In This Issue:
Mosaiculture International
Thomas Moser
Things To Do in Your Garden
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"Time goes too quickly". How often have you heard that one? As I reflect on the month of August and what I did with my allotted 31 days, I am grateful that I chose to break out of my routine and venture into some new space for the first time.
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Mosaiculture International
Montreal 2013
My first story is one about the most spectacular horticultural event in Canada ever. And chances are you have not even heard about it. The celebration is called 'Mosaiculture' and it is taking place at the Montreal Botanical Gardens until September 29th and
then it is gone.
As of last week (when I had my guided tour of the exhibition) over 450,000 people had visited the site this summer. By the end of the event an expected one million will have seen it. Mosaiculture consists of 50 larger-than-life floral sculptures that knocked my gardening socks off. One of them is over 50 ft high - the size of a 5 story building.
The creators of these wonderful works of art arrived in Canada in April from 17 countries, each armed with plans for their own unique pieces. As you can see from the photos, I cannot do the quality and creativity that inspired these pieces of art justice by describing them in text. Have a good look. I urge you to visit the website.
Some facts:
- Mosaiculture International is a competition that takes place every 3 years. This is the second time that it has occurred in Montreal.
- The organizers have made the exhibition as ecologically responsible as possible.
- There are guided tours, cultural days, planned 'talks' and presentations.
- You will not regret taking time to see this!
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Thomas Moser
On a more personal note, I took a week out of my schedule in August to travel with my wife Mary to the coast of Maine. I took an intensive, hands-on course in fine woodworking from one of the masters of the craft: Thomas Moser and a hand picked member from his staff of 60 cabinet makers. Richard Guite, a cabinet maker for over 30 years, was at my elbow for 5 days in mid August, guiding, coaching and backing me up on the shop floor.
My goal was to expand my knowledge of the craft so that I could put my woodworking shop to better use. For the 7 years that I have had the benefit of the space and equipment I have been futzing at making garden obelisks, rough outdoor furniture and garden gates. All fine and good but not 'fine woodworking' and only good enough for the garden.
Here is a picture of my weeks' work - a coffee table and an end table made of solid black American Cherry from the Allegany plains in Pennsylvania. Not that you need to know that but it sounds good.
To run your hand over the top of either piece feels good. Like satin or patting a baby bunny. Above all, my head is now full of the knowledge needed for me to kick the quality of my woodwork up a notch: thanks to Dick Guite, my new best friend.
Who says that you can't learn in your 50's? When time is slipping through your fingers, learn something new: challenge yourself. With thanks to Mary, who came up with the idea of attending 'Cabinet making' college, I now understand the benefits of that statement more fully.
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Things To Do in your Garden
Peonies. September is 'peony splitting' month. If you have one that is too big for the space that it is in or if you just want to move it, now is the time. If you divide it, do so with a sharp, serrated kitchen knife. Plant peonies no more than 10 cm (4 inches) below the surface of the soil and in a bright, sunny place in the garden.
Seed and sod. If your lawn looks amazing right now skip this part. If it has some brown spots, weak areas or is tired looking, now is the best time to thicken it by overseeding with Golfgreen lawn seed (the best in the business). First spread 3 to 5 cm of Mark's Choice lawn soil over the area to be seeded, rake smooth, broadcast the seed by hand, rake again and step on it to firm the soil/seed into contact.
Water well.
Fertilize with Golfgreen early in September with the regular formula and apply the fall formula in late October through November to winterize your lawn.
Prune. Cut back the flowering shrubs that bloomed in July and August. Remove spent blossoms on Butterfly Bush and Rose of Sharon to encourage more blossoms later on in the season. Unruly evergreens can also be pruned back this time of year.
Harvest. My 200 tomato plants are producing like they have never before. Mind you, they ripened a little late but that was due to the cool evening temperatures. Now that they are coming along, I pick every day. I recommend that you do the same just to keep them from rotting on the vine or splitting after a heavy rain.
Harvest early ripening apples and pears.
Plant. As your annual flowers begin to wane, now is a good time to plant fall flowering
mums, New England asters, sedum and ornamental grasses. No reason to put up with mediocre performance in your garden when you can have a show stopper. All winter-hardy nursery stock can also be planted now. I have better luck with fall planted trees, evergreens and the like than I do come spring. FYI.
Reward yourself. If you have kids that are heading off to school be sure to spend some time in your garden alone over the next few weeks. Take the time to enjoy the quiet and solitude. Take pictures - come mid winter you will be glad that you did!
And observe the many birds that visit your garden this time of year. Note that many are 'new' as they are passing through right now on their way to their southern winter home. Enjoy.
Holland Bulbs. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and the like are in the stores now. I know that it feels early, but the Dutch harvest was a good one and the selection of these bulbs is best in September. I urge you to buy yours early to get the pick of the crop: by October all of the hard to find and unusual varieties are gone.
Deadhead roses. Remove the finished blossoms to encourage more.
Apply dormant nematodes to your lawn to control common grubs. Available at participating Home Hardware stores and many independent garden centres.
Wisteria. Cut back the 'whippy' growth that occurred this summer to encourage flowers next spring.
Raspberries. Prune out the canes on which fruit occurred this summer (July bearing). Allow the new growth room to produce a crop next season.
Take in the parks and open green spaces in your community in September. There is a reason why this is the favourite month of the year for many Canadians. Get out there and breathe deep!
And keep your knees dirty,
Yours, as always.
Mark
