure to open the doors and vents during the day. Install an auto vent opener!

Mulch sweet pea plants with well-rotted manure or compost; this will conserve moisture and restrict weed growth.

Keep plants well watered during dry spells to avoid them becoming stressed and susceptible to pests.