In light of the nearly non-existent August precipitation in recent years, last month’s rainfall with a period of cooling temperatures came as a pleasant relief for many home gardeners weary of watering.
With warmer weather following the rain, and fairly balmy conditions this month, tomatoes should continue ripening and transplants of fall and winter vegetables will develop nicely for welcome cool-season harvesting. My new zucchini plants, seeded in July, are blooming. I anticipate young fruits soon, on plants with no mildew.
Vegetable plantings that were seriously stalled in the searing heat of last spring and summer have been producing prolifically this year. Even the runner and bush beans, with bunny barriers in place, have been delivering fine yields. The freezer is filling: peas and broad beans, cauliflower, plums, zucchini in meal-sized containers and also in pureed form for winter soups.
There has been something about this year’s growing season that has produced intense flavours in the garden’s edibles. Lightly steamed runner beans have been delicious. I’ve never grown such tasty (Sweet Success) cucumbers or savoured blueberries with such a deep, rich flavour. Perhaps last year’s disappointments have heightened the sheer enjoyment of this year’s produce.
This month I’ll be harvesting apples for slicing into freshly squeezed orange juice, with a little added vanilla, for placing in foil pie pans to freeze before I package them, ready for easy apple pies in winter.
A favourite September project is to replace the petunias in bowl-shaped planters on the patio with pansy and viola transplants, whose long season of bloom I anticipate with relish as the plants provide colour through the glass doors to the patio during the fall, in mild winter weather, and for most of the following spring.
It won’t be long before catalogue listings for 2025 will be available. Some will include seeds for the new-for-2025 plants that major American seed producers sent for me to try this year. There are new tomato and summer squash varieties, petunias, impatiens and begonias that I’ll be describing in upcoming columns, as the seeds become available.
GARDEN EVENTS
Flower and arts festival. St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Memorial Ave. at Hoylake Rd. in Qualicum Beach, is hosting a Festival of Flowers and Fine Arts today and tomorrow (Sept. 7 and 8) from 1 to 4 p.m. The festival will celebrate “Creation” in flowers and through the artistic skills of St. Mark’s parishioners with members of the Mid Island Floral Arts Club as special guests. Admission is by donation. Information at [email protected].
Peninsula meeting. The Peninsula Garden Club will meet on Monday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. in the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney. Tamara Dinter will share the basics of “Soil Health” and how to apply them to home gardens. The evening includes a parlour show and access to Master Gardeners. Guests are welcome at no charge.
An evening with Des Kennedy. 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. Des is known for his beautiful Denman Island garden as well as for his novels and garden writing. 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 arts. The Mid Island Floral Art Club will meet on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 2 p.m. in St. Stephen’s Church hall, 150 Village Way in Qualicum Beach. The afternoon will feature a demonstration and workshop: “Harvest Moon - Crescent Design. Guest fee $6. New members are welcome.
Fall garden show. The View Royal Garden Club is holding its annual Fall Garden Show on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. in Wheeley Hall, behind Esquimalt United Church, 500 Admirals Rd. Entrance off Lyall St. Exhibits will include perennials, vegetables, fruits, potted plants, herbs. Admission of $5 includes refreshments and door prize tickets. Information at viewroyalgardenclub.ca.
Plant sales. The Friends of Government House Gardens Society are hosting sales of perennials on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Plant Nursery, across from the Tea Room at Government House, 1401 Rockland Ave. in Victoria. Sales continue to the end of September.
