All through the summer and into mid-autumn, every visitor who ventured with me into a far back corner of the garden took note of a two-metre tall, branched plant bearing bristly, cone-shaped flowers that faded to tan. Every time, I’d hear an emphatic “What’s that?”
The rather gaunt plant is nevertheless imposing, on its own in a forest clearing behind the garden shed.
The plant had seeded itself in that dry place — the same area that had hosted the plant a few times in the past. I’d always kept one, as an interesting curiosity. I had, however, always disposed of the faded, prickly cones, for this is a plant to be contained by limiting its spread by seed.
Teasel is a prickly biennial that was introduced to North America in the 1700s for use in the wool trade. Its spiny cones were used to comb or “tease” wool prior to spinning. At the time, the plant was grown in parts of Britain to supply the textile industry.
Teasel’s appearance in a garden is bound to spark interest as an oddity, but its spread needs to be contained to prevent its invasion onto local roadsides and meadows.
November. Not everyone’s favourite month but I love it.
Short, dark, often rainy days provide a period of blessed rest before the busy holiday season and then the furry of planning the new season’s plantings and accessing seeds and supplies.
Indoors, there are hours of delight to be had in salivating over new listings in print and online seed and plant catalogues.
November usually offers some useable outdoor hours. I’ve found, through autumn so far, that being outdoors even for a brief time each day helps mightily to maintain good energy levels and at least a semi-sunny disposition.
Here are a few outdoor projects that will help to create a smooth pathway to enhanced beauty and productivity in your 2025 garden.
• Finish clearing spent plantings from vegetable and annual flower plots. Cover bare soil with a protective mulch of leaves, chopped straw, shredded newspaper or other organic materials on hand.
• Cover open compost heaps with leaves or straw and then a tarp or plastic sheet to prevent leaching of nutrients in winter rains.
• Rake lawns free of leaves and other debris. Follow the raking with an application of lime.
• Remove dead top growth on perennials.
• Finish planting hardy spring-flowering bulbs.
• Bring cheer to indoor living areas with a colourful house plant such as a Rieger begonia, holiday cactus, cyclamen or kalanchoe.
• Create winter comfort food with the garden’s bounty: potato-leek soup; carrot cake; curried squash soup; pumpkin pie.
GARDEN EVENTS
Gordon Head meeting. The Gordon Head Garden Club will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Gordon Head Lawn Bowling Club, 4105 Lambrick Way. Susan Weiss, representing Lee Valley Tools, will present “Lee Valley’s Top Selling Garden Tools.” Visitors are welcome at no charge.
Dahlia meeting. The Victoria Dahlia Society will meet on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. in St. Michael’s Church, 4733 West Saanich Rd. The evening will include an Annual General Meeting followed by a program dedicated to members’ favourite dahlia varieties. Visitors are welcome.
Walk and talks. Russell Nursery, 1370 Wain Rd. in North Saanich, has resumed its popular “Walk & Talks” sessions — informal but informative talks that take place outdoors, around the nursery. Attendance is free and drop-in. Meet under the large willow tree in the parking lot at 10 a.m.
• Behind the Scenes Tour with Laurel. Sunday, Nov. 3. Find out what happens behind “Staff Only” signs at the nursery as Laurel chats about the nursery’s organization and growing practices. A potting demo is included. This Walk and Talk is one hour in length. Participants must be able to walk on uneven ground for that time.
• Felco secateurs. Sunday, Nov. 10. Wondering why Felco hand pruners are so popular? Learn why, and how to properly care for them. Kathryn will also offer guidance on selecting from among the many models of Felco secateurs. This session will be the usual 20 to 30 minutes.
Holiday wreath-making classes. A few spots remain open in the series of wreath making classes at Russell Nursery. Check russellnursery.com/classes for updated information.
