Too bad it didn’t work. After researching plants most likely to repel rabbits and protect a front flowerbed from being munched to the ground, I arranged dwarf French marigolds around the bed perimeter and added groups of big, bushy African marigold transplants to make the bed as unappealing and unpalatable as possible to the increasing number of rabbits in the garden.
First, the large marigold plants were shredded. At least, I thought, the smaller ones are left whole — until they weren’t.
I’ve begun growling at people who go all squishy at seeing the adorable wee baby bunny hanging out in the front garden.
Other deterrents to explore include fish fertilizer spray, blood meal, and human or dog hair. Next spring, I may need to consider encircling the bed with stiff hardware cloth or chicken wire. A few sunflowers I protected this way have survived to grow tall and bloom.
Broad beans and telephone woes. Neighbours across the street were a wonderful help when my landline (and only) phone went dead. Reaching a human person to speak with on Carmen’s cell was an ordeal, but finally a technician was booked to re-connect the line later in the week.
Before she returned home, Carmen expressed an interest in looking through the garden. She commented particularly on the fava (broad beans). She and her husband had just spent a month in Italy, where they became fond of a fava dip served with crostini.
With the few fava beans left on my planting, I decided to find a recipe for an Italian fava dip.
I went through my usual process of adapting and combining several online recipes to create a simple one with ingredients I favour. Here’s what I came up with. I pureed the ingredients in a mini-blender.
Broad Bean (Fava) dip
1 1/2 cups cooked favas
6 T olive oil
1/2 tsp cumin
Juice and zest of a half lemon
Small handful mint leaves
Salt and pepper
I took some to Carmen and ate the rest with torn pieces of focaccia I had on hand. Delicious. I plan to make the dip again soon with favas in the freezer.
Easy summer vegetables. Simple stir-fries make for easy summer meals. Carrots, onion, garlic, zucchini, beans and peppers are quickly picked, chopped and cooked in a little oil and butter. Most recently I began with sauteeing sliced mushrooms and pieces of chicken breast before adding the vegetables. A little water and powdered vegetable broth and a slight thickening with corn starch completes the stir-fry, which in summer I prefer serving over corkscrew pasta.
Warm weather flowers. I knew it would happen. The verbena transplants I spotted on a sidewalk display in the spring would expand speedily to spread around the rim of a patio pot, and bloom vibrantly around the red geraniums once the weather warmed.
I took a while. Spring was a long and chilly affair this year, but the lacy, bicoloured Firehouse Blue Fizz verbena plants quickly developed flower-filled stems in the warmth and sunshine of early summer.
It was pure luck coming across the small transplants, Spotting them was a reminder to take at least a casual look at plant displays. You never know when you might come across a treasure.
GARDEN EVENTS
Abkhazi Garden. Abkhazi Garden and Teahouse, 1964 Fairfield Rd., are open seven days a week from 11 am to 5pm with last entrance at 4pm. Reservations are recommended for the teahouse. Call 250-896-0864. From May through September, local artists will be painting in the garden from 11a.m. to 4pm.
Des Kennedy presentation. The Qualicum Beach Garden Club is hosting An Evening with Des Kennedy on Tuesday, Sept 10, at 7 p.m. in the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre, 747 Jones St. Doors open at 6:30 Des is known for his beautiful Denman Island garden as well as for his novels, garden writing and exuberant humour. Entry requires a physical ticket, free to club members, $5 for guests. Tickets can be acquired at Arbutus Fashion and Lifestyle and at Mulberry Bush Book Store in Qualicum. Or order online via Linda at [email protected]. Information at qualicumbeachgardenclub.ca.
Floral art. The Victoria Floral Artists Guild will meet on Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Garth Homer Centre, 813 Darwin Ave. The evening’s program will be an informative and entertaining demonstration of Lush Floral Design. Non-member drop-in fee $5. victoriafloralartists.ca.
