Battle With Garlic Mustard and The Prolific Bell Flower
Submitted by Joan Regan
After two days of rain we’re enjoying sunshine and blue skies, no humidity, and enough of a breeze to keep those pesky flies and bugs away.
Lots of bees this year, busy, busy. However, not too many Butterflies. Saw a couple of Monarchs today out front but nothing in the gardens out the back.
Cutting down those spindly Balsam trees and a bit more cleaning out back has made such a difference, looking forward to getting some sun loving plants now. Anyone want to trade some sun lovers for Hostas? Message me.
Hopefully I’m winning my battle with the nasty Garlic Mustard. I have been waiting for it to flower then pulling them out and keeping them in a large green plastic bags, then placed in the sun to fry. Our new pup Cove has been helping – her chain is wiping them out as well, but the roots are still there. Something is working; there is nowhere near what there was a couple of years ago.
Pulling the Purple Bell Flower out before it seeds has helped as well. In the side garden that is full of the Bell Flower I have over planted, the shade from the other plants slow the Bell Flower down. I will never ever get rid of it, so now it’s just a matter of not letting it go to seed and/or spread. It is such a pretty flower – such a shame it is just so prolific.
The Lilies have been gorgeous this year. Some from Hosta Full On and some from the Lily Ladies. I’m really happy with the selection I have and the colours have been spectacular. Happy, happy with my new sun gardens and anxious to get some more colour out back.
The glider out back is calling me and there is a fresh pot of coffee. Time to enjoy being “IN THE GARDEN”.
Happy Gardening,
Joni
jpregan@amtelecom.net. 519 596 2389
