Photos from the Wedding Garden

by Margaret S

High Temperature:
Actual: 19°C mostly sunny Wind WSW11km/h P.O.P.0%
Average: 25°C
Record: 35°C in 2002

Low Temperature:
Actual: 5°C mainly clear Wind W11km/h P.O.P.0%
Average: 13°C
Record: 6°C in 1945

A few dahlias blooming in the Wedding Garden















flava: yellow
foetida: ill-smelling
formosa: beautiful
fulgens: gleaming, bright

High Temperature:
Actual: 5°C cloudy, rain .30mm, windy Wind NW20m/h P.O.P.50%
Average: 18°C
Record: 27°C in 1954

Low Temperature:
Actual: 0°C mainly cloudy Wind NNW17km/h P.O.P.31%
Average: 7°C
Record: -1°C in 1993

Mother Nature is finally providing an ample supply of the wet stuff. Weeding should be alot easier tomorrow.
Lillium Asiatic Hybrid




















Just read an article on a new Lilac called "Bloomerang". It flowers in early spring, again in summer, and then reblooms as the leaves turn. This lilac is currently in our test garden.
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/23/ever-blooming-lilac-wars/

Day +15 cloudy rain Wind SSE17km/h P.O.P.71%
Night +11 cloudy shower Wind WNW14km/h P.O.P.50%

We had a few people show up this morning. Phyllis and I cleared weeds and I trimmed the edges of the Wedding Garden. We went to the nursery garden and dropped off garden compost. I continued working in the nursery garden, tidied up some of the pots and things floating about.

Dick cleaned up alot of the floating stuff and cleared the floating branches of tomatoes that couldn't be tied up. I pulled weeds from the tomato patch and picked tomatoes.

Christine and her daughter showed up and we all picked tomatoes. The three of us picked 205 lbs of tomatoes. (175 lbs of large tomatoes and 30 lbs of cherry) Alan was laying mulch paths between rows in Block B.

Day +17 chance of showers UV4 Winds W5km/h P.O.P.40%
N +6 chance of showers Winds W20km/h P.O.P.70%

Moeen and Dick started planting spare dahlias in the area to act as a ground cover while the shrubs get planted and established. Also in the wedding garden, all the remaining dwarf red dahlias were planted by Moeen as edging along the central walkway, Phyllis planted four clutches of Acidanthera bulbs to fill in bare spots and 16 pots of Agapanthus also went in.

Day +23 mix sun and cloud UV8 Winds NW20km/h P.O.P.30%
Night +10 clear Winds W10km/h P.O.P.0%

Since the last update (22 June) the tractor has dumped about 14 loads of old cattle compost on the new shrub beds in the wedding garden.
Soumendra put in a double shift and spread most of it single handed. Tony brought his tiller to break up the clods.

Day +23 sunny UV9 Winds W15km/h P.O.P.0%
Night +8 chance of showers Winds SW10km/h P.O.P.0%

I went to the gardens at 8:00 to 12:30.
Planted the balance of annuals around the sign out front.
Went along the back of the building and helped Moeen plant dahlias, then we prepared bed out front for dahlias.
I pulled weeds from one of wedding garden beds and out front of building. Planted a solomon's seal in wedding garden.
Then Alan, Moeen and I removed the handle from the lawnmower. It had an accident and needs some tender loving care, I will take give it to my husband and see if it can be repaired.

Day +17 sun and cloud UV8 Winds SE15km/h P.O.P.10%
Night +5 a few clouds Winds S15km/h P.O.P.10%

Soumendra put in a double shift. Between Alan and Soumendra they cut the front edge of the south shrub bed and had the whole thing leveled and tidied-up by 2 o'clock.

Day +21 cloudy chance of showers UV3 Winds10km/h P.O.P.70%
Night +11 clearing Winds15km/h P.O.P.0%

The sand pile was finally delivered and work on the new shrub beds can get underway this weekend.
Potatoes are showing through the ground and Alan started 'earthing -up’ the ‘Russian Blue’s. The second crop of radish has germinated and most of the carrots have also come through in the raised box beds.

Day +29 sun and cloud chance of showers trace UV7 Winds20km/h P.O.P.40%
Night +10 clearing Winds20km/h P.O.P.0%

Delivery of sand for the new shrub bed in the wedding garden is promised for Saturday. If we can get a decent turnout this weekend we should be able to clean up the storm damage and get the shrub bed well on its way.

Day +13 chance of showers trace UV3 Winds 20km/h P.O.P.70%
Night +5 clearing risk of frost Winds calm P.O.P.0%

Joe and I prepared a 4x100ft bed for planting out. I placed 745 bulbs on the bed and covered with 6" of soil and then did what I call the chaplan shuffle to pack the soil. (You walk with your heals pointed towards each other in tiny steps) This form of packing the soil is also taught in the class by Alan.
Joe placed a good 4 inches of compost on top of the soil and when weather permits we will come back and cover the bed with a layer of straw for winter. We also had Phyllis and Moeen up and they cleared some of the display beds from the last of the annuals. Almost done with everything that can be done before everything is put to bed for the winter. Classes will start January 2007.



Answer Oct 22 ??? a fertilizer use should be halved

???A newly purchased spade should:
a be half the height of the user
b be painted with linseed oil before use
c be sharpened before use
d have its protective coating scraped off

Another view of the wedding garden

Left side of the Wedding Garden in the beginning

Right side of the Wedding Garden in the beginning

Answer Sept 28 ??? c before any buds break

??? The purpose of spring mulch is to:
a keep the soil cool
b reduce evaporation
c impede weed seed germination
d all of the above

This is one of four flower beds in the Wedding Garden. The idea for this is to create a large area with perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, vines etc. for people to have there wedding photos taken. Currently people rent one of the halls for wedding receptions and having a beautiful garden for photo's would be an added bonus.