Woman with trowel: Waiting for spring

Meredith’s double Trillium ovatum in April 2011 | Image Credit: Meredith Brehaut

Intro to Kitsilano.ca’s new gardening blogger

Hi Kits residents. The woman with the trowel is me, Meredith. I have lived in Kitsilano for over 30 years. My husband and I moved into our Craftsman home four years ago. We have redesigned most of the garden spaces. I’m going to be blogging a few times a month about a year in my garden. Please feel free to ask gardening questions and share tips in the comments section.

Waiting for spring

My man is sniffling. He’s miserable but I’m delighted. He’s allergic to alder pollen and that means spring is on its way. I’ve had a long dull winter and want to get out into the garden.

This is the time of year when I am itching to get the succulents and other over-wintered pots out of the house – enough already. It’s a bit risky – if I move them too early, I lose the plants I have been carefully watering all winter. But out they go today to the south facing back deck, placed under the eave. The Taro and the Corokia should be fine with the odd near zero temperature – some of the Echeveria cactus might have a bit of a shock. We’ll see.

Last week, I planted a couple of flats of the common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) “in the green’’ (i.e. planting the plant with foliage rather than as a dry bulb). I found them at the UBC Botanical Garden nursery. That should fill in the late winter display nicely. I also planted five less common snowdrop cultivars that I bought at the Collectors’ Plant Auction at UBC last April. So another bit of waiting to see how they will look next February.

Meredith’s double Trillium ovatum in March 2011| Image Credit: Meredith Brehaut

My double Trillium ovatum (pictured above) is waking up and I am excited to see if that has survived the first winter in its temporary location. One of our dogs is dying of bladder cancer and we splurged at the auction on this rare trillium, to plant over her ashes. She is still with us so it is waiting, planted in a pot under our pine tree. I am in no hurry.

 

Last modified: March 13, 2012