Torrid Temperatures
The heat may have buckled our knees so completely during these torrid days of mid-Summer that our gardening activities more often are contemplated comfortably from the depths of the new lounge chair than carried on with any zest for accomplishment.
Waterlilies Welcome
It is in just such weather, however, that the pool water garden comes into its own. All types of water lilies relish the simmering sunshine and bloom bounteously in lovely colors, matching, but not holding, the searching eyes of flower arrangers bemuse the heads close up at night. For this take a tip: a tiny hit of warm paraffin dropped deep into the heart of the flower will keep it open for the peak of the party, and event for several days. The pile-up of lily pads which become cluttered, spotted and sometimes torn in the pool can be thinned and pruned to better looks with the aid of a razor attached to the end of a long stick or pole. And a light dusting of nicotine will banish the aphids on the foliage.
Plunge the Posies
Speaking of flower arrangements, when gathering some flowers for the house, we can easily cut off dead stalks, pass? blooms and those going to seed. It is a good idea, too, to give the early cushion chrysanthemums a tweak here and there to thin out their mounds of bloom, allowing the ray-blossoms left to show larger and more distinctively against a bit of foliage.
To cut the flowers, themselves, go into the garden early when the plants are fresh with morning dew and slice the chosen stems from the stalks at a slant with a sharp knife. I have a sleep container of cold water along and plunge the flowers into it up to their necks, as so many bouquets are doomed while getting from the garden to the house.
Some posies, like heliotrope, the heavy-headed dahlias and shasta daisies, and the juicy-stemmed ones, like oriental poppies, will last longer if the stem ends are seared with the flame from one of your safety matches just as soon as they are cut. Then promptly put them into the water bucket, too. Most flowers keep best if picked when only partly open.
Start cutting gladioli spikes when only a very few of the florets have opened, but leave at least four or five foliage spears on the stein to nourish next year’s corms being formed underground. When enough flowers have been gathered, set container and all in a cool, dark place for overnight – even 2 hours is not too much – before arranging them in their final places.
Transplanting Begins
August brings transplanting time for some plants. Ornamental evergreens can he moved safely, now that the new growth has fully ripened. Water heavily, for all plants in this dry season, and mulch for best results the first year.
Divide iris into small sections of rhizomes bearing buds, clean out rot and borers, trim the foliage back and reset near the surface of a prepared hued with the roots spread fan-wise over a slight hill of soil. Dig up crowded lily-of-the-valley, thin clumps to good-sized pips and replant in rich soil.
Transplant peonies seldom and then be strict about getting the “eyes” of the roots no more than two inches under or they won’t bloom well, if at all. Black, twisted roots of Virginia bluebells, dormant now can be divided and reset, if necessary. New plants of oriental poppies will grow from small, three-inch pieces of the roots, and young Japanese anemones will spring from as little as one inch of root.
Bulbs and Berries
The strawberry bed should be remade now, by taking up the old plants aura resetting the runners, or buying new plants. Properly fertilized it will give a splendid crop of fruit the second year. Immediate Fall color can be had by planting colchieums, autumn crocus and sternbergia to give a Spring-like brightness to special garden nooks.
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